Wednesday, May 27, 2009

OHmommy's summer wardrobe staples

Looking good in the summer isn't difficult and doesn't have to be expensive.

Summer is the easiest season to be fashionable. It doesn't require many layers, shoe choices are simple and accessories are too much fun. I'm going reveal some essential summer pieces into that wardrobe you should be building. I can't stress enough (if you are remotely interested in looking fashionably presentable as a mom) of how important it is to think of your closet as a collection of pieces that you can add to. In the end, you have pieces that work well with one another and you save money.

Fight the frump this summer by adding a few items into your wardrobe collection.

Summer wardrobe essentials:

1. Jeans.
This is where you should spend some money. My current favorites are Hudsons. I tried them on at a local boutique, wrote down the style number and purchased them on ebay for less then the cost of a Gap pair. Jeans can be worn year round and it's true... the nicer ones really do make a HUGE difference.

2. Tanks.
Simple tanks should be a staple as they go with jeans and skirts. They come in a wide variety and make sure you purchase ones that fit. There's nothing worse then a tank that gathers and adds to your frame. I stock up at the end of summer and have a handful of new tanks at a dollar a pop. In every color.

3. Skirts.
There is nothing easier to put on, in the summer, then a cute skirt. I have tighter ones for the evening, draw strings ones for day, and fun ones for lunches/BBQs. Find a style that works for your frame and throw on a skirt instead of sweats/capris. I love feeling feminine. Toss on a tank and you are out the door.

4. Shorts.
I loathe shorts. Unless you are the size of Kate Moss they look awkward. However, I recently found a pair that are super short and pleated like a trouser and have worn them three times since I purchased them last week. They are adorable, a nice addition to my collection and look great with heels and flip flops.

5. Flip Flops.
Need I say more? Cheap, practical, and summer wouldn't feel right without them.

6. Sun Glasses.
See above flip flop description. As much as I love my fancy you would have a stroke knowing how much I paid for them sun glasses, I get many compliments on my Target $5 shades I wear to the pool. Big. Dark. Perfection.

7. Earrings.
I love jewelry because it dresses up just about everything including my beloved wife beater tanks. This season I am in love with big hoops earrings. H&M/Target had hoards of choices for super cheap. Naturally, I stocked up. I can not leave the house without earrings or a necklace. They make me feel feminine.

8. Cocktail Ring.
The search is on for the most perfect cocktail ring. I want it to be BIG and FUN and GOLD and I saw a great one at BR but wasn't willing to spend more on it then I did on my jeans. I think that a whimsical cocktail ring would compliment my summer wardrobe.

9. Summer dress.
After years of birthing children I try to pick out dresses that compliment my figure and are form fitting. In the summer I desperately try to stay away from black and explore more color options, patterns and florals. There are so many options that are modest but flirty, find a style that you feel comfortable in and explore it in different colors.

10. When not wearing flip flops.
I'm wearing my ballet flats, fun strappy sandals, and wedges.


If there is one mom out there today that I convinced to wear a skirt/dress/heels this summer then my job is done. Enjoy the sun and celebrate your femininity this summer, as much of the world outside of the USA does. Find some dangling earrings, paint your toes, indulge in some nice jeans, and don't feel guilty about purchasing that $15 Target skirt.
OHmommy Summer Staples
OHmommy Summer Staples by OHmommy featuring Prada

40classy comments:

Amy said...

Good post and I agree with everything. I gave my daughter new Hudson's for her birthday and she LOVES them.

Amy said...

Oh and - Tom Ford sunglasses I suspect? I want the Jennifer's but I won't do it because I lose and/or break sunglasses. I get decent pairs (big and dark!) and TJ Maxx.

Dennis and Leslie said...

I'm in love with the Erickson Beamon jewelry line at Target, lots of big, fun jewelry, including some great cocktail rings.

http://www.target.com/b/?node=1261825011

Jessica said...

Thank you for this post! I have to remind myself often that it's a process. I can't just walk into the store and buy an entire wardrobe in one fail swoop!

Christy K. said...

Forever 21 has almost the exact same ring for under $10. ^^

Jennifer Kirk Photography said...

I'm not a mom but I totally dig your style. A friend of mine loves Stella & Dot, check out the Jardin ring... you finally got me out of lurking! (via twitter)

Jill said...

I'm a big fan of chunky jewelry... in lots of colors. Check out Ayala Bar - I have several of her wrap coil bracelets and funky necklaces - and you can even find them on eBay! Her rings are adorable.

