Saturday links

Are you letting your inner slob out? I am!


I wore this ALL DAMN DAY.

JenB gives you the lowdown on where to shop for plus size clothes, in the US and Canada.

And you have TWENTY FOUR HOURS (give or take a couple) to get your photos entered in WIM photo pool. We will draw a winner on Monday, and announce it on Tuesday, at The Working Closet.

Are you excited? I am!

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Friday links (because I'm too tired to write coherent sentences)

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!
Remember The Working Closet Flickr pool? And the contest? Where you could win a Superhero necklace? Entry deadline is midnight Sunday; get over to WIM and register and upload your photos. Full details are here.

September is (almost) over but the Flickr pool will never end.
In October, we're going to focus on pieces that stump you. Everyone has them -- the beautiful skirt that still has the tags on it, the sweater that you put on and take off at least once a month, the dress you have moved four times and never worn. Solution: ask Flickr! Or, more specifically, ask the truly lovely members of The Working Closet pool. They give good advice. And get ready: in November, NoBloShoeMo: Thirty Days of Shoes returns. I need to get me some new boots, I think.

Parody is the sincerest form of flattery; or, why I love Secret Agent Josephine.

Back to my horrible outfit. As you can see, this is totally normal for me. I dress like this every day. It is sad and pathetic and I am not proud of it. But life has got me in it’s grip right now so I might as well have a little fun with it, right? I decided to make my own flickr pool called “I dress like a slob every day”. You know, in parody of the ever fashionable and trim-as-a-whip Ms. Susan Wagoner of Friday Playdate? Maybe you are familiar with her Working Closet pool? I’ve been following it for quite a while, wishing I could play. But sadly, I don’t own any fancy clothes like that. And if I did I’d probably hide them because Baby Bug would smear greasy goldfish cracker oil on them and ruin them.

I love that.

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I ask, you answer: Boden sizing

Amy needs some help, and honestly I'm stumped.

My question has to do with sizing, not so much style. I never looked on Boden's website until now, and well...let's just say that I have spent waaaay too much time getting acquainted with Johnnie's products. I want to order a pair of pants, but I am stumped as to which size I should order, so I am wondering if you could help me?

Have you ever ordered any pants from this company? I am curious as to how they actually fit. I know they provide measurements, etc, but it would be nice to talk with someone who has actually put Boden pants on their body. According to the site if a person is a size 6, but could be an 8 in some cases, they should order a 12 from Boden. That is me. I can wear a 6 at AT, Ann Taylor Loft and Gap, but I can sometimes wear an 8 at other stores. I still worry that the pants may be too tight, and I don't want to order two different sizes and return one (but if it comes down to it, I guess I will.) If you have ordered pants from them, how did they compare to other brand pants you own?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me, I appreciate your insight!

I've never bought pants at Boden, so I'm not sure what to tell Amy. I e-mailed Melissa because I know SHE'S a Boden fan, but she's only ever bought tops and dresses from them (although she said she usually goes up a size for those pieces). Her general experience has been that Boden's sizing chart is pretty accurate.

But I'm wondering if any of YOU have bought pants from Boden? And if you have, can you help Amy out? How do they measure up in comparison to brick and mortar brands like Gap and Ann Taylor?

As always, thank you for your help! And special thanks to Melissa.

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The A cup guide to cleavage

The rule: Flat chested girls can't do cleavage. The best look, if you are small breasted, is a crew neck, ideally something sleeveless, to draw attention away from your breasts and out to your shoulders, which are probably trim and toned. Steer clear of V necks and wraps, as they will only make you look small.

The truth: The V neck works differently for girls with small breasts than it does for our well-endowed sisters. A deep V will draw attention to your slim frame, and the open expanse of skin can be just as sexy and the curve of larger breasts.


Cashmere cable knit V neck sweater, J. Crew, $150.00.

How to wear a deep V: This look requires a properly fitted bra; if your bra is too big, the sweater won't lay correctly. The sweater also needs to fit right; the shoulder seams need to be AT your shoulder. After that, it's all attitude: sit up straight, walk tall, keep your shoulders relaxed.

