BEST KID STORAGE FOR SCHOOL PAPERS + ART DRAWINGSWhy are "storage" and "school papers" words that immediately make me cringe and give me extreme anxiety? My walls are full of children art drawings. Ever since my oldest son learned how to use the tape, he has been single-handedly displaying all of his beautiful art creations all over my walls. I know it's only a finite time that my son will be this little and will proudly be displaying his art work. I know it's actually really cute and no one who comes to our house really cares that there are scribbles hanging on every wall. However, the artwork EVERYWHERE is very difficult to handle for this type A mama. It gives off a clutter vibe that I just am not ready to embrace. I don't think it would bother me AS MUCH if it was confined to one room of the house, but the drawings are literally in every room of the house quite practically everywhere you look. It's just a little much stimulation for an already over-stimulated mama. On top of the artwork he creates at home, his preschool sends home every artwork and paper that he does in class. It's great and I love being a part of it, but again, it's A LOT of paperwork that he is very proud of. I kept thinking that there had to be a better way to store these. I started keeping some of their keepsake things in random paper boxes and reusable bags. I tried my best to keep up with the dates on the back of the papers to keep them straight, but the papers started to overwhelm the storage spots just like they have overwhelmed the walls. Also, the problem here is that there wasn't an easy way for my son to access his papers. He loves to remember and see the work he's done. Still, there had to be something better, right? I stumbled across these boxes from a Facebook mom's group I'm in and decided that I could definitely create something similar for a fraction of the cost that they were asking for them. Thanks to Amazon, I found all the supplies and didn't even have to leave the house. Here is my solution to the overwhelming art-work walls. It's a hanging folder storage box to keep their precious papers safe. Each child has his own box. The hanging folders are separated by year of age. You could also separate by grade level if your child is older and you're wanting to save school papers. The hanging folders can be a single folder or an accordion style folder if you are needing to save quite a few items (that's us!). I got some stick-on letters since I don't have a Cricut machine myself, but you could always just draw or print out a fancy looking label too. The best part of this storage solution is that my son can access his own papers and STORE IS OWN PAPERS. My mind was blown when he started taking his favorite creations off the wall and putting them into the box to "keep them safe." Here are all the materials I used and the links. Let me know if you have other ways to manage kids' storage and school papers! Here are the links:
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Secret for How to Get Dressed Quickly for Work with KidsFor the quick version, check out my Instagram video here. When we have kids and a job and a routine that we need to keep up, we don't have the luxury anymore to take our time getting ready. We have to get ready for the day quickly...including, we have to get dressed quickly for work. Sometime I am envious of jobs that wear a uniform, because you already know what you have to wear. In the corporate world, we have to look put together despite all the chaos going on behind the scenes in the life of a mom. When I am getting dressed I like to keep functionality at the forefront of my game plan. Usually I am going from work to some function for my kids. I usually opt for work pants when I can. I own many work skirts and work dresses, but my schedule for the day has to be right for me to want to pull out one of these. If I am going to pick a skirt or dress, I usually grab the dress because I don't have to pair it with another item of clothing. I put on the dress and I am good to go. However, if I am grabbing for my work pants, I still have to think through outfit coordination while I am getting dressed. And I always have to think through how I am feeling that day when I'm grabbing pants. What do I mean? I can't be the only one who chooses pants based upon how bloated they are feeling that day. The more bloated, the more limited my choices. That being said, I found the perfect pants for bloating and non-bloating days that help you get dressed quickly for work with kids. Enter the Jamie Pant from J. Crew Factory. Oh my gosh, this is the holy grail of work pants. I'm not even kidding. These pants are the absolute perfect length for petite girls like me. I'm 5' 1" and don't have to get the regular length hemmed at all when I am wearing with a slight wedge. (talking kitten wedge here) They also pair amazingly well with so many different types of shirts because of the flat fronted waist band. The waist line is elastic which helps with the pant's versatility. However, the flat front of the waistband is where the magic happens because you can tuck basically any shirt into these pants and get a cute lay. J Crew Factory makes the Jamie Pant in many different colors and prints. You have to time the search just right because, often times, the prints are seasonal. If you do see a seasonal print in the Jamie Pant, I'd wait it out. Usually these pants migrate over to the clearance section with most of the sizes still available. If you are going with a print in the Jamie Pant, then go for a neutral, single block of color on the top. If you are going neutral on the bottom with the Jamie Pant, then you can go neutral also or printed on the top. Finally, if you are waiting for the solid-colored Jamie Pants to go on clearance, they never will. If you are a Bargain Hunter like me, your best bet is to snag the solid-colored Jamie Pants during on of their full-price merchandise sales. Buy now and thank me later! You'll be getting dressed quickly with kids in time with these pants! Find the Jamie Pant at J Crew Factory here. LONG HAIR, HAIR TIPS FOR HAIR GROWTH - NO WASH ROUTINEI love my long hair, but I need all the tips on what to do with it to continue hair growth. I attribute my long hair to pregnancy hormones, prenatal vitamins and laziness. A friend of mine told me when I was pregnant with Cal to never cut my long hair because if I wasn't pregnant again, it would never grow back and that stayed with me. I wore long extensions (hey, Jessica Simpson) for YEARS of my life. I, by no means, had short hair, but I didn't have the long, healthy hair that I wanted. And the thought of losing my long hair after pregnancy and going back to those extensions made me so nervous. But there are some things that were different back in those extension days than what was happening right now. Back then, I was causing all sorts of problems for my hair. I was coloring it blonde which my hair did not like at all. I was heat styling it multiple times a day. I was back combing constantly. I was washing it every single day. I was using tight elastics. And my diet was definitely not doing my hair any favors. That being said, now as a mom, my need to for healthy hair is also partly because I need to be able to have fast hair styles. I actually don't have time to wash and blow dry my long hair every single day any more. I need my hair to be a lot more cooperative than it's ever been in my life. As an active, working mom of 2, it's tough to go multiple days without washing my hair. I work out 5-7 days a week and that builds up quite a bit of sweat on my scalp which definitely makes me think I need a good wash. Here's my routine of what's been working for me over the past couple of months: Goal: Go at least 3 days without washing my hair No Wash Hair Routine DaysOn days where I am not going to wash my hair, I will sweat-style my hair. What that means, is I will blow dry that sweat into my hair. I use Bumble and Bumble Post Workout Dry Shampoo. I spray some on, rub it into my hair and style my hair with my blow dryer. I linked out to it for you too! I did invest in the Shark hair dryer. It's cheaper than the Dyson and it dries my hair in a short amount of time. I also notice less breakage as the science behind the Shark creates let heat damage for the hair. I'll also go to bed with some dry shampoo on my hair. Before crawling into bed, I will spray on some dry shampoo. There were a lot of recent studies that came out showing a link between dry shampoo and cancer. I really do like the Batiste Dry Shampoo, and sometimes I definitely do still spray it on. (If you do get the Batiste, the Tropical smell is the BEST and I linked it!) I don't feel like it leaves much of a residue on my hair (and I have tried SO MANY different dry shampoos). But if I want to be more healthy, I'll actually use some homemade dry shampoo. Homemade Dry Shampoo: (Equal Parts) Spray some of that homemade dry shampoo on at night and rub it into your scalp to absorb the oils overnight while you sleep. It seriously makes all the difference. In between shampoo days, I just ordered this apple cider vinegar wash. It is supposed to work great to rinse the hair clean of sweat and build up without stripping the hair of essential nutrients like shampoo does. Pre-Hair Wash NightsThe nights before I was my hair is when I like to load up on hair-wash treatments. For scalp treatment, I put some Rosemary oil drops directly on my scalp. You do smell a little bit like an Italian Restaurant, but it's great for hair growth! Since I only put the Rosemary oil drops directly on the scalp to help with new hair growth, I also want to do something to protect and help seal the split ends. On the ends of my hair, I'll add a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment. These are my two favorites and they're linked for you to check out other reviews: The next morning is that glorious wash day and your hair will be excited for the refresh. Why focus on long hair and hair growth?It's not so much focusing on the long hair as it is the healthy hair and hair growth. Our hair is such a part of us. For moms, it's the messy bun and no heat styles that become our signature look. Good habits that give us back time that we don't have are definitely worth it! No Heat HairstylesCheck out my favorite no heat hairstyle here!
Easy Mom Hack - How to Limit Screen TimeI'm sure we have all seen the viral reels where people write down options on index cards, turn the index cards backwards facing, and have someone select one of the cards as whatever options they are going to choose. It's a fun and easy way to make a decision especially if you are indecisive. That being said, it's also a great and fun mom hack on how to limit screen time for your kids. My kids have trouble transitioning out of screen time. I don't blame them. I love laying on the couch too. They do so much better, however, when they have a plan and something actionable to move to. These cards create an element of suspense and fun. I take 3-4 cards and write 3-4 non-screen time related activities on them. My kids like it when I switch up the activities we write down so we don't have too many repeats. They get excited to do something new and ALWAYS play by the rules and do what's on the card. Try it and let me know if your kids love this mom hack on how to limit screen time as much as my kids do! HOW TO STYLE PLAID DRESS PANTS FOR WOMENIt was the 90s and early 2000s when plaid pants and plaid dress pants especially were all the rage. Plaid dress pants have stayed a pretty constant in fashion in muted colors and patterns. However, plaid is getting a resurgence in new fashion lately. The problem is that all of us that lived the last plaid dress pant phase were in junior high or even elementary school. How we have to style the plaid pants now needs to be very different (although, let's be honest, so much of fashion has swung back around in the other direction and we probably could sneak in a few other early 2000s trends too). The question becomes, "How does a millennial mom jump on the plaid dress pant trend with minimal effort, but a classy fit?" The answer is fairly simple if you stick to some basic styling rules when you have a "loud" and "statement" print like plaid. Here are the fashion rules to stick to when selecting the perfect plaid outfit: Style Rules for Plaid (Work) Pants1) Keep it neutral up top. Shirts that are all one color are the way to go. You can mix and match fabrics and styles, but keep the colors solid and muted. (If you are picking a graphic tee, choose something pretty basic in color with one large graphic and no patterns.) 2) Keep the shoes neutral too. You have enough going on with the plaid pants. Don’t get too fancy on the bottom too. It’s a great time to bring in basic flats or white tennis shoes. 3) If you’re jumping on the plaid pant trend, don’t trend too hard in other directions. This is your statement piece. Keep jewelry minimal too. 4) Depending on how the pants fit, you can looser or tighter with your top. If the pants are tighter, you can go looser on top. If the pants are baggier, try for a body suit or tighter top to add more definition and contouring. 5) Live those 2000 glory days again, mama! Don’t think too hard about it. The best accessory is confidence. Easy Ideas to Style Plaid PantsCasual Mom Outfit - Neutral Sweater and Plaid Dress Pants![]() With this outfit choice, I grabbed a neutral beige sweater from my closet. This one also gives us the early 2000s vibes with the tight fit and waist length. Loafers are also back in style and they look great with the plaid pants for a dressed up or dressed down look. This stays true to rule #1 which is to keep that top neutral on the top so we don't clash with patterns and contrasting colors. Make sure those colors compliment each other too. GET THE PANTS HERE. Find a similar shirt here. Or try this one for the exact same fit! Business Casual Mom Outfit with Plaid Dress Pants
Casual Mom Outfit - Oversized Sweater with Dress Plaid Pants![]() D Who doesn't love an oversized sweater look? I want to wear all the oversized sweaters while I can right now. You can do a cute little French tuck up front or do the cute tuck into the sports bra for a lifted look in the front. Pair with some casual shoes for a comfy dressed-down outfit. Try an oversized sweater like this one. Find the shoes here. Graphic Tee, White Sneakers, + Plaid Pants = Casual Mom Outfit
Mom Bodysuit, Blazer, and Plaid Dress Pants![]() Bodysuits are all the rage. I snagged this one from Forever 21 a while ago. It has a dressier material and top so that I can toss over a trendy blazer and be ready to take this outfit from the office to happy hour. (Or let's be honest, we are taking it from a parent/teacher conference to the playground.) Find a similar bodysuit here. Let me know if you try out any of these plaid dress pant looks for inspo! Remember to stick to the five rules if you get stuck!
Forever 21 Floral Dress for Easter/SpringI was on a recent search for two things - a floral dress to wear for Spring/Easter and some new outfits at Forever 21 to show that my favorite stomping ground was still relevant to me. Why is it that as a mom of two and clearly not a young mom of two that I just can't quit the Forever 21 habit? I wrote about my love of Forever 21 in another blog post. I'll link it here if you really want to follow me down that rabbit hole. The problem is that I remember the Forever 21 good old days. Sure, it was always a hunt to find something. Sure, the clothing quality was never great. Sure, I always felt a little self conscious knowing my entire wardrobe was from Forever 21. But it was a thing. It was a big part of my life. When I was in college, you could always count on finding quick, affordable fashion items there. It really was like a hunt too. I would visit different locations because, let's be honest, they all carried different things. When I started working full time and traveling around the country, I would stop at every shopping mall I passed just to visit Forever 21. The dedication and love I had was real...and until a really recent age. That being said, it took me about 2 weeks to find the outfits I wanted to purchase from Forever 21. I don't mean 2 weeks to debate between which lovely styles I was going to purchase either. It took 2 weeks to find enough floral dresses that would be acceptable for me to wear and I invested a lot of time searching. This tells me two things... 1) There are A LOT of floral dresses online at Forever 21 2) There are A LOT of raunchy dresses online at Forever 21 Which leads me to the conclusion that I really should find some more age-appropriate stores to dedicate my time towards. So instead of actually just reviewing the floral dresses like normal, I actually wanted to compare them to what they're actually like at Forever 21 too. I mean, how realistic are the pictures of Forever 21 floral dresses to what I had on my 5 foot, mom of 2 frame? Satin Floral Print Midi Dress from Forever 21This floral dress did not fit me the best. I would also argue that it shouldn't be called a midi dress and instead be a maxi dress. I mean, look at the length even on the model who is definitely taller than 5 foot nothing like I am. That being said, I was pretty obsessed with this dress. In a *spoiler alert* shipment of mostly duds, this was my absolute favorite dress. I'm linking it on the picture below and here. The slit was high, but it wasn't too high. It was fun and flirty. The print was amazing. I felt really girly in it. The problem for me was the chest area and the length of the dress. The neckline was adjustable. You could pull those little ties to make it tighter which definitely helped. I also didn't have a bra on in the picture, so some extra padding for us flat chested girls would be helpful. The length was also a bit long for my petite size. That being said, I do think it would shrink up some in the wash and be a perfect length with heels or wedges. Would I keep it? I'm debating it. I think it'd be a really cute dress for a wedding. I'm not sure I would wear it for Easter. I'm also debating keeping it for family photos although I'm worried one grab by the littles could pull the dress down or the slit up. (Am I the only one who is VERY particular what I will wear around my kids to avoid wardrobe malfunctions?) This floral dress from Forever 21 was definitely my favorite of the bunch, so wait and see what's next! Floral Smocked Sleeve Midi Dress This floral dress does not 100% look like the same print in the pictures. I've never gone back and done a comparison before on the prints and now I'm wondering about that. It's close but not the whole enchilada of the print. Here are my struggles with this dress. I knew it was going to be a long shot because I do typically have to order XS because of my bust size and this one only came in S. That being said sometimes the XS are too tight, so I had some hope. The hope quickly went away. You can watch my entire trial video on my Instagram. I couldn't get the sleeves to stay up like in the picture, and we were a small tug away from the entire dress falling down. The material was kind of an organza feeling material. It just didn't lay on me as nice as it did on the model in the picture. I would recommend it if you are not completely on the petite side of sizing. I do think it has great potential as a floral dress option. I also think it would be amazing as hiding some extra tummy love because of the cut and style of the dress. I will link it here for you! Floral Print Chiffon Maxi DressThis floral dress is a maxi and I should have realized from the pictures and the descriptions that I was going to have the usual problems. The bust is too large and the length is too long for my petite frame. That being said, I again, did not hate the dress. It was just way too much dress for me. This picture actually looks way cuter than it looked in person...trust me. The print was cute and I would argue it's less muted than it is in the Forever 21 picture which is actually a good thing. It was just a lot of dress for my tastes. Someone that is a little bit larger boned than me would be amazingly beautiful in it. There was a snap enclosure on the neckline, but it didn't do much for me and was a bit plunging. I also think the length was too long even with a good washing and maybe drying. I do think the cut of the waistline is super flattering for hiding some unwanted pounds. Linking it here. What did I learn about Forever 21 Floral Dresses?Here's the thing, I didn't really learn anything new. I feel like I just need to reinforce these lessons every now and again. Yes, I need to be selective at what I purchase at Forever 21. Yes, some of the clothes do not fit me well, so I need to stick to the sizes that I know I can wear.
I have more luck with shorter dresses than maxi dresses because of the obvious reasons. The quality is there in the dresses if you look for it. You really have to be selective to find the perfect floral dress at Forever 21. You are still getting cheap fashion that probably won't last to be an every day garment, but for a special occasion floral dress, you might get lucky. I just saw they released even more floral dress options, so there might be a part 2 coming soon, because I just can't quit the Forever 21 habit at 35, Legging Legs for All OccasionsDid you know that Legging Legs is a trending term right now? I was today years old when I learned what legging legs meant. According to the Internet, legging legs are the perfect athletic legs that look great in athleisure leggings. That is impeccable timing because leggings are exactly what I've been styling lately. Covid definitely didn't help my dislike of real pants. Remember when people would give women a hard time saying "leggings aren't pants." Well, I beg to disagree. I think we can get away with leggings more times than not if we style them correctly. I always think of it as a game when I start putting outfits together. Normally, I'll throw on my leggings after my pajamas in the morning. I'll wear my comfy clothes as long as I can before I have to change into more appropriate attire. The problem is, you see, that I really don't want to change out my leggings half the time. They are more comfy and, in my opinion, look better than actual pants. I will take my legging legs all day every day if I can. That's when I realized that I could make a little challenge out of styling leggings as many ways as I could without making them look like the yoga pants they are. When I was in kindergarten, I was dedicated to my black cotton stretch pants. Basically, I've improved in the fabric, but beyond that, not much else has changed. I still love a good black stretch pant. Here are the top rules to live by to get away with styling those legging leg leggings. (See what I did there?) Top Rules for Styling Legging Legs
Don't mind me. I'll just be over here with my "legging legs" living my best life for every single occasion.
FEBRUARY H&M JEANS, H&M DRESS, H&M SWEATER HAULI haven't been to H&M in FOREVER. Does anyone remember when they first came to the US and it was such a big deal? H&M jeans and dresses were EVERYWHERE. I think that was probably the last time that I visited the store. I used to absolutely love it. I remember that they were supposed to be affordable, fast fashion. Their sizing was a little strange when they first came from Europe and their styles were also a bit European, but I overall had a good relationship with them. I'm not sure when I stopped visiting H&M. I think they started creating more expensive lines which is not ideal when you're a broke college student. Recently, all my social media platforms have been advertising H&M as something I'd be interested in, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Why not, right? Unfortunately, there isn't an H&M super close to me. Maybe that's why I haven't visited them in a while! I drove down to my old college stomping ground. Felt really old since everyone working there was in college, but found some really great finds! I renewed my love of H&M jeans, H&M dresses and H&M sweaters. H&M JeansH&M jeans used to be the go-to jeans. I used to love them and had a pair that I wore forever and basically wore until they were completely worn out. The H&M I visited had a variety of different jean styles and cuts. They also had plenty of different washes in the different styles which I appreciated. I absolutely loved their Mom Jeans and their H&M mom high ankle jeans. This is especially important and hard to find for someone short and petite like me. I tried two different styles of jeans and really gravitated to the more tapered, slightly more expensive version. H&M jeans feel expensive with the weight of the fabric and denim, but they are actually really affordable for what you get. You can tell the difference in how the jeans laid in the two pictures below. You can also definitely feel the quality difference. The right hand side picture are the mom high ankle jeans and they are absolutely amazing. They had a nice snug feel and cut at the right high waist part of my small torso. I'm not sure if these cargo, tapered H&M pants technically count as H&M jeans, but we are going to throw them in there as a colored jean option. The pockets on the back definitely gave me some more shape. They were skinny, but cute with the added cargo. I didn't feel like the pockets were overwhelming like I sometimes do with cargo options. Like all H&M jeans, these came in SO MANY COLORS/WASHES. H&M SweatersWhile I was obsessed with the mom high ankle jeans, I was also obsessed with all the sweaters I tried on and couldn't get over the price and the quality feel. My favorite sweater is definitely the tweed printed one. You could dress up a pair of jeans nicely with it or pair it with some dress pants for a business casual feel. This came in different colors and patterns and was an amazingly affordable price. The vest was amazing for $12. It came in different colors and could be dressed up or down depending on what you wore under it (or didn't add under it). I loved it too! There are so many ways to incorporate this into an outfit. Finally, I thought I would love the sweatshirt. It was really cute with the buttons and embroidery. I didn't love the way it fit. I am weird and particular about ballooning sweaters versus more straight cut sweatshirts. However, for the price, it was great and they had different colors too! I'm telling you, the variety of colors here is amazing! H&M DressThis dress was so comfortable! It was a little short for me with what I wear to work, but looking at this picture, that feels more in my head than anything. The buttons ran all the way from the collared neck to the bottom hem. The skirt was cut to be more flouncy and bouncy. There was a waist tie that added some dimension. I couldn't find the dress on the H&M site. Like I mentioned though, there is SO MUCH on the site that navigation is a little hard. There are similarly printed dresses and similarly cut dresses that I could find on their site and link below though! H&M Matching SetI felt like I was channeling my inner Housewife in this outfit. Erika Jayne on the Housewives of Beverly Hills wore something similar in the latest episode. You are definitely paying for the expensive look on these pieces. I don't know that they felt as expensive as they actually were. That being said, they were very comfy and I think you could work at styling them a few different ways to make them work. Honestly, I loved all the different styles combined in a single store. They had some really great finds. I would go shopping here for a wardrobe refresh or looking for a new specific outfit. I renewed my love for H&M jeans, H&M dresses, and H&M sweaters. Easy Laundry Tip for MomsI swear the one thing no one talks about when having kids is how much laundry they accumulate. As babies, I didn't think it was as big of a deal. Sure, they'd spit up, but their clothes were tiny and people always gifted me so much of it. Now as kids get bigger, the laundry piles get bigger! There are pajamas, school clothes, sports uniforms, etc. I don't know about your kids, but mine are not really clean eaters, so there's always some spilled food around too. That being said, I was spending SO MUCH time doing their laundry and my laundry and my husband's laundry that other laundry items fell to wayside. Laundry items like our bedding. EW. My husband never washed his sheets in college...like literally never. It was gross. Even if I go over a week without washing the bedding, I get super grossed out. The dogs come and jump in the bed. The kids eat in the bed. There is just a lot of crumbs and dirt that randomly gets brought onto the bed. Here's how I figured out how to solve the problem without adding to the stress.... We created a laundry routine. Yep, I decided to embrace the problem and focus on it. Every Friday morning, the kids help me strip all the beds and that is what I wash that day. They are also responsible for helping me make the beds (as much as they can). This is one of the first responsibilities they have around the house and it has been game changing! It has made my life so much easier because I know every Friday morning, we wash the bedding. It's one less thing I have to keep track of. Let's face it, that laundry is going to pile up anyway, so we have to make the best of it that we can! How to Dress for WorkI love fashion, but when it comes to how to dress for work, my creativity just stifles. The color pallet is your basic navy, black and grey - no real room for personality (unless you look for it). I don't like stuffy pant suits. I don't like looking like a powerhouse lawyer and overdressing for my audience. I don't like wearing heels and letting everyone know I'm coming down a hallway. I drive and walk for longer periods of time than I would like, so everything has to be super comfortable too. I do like being comfortable. I do like feeling confident. I do like colors (in moderation). I do like saving money. For so long, my theory on shopping was spending minimal amounts of money on work clothes (since I enjoy them the least) and more money on trending fashions that I get to wear on the weekends. As flawed as my thinking really is, I'd like to say that I've changed my attitude, but I really haven't. I