Ain't No Mom Jeans

Fresh Ways To Wear Tall Boots

All last week, Superman, Raines and I were relaxing oceanside in Gulf Shores.  We had gone down to visit my parents, who, since turning sixty-something have become devoted snowbirds.  

My parents didn’t want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty, and that’s the law. - Jerry Seinfeld

Also?  Weather channel. To say I returned home well informed about the snowstorms swirling about the country would be an understatement.

Anyway, fearing the worst, I had tall boots on the brain, expecting that we'd all be tromping around in snow up to our eyeballs.  Nope.  None, nada, nuttin'.  

But still.  I haven't worn tall boots all season, and I was (shockingly) in the mood.  So here are a few tall boot outfits for early Spring/Late Winter:

How We Wear It: The Basic V-Neck Sweater

Mamas!!  We're starting a new monthly series called How We Wear It, where *we* show all of the different ways we're rocking a wardrobe basic.  And by "we" I mean...all y'all.   If there was One. Thing. you readers communicated LOUD AND CLEAR via our survey, it's this:  You want to see a wider range of body types represented here on ANMJ.  

So.  I'll show you how I've been styling my old standbys, and so will Cam.  And then, dear readers, we want to hear from YOU.  You can play along via our Linky party at the bottom (you can sign up at the bottom of this article or on Cam's page), you can send us a email (send it to either Cam or I), upload a pic to ANMJ's Facebook page, or use Instagram with the hashtag: #howwewearit.  As reader pics come in, I'll be keeping this page up-to-date.

Ready?  

Holiday Style: Add Drama With a Maxi Skirt

I mean really.  With a big, swooshy skirt and a glittery bag, how can you go wrong?

 

(wearing:  Ann Taylor skirt - similar at Urban for $40, Ann Taylor cropped sweater - try this slightly sheer, cropped sweater sweatshirt by Betsey Johnson on sale for $27, J.Crew glitter bag - similar) 

 

But here's the genius part of the maxi-skirt-in-winter:  You can wear juuuust about anything underneath.  Including fleece-lined tights.  Or, say...winter running tights.  Or heck - even fleece skinny sweatpants!  As long as they tuck nicely into tall boots...no one will be the wiser.  (Unless, of course, your little one likes to play hide-and-go-seek in your skirt.  Then there's a chance that someone will awkwardly learn your secret.  There are always risks, Mamas!)

And most of these swooshy skirts look fabulous with a cozy sweater.  Curvy gals, look for a fitted sweater, or something that belts.  Poochy mamas can try a boxy cropped sweater (like above) or something slim through the hips but loose on the pooch.  Like this one:

(wearing: Patterson Kincaid Tiered Maxi Dress which rocks at pooch hiding - here's another tiered one currently on sale for $152, an ancient Esprit sweater vest - while this one is similar, I'd probably try something like this)

 

This outfit isn't quite as dressy...but neither are all holiday festivities.  I wore this exact outfit to a Mother's Tea at Raines' school.  He had requested that I show up looking "like a princess."  Sigh.  How is princess culture so pervasive???

But anyway, this is actually a maxi dress, not a skirt.  I just layered the dress over a turtleneck and added a cozy vest.  And yes - I'm rocking some major warmie legs underneath.  I just have to beware of bears.

xo,

S

Holiday Style: Sex Up a Day Dress

I told Mike (hubs) the title of this article.  His eyes lit up and he was all, "do something sexy, Babe!"  So I did this:

 

Sigh.  Why didn't I just do a pouty duckface? (bangs head on desk) This blog is humbling.  Like a beginning ballet class for adults.

Anyway...let's chat about sexing up a day dress!!  All you need (besides the dress) is a random assortment of:

1.  Something glittery or shiny (necklaces, bracelets, etc.)

2.  Something furry

3.  Sexy tights

4.  High Heels

5.  A belt

6.  A little party clutch 

7.  Big-girl makeup (lipstick, smokey eyes, whatever)

Pick and choose two or three (or four) from the list above, and BAM.  It's party-time.  

