Repeat Offender

I vowed that I would never adopt the mom uniform.

Track suit. Sneakers. Pony tail.

And I haven't. I do cotton skirt, nursing tank, greasy unwashed hair.

And I'm not sure it's any better (perhaps it's a little bit worse).

It seems that the only way I can get out of the house in any reasonable amount of time is to sacrifice something. And it doesn't help to still be in body transition (Do you like that? That's what I'm calling it). Plus, what is it with the Gap and stretch? Why can't they make their t-shirts with 1% lycra? Because after about three minutes of wearing them, they just look like big curtains hanging off your shoulders.

And that's got to be an automatic fashion faux pas.

And to top it off, the only kind of shopping you can do is online, which is terribly hard when fit is important. Or the five minute try on as much as you can at Old Navy shopping that doesn't really do anything either.

So, I'm not sure what to do, but I'm getting really tired of wearing crappy clothes that don't fit.

I hate to say it, but a cute track suit and pony tail isn't looking so bad anymore.

What do you wear on a daily basis, particularly if you're a WAHM/SAHM? I need some pointers. And if you've got a dark secret hiding in your closet (like mine), then share it today and you'll be entered to win a $250 Coach Gift Card. Seriously, one of those bags would make anything I wear look fantastic.

Comments

[Danielle]

I have to agree about the great pair of jeans thing. You can easily dress them up or down and pretty much wear them every day. I have 2 little ones so I know it's hard but I try to shower every day, do my make-up and get dressed (no track suits or sweats) It makes me feel so much better. I don't have a lot of clothes but I love accessories. Scarves, costume jewerly and cute shoes dress up just about anything. Target is great for that stuff. Also in the fall and winter a great jacket, (I have a nice trench) can hide the bad clothes underneath.
Hope this helps.

[Danielle]

I have to agree about the great pair of jeans thing. You can easily dress them up or down and pretty much wear them every day. I have 2 little ones so I know it's hard but I try to shower every day, do my make-up and get dressed (no track suits or sweats) It makes me feel so much better. I don't have a lot of clothes but I love accessories. Scarves, costume jewerly and cute shoes dress up just about anything. Target is great for that stuff. Also in the fall and winter a great jacket, (I have a nice trench) can hide the bad clothes underneath.
Hope this helps.

[B]

summer: gap perfect tee; short (not mini) skirt; ballet flats
winter: same but w/ one of two awesome "butt" jeans I own or yoga pants w/ runners.

hair: half up w/ a pretty bobby pin flower OR low pony w/ hair parted

ps: i'm typing & nursing, sorry 4 the typos

[jaelithe]

Track pants? Guilty. Not the whole track SUIT mind you, but, still.

Ponytail? Sorta guilty. Mostly braids and buns for me (my hair is really long, so it looks kind of craptastic in a plain old ponytail).

Today I am wearing track pant capris, a plain grey t-shirt, and a braid.

I would love to wear cute jeans every day instead of track pants, but I had a hard enough time finding jeans for a size six waist and a size eight butt BEFORE I got pregnant. Now I have to try to find jeans for a size six waist, size eight hips, and a size ten butt.

I need a tailor.
And a hair dresser.

Anyway I try to make up for it all by showering daily and wearing really cute glasses. The glasses at least make me look like a SMART person with no fashion sense.

[Jill]

I shower every day and won't skip it for anything. My "uniform" is from Lands End, which lets you design a computerized 'You' with all your own measurements (you must be honest or it does no good.) and then you can "try on" the clothes on your model. It can turn around 360' and if it looks bad on the model my experience is that it'll look bad on me. When I pick out pants or shirts I buy several in different colors. I never buy anything that can't get dumped in my washer. Dry clean only clothes = babysitter is coming tonight.

I wear khakis or jeans (or shorts or capris) with nice colored t-shirts almost every day. I save other t-shirts with writing on them or saggy old ones for yard work and other grubby tasks. I can't hang out in sweats or I feel crappy about myself. To me its worth getting showered and dressed even if I never go anywhere.

