Ain't No Mom Jeans

Shop Your Closet: Bringing Sexy "Back"...Wiiith a Cardigan

I can't remember where I originally saw this styling trick.  Some avant-garde fashion blogger spun her cardigan around and wore it backwards, thus prompting a rash of copycats...but like our mothers taught us (and we will most likely teach our kids) imitation is the highest form of flattery.

In any case, I tried it.  I thought the v-back was too low...until I realized that it was a perfect way to show off a pretty racerback. 

Kinda fun, no?  

But the front was another story.  To make it look cute and shirt-like, I had to use some belt trickery:

Help! A Reader Needs Emergency Styling Advice For Valentine's Day!

Reader Question:  

Hi Shana & Molly,

I have recently discovered your blog and I have been loving it ever since.  Each time I read a post it reminds me that it is possible to be a mom and at the same time, a person (I think you know what I mean here).   I am a mom to one 15 month old son, and his birth and first few months of life were pretty traumatizing to me, and by this I mean I was essentially a basket case in pajamas for 3 months.   Yes, I know this happens to everyone, but I took it....HARD.  I couldn't figure out how to be Enzo's mom, but still be myself.  I was not that embarrassed to admit I kind of wanted to return to work so I would have a reason to get up, blow dry my hair, and pull it together!  I didn't realize how much I loved my job and the feelings of accomplishment I had surrounding my professional work.  In any case, thanks for your blog, it is a great reminder that many moms experience the same challenges.  And your writing is hilarious!

My style challenge is my V-Day date with the hubs.  Let me preface this by saying....I. NEVER. SEE. MY HUSBAND.  I have a high stress job in HR for a luxury hotel company, and my husband works 2 jobs at all hours of the night and day to make ends meet.  Literally all hours.  The only time I see my husband, I am wearing a suit (work requires), or pajamas.  Not my top choices, people.  And I am pretty sure not his.  Especially if you see my pajamas.  Since our V-Day date (observed on the 12th due to aforementioned insane work schedules) is a much anticipated special night, I would really like to wow him.  Here is where the problem comes in.  We have decided to go bowling, and then out to dinner.  Bowling you say?  Believe it or not my husband and I have never been bowling together, even in 3 years of dating and another 3.5 years of marriage.  He's foreign, I'm an awful bowler, he works nights & weekends, you do the math. 

 

Now HOW, pray tell, does one dress for the romantic ambiance of Valentine's Day, bowling, and dinner out at a semi-decent restaurant with tablecloths - all wrapped up into one?  Any cute outfit I can muster in my mind (usually involving skinny jeans and boots) only transitions to utterly ghastly once I picture myself in those damn bowling shoes!  I want something that will be comfortable enough to bowl in, while still remaining sexy and date-nite-esque which I can confidently wear at a restaurant we can't afford.  I also thought about a sweater-dress (for some reason my husband really likes these, he bought me three for xmas), but still the problem with the bowling shoes/curvy hips is even more exaggerated with no jeans to hide the shoes and balance the hips.  My last resort is a post-bowl wardrobe change.  Any last minute pointers or suggestions? 

Katie

Answer:

Katie, thanks so much for your kind words and for writing in!  So glad you and hubs will be celebrating Valentine's together.  And bowling + unaffordable restaurant?  Totally a night to remember, LOL!  

I myself have been on many a bowling date-night.  Denver has that LA transplant Lucky Strike which is a bowling alley/nightclub and it IS a fun date night.  Like you, I am also a terrible, terrible bowler, and irrationally competitive when bowling, which leads me to Tip #1:  Drink.

But what to wear?  There are two options that immediately come to mind:

 

 

Option 1 - Hide the Shoes with Flares

Flares will help to hide those horrible bowling shoes.  But bring a few safety pins (or duct tape) so you can pin/tape up your hem.  When bowling is over, release the hem, bust out the sexy shoes and be on your way!

 

DateNight by aintnomomjeans featuring plunging neckline tops

 

That's the safe option.  But my favorite.....