This (admittedly haphazard) approach works shockingly well with a wide variety of day dresses.  Wanna see?  Here's how we're taking a few day dresses into our night-time rotation....

Day:  

  J.Crew tunic - similar at Gap, J.Crew striped tissue turtleneck, leggings, Dolce Vita Java booties now on sale for $75!

Night 1:  

J.Crew tunic - similar at Gap, J.Crew skinny belt, Plush fleece-lined tights (so warm!), Nina glitter pumps now on sale for $55, arm party of Stella and Dot 1 and 2, as well as this and this similar bracelets from LOFT, vintage bag - similar at Target!

Night 2:

J.Crew tunic - similar at Gap, Wolford tights - similar, Nine West Booties - similar, Etsy earrings, vintage bag - or check out this gorgeousness, Lindsay Bloom cocktail ring

 

 

Ready for another example?  Next up is that James Perse sweatshirt dress that we first talked about here.  Yes...a sweatshirt dress.   Totally my speed.

*A note about the bubble necklace below.  There are a ton of low-cost iterations (including ebay, where I purchased mine)...but these pieces are everywhere - it's now an over-saturated market.  Expect to walk into any holiday party and see several.  I'm now on the hunt for a new statement necklace.  Anyone else interested in my finds?

 

Day:

James Perse Sweatshirt dress, boyfriend cardigan c/o Goddis Knits, Plush fleece-lined tights, Gray Desert boots c/o Clarks, Gap men's scarf

Night 1:

 James Perse Sweatshirt dress, J.Crew glitter bag (similar) and bubble necklace (here's a cheaper version for $29), Plush fleece-lined tights, Nine West Booties - similar, Lindsay Bloom gold bangles, discontinued Stella and Dot earrings - here's similar

Night 2: 

James Perse Sweatshirt dress, Wolford tights - similar, vintage bag - or check out this gorgeousness, Nine West Booties - similar, Etsy earrings

 

Lastly, I asked Camille from Life in Modification to weigh in.  To see how she'd take a day dress into night.  Cam went a vintage-y / understated route, and the resulting look is quite pretty.  It's amazing to see how a faux-fur collar adds so much sophistication and romance - very Grace Kelly, no?  Love the midi length, also.

Day: 

 

eShakti dress (fyi, it was customizable), AE cardi, Hush Puppies moto boots - similar, Target tights 

 

Night:

eShakti dress, Old Navy coat - similar, Target tights, Steve Madden pumps - similar

Thanks, Cam!  Ok Mamas - thoughts?  You like?

xo,

S

 

 

 

 

Holiday Style: Try A Monochrome Palette (Especially in White...)

There's something about white that just feels so...fancy.  And it's totally unexpected during the holiday season.  I've been feeling all chic snow-princess in my all-white ensembles against a a vast sea of little black dresses, sleek black coats, and dark denim.  It's fun.  

Shop Your Closet: Pile on the Plaids (Even if they don't match)

Trying too hard almost always backfires for me.  Like when I try to match.  In any way.   I end up looking too matchy-matchy or just...off.  And feeling horribly uncomfortable.  My best outfits are often the ones I just threw together.  So when I came across the following Gap ad...well. 

Unknown Gap Stylist, thank you for saving me from myself.

I love this idea.  And really, with all of the mixed prints lately...why not?  Especially when you can anchor the look with rockin' black denim.

 (wearing: Stylemint Waverly Shades, $30, and Lola skinnies in black,$60, J.Crew flannel - similar style, J.Crew men's wool plaid scarf - similar, MIA Buckaroo boots, now sold out, but here are ones with a similar fold-over for only $109)

 

Throwing a plaid scarf over a flannel is obviously taking the easy way out.  So this past weekend, when shopping with my mama (yay!) I doubled up on plaid flannels:

Skinny denim haters, this outfit is for you

(wearing:  J.Crew flannel - similar style, Cropped plaid from Vintage Havana - similar here by LNA, Mother Denim "The Drama' High Waist Flares, $220, Dansko Rhianna boots, a few sizes are available here for $107, or try the Nakita boot, $195 for a similar heel and studded toe, my fringe bag is old...here's a similar one from Threadsense.)

