A person once told me now that I was a mother, I couldn't be fashionable anymore. That was the wisdom the individual chose to impart on my fragile ego after the birth of my first child. That statement hit me hard and I took it personally. People raided my closet! Came to me for style tips! I felt so chic now, living outside the nation's capital and shopping in Manhattan pre-baby. I knew how to mix Ebay finds with retail pieces. I knew how to scour the estate sales for the gem amongst the rubble. And I knew how to find that must have piece at Neiman Last Call. And now someone is telling me, that I can't be me anymore? My brain suddenly flashed to a vision of myself popping up on the "People of Walmart" website and I got angry.
How does being a mother suddenly mean you lose the ability to have a little style? I'll admit, my style priorities may have changed a bit, but that same woman is still there. I have a harder time justifying Neiman Last Call or otherwise with three kids; but then again, I'm often leery of stores that will require the majority of my purchase to be dry clean only. Though giving up dry clean only fabrics for the majority of a wardrobe should not mean style is lacking. That only means I am looking to save a little money on cleaning bills when I spend days off covered in formula and baby food.
Now I cull the trends more carefully. I think classic equestrian styled boots for fall versus this past year's peep toe bootie. I look more to bring accessories into the wardrobe mix with the classic styles to add that je ne sais quoi to my outfit. The big chunky necklaces that were so in for so long were perfect for the new mom, pregnant mom, losing weight mom as I metamorphosed through so many aspects of body and clothing yet still allowing for a fun, fashionable and stylish feel. Summer always finds me in some version of the sundress, be it the Maxi of 2009, or some version of a lightweight summer pant; and who didn't love last year's cropped J. Crew cargos?
Us mothers are a stylish bunch. For someone to say we're not? I say that is a soul seeking their own fashion identity as much as we struggle to maintain ours.
1 comments:
I've been feeling a little more than unfashionable lately, despite having half a closet full of clothes with tags still attached. I have all these great clothes, but I've lost my ability to put items together that will flatter my body in just the right way. Accessorizing? Is a bitch! What I need, I've determined, is a personal stylist. And if I could afford you, I'd have you dress me since you seem to know more about style and trends than many other Mothers I know. While I'm not opposed to picking up a few seasonal trendy pieces here and there - mall stores, mostly- I refuse to buy cheap crap that will fall apart the first time it's washed. I was taught to buy good quality, classic pieces - the best I could afford. When I was an Account Executive for Clinique, I shopped mostly at higher end department stores for weekday business attire and added funky jewelry, twin sets, and playful shirts for the weekend. I don't know what happened to me, but in all honesty, I probably lost a good part of my fashion sense to full-time Motherhood. I need to get it back...can ya help me? :)
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