Seeing as the entirety of pregnancy lasts about 9 months, the need for maternity clothes lasts at most the same length of time. Probably longer. D’oh. Why should you buy a whole new wardrobe to wear for a maximum of nine months, none of which will fit you after? The answer: You don’t have to! Maternity clothes are, for the most part, expensive and not very flattering. You do need to feel that you look as good as possible when you’re pregnant, though. No matter your sewing ability or willingness to search for inexpensive maternity clothes, you do have lots of options.
Summer is finally here! And it’s most definitely our favorite season. My family spends a ton of time getting wet–whether via sprinkler, pool, pond, lake, or water park. We practically live in our bathing suits from the moment it hits 65 degrees until September. And I have to admit, I have a thing for cute bathing suits. Maybe more than a thing… an expensive obsession?!? Last year, my one-year-old daughter had about six bathing suits. And I’m a sucker for anything retro.
But this year, I’ve found a way to step it up. Not just adorable bathing suits… matching bathing suits! Enter Moderne Child Shoppe and their super stylish Mommy and Me swimwear line. They sent me a pair of swimsuits for my daughter and I to sample and we fell in love!
Spring has certainly sprung across North America, but in my wardrobe—not so much. B.K. (Before Kids), I prided myself on keeping up with seasonal trends, but these days it takes an intervention before I realize that I’m still sporting maternity leggings and ratty nursing tanks. Rather than wait to be accosted by the proverbial Stacey and Clinton, I decided to get proactive and consult with some of my most fashionable friends, followed by an insane amount of “research” in the Pinterest hole. The good news? I’ve decided to share everything that I learned and thus have compiled this season’s ‘Must-Haves for Moms.’ That’s right—here are the crib notes on summer mom style.
Revised: We mistakenly published a piece on ‘Purse ‘n Boots’ by Elizabeth Anne Shoes, and our diligent readers made us aware of several issues with the company not fulfilling the orders. We have researched the company and would strongly recommend not having dealings with them. Articles/TV warning spots you can peruse about Purse ‘n Boots are as follows:
CTV
Better Business Bureau Complaints
Facebook Lawsuit
Facebook Complaints
Yelp
We apologize for our short-sightedness, and thank our readers who made us aware of the issues with the company.
Are you a women who experiences the impracticality of carrying a purse on a daily basis? Are you sick of pant-pockets being too small to fit your essentials? Elizabeth Anne Shoes, a Canadian shoe store, has invented Purse n’ Boots- “The World’s First Purse for Your Feet.” The shoes showcase patented secret pockets that are able to fit your cell phone, make up, credit cards, house keys, cash and passports. The pockets are hidden but the quality design and materials aren’t! Comfort and quality are emphasized in each and every design. These long-lasting, unique, stylish and practical boots are perfect for every women!
Are you a mom? On the go? Ha! (Trick question!) Code Vitesse is a Canadian designer with the goal of giving women the freedom to do as they please while remaining comfortable, yet stylish in their clothing. It’s awfully hard to find stylish and flattering back to work fashion. These versatile pieces are easy to pair up or down, and can help a busy mother easily transition from a work function to her kid’s play date.
Wrinkle free, cling-resistant and flowy, the Code Vitesse pieces allow moms to look polished in seconds. Just don’t forget the lipgloss as you run out the door!
I adore fall and winter. Not so much for the weather (I’m personally more of a summer gal) but for the fashion! Living in Vancouver, fall and winter fashion stretches all the way from fall to spring. Fall clothing for kids is just as fun (if not more) than the clothing for adults.
At Urban Mommies we are currently loving kids clothes from Noch Mini, a New York based children’s line designed by Jina Jang. Noch believes in protecting the environment and our children’s bodies by using only certified organic materials and low-impact dyes.
Check out the Noch Mini Fall/Winter 2014 Lookbook for great looks for your kids for the fall.
So I have a confession to make, I’m a complete colour geek. In fact, when Pantone announced their colour of the year for 2014 I actually stayed up until 1am to catch the news. It’s sad but true. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed because the colour they chose is gorgeous – Radiant Orchid.
“Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple – one that draws you in with it’s beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple, and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health.” – from the Pantone website.
Historically speaking Pantone’s colour of the year choices have made major impact on fashion, home decor, and even graphic design. (Remember Honeysuckle in 2011, and Emerald Green last year; Pantone called it). At the recent fashion previews for Spring 2014 Radiant Orchid was spotted on the runways at both Max Mara and Missoni, which almost guarantees it will trickle down to mass market fashions as well.
Personally I’m loving this new hue, it’s about time that we see something fresh and vibrant hit the fashion scene as opposed to the deep jewel tones and heavy makeup that has been popular for the last few seasons. A nice bonus; purple is one of the most universally flattering colours out there, so this really is a trend that everyone can participate in. If you have fair skin, lean towards cooler lilac based colours, and if your skin is darker pick a deep rich shade of orchid.
So what’s the best way to wear this new hue? If you are feeling bold you can wear it all-over, but I will probably lean towards a few statement pieces in Radiant Orchid. I’m already envisioning skinny jeans, with a light orchid coloured cardigan, and a cluster of vintage broaches (maybe a beehive too?). Or maybe I’ll get a nice cross-body bag in a deeper orchid shade and pair it with my spring/summer dresses. For me the key to participating in a trend is to balance my investment. A good bag will be with me for a long time so I can splurge, if I decide to go for Radiant Orchid pants though, I’ll probably get a budget friendly pair.
Not sure what shades play well with Radiant Orchid? You are safe working with navy, brown, or even a deep violet. If you want to create a real statement with your outfit consider pairing it with teal, turquoise, or last year’s favourite; emerald.
If you still aren’t convinced or ready to go all out with the trend, how about starting with your makeup? This is a great colour to wear on your lips or tips – in fact you might be able to do both for a polished monochrome look. However you style it, do give this trend a try, and then tweet us a pic – we’d love to see what you came up with!
When people ask me what do for a living, I usually say, “I’m a fashion writer and blogger”. More often than not, this is followed up with, “oh, you are a mom blogger?” The thing is, being a mom isn’t what defines me or my dress sense. I’m an entrepreneur and fashion blogger, and I happen to be a mom. To me being fashionable doesn’t stop being an option when you have kids. If you had a sense of style before, it’s still there, just a little dormant now.
