Getting Mom’s Fashion Groove Back | Gone are the dog days of summer. The kids are headed back to school with boxes of sharpened pencils and a bevy of crisp, new clothes. So mom, it’s time to boldly cast off your own cargo shorts and oversized tees in favor of something a little more chic. Whether you work inside or out of the home, here are some ways to survive the transition from haggard summer cruise director to dashing household maven.
First, make sure you’re dipping into an organized closet of appropriately-fitted clothing. You’re inevitably going to reach for a pair of sweats if they’re the closest to the door and the only thing that fits. Periodically re-evaluate your collection, checking for signs of wear and ensuring proper sizing.
Next, make sure you have at least one high-quality pair of jeans. Denim is a mom’s best friend, and the higher the quality, the better the pairing it will make with everything from a cashmere sweater to a button down shirt. But if designer denim and its impossibly model-esque proportions are off-putting, try “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans:” a line of denim dedicated to the curves of real women, but with the tight weave, dark pigment and slimming effects of other, more expensive lines. Find them at Nordstrom at Towson Town Center, or online at www.Nordstrom.com.
Statement accessories – like a bold necklace, fringy scarf, fedora or chunky heel – are a great way to add instant impact to an otherwise simplistic outfit. Leggings and a long tunic are entirely re-vamped with over-the-knee boots or a cuff bracelet. One piece is often all it takes to turn up the volume.
Finally, if you’re headed out the door in a hurry, lipstick and a pair of oversized sunglasses do wonders for your appearance in the carline. Sometimes, the best dressing is simply a form of camouflage.
Baltimore-based Be Mom Couture (www.bemomcouture.com) also makes the transition for summer to swanky a bit easier with trunk shows offering handbags, clothing and accessories dedicated to six mom fashion “personalities” (from “global mommy” to “sugar mommy”). Their e-commerce site is set to launch later this year.
And, if you want a little couture for your kiddies, try Dante Beatrix’ (www.dantebeatrix.com) line of high-end backpacks, lunchboxes, wheelie bags and totes. Prices start at $34 and the line has already garnered national attention for its charming and functional designs. After a little bit of your own fashion finessing, your kids might just want to catch up.
Sarah Perry is an eleven-year native of the Baltimore area and has been writing for about that long. She is the author of the fashion blog www.prayingforprada.wordpress.com, a style writer for www.BMoreMedia.com, a www.ShopItToMe.com “Trendsetter” and a Baltimore fashion writer for www.Examiner.com. She’s also a lawyer, but don’t hold that against her.
Photo Credit: Tracy Dietrich | www.tracydietrich.com
