Ain't No Mom Jeans

Believe It Baby: A Dansko Giveaway (Take Your Pick!)

*******UPDATE - GIVEAWAY WINNER*********

Congrats to Heather Williams, the winner of our Dansko giveaway!  

One thing has become very clear:  Mamas looove their Danksos!  Thanks for all who participated!  It was so fun reading all of your comments!

*****************************

Oh Mamas.  I am eating some serious crow.  

Wait!  Stay with me here....stay...with...me.

Ok.  You know how much we've debated the merits of Danskos here at Ain't No Mom Jeans.  Personally, I have not been a fan.  M does own a pair of Danskos, bought long, long ago, but hides them under bootcut or flare denim, citing the fact that they are "sooooooo comfortable".  Which, we decided, is at the heart of the problem.  Footwear that comfortable typically sways the wearer into wanting them to be cute.

Whatevs.  To me, Danskos = not cute.  Even if The Sartorialist disagrees.

So when Dansko contacted us about a giveaway, I was lukewarm.  But...well...we're doing this whole Season of Giving thing, and I know many of our lovely readers loooove their Danskos....so then I thought, why not?  Giving is about the other person, right?

Right.  And then Dansko cleverly let me choose a pair.  And I found that they have some pretty fabulous boots.  Wha????

I took a closer look.  And found these little babies:

The Rhianna boot.  Which has a 70's fabulous clog look to them - including a studded bottom, which I go weak-kneed for.  Oooooo....

Suddenly, I was feeling a whole lot better about this giveaway.  And once I received these babies?  OH MAMA.  I now know why so many moms are such huge Dansko supporters.  They are indeed "sooooooo comfortable".  I think an orgasmic "Oooohhhhhhhh" actually escaped from my lips when I first put them on.

And look how cute!!!  

(wearing: On me - Dansko Rhianna boots c/o Dansko, JBrand lovestory flares, Banana Republic pea coat, J.Crew plaid shirt, Belle babycarrier in leopard c/o Belle...on Pax - One Step Ahead Cozy Cub Quilted Bunting)

Reader Question: Striped Tops For the Busty, Broad-Shouldered Mom?

Reader Question:

Hi,
 
I love your blog!  I am a seriously fashion challenged mom of two boys!
 
I really like the striped top trend, but I am broad shouldered, short waisted, and big busted.  Is there any way for me to pull it off or should I avoid this trend all together?
 
Thanks!

Answer:

Striped tops are tough for the busty.  They also can be tough for the broad-shouldered.  Putting both of those together....tricky.  Here are my thoughts:

Reader Question - How to Add Flare to Basics and Still Pack Light

Reader Question:

My husband and I are going to Italy in October for a week (my 40th bday) and I'd like some thoughts on how to give my uniform/basics/classics a slightly more sophisticated flare (and still pack pretty lightly). Any ideas (um, I'm always open to making a few good purchases)? 

- Jodi

Reader Question: What To Wear With Oxfords?

Reader Question:

I love love love your web site. It's incredibly well written, topical, helpful, inspirational, practical... the accolades go on. My husband is a little worried because I've been reading it obsessively since I came across it a few weeks ago after Googling "wearing flats with flares" and found your post with that almost exact same title (BTW, after reading your article I bought a pair of Banana Republic flares to try out the style -- waiting for them to come back from the tailor. I lost quite a bit of the flare by shortening them so much bu
t I think they're going to look great).

My question: I bought this pair of lace up oxfords from Madewell last spring and I'm not sure what to wear them with. I don't wear a lot of flowy/girly type dresses -- I prefer tailored (I'd say 75% of my wardrobe comes from J. Crew) and more body conscious (despite remaining pooch 5-years post -- the rest of me is in good shape, I swear!). I also am extremely conscious of dressing age-appropriate. They are super comfortable and super cute so I'd like to make them work with a few options. Any ideas?

 

 

- Jodi

Affordable Basics that Oooooze European Cool...For Both Moms and Tots at Zara.com

Zara just opened online shopping for US customers last week.  Oh happy day!!  For those of you that don't know Zara, this European-based retailer is a go-to source for updated basics that are on-trend, good quality, and mostly priced under $100.  Zara helps to fill the gaping hole between the rock-bottom prices (and quality) at Forever 21/Target vs. the high prices one typically pays for interesting basics.  Even better?  They have clothes for both you and the little ones!  (Oh, and, uh...hubs too.)

In addition to on-trend basics, they have some crazy-fun pieces as well.  Because every little girl needs a pair of these:

Fabulous and ridiculous in equal measure, I think.  But I do love them.

Want to see some play-friendly, mom & me looks from Zara.com?  Voila....