This is a good look for a night out or a day when you're not bending over or lifting kids. Sexy is fine for everyday, as long as you're not going to spend the day flashing everyone your bra (or more). Like the look but need more coverage? Layer the sweater over a cami with a deep neckline; when you bend down, the cami will keep everything under wraps.

The new rule: Sexy isn't a cup size; it's an attitude. Having small breasts doesn't mean that you are doomed to a lifetime of crew neck sweaters and tees. Experiment with the V neck, or with a wrap top. Don't be afraid to show a little cleavage, even if a little is all you've got.

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To hose or not to hose

I believe it's still in to not wear pantyhose when wearing a fancy dress, cocktail dress, etc. ( I see all the movie stars sitting on the chair next to Letterman, O'Brian, etc......no pantyhose!!!)

Should all the rest of us being going pantyhoseless? I have a November wedding, semi-formal (2 in the afternoon), I want to wear my little black dress, but wearing those shoes without the hose, it hurts!!!

I don't want to be out of style, but is there anything wrong with a bit of hose?

Tracey

I will be going barelegged when I am on the Colbert Report*, but pantyhose are fine, as long as you keep a few things in mind.

1. If you choose "nude" hose make sure they match your skin (and by that I mean the skin on your arms--otherwise your arms and legs will be two different colors, which is weird).

2. Do NOT wear hose with peep toe shoes. I know you can buy those "toeless" pantyhose, but I'm not down with that; I think if you're going to go with an open toed shoe, you need to go with the whole nude leg thing. Hose with sling backs are fine, however.

3. With a black dress, black hose are fine, as long as they are VERY sheer and a good quality. I prefer nude hose, though; they're a little bit sexier and more grown up.

4. With a fancy dress, wear hose (stockings, pantyhose, whatever you call them) rather than tights. Tights are both very casual and very young; if you're going to happy hour or a dinner party, tights are fine with heels, but for a wedding, get dressed up and put on some proper stockings.

5. Buy nice stockings. Spanx come with a little extra control through the tummy area, which most of us can use these days.

*Also, when that happens, you all will be the FIRST to know. I promise.

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Tuesday links

Today I'm thinking about your legs. And feet.


Oh Boden how I love thee.

At BlogHer, I'm all about tights, and at The Working Closet, I've got your feet covered.

You're welcome!

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Winterizing your ballet flats

grits404 has a follow-up question about flats:

my question about the cute ballet flats, print or not, is how to keep your feet warm in cold weather? knee highs if you are wearing pants? cute, thin socks? this is truly a dilemma for me and i usually opt out for the socks and running shoes look. i am really trying to break my own mold this year!!!

Quite honestly, it comes down to pragmatism versus fashion. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true.

Ballet flats are lightweight, dainty shoes that go best with crisp fall or spring pieces. Ballet flats aren't meant to be paired with functional outdoor winter gear (parkas and heavy pants) although they CAN be worn with lighter weight wool or wool blend trousers. Wear them with bare feet and legs for as long as the weather permits, which, in some parts of the country, is pretty much all year round.

If you live somewhere with actual SEASONS, though, you CAN pair your ballet flats with tights or VERY thin socks for cooler days. Match your hosiery to either your shoe or your skirt or trousers. A black skirt and black tights with a great print flat is a fun fall look. Keep your outerwear light as well--a jean jacket or trench should be plenty.

Don't overwhelm your ballet flats; if you need a parka and hat and gloves to ward off the chill, pack your ballet flats away for warmer days. For the depths of winter, break out the boots; choose a pretty pair with a pointy toe or a cool wedge heel. If your climate is cold but not snowy, think about a driving moccasin with socks (again, match them to the pants OR the shoes). Your feet will be warm and you will still look chic and hip.

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Print shoes made easy

Amy has a question:

I love those cheetah flats (Acacias by Yellow Box) that you wore today. It just so happens that I saw an almost identical pair of shoes at Target today (before having seen them on your blog) and almost bought them. I didn't buy them because I wasn't sure what to wear them with. I always feel the need to be matchy. For example, if I were to wear those shoes, I would wear them with jeans and a black shirt or sweater. But I don't want to buy a pair of shoes that I am so limited in wearing. What else (other than black) can I wear with those shoes?