Mom Street Style | Minor Details from Everyday Mom Style

Mom Street Style comes today from Meagan (aka "the  headless housewife" LOL--more on that later) at Everyday Mom Style.  Everyday Mom Style is a recent addition to the mom style blogging world and a great one at that.  In her endearing, plainspoken "About Me" section, Meagan writes:

"My wardrobe must be reasonably priced, comfortable and age appropriate. . . I’m just a 40 year old mother of two kids who wants to look and feel great. . .  I live in a suburb of Seattle, where style is pretty laid back. My clothes are not expensive, they come from Nordstroms, Anthropologie, J Crew, Target, TJ Maxx, Kohls, H & M."

Reader Question: What to Wear With Bespoke Olive Flats

Having been an English lit girl and lover of period piece cinema, I'll just confess now that I've oft dreamed of hand selecting a bespoke wardrobe (in it, I sit atop a tufted setee, surrounded by bolts of lustrous fabric <sigh. . . >) , so when ANMJ reader Valerie L. wrote in with the uncommon dilemma of styling her custom made olive green ballet flats (pictured at left), my ears perked right up.  She writes:

I'm an Air Force wife stationed in South Korea right now so I had a pair of shoes custom-made for me - olive green ballet flats.  I like them (olive green is one of my most favorite colors), but they didn't turn out ~exactly~ like I had in my mind. I'm at a loss.  What can I wear them with? I don't want to be too match-y match-y. I feel like it might be a delicate balance and with my luck, I'd go the wrong way.

Please help!  What would you recommend?

7 Style Resolutions for Moms in 2012

Ok Mamas, whether or not you are a resolution person (and I am...in a big, obnoxious way)...I've put together a list of my top 7 mom-style resolutions for 2012.  

So repeat after me:  I, Mama... 

(See? I warned you about my obnoxious thing)

1.  ...will buy one pair of fabulous everyday shoes (or boots).  

And wear them - everyday.  Because shoes matter.  Shoes make the outfit.  But these will not be sensible shoes, oh, no.  These will not be shoes that "match" everything in my closet.  They will not be black because I already have a black bag.  They will not be brown simply because I already have black.

They will be whatever color makes my heart beat fast (and that might be black or brown, but I vow to think outside the shoebox).  They will have gorgeous details.  They will make me happy.  And I won't even think about bringing them home unless they are also comfortable.  I will be incredibly picky, and wait (all year if I have to) until I find the perfect pair.

Mamas, to illustrate, look how even Garnet Hill figured out that gorgeous footwear is the chic-outfit cornerstone.  Both outfits are cute on their own, but the footwear makes them amazing.

 

(photo credits: garnet hill) 

Maternity Wear that Makes Me a Teensy Bit Sad I'm Done With Belly Business

Well Mamas, I'm three weeks out from having the babe who changed my life forever.  Again.  Again again. And as I've surfed the internet for fab fashion over the last few lazy, sleepless weeks, I've found myself drifting back to the maternity section.  And then I realize, I will likely never have need of maternity gear again.  Um <sob>, ever.  Ev.er.  And while I'm thrilled to see my feet, and glad to be able to clear out a third of my closet, I can't help but feel a little wistful bidding adieu to my child bearing years and settling into my child rearing years. 

While a good half of what I wear while pregnant is not maternity wear, there's much to be said for the comfort of clothing specifically designed for pregnant moms-to-be--pants are a must and the extra length on tops helps keep the bump covered and cozy.  And given what a long way maternity wear has come in the last few years, I no longer (and a little too late) find the prospect of wearing maternity clothing so shockingly abhorrent. 

I love that colored denim, bodycon silhouettes and horizontal stripes have made their way so quickly into accessibly-priced collections.  Here are five hot mama maternity outfits my wanderings turned up over the last few weeks.  They make me wonder why I ever wasted a second worrying about the size of my bum whilst growing a human life and think hmmmm. . . I could do this again.  Maybe.