Reader Question: 11 Mom-Drobe Fashion Essentials for Spring / Summer 2011

We've been inundated, over the last few months, with request from readers who want to know exactly what to buy.  Right now.  With budgets ranging from under $200 to much, much more than that.  Figuring out exactly what one needs is a fairly strenuous exercise, dependent on your own personal style and existing wardrobe.  It's hard for me to say, on a personal level, what one person might need.

However.  I've been giving this topic some thought.  And while I realize that everyone has different styles, different needs...there are a few items that I would recommend to *most* moms.  

First of all, I'm assuming that everyone already has a few basics: a pair of jeans they love, basic flip-flops and some long, layering camis (or shaper camis). Good?  Good.

My list then, contains the 11 items that I think can be most easily mixed-n-matched for a cohesive, cute, and functional mom-drobe that's totally on-trend for 2011.  Ready? 

Not Your Father's L.L. Bean - Signature Summer Line Has Us Drooling!

I did a double take followed by a triple check when, late last week, I found myself perusing--and drooling over--an L.L. Bean catalog I'd just received in the mail.  I'm on the L.L. Bean mailing list because I've purchased everything from ExOfficio sun and insect shield shirts for my sportsman dad, and a British Slip Lead to keep our unruly dog in check, to monogrammed Adventure Duffels for both boys (they'll have them forever), and I'm pretty sure I'll score the Sea-Washed Canvas Duffel for hubs for Father's Day.  Frankly, L.L. Bean sells great stuff: for guys and dogs and kids and moms who like pleated trousers and polo shirts.  But I have never, not even once, considered purchasing something for myself (okay, maybe duck boots). Until now. 

As it turns out, the outdoor gear and polo shirt purveyor's new collection, L.L. Bean Signature (led by Alex Carleton, a veteran of Polo Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch and Rogues Gallery, his own line) has quite a few stunning spring and summer looks.  Here are our picks:

How To Wear Socks With Sandals...Mom-Style

The socks-n-sandals pairing have been all over the runways and the blog-o-sphere for....well...over a year now.  While there was some backlash initially, socks-n-sandals is now considered de riguer for the avant guard fashion set. And since I've never been one for following traditional fashion rules...I kinda like it.

The easiest way to wear this trend is to pair (thin) socks with wedges or heels in a similar color (as pictured from Burberry Prorsum Spring 2011 RTW).  You can mix up the colors a bit (gray with black, etc) but sticking to tone-on-tone is the most fool-proof pairing. Yes?  Heels are best?  No surprise there. 

So now that we agree on how to wear socks-n-sandals on date night (which is just what our guys want to see - a man-repelling trend saved exclusively for our romantic nights)...let's talk about how to incorporate this trend into our everyday, toddler-chasing, outfit rotation.

Here are my takes:

 

(wearing: current/elliott boyfriend jeans in super destroyed, j.crew v-neck tee, madewell socks, dv by dolce vita regina sandals in blush, tissot watch, chan luu necklace)

The Best Nude Shoes For Moms (Everything From Flats to Date-Night Wedges)

 

Nude shoes are easily my top pick for Spring and Summer.  They go with everything, lengthen your leg line, and will never go out of style.  Never.  Or as Raines would say, "NEVER!!!" (dramatic pause) "EVER!!!"  (usually about bedtime).

Both pairs of my nude sandals are from...ummm...2002? 2003?  And while one was purchased in suede and no longer looks nude (I clearly need to clean out my shoe closet) and the other now has a broken buckle (wow - really need to clean out shoe closet)...the point here is that you and your nude shoes have a long, satisfying relationship ahead of you.  This is a purchase that you will literally wear out.

And...as many of you are already guessing...all of this blathering is because I'm trying to justify these gorgeous Chloe ballet flats.  Sigh.   They are my shoe perfection.

Here are a few (ok - quite a few) nude shoe picks, whether you are looking for an everyday, wear-everywhere flat, a flat sandal, a not-too-crazy wedge heel, or (because I couldn't resist) a few totally fabulous sky-high sandals. 

Duck Boot Styling

   While 2010 Fall runways were awash in high-heeled duck boots...even the regular, good 'ol LL Bean-style duck boots are having a moment.  (Ummm...or the cheaper iterations, like my Land's End duck boots).  And since the snow just keeps on comin', these boots have certainly come in handy.  And it doesn't hurt that I kinda love 'em.  They have a rugged feel without being too mannish. Tomboyish, perhaps?  (And you know I'm a sucker for anything that gives me yet another way to wear my favorite, cover-everything-bad, post-partum sweater).

Whatever it is, I'm in.

I've been styling these babies with dresses, khakis, skinnies, straight legs....AND I found some really great inspiration pics from around the web.  Read on, mamas!  I think you'll wanna get on board...

(wearing: Theory ruffle tunic, sweater leggings bought several years ago, Lands' End Canvas socks, Lands' End Duck Boots)