Tank tops are my favorite friend - layer them up and you can hide the baby weight. :)

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Great posts! I've been wearing long, flowy peasant skirts and flip flops this summer. Love it! I also love wearing solids and then dressing it up with cute, funky CHEAP necklaces and earrings.

designHER Momma said...

I'm totally tracking with you - on almost everything! Being pregnant right now, I'm living in tanks and skirts.

Added to my list - a good sun hat for when you feel like going out but haven't had time/energy/desire to spruce up your mane.

GypsiAdventure said...

Perfectly put - a cute skirt or a fun summery dress can make even the best day better! I am a sucker for big hoop or dangely earrings and don't forget the fun splash of color on your toes...summer you can go as bold and bright as you want ... it just ads to the shoes you wear! :)

Great tips!!
~K

Indy said...

So agree! Had to quickly run Ry to school today and made sure that I put on my pearl earrings. My hair was a mess, I had no make-up on and I felt as big as a whale (pregnant) but I still felt OK b/c my earrings were on. A little effort goes a LONG way. I must say that I have to pass on the tank. These arms are not pretty right now.

Mom said...

Fun Fun Fun stuff, if only they made all that stuff for the mongo prego woman and at a price I could afford. Thanks for letting me dream a bit!

I am P said...

i wore a skirt twice since spring has arrived, which is new for me...i do feel really girly in a skirt with sandles.

Anonymous said...

is Polyvore not so fun?! I work up what I am thinking each season, take it the Neiman shopper and we work out colors for that season.

COCKTAIL RINGS?! I swear to God I am the cocktail ring whore. I have a trillion from everywhere: H&M, F21, Learning Express, Pier 1. NOT KIDDING. A childrens toy store.

anya said...

Ok,ok,ok...I think you have convinced me to get out of my boring and blah "mommy" working wardrobe and don a skirt....ooh! I'm excited to feel pretty again.

Blessings From Above said...

Great advice! It seriously is just as easy (and comfy) to throw on a casual skirt and tank as it is to wear sweats. But, you feel so much better about yourself in the skirt. Thanks for the reminders....I love your fashions sense!

Kari said...

I LOVE these kinds of posts from you! And, I agree with you on the skirt thing. I am all about wearing a skirt/dress this summer. Speaking of....I found a CUTE skirt at a GoodWill here....IT IS SOOOO CUTE, perfect summer skirt. I will have to post some pictures soon. Thanks for all the tips!

Jessica said...

One day I will be as fashionably coordinated as you Oh'Mommy!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Can I please just send you money and my sizes and you can shop for me? I love that dress, but I never find good stuff like that!

Jaina said...

I'm not a mom, but I think you may have convinced me to start with a few skirts and maybe find a dress or two that I like and feel comfortable in. I still need to find the perfect little black dress. (and I don't mean the wine) I have to ask though as a tank top lover, where do you buy your wife beater tanks? I'd love to get more of them, but I'm not willing to spend a ton of money on them...and a lot of the things I see that are practically see-through, and I don't do that. I would love to know where you suggest buying them :)

Rachel said...

Moosh (Casey) found the most perfect ring on etsy. Ask her where she got it!
Hudson's hmmm. Once I finish shedding the lbs, I might invest.
I hate shorts.
LOVE skirts and tanks and flipper floppers and cute sandals.

Great post, per usual, my fashionable darlin'

Unknown said...

All I can say is you'll never catch ME in a summer dress.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Heh. My kids have lived without their McD's for a loooong time now. That $15 is for milk, oranges and bread... Even that is making me wonder if I'm splurging too much.

Chandra said...

I wish I could afford the name brand clothing and glasses and dresses...so I have found that Target is the closest thing that I will ever come to owning anything in style and I'm okay with that.

Love the advice though! I've been going through a tansitional stage (loosing weight) and have found my self LOVING to dress up and be feminine again (husband appreciates it too!)

I must say that I do LOVE jewelery, the chunkier the better. I'm known for it at work so I agree with you, jewelery makes the difference!!

Leslie said...

This is my first time commenting, but I really enjoy reading your blog. While you are in Target (or online), check out the best tanks I have found (this will be my third summer buying them):

http://tinyurl.com/pfpkfw

Unknown said...

I don't know how I would live without flip-flops (especially here in TX!) and I SO wish we had H&M here.

