Ain't No Mom Jeans

Reader Q | How To Style A Basic Nursing Dress For A Wedding (And Stay Warm)

 Reader Question:

LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog - you have helped me a TON! Now, I have a big favor to ask. I'm headed to a wedding in Duluth, in April....which means there could be a blizzard or it could be balmy. I'm going to be chasing a three year old and carrying around (and nursing) a ginormous 9 month old. Thanks to your suggestions on other nursing/maternity items, I picked up this Isabella Oliver nursing dress in French Navy.  It does a good job (with Spanx) of holding in my about 4 months pregnant looking pooch....I feel comfortable in it, but I need shoe and accessory suggestions.

 

Did I mention I am standing in this wedding, and there are NO suggestions in terms of color, etc.? The bride likes my dress.....where do I go from here!? All I have figured out is dangly earrings are out, cause I have a grabber, and maybe wedges would be better for toddler wrangling...Thank you thank you!

 

I've even attached a photo of myself in said dress, so you can see what we are working with ;)

 

Holly

 

Answer:

Holly, you look seriously fabulous.  4 Months Post-partum?  WOW.  

So you need a few options to work with crazy Duluth weather, while toddler wrangling and standing up for the bride?  Gotcha.

The most important one, I think, is the standing up for the bride part.  While there may be no suggestions from the bride in terms of color, I think we should be careful.  While your dress may look great with, say, a hot red pump for date night, I think that's the wrong choice for wedding photos - you don't want your bright pumps competing with the bride in pics.  Know what I mean?

Holly, I came up with a couple of possible looks for you.  They include some subtle accessories, and a way to stay warm(ish) if you find yourself in the middle of a blizzard (which seems likely....Marquette, MI just had a snowday last week).  Warning:  I said warm-ish, not warm.  But you'll look amazing, and won't totally freeze.  Which is the best you can hope for as a bridesmaid, I think. :)

Giveaway & Review | $100 of Seraphine Nursing and Maternity Wear

UPDATE 4/17/12: The $100 Seraphine Giveaway winner is Lori Farley.  Please end us an email with your contact info so we can get the code for you, Lori!

I think we can all agree that public nursing is a bit tricky at times.  For me, anyway, it usually involves some grappling and coaxing, and quite a bit of midriff baring.  Or worse.  Ugh.  Needless to say, I’m all for anything, absolutely anything, that makes the process of getting my three-month-old to latch on (while using my free hand to bribe my 2-year-old with snacks and stomping my foot to let my 4-year-old know I saw him swipe my iPhone to play Angry Birds—again).  I repeat: Anything.  And, I don’t even need it to look good.  I just need it to work. 

But that’s where Seraphine, a UK-based maternity and nursing wear company, far exceeded my expectations.  Their nursing-friendly designs are not only highly functional, they are beautifully constructed out of fabulous fabrics that have amazing drape.  And, they go from maternity to post-baby and nursing with ease, so we’re really excited to be able to offer ANMJ readers this giveaway!

Momiform Style Translation: Capes and Lace-Up Chloe Boots

I have been drooling over this outfit since last March, when The Sartorialist posted it from Paris.  Sigh.  This is an outfit that makes my heart beat fast.  One of the reasons I love it so is the fact that it is a perfect blend of sophistication with a casual, irreverent vibe.  The light, destroyed jeans, the sneaker/bowling inspired wedge are both paired with a serious bag and gorgeous cape.  Perfection!

However, I will acknowledge, fabulous as it is...it's not exactly mom-friendly.  Most of us, while going through the whole morning routine with kiddos (feeding/changing/wiping noses & hands, wrestling toddlers into pants, etc.) don't typically reach for our $800 Chloe wedge boots, or our stunning beige capes. 

However, now that stores are finally stocking various versions of the trends pictured in the photo (capes, lace-up boots), this look can finally be translated into mom-friendly versions. 

Yup - I said versions.  There's more than one way to translate this look!

Let's get started:

Stuck On This Paring: Cozy Wrap Sweaters With Dresses (For Day or Date Night)

Um...yes.  I am obsessed with this pairing of cozy wrap sweaters and little dresses, ever since coming across the pic at left while working on our last Mom Street Style article featuring the adorable Alexis.

Hmmm...let's see...short mini dress, bare legs, red lipstick...but wait!  Short furry boots!  Ahhh...totally mom-friendly, right??

Yeah, yeah.  We can do better.

With the concept of cozy wrap-sweaters and dresses in mind...there are two ways I'd translate this look into something more mom-friendly: 

1.  A subtly sexy date-night look that can be used for either a fairly casual date night or a serious night on the town

2.  An everyday look that converts those slightly boring cotton dresses (you know - the ones we ALL buy at Old Navy or Target for like $10) into something Fall-worthy and stylish.

Ready??

Reader Question: No More Jeans or Leggings! Any Other Mom Uniform Ideas?

Reader Question:

What are your suggestions for moms other than wearing jeans or legging daily? Thanks!

Cindy

Answer:

Oooo...Cindy.  You are pushing me out of my comfort zone.  As you may have guessed, I'm a big jeans/leggings girl.  But never fear, there are so many great options out there that I could drone on at length.  In fact, one could argue that this entire website is built around the concept of helping moms find their own daily uniform.  Let me highlight three easy options that are readily available now: the chino, the cargo, and the linen drawstring pant.