Let's be honest, chasing a small one all day long leaves little room for fashion inspiration and makes you lean towards living in PJs on your days off. I get it, I understand it but hell, I don't condone it. Having a kid doesn't mean your life is over, gaining a bit of post baby weight (even if 4 yrs later) doesn't mean we abandon ourselves. Maybe it is easier for me to say since I deal with clothing and personal style day in and day out with my clients but I have mom friends who do not work in the industry and still manage to look their best. So when I go off to pick up a few groceries and see a few moms in sweatpants and scrunchies, I get a bit bothered. Here are a few style tips and tricks to keep you looking like the chica you were pre baby, just tweeked a bit here and there because if I see another sandal and sock wearing (and I don't mean Miu Miu with socks, I mean, gulp...Birkenstock), hair roots that look like they haven't been touched since 1995 (exaggeration is good for the soul, sue me), and overalls that make Old McDonald look like a finalist on Project Runway, I will flip! Watch me on the news strangling someone at the supermarket with a scrunchie!
1. Wash & Wear Hair:
Blow drying and styling takes time, time you don't have. Why did you ask the your stylist for a RiHanna cut & color? Get something simple. Highlights and colors far from your natural own are so noticeable when not kept. Opt for a color that lifts your own or one shade lighter so if you don't touch up in 4 weeks, its no big deal. The style, ask for a cut that gives the middle finger to a blow dryer and that round brush that gave you biceps only on your right (get it from pulling on curls? Oh, just me? okay, moving on). If you can run just a bit of product and walk out the door it is better than needing all morning and leaving half done because you ran out of time. Also, leave your cut long enough that on the laziest of days, a polished ponytail is a fashionable classic that always saves the day.
2. Polished Off:
Weekly manicures, while well deserved as moms, aren't always an option. In fact, everytime I take a little "me" time, the hubs is calling non-stop to see when I will be back. That is why I go for the no-chip option. Basically, your manicure will last 2-3 weeks. While this can be a pricey option, but some places have deal days. I go on Wednesdays to see Jules because it costs $30 rather than $45. No time still for that? Clear polish and cuticle oil. Clean, simple and pretty and if it chips, no one notices. Though check out how beautiful this gold is...who wants clear when you can have that?
3. The Make Up Bag:
I mentioned this months ago but I will mention it again. Simple is best! When I freelance as a make up artist, I always have the urge to wake up extra early to glam up my eyes and do something fancy. I end up hitting snooze until the baby wakes me up and then I only have 5 minutes to apply my face. Keep your bag simple. Invest in a make up palette from Bobbi Brown or Nars so all of your color combinations are all in one place. And at the end of the day, if your eyebrows are well groom, mascara and lipstick (just a weeeee more color than gloss alone) and you are good to go. If all else fails, apply mascara like a mad woman and run.
4. Mommy Uniform:
Being a mom is a full-time job. Correction...it is TWO full-time jobs squeezed into 24 hours. Let's be honest, with all that we have to do who on EARTH has time to "plan" an outfit. Don't. Just have a "go to" uniform. I swear I run to the store in the exact same outfit everytime, well, different colors of course. I like my straight leg jeans or cargos, a cute pair of flats, basic top, jacket and on my way out the door I throw on a watch and hooped earring that are bigger than life. Reads more like this: I am a polish uber chic mom on the go with street cred. Yes, the look I was going for. JLo would be so proud. Otherwise, I grab some pearls because nothing says I have it all together like pearls, right? But hey, it works. Best of all, I have it organized that way in my closet so when I have to go...I just go.
5. Love the twins:
Yes, your kids but really I meant the boobage. You heard it everywhere "wear the right size bra" "blah, blah, blah" but for some reason you still are not wearing the right size. Best way to check. Pull on the back of your bra. I bet it stretches far out, huh? Thats bc it is too big. I still laugh when they are sold out of a style at the ever so popular "bra store" and I get told "well your sister size". I stop the 18 yr sales girl in her tracks and say "there is NO SUCH THING". Your bra size is your bra size. A "sister size" will result in droop and the appearance of ten, yes ten, pounds. I will rather wait and so should you. PS get measured by a professional, not the mall. The girls get trained with a 5 minutes video in the back room and handed a pink tape. Trust me, I know, I was one of them ages ago and wearing the wrong size myself.
Here is an extra rule. There are NO rules. These are merely guidelines to make your life easier. No more excuses and I hope not to see anymore moms out there rocking the PJ pant at the supermarket. I may be more forgiving of the sweat pant but only if you are style like you walked straight out of a J. Crew catalogue. No exceptions.