Animal print--or, really, ANY print--shoes can be baffling, for the very reasons Amy points to here. But a great pair of print flats or skimmers can do great things for your capris and a tee (or jeans and a sweater) uniform.

Start with color. The cheetah print shoes are essentially camel and black, so you can wear them with anything that you would normally pair with camel and black--red, for instance, or gray or green. The shoes will still be a focal point of your outfit, but they don't have to be the only piece with interest. Amy could wear her cheetah flats with jeans (always a neutral) and a terrific green sweater, or with a black sweater and a red skirt. Think about the shoes as a collection of neutral colors, not as a pattern, and work with those neutrals.

What if you want to wear your print shoes with another print piece? Have at it, BUT exercise some restraint. Cheetah shoes with tweed trousers is a little much; cheetah shoes with a subtle floral blouse could be lovely. The key is to think about color; if you're wearing a pair of lavender print shoes, an orange print blouse isn't going to work. But a blouse with a print in the purple/violet/lavender family will be just fine.

Finally, the same principles hold true for metallic shoes; with a monochromatic palate, the shoe offers a punch of color, or pair them with a top with a bit of metallic in it. But don't overdo; a silver blouse and silver shoes are probably too much bling for everyday. Instead, look for a tank or tee with some metallic accents to go with your metallic shoes.

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Ten Days, Ten Pieces: Day Four

Ann Taylor Loft tee, Ann Taylor denim skirt. J. Crew tote, Self Esteem wedge skimmers.



This skirt was not one of the original ten pieces. What I have learned in the past few days is this: having a very restricted wardrobe is labor-intensive. My khakis and capri pants are both in the laundry; my khaki skirt needs to be ironed. But there's not enough colored or dark laundry to make up a full load, and there's no time to iron.

I'm also finding that only having ten pieces to choose from is stressful. I still believe that a more streamlined wardrobe is easier to work with, but there is a point where less is NOT more, it is just less and that is frustrating.

When I first started cleaning my closet, I was thinking about this idea that we tend to go overboard with our wardrobes, because we are so conditioned to think that unless we have four of everything, we don't have anything. Inevitably, we get in the closet and find that most of what we have isn't things we wear. And so I started to think about what the bare minimum would be--how FEW things could I have on the rack and still get dressed every day?

The answer is not ten. Ten pieces is too few. But these ten pieces are making me think about what YOU can do to make your closet work for you. Tomorrow: YOUR ten-day plan to streamline your closet. I promise it won't mean wearing the same thing every day.

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Capris for petites

Wendy wants to know about capri pants for petite women.

I am 4'11 and it is rare that I can find capri pants at the right height to make me not look like I am 5 yrs old wearing my mother's pants. I know that if they hit too far below the knee then I look like a stump walking. However, I have been looking at your Flickr pool and see that Chris, from Notes from the Trenches, wears a lot of capris and they look nice on her. I don't know her height, but I wouldn't guess 6 ft. So how does the shorter woman carry off a capri?

(Chris, I swear I did not giggle at the idea of you being six feet tall. Promise.)

I'm all the time reading stylists who say NO CAPRIS FOR PETITE WOMEN, but then I see petite women, like Chris, who are totally working the capris. AND I see tall women who are NOT. I think it has to do with proportion; Chris has long legs for a little woman, and so the cropped hem doesn't cut her off. She also doesn't wear anything with a very low waist, which gives her some extra length. And she opts for a straight (not tapered) leg, that falls from the hip, which helps balance her out.

I think that for a curvy figure, capris can be tricky; long shorts, like to the knee, are better. Look for a pair that fall straight from the widest part of the hip; avoid cuffs like the plague. Flat front, no big pockets on the back, and a slightly higher waist (just below the belly button) will give you a nice flat, long line. Pair with a wrap top or V neck tee or fitted polo; make sure the shirt is long enough to cover the waistband when you sit down.

Add a little wedge heel for extra height, or a pointy toe for a longer leg.