A Crafty Mom said...

So true about the skirts - they are really easy to do and you look much more polished for sure. I have a bunch of summer skirts that I love wearing all summer, even just to drag the kids to the park!

I'm dying for a pair of Hudsons, but they are so not in the budget right now. I'm brining back my Paiges from two years ago and pretending they are brand new :)

Great summer tips and fabulous advice!

Amy W said...

Great post! I have been working on tailoring my wardrobe to follow some of these rules for the last few years. I am slowly getting rid of every frumpy thing, so I truly CAN'T leave the house looking like a frump. :)

And the sunglasses thing? I get the most compliments on this crazy huge pair that I picked up at a gas station when I forgot my good ones at home. ;)

Now, if I could just find a great pair of ballet flats that don't make my size 41's look like canoes....

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Loving that dress! Etsy is a fabulous spot to find cocktail jewelry!

Chrissy said...

Can you please please add that people should wear flipflops that fit! There is nothing that makes me go from happy mommy to crazed angry mommy faster than seeing people's feet hang off the back of their flip flops. Seriously...just get a bigger size already?! I disgress. All good tips you have here!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I am so with you on the shorts.....it is really hard to find shorts that look good!! The pair you got sound perfect!!

Great post!

Lisa

Gretchen said...

I love the fashion advice! Very fun. Personally I don't like tank tops - well, the wife beater kind, anyway. They kinds show off every bump and muffin top. Not that I have more than one muffin top. One is more than enough, thankyouverymuch.

I'd love to try some nicer jeans sometime. I think it has a lot to do with body type too. I'm shaped like a guy, so anything hourglass-shaped looks BAD on me. But, actually, shorts are good for me because I have decent legs.

And, while I can't do stilettos, I don't think I've worn anything flat in at least 5 years. Even my flip-flops are the kind with the stacked heel!

One last thing: personally I would nix the cocktail ring for a small but colorful clutch or purse. Just big enough for sunglasses, lip gloss, and cell phone. WHEE!

Heather said...

Love your ideas. But I have to disagree on shorts. I can not wear them for the life of me. They look just awful. Capri's look so much better. But you have to get the right ones. I think the ones that I wear are tech. called crop pants. And Jeans, I so need to find the perfect jean. I haven't found it yet, so I am still looking. But I wouldn't have the first clue were to look to even try on the jeans. No botiques around here. But I would be willing to drive.

MommyTime said...

While I am not a short shorts gal (thank the family thighs for that one), the rest of your staples are mine too. I do wear shorts around the house, for obvious things like exercising and gardening, and even to the playground with the kids in the hottest part of the summer, but I will only go out in public in "walking shorts" (knee length, tailored looking), and even then I'd rather be in a cute sundress or thin capri pants. I think it's mostly about finding the styles that suit your own body type, as well as age/style.

I hope your eyes are feeling much better. I was on an antibiotic/steriod cocktail for my eyeballs for four weeks at the end of last year. I was in such pain because the infection was so bad that I actually ended up with corneal lacerations as a result. I wholeheartedly agree with your advice: take care of your eyes and yourself! I hope you are on the mend.

Meredith said...

I so wore my bright pink flower skirt today. First my daughter told me I looked pretty. I got some pretty funny looks from the sweat wearing mom's at swim practice and my friends wanted to know if it was laundry day. I felt pretty, comfortable and ready to go out and find a few more to expand my wardrobe...oh and I got a great pair of jeans for $6.50 at Old Navy!!! Yeah me!!! Thanks for the inspiration and hope those kids of yours feel better and you get some sleep soon!!!

Ali said...

i do the same thing with jeans. try them on in the store and buy them cheap on ebay. yay.

love your list...i "just say no" to shorts, though.

Loukia said...

Love this list! I'm going shopping on my lunch break tomorrow, thanks to you! :) Seriously, I need more skirts and dresses!

Stephanie said...

Another great place for jeans is White House Black Market. They're a little on the pricey side (for my budget anyway,) but I swear to god they drop 10 pounds and they're crazy comfy. Honestly, I would sleep in them, were I allowed.

And no one should ever forget the power of the sundress; easier to put on than a full pants/top outfit, and you automatically look SO put together.

Momo Fali said...

Thanks, girl! I needed that.

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

I love love LOVE that red dress, I'm trying to find something similar but less dressy. That shape is so incredibly flattering, and very feminine. Love it!

 

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