5 Maternity Outfits That Make Me a Tiny Bit Sad I'm Done With Belly Business by dynamama featuring topshop maternity

Time flies too fast, Mamas!  If only having sweet babes actually slowed it down.

- M.

Wear It Now & Into Fall - The Three Unexpected Colors that Look Amazing With White Denim

Are you ready for the end of summer?  I'm not.  We've been in Michigan for the past month, spending each waking minute either at the beach or my parent's lake house in Big Bay (pictured).

Michigan has gorgeous summers.  With fantastic storms - lightning all over the place. One of my very favorite things is to watch storms come in over the lake.  Gives new meaning to the word foreboding.

Any other Michigan water babies out there?  

But I had promised to talk pants.  White pants, specifically.  Which I had previously labeled as not mom-friendly.  I now rescind my comments.  (It turns out that OxyClean does work.  Hunh.  Who knew?)

 

Mom Street Style | Bugaboo Donkey Sighting

I am honor bound to begin this post by writing, “S. was right.”  We hotly debated the merits of the Bugaboo Donkey convertible double stroller when we heard about it last year.  I balked at the name and the $1,700 price tag.  S. pointed out that the side luggage basket would be perfect for icing beer and wine for jazz in the park.  I conceded that point and softened to the Donkey’s appeal, but it was not until I had my first Donkey sighting outside of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto a few weeks ago that I actually fell in love—serious, covetous love—with this stroller. 

Mom Street Style: Melanie's Sophisticated Navy and White

Gang, meet Melanie.  She had biked to Lower Harbor Park to catch a cool breeze before dinner.  Impressively, Melanie biked down, pulling a chariot, while wearing white trouser pants and a button-down.  She's my new hero.  

You know I love the navy + white combo.  And I'm also loving the wicker basket on her bike.  Wouldn't a straw diaper bag be so cute with this outfit?

Melanie's trouser pants and top are Calvin Klein, her sunnies are Oakley's and her flops are Tevas.

Wanna see how we met?

 

Awwww....little Ava was so adorable.  Pax wasn't quite sure what to do when faced with a baby his size who so outpaced his own social development (ah, boys).  They had the baby version of this conversation:  

Ava:  Pax, here - let me get that hair off your face.  

Pax:  Wha?

Ava:  There.  That looks better.  Don't you think that looks better?

Pax: Um -

Ava: Isn't this a beautiful night?  What could we do on this beautiful night?

Pax:  Uh-

Ava:  I think we should crawl around and feel the grass between our fingers.  Really feel it.

Pax:  NOM NOM NOM

Ava:  No, Pax!  Not eat the grass!  Feel the grass!  Can't you feel it?

Pax:  NOM NOM NOM

 

Boys crack me up.

xo,

S

 

Mad for Maxi Skirts

I'm mad for maxi skirts, mamas, and I'll tell you why.  What can possibly be kinder to varicose veins, lumpy knees, mummy tummies and chubby thighs (mine, not my babes') than a crazy-long skirt?  Is there a better skirt to wear to a playground?  No.  Is there an easier way to make your tired, frazzled person look polished while staying comfortable?  Not likely.  All this, and you'll actually look current and on-trend?  It really would be too much to ask for if it hadn't just fallen in our laps. 

Here I'm wearing the Loveappella Maxi Skirt from Piperlime with an off white tank and a denim vest I've miraculously held onto since high school.  I've had about 4 hours of sleep, haven't washed my hair in days, and I actually believe my mom, who's taking the photo, when she tells me I look awesome.  Because, well, she's my mom and she'd never lie to me, right?  Right.  And, in spite of the aforementioned circumstances, I feel great in this outfit, like I'm wearing pajamas. . . but nobody knows.

I'm loving the maxi skirt trend because separates can be so much easier to deal with considering the limited time moms have for vanity.  And, while I have adopted maxi dresses, I sometimes have a hard time wearing them.  Unless I have the time to really work out my accessories, I end up feeling like I'm wearing a nightgown.