In the end, the truth is this: there are some styles that will look GREAT on other women and not so great on you. Some petite women can wear a cropped trouser and look nicely proportioned, while others cannot; some curvy women can work a pencil skirt while other cannot. To say that capris are out for petites is easy but not always true. The key is to be honest in your assessment of YOUR figure, and then really work what you've got, rather than trying to imitate the style of someone who isn't built like you are.

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Ten Days, Ten Pieces: Day Three

Gap dress, J. Crew tote, Yellow Box cheetah print flats.



I'm reading Tim Gunn's A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, which one of you recommended. (Who was that? Thank you!) I love Gunn's intellectual fashionista approach to style; who else would quote Ludwig Wittgenstein in a book about clothes? Be still, my nerdy heart.

I also like that Gunn talks both about what to wear and how to shop for it, including some very smart meditations on why we shop.

The Lesson: We shop out of boredom, for release, for excitement, for a sense of achievement, for a sense of control over our unruly existences. And every so often, we shop because we need something to wear. Shopping did not always fulfill so many needs. It wasn't until the mid-nineteenth century that department stores sprang into being. Their tremendous success stemmed not only from their stock of goods conveniently housed under one roof but also from the space they provided for women to see and be seen in public at a time when a woman in a bar was an anomaly. Who wouldn't have wanted to shop? It sure beat being the idea Victorian wife and mother . . . .

One could argue that all of this is still true today, although while it's now fine for a woman to go to a bar, god forbid a mother have a drink in front of the kids. But I digress.

Why do YOU shop? Are you happy with your shopping--with the places you go and the things you buy? Or are you still staring at a closet full of nothing to wear?

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I want what Marc Jacobs is drinking

Marc Jacobs was recently in the news for keeping people waiting for the start of his Fashion Week show. Not just a few minutes, mind you; Jacobs' show started TWO HOURS late. Styledash speculates that "Marc's cocktail hour ran a little late, and he just assumed (wrongly) that everyone loved him enough to wait around for his collection."

I can't comment on the collection, but I can say this: it really does appear that Mr. Jacobs has been overindulging in the vodka gimlets. Because I can find NO other explanation for these . . .



Marc by Marc Jacobs, $358.95 at Zappos

Order yours today. Miaow.

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Ten Days, Ten Pieces: Day Two

Ann Taylor loft tee, Old Navy khakis. Freshwater pearl necklace, vintage watch, green suede Etienne Aigner driving mocs, red J. Crew tote.



Today I am remembering where the Soccer Mom Uniform came from: both of my boys are playing soccer this fall, and while my older son's team really doesn't need any extra help (the not-coaching parents can pretty much stand in the shade and cheer and chat) the little one's team needs about six adults to keep the eight kids on track. And because I am anal helpful, I have offered to give the coach a hand this weekend.

A fabulous dress is not the right thing to wear to pee wee soccer, particularly if there will be running involved, as I suspect there will be. Crisp khaki pants are probably out, too.

Today's lesson: more is not necessarily better, but neither is defaulting to the lowest common denominator. I will be wearing some appropriate shorts to the soccer fields this weekend, something I can run and sweat in. And then I will come back to the ten pieces, just in time for cocktail hour.

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Tuesday Links: Plus Size Style

I'm all about plus sizes today; at BlogHer, JenB and I are collaborating on some posts about shopping for basics (watch for Jen's BlogHer post on Sunday, which will include shopping options for the US and Canada), and at TWC, we're getting dressed for work, with a little shopping help from you all.

Because I am STILL not shopping. Sigh.

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Ten Days, Ten Pieces: Day One

Black J. Crew capris, blue white Ann Taylor Loft tee. Red and black Madeleine driving mocs, red J. Crew tote, pink and red silk scarf as belt.



Today's lesson: if you only have TEN things to wear, you might not want to start the day by dumping coffee down the front of your shirt. I will be sporting an apron for all housework related tasks for the next ten days, strictly as an act of self-preservation.

(I've swapped the full-length khakis for a khaki skirt, in the interest of not collapsing from heat exhaustion this week. Just so you know.)