So in summary, when it comes to super-soft cozy flannel...more is more?  Yeah, baby.  Color me plaid.

xo,

S

Shop Your Closet: Wear Black and Navy...Deliberately

(wearing: Stylemint Lola Jeans in black, an old Theory button-down - similar, cropped navy sweater from Ann Taylor - similar, Mia Buckaroo Boots - can be found on eBay...or I'd wear these in a heart-beat)

Mamas, we just spent the most ah-mazing week in Baltimore.  Have you been?

Mike was there all week on business, staying at some fancy-schmancy hotel we'd never normally afford (*cough $300 a night *cough)...so my choices were thus:

1.  Stay at home for a week - alone with the boys -  while they whined for Dad

2.  Go and play all day long in the kid-wonderland that is Baltimore

Easy decision.  But I was on strict orders from Mike:  "Babe - you can only come if you ask me for nothing all week.  I'm serious - NOTHING."

Um...OK.  Geez.  Like I'm high-maintenance or something. (Says the girl who routinely wakes her husband up at 3AM for a glass of water.)

But anyway. We all went, I asked Mike for nothing, and we all had a blast.  After Mr. Important was done  with his week-long meeting, he joined us for playtime.  And boy, that aquarium sure is somethin'.

Of course, you are more interested in the outfit. Black and navy.  Together.  Like you mean it. 

I kinda loved it.  It felt....sophisticated?  No, that's not quite the word I want.  It felt cool, but in a French-girl kinda way.  Gamine!  That's it.  I felt positively gamine.  Hence the attempt at fancy eyeliner.

And Mamas, I'm wearing Stylemint's new skinny jeans.  They came out a while ago, but didn't look like much online.  The online pics make them look almost baggy at the ankles.  So I ignored them.  HOWEVER...they are only $60, so in the interest of "research" I caved.  And am so glad I did.  I've barely taken them off since.  

Anyway, I've been warming up to the whole navy-and-black thing since last fall when Emerson Frye styled their fab navy peacoat with black skinnies (see it here on Pinterest).  I think the key is to go all-in.  I like the pop of white to make the black/navy color distinction clear.  (Gray, I think, would also work.)

I wore this outfit several times last week, including on our playdate with Mike.  It's one of the few outfits that went from day-to-night effortlessly, without high heels.  Bonus.  

(I'm also patting myself on the back because the navy sweater was an Ann Taylor sale rack steal for $4!!  And the white shirt is a old work standby that hasn't been touched in a looong time.  Love making use of old clothes.)

What do you think, Mamas?  Is navy and black in your future?  And who else LOOOOVES Baltimore??  We're planning a trip back in December to see the Polar Express in 4D (you feel wind, rain, etc.)  Wanna join?

xo,

S

Shop Your Closet: Pair Bootcut Denim With Off-The-Shoulder Tops

Readers Lauren, Ginny, Maggie and Kendra called me out recently (in the comments section of this article) for always showing so much leg.  Lauren started the chain with this comment:

So many of the looks and trends you feature and recommend are leg-centric. Which look great on lots of ladies, just not me. And, I suspect, on lots of other moms. Any shorts with a less than 10" inseam, booties of any kind... so not working on me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, turns perfectly fine legs into shorty tree stumps like booties.

So...what can you recommend for a little excitement this fall that is NOT shorts or booties?

 

 It's true.  Sigh. I love me some short-shorts...and some ankle booties.  It's totally where my head has been lately.  But I get that this look is not for everyone - especially Mamas with shorter legs.  

So.  If you are looking for a leg-lengthening style...look no further than bootcut denim.  IknowIknowIknow!  Bootcut denim, one could argue, is the new mom jean.   But don't freak out!  Pretty much anything goes these days (and if you're interested, here is are my full thoughts on the topic of skinny vs flare vs bootcut).

