Ain't No Mom Jeans

Mom Street Style - Maternity Chic That's Easy on the Eyes and the Budget!

Mamas, meet Melissa, one of the most adorable (thrice!) pregnant mamas I've ever seen (excuse the image quality, we just couldn't work out a better shot, but it would have been a travesty not to share Melissa's perfect, easy, affordable style).  She writes:

Hi ladies,
 
Honestly, I can't believe I'm submitting a picture of myself...but alas, here it is.  This was a super simple and inexpensive outfit...and after having 2 kiddos with my 3rd baby just 5 weeks away, I'm desperate to get through these last 5 weeks and still manage to look put together.  I wore this outfit this past weekend with my hubby for our monthly 'date night'.  I got a lot of compliments on it so I thought maybe another pregnant lady could use a pick me up!!
 
Poncho and boots- Tarjay (Target to some people :))
Jeggings- Old Navy maternity
Bag- Old Navy

 

I love your blog and I am so thankful I found it...keep on keepin on!!!

- Melissa

Melissa's rocking a number of ANMJ's favs for moms--skinny jeans, tall boots, and a belly/postpartum pooch/nursing-friendly poncho, topping it all off with understated, spot-on accessories.  I love how her copper/gold cuff bracelet ties into the zippers on her fab riding boots, and the tassel on her bag keys in on the fringe trend, lending a toned-down Boho vibe.

Seriously, Melissa, if you look that good pregnant, you should just keep on have babies.  Thanks for sharing your rad mama style!

- M.

Mom Street Style - Vera's Fav Nursing Cover

When I finally worked up the nerve to nurse my first babe in public (instead of running to the car or planning every outing around feedings), I was daunted to say the least.  And when I faced breastfeeding my second with an on-the-go 19-month-old, the prospect of boob exposure during the regular course of lunging after my toddler terrified me, as does trying to run after a two- and four-year-old going in opposite directions whilst nursing my third bub, so I can absolutely relate to Vera, this week’s fab street style mama.  Vera just had her fourth and was thrilled with the range of motion, not to mention the style, of the DRIA nursing cover S. reviewed last year.

Vera writes:

I just want to say thank you!! I bought the Dria cover after reading your review of it and I LOVE it.  Actually, I am trying really hard not to wear it every single day.  I just had my fourth baby, and despite nursing all my kids until about 18 months, I never used nursing covers - I just thought they were awkward and actually drew MORE attention to the fact that you were breastfeeding.  I had good luck just wearing a cami and a shirt and pulling my shirt up and was pretty discrete about it.  BUT, the Dria is soooo soft and comfy and hides my huge post-c-section pooch, and actually I'm finding that I like being able to nurse in public with it.  Having a very active 21 month old boy, there have been a couple of times that I've been at Starbucks or some place nursing the baby and he decides to do something crazy and I need to react quickly - not something I can do while having my boob hanging out!

Thanks! I'm attaching a pic of the one I got - I love it, even though my hubby is giving me weird looks every morning when I pull it out after trying on fifty other things first LOL!

- Vera C.

For those of you mamas not familiar with the DRIA nursing cover, check it out.  It is the most versatile and fashion-forward piece of nursing gear I have ever encountered, and I don’t think I’ll be shelving it even after I’m done nursing bub #3.  In any of the patterns, it’s a gorgeous, lightweight poncho that’ll kick up the volume on even the most boring outfit.  It covers everything, including you, your babe, the car seat or your stroller, it wads up into a tiny ball, washes well and dries fast and without wrinkles.

Vera, you look amazing in your slouchy boots and nursing poncho! Thanks for sending in your Street Style submission—keep ‘em comin’, Mamas!

- M.

Festive Holiday Styling for Lazy Mamas: Four Day-to-Night Outfit Ideas

Cookie swaps, champagne brunches, dinner parties, gift exchanges, kid's pageants and a myriad of other festive occasions.  Sound familiar?  The kind of occasions where you want to look festive and fun...but a cocktail dress would be overkill.  And your definition of "festive" doesn't include this:

 

Although, to be honest, I would totally rock this one with teeny, tiny tuxedo shorts and lace tights:

 

In an ironic way?  Funny, right?  HA HA...ha?

Ok.

My point: There are a few styling tricks that I turn to all Holiday season long when I want to look "festive".  Really, I should've named this post, "Captain Obvious' Tips For Festivus Style"...cause there is nothing earth-shattering here.  But if you are busy (yes), tired (oh, yes) and prone to faking illness *cough* instead of venturing outside when the temperature dips (hi have we met?), then here are a few ideas for getting your holiday grove on.

Reader Question(s): A Gorgeous "Uniform" For All of Your Upcoming Weddings and Parties (Even Holiday Parties!)

Gang, we gotten several reader questions about upcoming parties and events.  Some of you will be attending outdoor weddings, some of are dreading the office holiday party, and one of you just wanted to know when it's OK to wear tall leather boots to a fancy event.