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Ten Days, Ten Pieces; or, What Not Shopping Has Driven Me To

I'm seventeen days in to Thirty Days of Not Shopping, and so far so good. My rules for the month were no clothes, handbags, or shoes, and while I have been coveting a variety of things, on line and off, I have bought only a refrigerator and a Cub Scout uniform, neither of which are currently living in my closet.

Recently, several of you have asked why I gave up shopping in the first place,and while I joke that I have no idea, the answer is simply this: I am always insisting that the best place to shop for clothes is in your own closet, and that impulse buying or emotional shopping or whatever you want to call it is the fast track to a closet full of nothing to wear. But I am also fully aware that I rarely shop because I NEED something; instead, I shop because it makes me feel better--less bored or stressed or overwhelmed. They don't call it "retail therapy" for nothing.

I honestly believe that less is more, that having fewer pieces that fit your body and your life is the best way to wardrobe. And so I cleaned my closet and got rid of what wasn't working and vowed to wear ONLY what I had for one month. What I have found, two weeks in, is this: there are only a very few things I really NEED (one more skirt, and a pair of peep toe flats will probably do it), and of the things I think I really WANT, nothing has struck my fancy hard enough for me to make a special trip to find it on October 1.

Now that I know I have virtually everything I need right in my current closet, I'm wondering just how much less I could work with. And so I'm going one step further: for the next ten days, I will wear only ten pieces from my closet. I'm not counting the yoga pants I sleep in, or my shoes, in those ten pieces; I mean ten articles of clothing, pants and skirts and tops and dresses. That's it. For ten days.



Most of my ten pieces are in the above photo. Two pair of khakis, one cropped, one full length; a pair of black capri pants, a jean jacket, a blue tee shirt; a white tunic; two dresses, one a print wrap dress and one a black V neck. Two more tees--one black and one white--are currently in the laundry. I am thinking, though, that I might need to trade a pair of pants for a skirt and a tee for a tank, since it's supposed to be nearly 90 every day for the next week, which is pretty darn hot, and because these ten pieces need to get me through both my work-at-home week and my soccer mom weekend.

I'm curious about how working with only ten pieces will change the next ten days for me. I'll post pictures every day, here and in The Working Closet Flickr pool, and when I'm done I will let you know how it went.

Ten days. Ten pieces. Good thing my wine fridge is full.

(Tomorrow, at BlogHer AND The Working Closet: Plus size style, for work and play.)

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"Make it Work"*

I'm at BlogHer today, giving you the scoop on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style:

Of course, comparisons to TLC's What Not To Wear and its hosts, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, are inevitable. WNTW is all about teaching participants strategies for getting dressed, and Kelly and London do a terrific job of achieving this end. It also helps that London and Kelly seem to have a real rapport, while Webb and Gunn constantly look as though they've just met and are having a difficult time remembering each other's names.

Short version: meh. I'm enjoying Gunn's book a lot more (just as some of you said I would).

*I suspect Bravo is saying that about Victoria Webb about right now, based on the look of things . . .

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Coveting: Pencil Skirt

If you only buy one thing for fall, think about a pencil skirt.


Banana Republic wool wide waistband pencil skirt, $98.00

I like this one for several reasons: the wide waistband draws attention to the waist line, making it a good option both for curvy figures AND for stick figures like myself. The wide waistband is also forgiving if you have a little tummy (and honestly, who DOESN'T?). The skirt falls straight from the hip, rather than tapering, which makes it incredibly forgiving if you're carrying your weight on the bottom half.

I also really like this length, which is incredibly versatile because it falls just BELOW the knees, drawing attention to what is for most of us the slimmest part of our legs. This length works with a heel OR a flat; stick with a shoe that has a pointy or square toe, rather than something round. If you are very petite, however, you will need to wear a skirt this length with a heel, or go for a shorter hemline and pair with flats. The longer hemline with a flat shoe will make you look shorter, which is not the idea of the long slim skirt.

If you wear a larger size, look for the same details in a pencil skirt--wide waistband, slightly longer length, skirt that falls from the widest part of your hip.

Wear your pencil skirt with a turtleneck and boots or a slingback and a fitted tee, or flats and a cardigan. Add a long necklace to keep the long slim line going (necklace should not hang past the hem of the skirt, please). Dress it up or down, but wear it all the time. The pencil skirt is incredibly versatile and totally hot right now.