I suspect many of us have a pair of bootcut denim lurking in the back of our closets.  To make them feel fresh again, try pairing them with something a bit trendier on top.  Something that mixes in a decade other than the 90's or early 2000's.   Something like...an 80's off-the-shoulder top, perhaps?? 

(wearing: Rich and Skinny Bootcut denim, Dansko Rhianna boots - almost sold out...these are similar, and an old top from Anthro.  Here's a similar one...or this!  For less!)

I actually pulled this top out of my Send To Goodwill pile.  I was going to donate the thing because every time I put it on (previously only with skinny jeans) I always felt too Flashdance-fabulous.  Like I was one sweatband away from dancin' fo-or my life.  

Take your pass-ssion (spin-spin) and make it happen (big leap then crouch-and-pose!)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life.....

<<inset S's dance solo here>>

For the record:  I do have a whole dance routine for that song.  Choreographed by moi, age 7.  If you are interested, I would be willing recreate on YouTube. (no, you crazy people, NOT really) 

But here's the thing:  The bootcut denim saves the top.  Instead of skinny jeans and legwarmers, bootcut denim actually makes the top feel modern and fresh again.  At least for those of us old enough to remember wearing off-the-shoulder tops the first time around.

Anyone recognize this pose?

All I need to do is lose the pants, add some heels and then...I AM. MUSIC NOW.  My 7-year old self is in ecstasy.  

MWAH!!

S

 

 

 

Fall Trend: The Denim Jacket (And 3 New Ways Mamas Can Rock It)

Mamas, the denim jacket (which is, arguably, a classic and therefore always cool)...is having a moment so big, it feels like a new trend.  I'm sure you've seen it paired with statement pants (red skinnies or printed denim, perhaps?), and we've covered to death the denim-jacket-over-casual-dress-and-boots combo (here and here and here - and it's still good, BTW)...but I'd like to highlight the three new ways I'm loving my denim jacket.

Shop Your Closet: Layer a Short Dress Over a Maxi

Mamas, I have to give credit where credit is due, and this idea came primarily from Stylemint, whose stylists paired the Broadway Dress over a long maxi:

(photo credit: Stylemint Broadway Dress)

I saw this and thought, well, hunh.  Interesting.

Interesting, because I have a problem dress.  It's a t-shirt style dress, and happens to be a maxi-length.  It also happens to look, according to Raines, like a nightgown.  And once that thought is in your head, there's no turning back.  

Buh-bye dress.  Right?

Except...this damn dress is comfortable, I can nurse, and it sorta obscures any poochiness....so I find myself rescuing it from the donate box and re-hanging it in my closet.  Only to try it back on, realize that it is best accessorized with slippers and a teddy (as in bear) and fling it, annoyed, back into the donate box.  Repeat...49857343094872093 times.

I mostly hate this dress.

Unfortunately for me, this dress' fate is now sealed.  I now love it under my little Target shift dress, which can be too short for some mom-life situations (not riding a scooter, mind you). 

(wearing: Jason Wu for Target jersey dress, J.Crew Factory Striped Maxi dress - here's a much cuter one, Jessica Simpson gold sandals - similar, bracelet c/o LOFT - similar)

Now whenever I'm in the middle of a crazed closet-purge, I won't be able to part with this truly stupid dress.  Instead I'll remember this outfit and be all like, "oh wait!  I have that one outfit I can wear this nightgown with!  Yessssssssss....success."

But seriously!  This trick is a good one!  It's basically an easy (and comfy) way to make a shorter, sexier dress a bit more manageable.

One final example: 

(wearing: Velvet Harden Knit Mini dress, Target maxi skirt, Salt sunnies)

 

Almost looks like loungewear, right?  Yup.  Feels like it too.  And what do we say when we find a respectable outfit that feels like sweats?

C'mon Mamas, say it with me:  Yesssssssssss.....success.

xo,

S

DISCLAIMER:  Mamas, if you own (and love) that striped J. Crew factory dress, I have no doubt that it looks much better on you than it does on me.  On me, there's just something about the way it falls that screams take-me-to-bed-in-a-purely-platonic-way!!!