Laura asks:
“What if the SAHM was, in her former life, a high-powered bicoastal type with a seriously stylish wardrobe? And what if her kids are old enough now not to smear peanut butter on her clothes and what if she longs for a little more style than jeans and a Tshirt? But doesn’t want to look ridiculously overdressed for the park, the library, the kids’ dentist? Any thoughts, anybody?”
I was comforted to read in the post she was commenting on that it (the post, that is) was a suggestion for a specific person, with a really functional style, because the outfit pictured looked rather blah for one accustomed to a seriously stylish wardrobe.
(I get Laura’s question, even though I’m a little intimidated by the “seriously stylish” part. It’s a little like my, “I don’t want to know if I can wear my jeans, can I wear my ball gown?”)
Just a few comments from my viewpoint before I open this question up for input:
- The park is always leisure.
- For appointments in offices, I like business casual.
- How about a simple, yet stylish cotton dress?
What suggestions would you add?
I’ve been reading your blog and “youlookfab” and from learning from both blogs, I think that pants that are the right length (not too short) and good shoes (something heeled) create a more put-together look. Reading about the uniform has been so helpful!
Not that this is me! I love my Danskos for my everyday SAHM uniform, but I do have a pair of heeled Borns for my longer hemmed pants though.
A jacket is a great way to look pulled-together. So is a stylish top–there are so many choices for tops today beyond t-shirts. A blouse always takes your outfit up a notch.
And, a skirt makes me feel more together too. Even if it’s a plain t-shirt with a denim skirt, I feel more like I “tried.” Of course, you can do way better than a denim skirt too! It just depends on your personal style.
Shoes will also take your SAHM uniform to a new level. Colors (instead of neutral), heels, anything other than tennies!
As for overdressing, I don’t think it’s possible to look too nice, except maybe for a ball gown at the park. I wish more of us overdressed. If you are able to fully function (ie. heels don’t hinder your ability to walk with a stack of library books) then wear it!
What great questions! I’d like the answers too! 🙂 Depending on the jeans…I find that a lot of times switching out the denim for something else helps. Like – instead of putting on my jeans I’ll wear a pair of khaki pants or cotton capris. Along the lines of “a simple, yet stylish cotton dress” I love a skirt and a fitted t-shirt or some other simple top. There was a lady who wore a linen skirt and tunic top to bring her son to swim lessons, and she didn’t look overdressed, she just looked like a pulled together mom. I’d never term myself “seriously stylish,” but I always like to look nice!
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I agree with the other comments … a skirt always helps. I was pregnant last summer and wore skirts the entire summer (wore shorts maybe one or two times), and I felt so much more stylish. If I can find a pair of long shorts (like mentioned in the post above), I’ll try those, but I do plan on skirts almost exclusively this summer too.
So many good ideas!
Yes, dresses! In winter the only dresses you can find are for cocktail parties, but in summer…I’ve been eyeing trapeze dresses. Simple, not overdressed even at the park with flat sandals, but the dramatic shape makes them special. In this climate I can wear a summer dress seven months, so I have an excuse to buy lots. Especially when you can add a pullover or buttoned cardigan and a pair of boots and wear it all “winter”.
If you are going to do the jeans and t-shirt thing, I like the suggestion of jazzing it up by upgrading the shoes. I did come up with this one awhile back and bought tan suede oxfords. Substitutes well for sneakers, but looks a lot better. Dark brown shoe boots or ankle boots would be good too, I think. Color? Hmm…I used to wear colored flats matched to longish skirts. That works, because it continues the line of the skirt. With jeans, I think it would break up the line, unless the shoes are blue denim. I think I’d rather have less-noticeable neutral shoes there. Except if it’s a little mule (slide, for you under-40s), so there’s just a tiny bit of color.
Another way to jazz up the uniform is to change the color of the jeans. I just bought black ones and feel much less…ordinary in them. But, following your idea of using your own body as your color palette, I guess I should be looking for dark brown ones. Now that *would* be special.
And since crewnecks look awful on me, I’ve already replaced the Tshirts with prettier tops.
Sorry this turned into a blog-within-a-blog. I am verbose…
No need to be sorry, Laura. This is a big topic, worthy of alot of words!
(Perhaps I should be looking for gray jeans. He hee)