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Tuesday Links

At BlogHer, I am remembering The Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, who died yesterday.

In 2006, L'Oreal purchased The Body Shop, which disappointed some of Roddick's supporters, both because of L'Oreal's reputed involvement in animal testing and because of their participation of mainstream marketing of beauty. It is possible to read the sale as a failure of Roddick's vision, but I prefer to see it as the first step toward a complete overhaul of the beauty market. L'Oreal's desire to acquire The Body Shop may be read as a move toward change. I suspect that Anita Roddick saw it that way.

And at The Working Closet, I'm talking about shoes (and that contest, again).

Do you have any tips for online shoe shopping? I see such good deals online, but I’m never sure that I’m finding the BEST deal since there are a bunch of sites and shipping offers and it makes my head spin. Plus there’s the whole buying-without-trying dilemma. And I’m always sure the shoes just won’t be that cute in person. I realize most sites have easy return plans, but if you have any ideas for finding the right shoes in the first place, let’s hear ‘em!

Go! Read! And join the Flickr pool, already.

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The Working Closet Flickr Pool: Now with PRIZES!

First of all, thank you to everyone who is participating in The Working Closet Flickr pool. We're a third of the way through the month, and you all are rockin' the work (and weekend) wear. You all have a great attitude and great shoes and great closets. Thank you for sharing them.

But! Prizes!

The Working Closet, as you may or may not know, is part of Work It, Mom! ("Helping professional moms juggle life"). WIM offers a variety of features, including member articles, blogs, and groups.

And look! The Working Closet has a GROUP! With a PHOTO POOL!

Can you guess where this is going?

For the rest of the month, every photo you upload to The Working Closet group photo pool at WIM enters you in a drawing for one of Andrea Scher's FABULOUS Superhero necklaces. The winner will get to choose from Andrea's fantastic selection (although really, you can't go wrong).

Each photo you add to the Flickr pool and THEN upload to the WIM group enters you in the drawing (add two photos and you will have two chances to win; add ten and you will have TEN chances to win). And while you're over there, stop by the group forum and ask a question or start a discussion.

And then wander around a little bit and see what else you can find.

More details are here. Get registered at WIM and start uploading your photos, and NEXT month you could be showing us your beautiful new Superhero necklace.

Haven't joined the Flickr pool yet? It's not too late! Show us what you're wearing to work TODAY!

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What to Wear to Gymboree: Part Two

Now that we've decided that yoga pants are just fine for crawling around on the floor with your children, let's talk about where to get great yoga pants.

Old Navy has ribbed trim active pants, which are a good basic yoga pant. Available in four colors, including black, in sizes XS to XXL, for $24.50. ON also has smocked gauchos, for an alternative to the yoga pant. Available in three colors, in sizes XS to XXL, for $14.50.

A word of caution about Old Navy: the rise on their yoga pants tends to be VERY low, which may be an issue for you (it is for me, honestly). Their lounge pants, on the other hand, tend to run large, and can be a nice alternative to traditional yoga pants. Keep in mind as well that pretty much ANY "active" wear from ON will be transitional--it's not designed to withstand too much wear and tear.

Looking for something a little more substantial? I've got you covered.


Gaiam has their basic yoga pants on sale right now, for $33.00.



These have an elastic waist that is perfect if you are carrying weight through your midsection. Available in black in sizes S to XL.

Gaiam also offers a boot cut yoga pant, which "offers tummy and backside support." Sign me up. Available in chocolate and black, in sizes S to XL, for $41.00.

Feel like you are hard to fit? Lucy offers three fits and six styles, in sizes 0 to 18. If anyone can cover your backside, it's Lucy. Prices range from $29.00 to $74.00 and Lucy offers free return shipping if you aren't happy with your pants. Also, watch for sales! A sale is ALWAYS good.

Finally, Lululemon makes yoga pants that are rumored to make your ass look fantastic. The Lululemon pants are pricey--around $90.00--and they are not available over the Internet, but if you're living in your yoga pants, these might be worth the splurge.

