Fashion…
If asked about my fashion sense, I will tell you I am stuck in the 2010 and earlier years… So I basically have none. You see… I have worked in a hospital or lab since high school and with that I wore the best outfit possible… Scrubs!!! I have never really had to dress up for work so I really don’t know how. Now as a stay at home mom… I want to be comfortable to carry my purse/diaper/snack bag, push my double stroller and run after two energetic kids. For me comfortable is leggings, sweat pants or yoga pants a hoody and my flip-flops, sneakers or Uggs. Rarely do I wear makeup and my hair is usually in a ponytail or bun (I have long curly hair). I tend to feel over dressed if I’m wearing jeans and a nice shirt because I spend all day running errands, keeping my girls occupied with various activities and play dates, cooking, cleaning and working my businesses… My day to day does not include time to think let alone compose an outfit.
For me…
I will honestly admit that my four and six year old daughters have more of a fashion sense than me. They are both at the stage where they want to dress themselves in the morning. They choose what they wear and they put it on themselves (yes that includes my 4 year old and yes that makes for long mornings). I don’t understand how they can pull out a hot pink shirt with elf green leggings or black and white striped pants and a green and blue polka dot shirt… Throw on their rainbow colored sneakers and look so darn cute!!! I end up standing there wondering if an outfit like that would look good on me. But the more I look at my girls the more I learn. And yes… my girls have taught me about fashion. I have learned 3 major things.
1. It is okay to wear patterns and mix them!
Wearing patterns can be scary let alone mixing them, after all how do you know what patterns are compatible with each other? But you know what…. The only way to know is to try! I have been making an effort to be more bold with my outfit choices and attempting to wear and mix patterns. Of course I look online for inspiration but I am not scared to give it a shot.
2. It is ok to wear bright colors
Bright colors is another “scary” fashion trend… just like pattern mixing but my mentality is the same. Why not try it? I personally don’t mind standing out in a crowd and inspiring others to be bold and try new things. Color is beautiful and evokes various emotions.
3. Leggings are not the only comfortable pieces of clothing.
Yes… I have fallen victim to the leggings/sweat pants and hoody/t-shirt mom uniform for just about everything. However, I noticed that I completely feel different and exude a different energy when I’m not in my easy comfortable clothes. After all, my girls like to wear pretty dresses everyday and still run around the backyard so why cant I? To start… I decided with five easy “baby” steps:
1. I take a couple minutes to actually comb my hair (that is use a brush instead of my fingers).
2. I put on tinted moisturizer in the morning (my favorite is Beautycounter’s Dew Tint Skin).
3. I switch my hoody for a nicer shirt.
4. I switch my sweat pants for a pair of jeans.
5. I switch out my slippers/sneakers/UGGs for a pair of pretty sandals, ballet flat or tall flat boots (of course it all depends on the weather).
Now these may not be huge dramatic changes but small, quick changes where I am still comfortable and able to perform my mommy duties! What are some style tips you have learned from your kids (or someone else’s)?
My name is Michelle and I am the wife of the hardest working man I know, the Mami of 3 beautiful and AMAZING girls and a Pathologists’ Assistant turned Stay at Home Mami turned Mompreneur of not one… or two… but three businesses! I am super excited to share my experiences and learn from you. As women/moms/entrepreneurs, we must stick together and support each other!