Ain't No Mom Jeans

Shop Your Closet: Temporarily Shorten That Summer Maxi For Winter Snow Stomping

Reader Amber was one of our readers who tested out a pair of Hanes run-resistant stockings.  They tore as she pulled them on.  Needless to say, she wasn't impressed.  

I was impressed, however, with her outfit that accompanied her Hanes write-up.  In the pic above she's showing us the hole in her stockings, but what's actually going on here is the fact that she shortened one of her long summer maxi dresses - temporarily - for winter use.  Here's another pic:

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:

Shop Your Closet: A Styling Trick To Keep His Eyes on Your...Uh...Face?

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I've been thinking about some sexy styling tips for moms.  You know - short skirts, high heels, the usual.  But when I asked Mike what he thought was sexy, he immediately replied, "You know that necklace you have...?"

Strange, right?  But I knew immediately which one he was talking about.  Because whenever I wear it, he really can't tear his eyes away.  It's not that my husband has some strange neck fetish, or that there is anything super-special about this particular necklace....the secret lies in its length.

This necklace is long - roughly 20", and provides a subtle little flash of bling...riiiight there.  Right where his eyes want to go anyway.

Shop Your Closet: Go Leggy in the Winter With Layered Tights

Sunday was my birthday.  So on Thursday night, my dear friend Kirsten (aka Dr. Kiki) and I went out for drinks.  Kirsten and I have been friends since my days in D.C. and it's only by happy coincidence that she's living in Philly for a short time.  It was a much needed girl's night, Mamas.  A much needed girls night.  (And my Denver girls, I miss you so!!)

Girl's nights have been so scarce since our move from Denver (ahem - big sacrifice here, Mike...HUGE...)  so frankly, the boys were a tad confused as to what was actually happening.  Mom is going out?  Without us?  And without Dad??  But that is crazytown!!  WHY would she do this??? OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING?

So as I was about to leave, there were suddenly books to be read....pictures were drawn and discussed...

Shop Your Closet: Make Boring Sweaters More Interesting By Rolling the Cuffs

You know the boring sweaters that we all have in our closets?  We first introduced the concept of boring sweaters here.  They are typically plain, have a nice fit, and overall are very...nice...at best.  Most are a little 'meh', perhaps.

One easy fix for boring sweaters is to simply layer them over a long-sleeve shirt...then roll the sleeves of the boring sweater back, exposing the shirt beneath.  

One of my clients, B, was gracious enough to let me use a picture of a boring sweater before-and-after:

We first tried pairing the boring sweater with boyfriend jeans (in her case they were boot-cuts that we rolled like boyfriend jeans) and cute boots.  Not bad.

We then added a white shirt and rolled back the cuff of the sweater.  Voila!  Not so boring anymore!  (I'd also add a scarf for bonus style points.) 

This is a great option for strangely patterned shirts, or work button-downs that you'd like to repurpose.  Not much is showing (primarily just the cuffs and collar), so you can get away with almost anything.

However, this look works equally well with a simple long-sleeve tee.  I especially like the look of layered stripes.  Boden has a perfect example:  

(photo credit:  Boden USA - promo pic for their Must Have Jumper)

B, thanks for being a good sport!

xo,

S

 

Shop Your Closet: Wear Your Guy's Tie

A huge trend lately has been menswear on women.  Not just trouser pants and button-down shirts, but serious menswear - think three-piece suits, oxford shoes, fedoras.  It's surprisingly sexy on women.  So when I came across this shot, I fell in love:

(photo credit:  Justin Chung for GQ's Like The Boys with Georgia Fowler)

But...the bow-tie.  Mike is totally NOT a bow-tie kinda guy.  And I have doubts that a bow-tie simply draped over my shoulders would last long with the two little nutcases I run around with everyday.  But the vibe is great.  Really relaxed and sexy.  So then I thought...why not a actual tie?

So I stole one of Mike's.  And I kinda love it.

Shop Your Closet: Update Your Skinny Jean Uniform With Long Socks

Shop Your Closet is a weekly series that is intended to help moms make the most out of what they already own.  These styling tips aren't always groundbreaking, but with the sleeplessness and general chaos of life, they (hopefully) serve as helpful reminders for our less-inspired days.