How should your yoga pants fit? Comfortably, really. Not too tight, but not too loose. What does that mean? It means that we shouldn't be able to see the outline of your underwear through the pants; it means that the crotch should sit at YOUR crotch and not halfway to your knees. The waistband should lie flat; it shouldn't leave marks around your stomach at the end of the day, nor should the waist bunch up when you tie the drawstring.

What about the rest of the outfit? Tees should not pull across your chest or stomach, or gap at the neckline. The shoulder seams shoud sit AT your shoulder, not halfway to your elbow (oh, I wish my HUSBAND would learn that lesson). The hem of your tee should meet the waistband of your pants in the back when you are sitting down.

If you are struggling to fit your post-baby body into your pre-baby tees, start over with a new brand, one that is cut differently, to accommodate your new shape. Look for a tee that is cut a little wider through the midsection; Target has some great options. You want the tee to fit the body you have NOW, not the body you had before you were a mom.

Finally, remember this: your body is a constant reminder that your life has changed, forever. You will have days when you look at yourself in the yoga pants and tee and think this is the rest of my life. But I promise, there will come a day when you have lost the weight and the baby is no longer a baby and you will get up in the morning and put on a cute skirt and a fitted tee and some beautiful shoes and walk out the door. Until then, though (and that day is coming sooner than you think) there is no reason you can't wear practical clothes that fit well and look great and make you happy.

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What to Wear to Gymboree

This is Emily. Isn't she adorable?



That sound you hear is Emily falling over, because she had no idea that I was going to post this picture of her, or even that I had it in the first place. (Chris took it, in Chicago. Remember, Emily?)

Heh heh.

Emily's picture is here because she got me thinking about something--specifically, about how to look nice every day when your day consists of changing diapers and wiping up drool and acting as a human jungle gym/Kleenex/mattress.

Because it IS possible, I swear.

Specifically, Emily wrote this:

Someone remind me exactly how I am going to sit cross-legged on a Cheerio-covered living room floor in a crisp A-line skirt? And how nice will my new embellished suede flats look with decorative drool stains on the toes? And how are Asher and I going to play the crawling game if I keep getting my knees caught in my big swingy jacket?

Oh, but how badly I want to.

Emily is right; it's all well and good to say PUT ON A SKIRT! or SPIFF UP WITH A JACKET! but not everyone's day is skirt and jacket friendly. Alternatively, some of us leave the house during the week but spend the weekends hanging out with a toilet brush and the kids.

Not at the same time, though. At least I hope not.

Casual wear has its place in every closet; there's nothing wrong with yoga pants and a tee. And at some point in most of our lives, we will spend DAYS in that outfit. (Although if that's where you are RIGHT NOW, I would strongly suggest that you have more than ONE pair of yoga pants, so that you are not LITERALLY spending days in the same pants. Please.)

So let's say you're a mom on a budget and you're trying to pick up a few things that will look great on you AND be kid-friendly. What do you shop for?

Tees. A basic cotton tee is a Mommy Wardrobe Staple. For the window where your baby is a baby (and thus prone to gnawing on you, or worse) stick with inexpensive tees and replace them as needed. White is classic, but color (especially pink) can brighten a sleep-deprived face. Look for tees with interesting necklines--a scoop or ballet neck rather than a crew neck, or something with ruching at the bust line, for a little something special. Buy tees that fit the body you have RIGHT NOW; if the size bothers you, tear the tag out. Wash and dry tees inside out to prolong their life.

Yoga pants. Nothing beats a great pair of yoga pants for crawling on the floor with the bambino. BUT--buy yoga pants that FIT YOU, right now, and then replace them as you get smaller and smaller, OR as they wear out or get stained. Black is the most neutral; black is also slimming. Look also for jersey gaucho pants, which are a nice alternative. But REMEMBER: these are YOGA pants, NOT dressy pants. They are for casual days with the baby, NOT for dinner out with your in-laws. Wear them with flip flops or cute athletic shoes.

Hoodie or cardigan. For cooler days, top your yoga pants and tee with a hoodie, or a cute cardigan. Again, find something that FITS--don't wear your husband's college sweatshirt. Please. I'm begging you. Another option for cooler days is to layer a long sleeved tee under a short sleeved tee. VERY cute.