[Dena]

For at home, definitely capris and t-shirts. If I am going out and want to look pulled together, I swear by khaki pants (either boot cut or capri length) and a nice polo. Lands End has some great polos that hold up FOREVER! You can dress this look up with sandals, accessories or wear some tennis shoes and be fine too. Hang in there!

[Karie]

I am a WAHM mostly. 3-4 times a week, I put on Girl clothes to do a show. At home, or around town, it's shorts, Tshirts, sandals. But hey, this is Orlando. You can dine in a 5* restaurant in jeans.

[Jessica]

Love capris and layering tanks. Southern California calls for flip-flops or super-light sneakers. My trick is to take a great shower (dvrchk is right!) and then wear matching bra and panties. Good foundation keeps me from wanting to cover it all up with crappy clothes. (Strapless bras obviously prevent the slipping, showing straps - so tacky,, unless the bra EXACTLY matches the tank.) It also helps to get my husband's input on what he thinks is appealing on me - sometimes he sees something I don't. Come cooler weather, I love to layer more and bring out pretty sweaters and great jeans. As you know, Kristen, super shoes make a plain outfit fantastic!

[Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You]

Day in, day out, I wear shorts and a t-shirt. The shirts are typically ones that I won't wear "Out" like to the store or something. They're stained or bleached or both. The shorts, I have like 10 pairs of shorts - black, blue, red - just because they're so much more comfortable than the ONE pair of jeans I own that fit.

I wear shorts when it's -20 below out - my husband thinks I'm insane. LOL

[Jennifer]

I swore I'd never look as bad as I do, in my nike shorts and old sorority t-shirts.

But it appears to me my daily uniform. Why look pretty when I'm not going anywhere except the mailbox?

[Kelly]

I french braid my hair (stays back better than a pony tail and people think it's sooo preeeetty... and hard... which it's not) and wear slacks from Old Navy that have stretch but still look nice (I think). My downfall is my shirts. I live in tank-tops. I love them. I hate that my bra strap always sneaks down my shoulder, though. I also wear slip-on sandals/shoes cause I don't have the time for runner's.

[Awesome Mom]

I look at my dressed down attire as work wear. I am working at taking care of the kids and that means that my clothing has to have more function than fashion right now. The trick is to realize that when the kids are older you do not have to dress down as much.

[Wendy]

My mom uniform is the polo, shorts and tennis shoes, although I don't play much tennis. When it gets cooler, like around Nov.I will switch to jeans and long sleeve t-shirts.

I have tried being cute and I end up flashing something or falling on my ass, so I am sticking with what works for now. Nothing is pretty about chasing after your kid to end twisting your ankle and busting your nose, because you were wearing cute shoes. And no one wants to see your granny panties, because you forgot that you have to bend with your knees when your toddler decides to do the limp sit in thing with his body.

I may not be fashionable, but I am getting the job done.

[Moongrrlie]

I have the same problem most days. I've been a sahm for over 3 years now and usually don't put much effort into what I wear. A t-shirt and capri pants are the typical uniform for the day. I do find, though, if I put on a little makeup it makes even the crappiest outfit feel a bit better. I am not a big makeup person, but eye shadow and mascara are a quick pick me up.

[divrchk]

I find it key to take a shower every day. When you are clean and fresh, you feel more willing to put on a cute outfit. If I'm lazy and don't shower or don't feel good, the crappier the clothes that I end up wearing.

[jodifur]

Well, I work PT, so I'm home 4 days a week.

My secret, a really great fitting pair of jeans. Yes, it requires shopping, but one of the days your hubby is home, leave him with the kids and hit the mall. In dc we have a place called Denim bar that helps fit you. But, if you don't want to spend $200, the gap has great jeans as well. A good pair of jeans can change any outfit.

And check out spanx online. They have some great t-shirts with lycra in them.