(wearing: ancient Gap sweater layered over J.Crew cashmere v-neck for extra warmth, Levis skinnies, Frye boots, Salt sunnies, and Lands' End Canvas socks)

This has been my old standby mom-uniform since R was born...almost four years ago now.  And, uh, I actually bought this ancient sweater while pregnant with R.  So yeah - well worn.

Needless to say, this outfit gets tired.  I still put it on because it's warm, comfy, and stylish enough thanks to the cool boots and skinnies, but wow.  I'm bored.

So I added socks.  Tall socks peeking out of boots is a fast and easy update if you are getting tired of your skinnies.  Socks with stripes lend a sporty vibe, cable knit socks go cozy-chic, and socks with a bright pop of color always look cool.

(wearing: on R - Joe's jeans, Gap checked button-down, Splendid hoodie, consigned tee, 77 kids hat)

Because your socks are going over top of your jeans, layering them over tighter-fitting jeans works best.  Or try leggings - this look was made for leggings.  

xo,

S

ps.  You can find all Shop Your Closet articles in our newly created category, Style - Shop Your Closet.

 

 

Tree Lightings, Holiday Parades and Other Freezing Events: Ideas for Styling Your Puffer

Gang, I have such a love-hate relationship with puffers.  I love them because I hate being cold...but...well, then I look like this:

(wearing: Calvin Klein puffer, Current/Elliott skinnies, Frye Buckled Carmen boots, J.Crew mittens and hat)

This is my old Calvin Klein puffer coat, bought at Macy's on super sale several years ago.  I mean...OK.  It's not horrible.  Just a little, ever so slightly, NOM NOM NOM.  Like it's eating me. (And wow - that hat looks a bit like a condom...sigh.)

I tend to buy winter-wear in desperation, the night before an event, and this, dear mamas, never ends well (*cough *condom-hat *cough).

Little Pax, on the other hand, is very clear about his feelings regarding this puffer jacket:  When I put it on, he cries.

Which is funny, because his older brother once mistook a puffer jacket for a lion.  And looking at this picture, I understand their confusion. (Can you imagine the scene if I put up the hood?  Madness.)

So when the nice folks over at Lands' End asked if they could send me one of their puffer jackets gratis....of course I said yes. And we've talked about these puffers before - I do think they are cute. Each puffer comes with this completely radical and novel feature:  a waist.  Genius!!  (Seriously Gang - how did I not get this memo the first time around?)

But....you know.  You can dress a puffer up, but can you really take it out? 

And I really wanted to take it out.  Knowing that we were about the venture into the City of Brotherly Love for a tree lighting...which probably meant that wine and pizza and a cozy little restaurant were in our near future...I wanted to look cute.  And be warm.  So here's my puffer compromise:

The BEST Scarf Tying Tutorial....EVER

I was pretty happy with my scarf tying skills, until Reader Tamar sent us this little gem. (Thanks, Tamar!!  You know how we luuuv our scarves!!)

Wendy's Lookbook (now my new fav fashion blogger) created this ah-mazing video that shows you 25 different ways to tie a scarf...in 4 minutes.  (YES - she demonstrates all 25 ways in 4 min!)  She uses a combo of fast speeds and slo-mo to help us see what she's doing (fast for the easy part, slow for the tricky parts).  Once the video is done, if you still need help, you can click on any of the 25 methods for step-by-step instructions.

There are seriously no words for how fabulous this video is.  Watch and learn, people.

 

Wow, right?  Consider yourselves schooled in scarves.

xo,

S

 

Wearing Flares With Flats

   Flares are incredibly flattering.  Worn with a pair of sky-high wedges, your legs go for days.  Legs for days.  What's not to like?

But flares with flats can be tricky - especially for the petite.  (Hi. That's me.)  Even M has admitted to feeling a tad on the dumpy side when wearing flares with flats.  (NOTE - I've never seen M looking remotely dumpy.  Not ever.  It's just a feeling she mentioned.  Got it? Not looking....but feeling.  The last thing I want is to inadvertently call my newly-pregnant BFF dumpy.  OMG.  Stop.  Talking. Now.)  Anywho.

So what is the problem, exactly?  Part of it is just getting used to a new silhouette (we're all pretty entrenched in skinnies) but part of it is just the sad truth:  Flares look best with heels.

But I refuse to be discouraged.   I'm a pretty firm flat-wearer these days, and also am in love with my flares.  So I was determined to make it work.

Now, after much trial & error involving several pairs of flares, duct-taped hems, and many, many types of flat shoes, here's what's workin' for me: