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.
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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. 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. Target Mom Fashion IdeasIt's been a while since I've gone clothes shopping at Target. Honestly, I use their curbside ordering service so much that I hardly ever step foot inside a store. (Side note - I've tried out the Starbucks ordering from the Target app and it was just as amazing as the Target curbside orders normally are. I love Target. The fact that I can get my order quickly and don't have to specify a pick-up window makes all the difference.) Anyway, since I mostly live on the Target app, they've been advertising some cute "mom" fashion ideas with the beginning of the new year. They have some really pretty, vibrant colors that would look amazing in my closet of wintery, boring blacks, browns, and grays. Since I had to run into Target to peruse the Valentines and grab some juice, I figured now was my chance to actually get a look at these new mom fashion ideas at Target. I was very skeptical going into it. Target clothes have never fit me really well. They also have, in my opinion, not washed up the greatest. Sometimes the clothes they advertise too are a little "out there" for my tastes. However, one of my girlfriends always has the cutest outfits on from there so I thought I'd give it a shot for some Target mom fashion ideas and see how the store holds up. Matching Color SetThe color of the matching suit I tried on was so cute, but the fit was just not my favorite. The fabric was soft, but the fit wasn't super comfortable with that large elastic waist band. I also couldn't get past the large ties on the front of the pants. Maybe it's just my short stature, but the ties were overwhelmingly large. I'm not sure I'd go for the set if it wasn't on sale or in those pretty colors. 90's TrendnThere were SO MANY 90's trend items at Target. I just couldn't handle it all. It reminded me so much of walking through Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe back in the day. Don't worry, I looked through all the 90's trendy fashion options to pick the most functional for stylish moms needing a semi-casual look. When I first picked out the pants and skirt, I thought the cargo pockets were a little bit bunch, but the overall fit of the items won me over. I remember being excited when clothes had pockets and these two do NOT leave me wanting for more pockets. Then let's talk the shirts - I loved the fit of both of these and would wear them with other pants I already have in my closet. First, the "A New Day" black jersey pullover was the perfect material and length to double for an under-sweater or jacket business casual outfit. The cropped length too was also just long enough to wear with my beloved athleisure outfits. The lime green T-shirt was a thin fabric, but not too thin. I wasn't sure I was going to like it because it was so long, but I ended up really liking it. It was tight enough all the way down to almost give the appearance of a body suit without being uncomfortable. It came in so many different colors that you don't have to jump right into lime green if you don't want to. Affordable AthleisureI WISH I had found this 3/4 zip jacket first. It was amazing. For only $25 FULL PRICE, it was a steal. It's definitely not as heavy of fabric as my Vuori or Lululemon version, but I just loved the fit of it. The light weight fabric makes it a much better versatile option. I can't often wear my heavier coats and sweatshirts in the house because I get too warm. This would be perfect. It's definitely more affordable athleisure at that price point too. The shorts remind me of some Hotty Hot Lululemon ones that I have in this exact color. The waistband was a little snug, but the fit was absolutely perfect. I loved the length and the style. I'm not sure I'd really workout in any of these clothes, but I'd definitely wear them around the house for comfort and out and about running errands! Corduroy Pull OverThey had a few different oversized pull over shirts like this one on Clearance. I grabbed this one because the Corduroy fabric made it seem less likely to wrinkle very easily with every-day wear. However, it also made it lay a bit larger than I'd like. It wasn't my favorite, but I do love the oversized look.
January Old Navy Sale - Mom FashionIt's finally that time where stores move out the holiday merchandise and start moving in some fresh winter/spring outfits! Can we believe it's already January? Where has this last year gone? You know it's time for some new sales when Bath and Body Works has their semi-annual sale going on (post on that to come later). Click the pictures to link out to the items. Since some of them I snagged on Clearance, you may have to visit the store to see what's still available. One of my favorite Old Navy hacks is looking up a certain item and seeing where you can pick it up in store, so you don't waste time going to a location that doesn't have the item in stock. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the Clearance section at Old Navy. There were left-over loudly printed sweaters and cotton-fabric shirts that wrinkle easily (and didn't have cute cuts). I tended to gravitate more towards the new fashion drops that still had great prices. Athleisure Outfit - Lululemon DupeThis athleisure 3/4 zip jacket is one of my favorite things I tried on. It's definitely a Lululemon dupe for the Scuba or Softstream jacket. The weight of the jacket is just perfect especially for Arizona winters. I have the Vuori version of the jacket (expensive!) and I would argue that the material on that one is much more heavy. The other plus to not having the heavy material is that this jacket lays really nicely. It can be layered easily and do a front tuck into pants if needed. It also came in some other cute colors that weren't too overstated. I personally loved the blue color in person, but the chosen colors were all really nice. The romper underneath in the picture (not the pants I am wearing) was not my favorite. It looked super cute on and it reminded me of the trendy romper bodysuits going around thanks to Skims. The materials was more like a heavy legging though rather than an under-clothes bodysuit. If I was going to wear it around, I would definitely layer something over it like the 3/4 zip jacket. However, some of the sporty-like stitching on it will make it hard to double as anything other than athleisure. I really prefer pieces that I could cover up with and pass off as more than just athletic-wear. Also, I normally have to go with smaller sizes at Old Navy and this item ran SMALL even for the next-size up option I grabbed. I get it's supposed to be tight and suck you in, but with that heavy fabric, I just personally wasn't feeling it. The Ultimate Fall/Winter Business Casual OutfitWe have our annual sales meeting coming up and this outfit may just be my go-to for travel, easy washing and wear. The Old Navy Fashion Sale on business casual hit the mark with this one. This outfit is the one that I keep going back to and wish I purchased. It was insanely cheap and so comfortable. The colors were neutral. You could have gone with a completely singular color blocking option, but I chose to do two different neutral colors. I sized up in the shirt because I didn't want it to be too clingy or too short. The skirt was half a size larger for me (normally I spring for Petites at Old Navy, but the regular option in this was perfect). The neckline was perfect for a longer necklace or even a statement-piece necklace (are those still a thing?). You could also dress it up with some longer earrings instead of a necklace. I'd style it with white tennis shoes (as seen) for a more casual look, or you could dress it up more with boots and pumps. It's so versatile that, for the price, it's definitely an easy go-to outfit. Casual Winter Outfit IdeasI grabbed this denim skirt thinking that it reminded me of skirts I had in junior high and seriously wore ALL THE TIME. It's now time for Old Navy's fashion sale to jump on the 90's trends coming back. I was very skeptical putting it on because the denim is legitimate and heavy. However, the weight is actually perfect for this time of the year. It's definitely not a summer-time skirt. That being said, the long denim skirts have been making a comeback and I fell in love with this one. There were some different wash options, but I opted for the lighter colored one. I also loved the high waist of the skirt. The high-waist cuts allow us to pair those body suits with them if we'd like. I also am really into tucking my shirts in a french tuck in the front and the high-waist bottoms let me do that. It wasn't on sale enough for me to splurge on it, but I'm definitely keep my eye on it for the future. The denim skirt is great because you can pair it with boots, tennis shoes, sandals or pumps depending on wear you are going and the weather outside. The collared sweater top I first paired with it was amazingly soft. I would be a little nervous it might snag with the type of fabric it is, but all cheaper-type sweaters have that snagging ability. The color was great and, again, the weight of this sweater was nice for layering and for an Arizona winter. It came in SO MANY different colors. I grabbed the neutral white/cream, but you could definitely grab a brighter hue if that's more your thing. I think this would look cute with leggings because it does have an over-sized feel to it. You could also pair it with jeans for a casual look. The fitted black shirt was super cute because of the bubble-type fabric. It reminded me of those 90's stretch bubble shirts without being too overly clingy. It gave the shirt a neat texture look. I also am leaning towards more of the cropped shirts over the body suits lately because then I don't have the extra fabric tucking into my pants (it's after the holidays and I don't have the extra room for fabric), and I don't have to worry about panty lines. I liked the more fitted top look with the longer skirt, but really either option could go with the skirt depending on the look you're going for. Finally, this fleece vest is something that I'm worried might be an in-store buy only. It was a great steal at $7. I remember when these first came out at Old Navy before Christmas and I thought they were so cute, but I couldn't justify the price tag for a vest I would only wear a few times here in AZ. That being said, the color variety that came in was cute and I did feel that the fit was nice. I'd opt for the next size larger if you want a more overflow feel. Overall, I'm kind of obsessed with the new drops Old Navy has made. They let me dip my toe into the pool of new fashion without breaking the bank. The pieces are also versatile enough that I can dress them up or down for that perfect mom-fashion look. This January Old Navy fashion sale had me swooning.