KNOW...yes, I know...that investing in good business casual pieces will last me so much longer. I KNOW that there are good working pants out there. I just literally refuse not to buy things on sale and spend tons of money on them. How to dress for work definitely depends on wear you work. When I was teaching, I could wear more jeans than I do now. When I worked in a corporate office, I dressed a lot more formal than I do in my role right now. As much as I hate to say it, your company definitely determines an extent of your work wardrobe. That being said, it doesn't have to control everything that you wear (unless you obviously have a uniform, in which case, you already know what to wear for your 5 days of work). Here are my top 5 tips on how to dress for work: 1. Comfortable Work ClothesYour outfit sets the tone for your day. I know, that sounds dorky, but it's true. If you feel confident in your outfit, then you'll exude that confident. If you think your pants are feeling a little tight today or your shirt is a little short, you'll be thinking about it the rest of the morning, afternoon and evening until you change. Ultimately, you have to choose clothes that you feel comfortable in not comfortable clothes (there is a difference). If you find something that works, I'm not opposed to repeat purchases (in different colors) or repeat outfits (in moderation). Also, know that our mood and bodies change every single day. What feels great one day, may not feel great the next and that's ok. If we embrace how we are feeling on a given day, then finding the right outfit gets easier. Don't push yourself to wear things you don't feel comfortable in. For me, I don't feel comfortable in blazers and high heels all the time. It's overdressing for my customers and I think it gives a standoffish impression in my business. However, maybe flats make you feel the same way. Maybe high heels make you feel confident and comfortable. Embrace the feelings! These pants (pictured below) and sweater (pictured below) are tighter fitting than most of my clothes. I only wear them on days where I am feeling confident and not bloated. That's ok! I know when I want to wear them and on the days I do, I feel confident and COMFORTABLE in them. It took me a while to warm up to the wide-legged pants and that's ok too. 2. Work Clothes for Your PersonalityI think this is why I avoided buying new work clothes for so long. Nothing seemed to reflect my personality. I am not a corporate climbing monster. I enjoy clothes that make me look approachable and girly. I also know that I look much younger than I actually am and want my clothes to understand that, but be age appropriate. There are so many brands out there. You don't have to live and breathe by one brand or store alone. Maybe your personality comes through in your shoes and you love shoes. Maybe you love bags. Maybe you love accessories. Maybe you love makeup and just have to tolerate clothes and look for ideas (that's ok too). We all have some sort of fashion personality and it's ok to show that even in work clothes. See below for my LOUD pink and red skirt that I love! 3. Incorporate Casual Clothes Into Work ClothesThis is so true! The fashion rules in the workplace have changed so much over the past couple of years. You can get away with incorporating more casual pieces into your outfits. Some easy casual pieces to add include:
This sweater (seen below) is usually paried with leggings. I decided to put it with my work pants and do a nice French tuck for a winning working look. 4. Invest in SOME pieces As much as it kills me to say to invest in some pieces, there are just certain staples you can't live without and it's ok to invest in some of them. I don't like to overpay for anything. Really, if it isn't on some sort of sale, I usually won't buy it. But work pants and shoes (and even a blazer) are certain items that just need to be invested in most of the time. For instance, I've had these work pants (pictured below) since I graduated college roughly 13+ years ago. I have had the sweater for almost as long. I invested in the Tory Burch wedges and wear them at least 1-2 times a week. I paid about $8 for the turtleneck sweater underneath and you wouldn't know that I've mixed cheap and semi-expensive pieces together for an outfit. 5. Don't Overthink ItI change my outfits so many times because I overthink the fashion. I worry that someone will think I'm dressing too young or think I'm not formal enough.
I've had the vest (pictured below) for probably 5 years and have never worn it. Finally, I made myself wear it BECAUSE I LIKE IT. I stopped overthinking what I looked like and wore it for a casual work lunch meeting with my favorite boots. I was so excited to finally wear it and I felt HAPPY. |