But but but . . . I don't WANT to wear yoga pants all the time!

Cotton chinos. Don't buy anything dry clean only at this point in your life, at least not for the days that you will be sitting on the floor with your beloved. A great pair of chinos, in cotton or a cotton blend, is perfect for days with the kids. Look for flat front pants in a mid-rise, with a straight leg (not tapered or skinny). You can choose from capris or cropped pants, or full-length pants. Even if you're buying inexpensive pieces, have them hemmed if they are too long; DO NOT schlep around in pants that drag on the ground. Khaki is always a good choice, but think too about color. A bright pair of chinos with a white tee is a terrific alternative to the usual white tee and yoga pants.

Jeans. Look for jeans with a little bit of stretch, and a rise that is high enough that you can sit and bend in them. A darker wash is a more grown-up look, one that can go from day to evening. Buy jeans for the size you are RIGHT NOW, and when they get too big, move to a smaller size. Wash inside out to preserve the color, and hang to dry. Yes, I'm serious.

Some bling. Finally--and this is why I wanted Emily's picture up there--accessorize. Yes, I know, babies love to grab and gnaw on jewelry, so choose carefully. Dangly earrings are not necessarily the best choice with a wee little one, but a necklace can work for you (tuck it inside your shirt when the grabby hands start). Emily is wearing a simple white tee here (with a denim skirt that you can't see) and a FANTASTIC necklace from--are you ready?--Target. Yes, really! Because a great accessory doesn't have to break the bank to look lovely.

I love you, Emily. You know that, right?

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Tuesday Links, What I'm Wearing, and What I'm Coveting

BlogHer:

I am fascinated by what this turn in the fashion world says about our culture, about feminism and femininity and social class. This look--the three-quarter-length sleeves with long leather gloves--harkens back to a day when women were ladies and men were gentlemen and everyone knew their place and dressed accordingly. I think we probably do find ourselves longing for that air of refinement and politeness, in a day where the lead story on the news is about an unwinnable war and the tabloids are filled with celebrities who think that underwear and good behavior are both optional.

The Working Closet:

Finally, think about how you can start to transition from your summer wardrobe to your winter wardrobe. I assume that most of us don’t actually HAVE four distinct sets of clothes (spring, summer, fall, winter); instead, we have basic pieces that work in virtually any season and that can be layered for colder weather (tees and tanks, for example). Feel free to mix your colder weather pieces with their warmer weather counterparts (white jeans with a turtleneck, for example) but think carefully about balance; a very light silk skirt will be overwhelmed by your boots. As the weather cools off and you find yourself wearing more layers and more substantial fabrics, put away the lighter, more summery pieces.

Finally, what I'm wearing:



And what I'm coveting.

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Required Reading

The New York Times has a magnificent piece up on our love/hate relationship with fashion.

They have their identities, that is, assembled during the profound daily ritual of clothing oneself; they have, as Colette once remarked, their civilizing masks. And yet, despite its potential as a tool for analyzing culture, history, politics and creative expression; as a form of descriptive shorthand used through all of written history (including the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran); as a social delight, fashion is just as often used as a weapon, a club wielded by those who forget that we are saying something about ourselves every time we get dressed — not infrequently things that fail to convey the whole truth.

And then, when you're done reading, you can show us what you're wearing.


Old Navy tee, Gap skirt, J. Crew flip flops

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What I Wore Today: September 1

Gap blouse, Old Navy pedal pushers, J. Crew grosgrain flats that I think I left in the playroom, or maybe under the dining room table or possibly in the laundry room . . .

It's not too late to show us what YOU are wearing. Flickr pool is here.

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Coveting: Denim Skirt

Denim Pencil Skirt, Old Navy, $29.50

Works because it has a low waist and a flat front, and because it falls straight from the hip (rather than tapering at the hem). Pair with a menswear shirt and low heels, or a cardigan and skimmers, or a turtleneck and knee-high boots. Or any combination of those.

Also perfect with the infamous swingy jacket.


Cropped Trapeze Jacket, Old Navy, $29.50

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