Affordable Old Navy Working Mom / Business Casual Fall Fashion IdeasIf you catch the Old Navy sales just right, you can get some really amazing, fashionable deals! The Old Navy of today is NOT the same Old Navy that I grew up with. While I no longer visit Old Navy for the $2 flip flops, I do visit them to check out the latest fashion trends at affordable prices. Who knew that Old Navy would be on top of the trends? Also, when I hear "mom fashion" still, I think baggy and unshapely styles. That is not true of today's mom fashion and that is not true of today's working mom fashion. Working mom fashion can double as business casual and can be dressed up or down accordingly. It doesn't have to be shoulder pads and stuffy button-ups. I have to buy my Old Navy merchandise online because I have to buy the petite sizes that they usually don't carry in stores. (It's actually a real problem.) Old Navy is super size inclusive though even on the petite side. Normally, as long as you purchase $50 of merchandise, you can score free shipping on your purchase. I didn't even know they had petite sizes until I stumbled across them online. I used to never shop there because the clothes never fit quite right. What I love about ordering online is that I can always return anything in the store that doesn't fit right. The other nice thing with Old Navy is that they have SO MANY sizes in SO MANY different styles. They really are size inclusive. The biggest thing I've come to realize with Old Navy is that they are definitely cheaper, faster fashion. That being said, since I have to order online, I do like to visit the store to see the styles I'm interested in before ordering. Usually, everything in store comes in a petite size too or at least the most-trendy styles do. I've come to realize that the online pictures don't showcase the material that well. Sometimes the clothes photograph so well, but in real life, they wrinkle or feel cheap. That's my word of caution ordering from Old Navy. But again, if you don't like it, then return it (within 30 days of course!) Here's my latest fall haul. If you time your purchase right, there is usually some type of promo. I happened to catch an extra 30-40% off sale (yay!). High-Waisted StretchTech Split-Hem Wide-Leg Pants |
Graphic Tees and Stylish Polo
2. A Good Fitting Graphic T-shirt and a Collared Shirt- If you have little kids, you know you have to be ready to pick them up at any point in time. My children are little enough that they cling to my leg. They like to grab at my pants and my shirt. My days of strapless and spaghetti strapped shirts are in the past for me as a mom right now. I am just too nervous that we’ll have a child-aided wardrobe malfunction. How you wear your graphic t-shirt can be up to you. Sometimes I love a good boyfriend tee tied up. Sometimes I love a good boyfriend tee with a French tuck into my leggings or shorts. Sometimes though, I love a good tight fitting tee that won’t blow in the wind. This is where personal style comes into play. Similarly, I buy graphic tees that have graphics that make me happy (with some discretion). I won’t buy a graphic t-shirt just because it’s “trendy” if I don’t like the color, the logo, etc.
What’s the deal with the collard shirts? I am not talking boxy, unflattering polos, but golf and tennis polos are so trendy right now - so are beach and menswear polos. These staples are so effortless but they give off that put-together look. They are definitely a mom fashion go-to.
What’s the deal with the collard shirts? I am not talking boxy, unflattering polos, but golf and tennis polos are so trendy right now - so are beach and menswear polos. These staples are so effortless but they give off that put-together look. They are definitely a mom fashion go-to.
Comfy White Tennis Shoes
3. Comfy Shoes - No, not orthopedic inserts. My husband makes fun of me because I just can't turn down a good, cute comfy shoe. As a mom, we wear a lot of hats. Whether we are chasing after the kids, making dinner, being a boss, doing laundry or even working out, we are on our feet a lot! Mom style is - sorry- not wearing shoes that you can’t walk in. It is not getting blisters and taking your shoes off halfway through the day like back in the walk-of-shame college days. That is not mom fashion. There’s not a particular mom fashionable shoe, but definitely comfy shoes you can walk in.
Easy Mom Accessories
4. Easy Accessories - At least for me, gone are the days of lots of accessorizing and coordinating. I have a few staple, universal jewelry pieces that are my go-to for every day use. Throwing on a cute gold-bar necklace definitely adds to the put-together factor. Also - if the bracelet has elastic, then I am so much more apt to wear it then struggling with a clasp for 5-10 minutes. That’s 5-10 minutes that I don’t have!
Cute Comfy Matching Sets
5. Matching Sets - These are so trendy right now and so perfect for moms. I literally cannot have enough matching sets in my wardrobe. While they are definitely more on the casual side, throwing on a matching set instantly makes you look like you put thought into your outfit. It’s an effortless - “hey! I matched today” statement.
Easy, Comfy Rompers
6. Rompers - I love rompers so much more than dresses. I never thought I would say that, but when I’m constantly playing on the ground and bending over to pick things up, it’s so much easier to be in a romper than a dress.
Unique Belt Bag/ Fanny Pack
7. Fanny Pack/Crossbody Belt Bag- Regardless of what you want to call it, this bag is the ultimate in mom fashion right now. It’s also super functional. As moms, we juggle A LOT - literally and figuratively. A lot of times are hands are really full. This bag is amazing for keeping your few personal belongings close by. I love it because so often my clothes do not have pockets - or if they do, I worry my heavy phone is stretching out the fabric. These bags allow me to keep my phone close by to capture those cute moments with my kids while also not having to keep it in my hand the entire time. You can, of course, customize your bag to your own personal style. We’re talking different colors, different fabrics, different patches.
Mom fashion will change through the years. We change too. With a wave of new moms, they may develop new needs. Fashion sometimes becomes a way to solve these problems while staying stylish. The most important thing about mom fashion though is staying true to yourself!