(photo credit: This gorgeous pic of my dear friends Josh & Amber was taken by Denver-based Laura Dombroski Photography.)

So.  Here's a Fall wedding formula, one that can easily take you through the whole holiday season (even the dreaded office party).

 

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

Mom Street Style - Lisa's Perfect Almost-Fall Playground Outfit: Flips-Flops and Poncho

Lisa, from Being an American Mom, sent in this spot-on Fall transition outfit.  Lisa wrote:

Your post on the Fall Nordstrom sale inspired me to go get the Caslon poncho sweater in green.  

Today it was starting to feel more like Fall here in California and I was taking the kids to the playground so I grabbed the sweater and layered it over a gray tank and paired that with my Kut from the Kloth denim crop pants that I won in your contest!  You can see I am wearing flip flops because it was in the low 70s today, but I will definitely "winterize" this outfit by wearing a long sleeved t-shirt under the sweater and boots with the jeans.  

Anyway, I loved this outfit because it was so comfortable and yet I felt stylish!  And I was chasing my 14 month old around the playground, I could run around easily.  Perfect!

Wow!  Lisa - you look gorgeous!  Love the jeans, love the poncho, love the necklace, love the flips.  This is pretty much the definition of stylish, mom-friendly outfits that we strive to achieve here on Ain't No Mom Jeans.

Nicely done, Lisa.  Thanks for sending in the pic!!

xo,

S

ps....Congrats to TheRingChronicles, the winner of our Champion giveaway!!!  Shoot us an email and we'll get you your new workin' out gear!!

 
And in case you missed it, as part of the giveaway, we asked readers to leave a comment with their favorite brownie recipe....OH MAMA.  It is quite the collection.  There are links to FAH-bulous sounding brownie recipes, a couple of actual recipes (thanks to Beth and Juliana B), and some amazing sounding mix-ins:  coffee, chocolate chips, cheesecake, mint, orange extract, pepper (Ooo....creative, Barbara H, very creative!!), gluten free options, and a bunch of shout-outs to the Ghiradelli and Duncan Hines box mixes.  Best. Giveaway. Ever.  This one will just keep on givin'.....a HUGE thanks to all who participated!!  I'm going to have a long, happy (and fattening) winter trying all of these out....

Oooo...Fall Mom-Drobe Essentials in Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale (Hello, Frye Boots)

Nordstroms, one of my favorite retailers due to their ah-mazing customer service policy and vast shoe department, has one doozy of sale about to start.  For those of you in the dark, Nordstrom's biggest sale, their anniversary sale, starts this Friday (although, if you are a cardmember, you can buy now).  I love this sale.  Unlike other sales, this one discounts merchandise for the upcoming season (aka Fall), as well as several items that don't often go on sale, like Frye boots!!  And in this case, fabulous Frye boots. For over $100 off.  Oh, baby.  

Here are my favorite picks for moms from this year's anniversary sale.

Boots!!!

Favorite New Nursing Cover: The Dria

As I rule, I refuse to enter any restaurant that serves Italian, Asian, American and Mexican fare.  It just never works out.  So when the gals at Rookie Moms asked me if I wanted to review the Dria Nursing Cover, a cover that could be used as a pregnancy poncho, nursing cover, car seat cover AND stroller sun-blocker...I was skeptical at best.  A bit snarky, even.  I think my initial response was a, "will it feed and burp the baby too?"

Snort.

So imagine my shock when the nice folks at Dria sent me this little number:

Whoa.  This thing was cute.  Like really, really cute.

(And I love how Raines is also posing.  Good grief - what am I teaching him?)

Anyway, the Dria cover also looks really cool belted...voila:

What Moms Wear: Amy's Fabulous, Flattering Poncho

Amy and I did a closet consultation together last Fall.  In preparation, she had pulled most of her clothes out of her closet.  As we went through the consultation, I noticed this striped poncho hanging in the back.  "Aim, what's this?" I asked.

"Oh, that's just some thing my mom picked up for a couple of bucks at a garage sale.  I don't think I've ever worn it.  It's cashmere, maybe?  Mom always makes it a policy to buy any cashmere pieces she finds at garage sales."

Um.  Good policy.  Not only is this baby cashmere...but it's a Vince cashmere striped poncho that retails for about $300.  Holy Moly.

This poncho can be worn a multitude of ways, but in this case, we paired it with an easy black and gray striped long-sleeve tee, jeans, vintage heels and some of her fun Stella & Dot jewelry (she's a Stella & Dot stylist).  But Amy has also thrown this outfit on with her more comfortable Danskos and still looked adorable.

Whenever we feature poncho-type items, we tend to get comments from moms saying that they like ponchos, but that they are a bit out of their comfort range.  But seriously....just throw 'em on.  With virtually anything.  These things look cute with skinnies, flares, bootcut, etc.  And they are crazy-flattering. Post-partum or pregnant?  Perfection.  Nursing?  You can even go without the nursing cover.

Ponchos are also a perfect transition piece for when you want to ditch the winter coat, but it's still a bit chilly.

xo,

S