Posts Tagged: Level 1

Personal Style in Action: My ideal Weekend Casual look

By IN Personal Style, Work It Wednesdays

Working mom personal style advice: Ideal weekend casual outfit

Personal Style in Action is a series about putting personal style into practice through specific looks for each level of The 5 Levels of Working Mom Outfits.

Work It Wednesdays: Working mom outfit photosLet’s play a detective game. We’re going to find some clues to your personal style by creating an outfit out of your favorite clothes.

We’ll start with the first level of the 5 Levels of Working Mom Outfits: Weekend Casual (you guessed it: level 1).

First, let’s outline the outfit. There are several options at this level, but we’ll work with ones that work best for most mamas. The formula goes like this: denim + knit shirt + layering piece + walkable shoes.

I’m playing the game, too, so here’s my version of a weekend casual look–and what makes each item true to my own personal style.

I chose jeans that are comfortable and flattering; for me, that means straight legs, a medium wash and a bit of stretch. Since you never know what you’ll be up to on a casual weekend, I also picked a pair that I don’t mind getting messed up; these are from Uniqlo and only cost $40. (I know! Similar here.)

For the knit top, I chose a T-shirt (similar). What makes it my style: the slim cut and cute graphic design. (Geek alert: The graphic is the periodic table square for the element Adamantium. Name that X-Man!)

My layering piece is a grey knit hoodie (similar). I pack this one on most trips, because it’s a perfect utilitarian piece, cute but not overly youthful, and classic but not trendy.

Finally, my walkable shoes are athletic flats from Puma; they have the comfort of a running shoe without looking like one. (Similar here.)

  • Fab mamas: What’s your ideal weekend casual outfit?

Learn more about how to build outfits–and how to find the garments for them that flatter your body and personal style. Join the Style List to get tips, tricks and ideas, straight to your inbox. As a thank you gift, I’ll send you 7 Days to Better Shopping, a week-long email guide to making the most of the mall.

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Working mom outfit of the week: Weekend casual cold weather uniform

By IN Personal Style, Work It Wednesdays

Working mom outfit of the week: Weekend casual winter uniform.

Most of my outfit “uniforms” are more like templates: repeating sets of go-to things I wear together in slight variations, either to save time or because they’re flattering favorites.

Wear It Wednesdays: Working mom outfit photosAnd then there’s this outfit.

Forget variation. Whenever it’s been cold + wet this winter, I’ve put on this exact look.

The Sporto boots are warm (faux fur lined!) and waterproof, and they’re easiest to wear with skinny jeans tucked in. The sweater is thick without being too bulky, and the turtleneck sweater over turtleneck top ensures I am weather-proofed from chin to toe.

We spent a few days at the beach over winter break and though I packed a couple of options, I never bothered to put anything else on.

Sometimes you just gotta go with what works!

  • Fab mamas: What’s your winter uniform?

Sweater: LOFT (similar).
Turtleneck: Mossimo (similar).
Jeans: Uniqlo (similar).
Boots: Sporto Winnie.
Working Mom Outfit Level: 1/Weekend Casual

[Affiliate links disclosure]

Learn more about how to build outfits: Join the Style List to get tips, tricks and ideas, straight to your inbox. As a thank you gift, I’ll send you 7 Days to Better Shopping, a week-long email guide to making the most of the mall.

Working mom outfit of the week: Kid-free weekend getaway

By IN Personal Style, Work It Wednesdays

Working mom weekend getaway outfit idea: Slouchy sweater, denim shirt, cords

What’s better than Date Night? Date Weekend!

Wear It Wednesdays: Working mom outfit photosOn Saturday we took advantage of a deal at a beautiful inn in St. Michael’s and went over the river and through the woods to leave the girl child with Nana and Papa overnight.

What to wear for a chilly winter getaway on the water?

I decided to start with some of my favorite wardrobe staples: denim shirt, slouchy sweater, cords, wedge boots.

The result was this week’s working mom outfit, a remixed version of this weekend casual outfit from January.

I like the way the neutral colored sweater contrasts against the denim shirt and the way the collared shirt adds some silhouette definition under the looser sweater.

With denim on top, I didn’t want to do denim on the bottom (though maybe I could have, especially in a darker wash–what do you mamas think?), so I opted for my favorite cords.

The sweater also made the top layer of the next day’s outfit, keeping my weekend packing light.

  • Fab mamas: What do you wear for a weekend getaway? Do you dress differently when you’re away from the kids?

Sweater: LOFT (similar).
Shirt: Old Navy (similarLevi's denim shirt for a working mom weekend getaway outfit).
Cords: J Brand (similar).
Boots: Vaneli Carlee.
Working Mom Outfit Level: 1/Weekend Casual

[Affiliate links disclosure]

Learn more about how to build outfits–and how to find the garments for them that flatter your body and personal style. Join the Style List to get tips, tricks and ideas, straight to your inbox. As a thank you gift, I’ll send you 7 Days to Better Shopping, a week-long email guide to making the most of the mall.

Working mom outfit of the week: Wearable origami with the DKNY cozy

By IN Personal Style, Work It Wednesdays

Working mom weekend casual outfit: DKNY cozy, Madewell skinny cords, Old Navy embellished T-shirt

Are you familiar with the DKNY cozy? I wasn’t myself until recently.

Wear It Wednesdays: Working mom outfit photosIt’s a knit wrap that’s designed in such a way that it can be worn in a variety of different ways–so many, in fact, that it has an app to show you! (The how-to videos are online, too.)

When I saw that the DKNY outlet had them on sale for half off last winter, I jumped at the opportunity to add such a versatile piece to my wardrobe.

DKNY cozy: Also sways in the wind

DKNY cozy: Also wind-resistant

This variation (the “Side Drape Cozy”) uses a large silver bangle created to work with the cozy. The ends are pulled through and then wrapped around again.

This look is purely weekend casual, so I paired the grey cozy with a grey embellished T-shirt and grey desert booties.

With so much grey, denim was too drab, so maroon skinny cords added some color.

  • Fab mamas: How do you wear your DKNY cozy (or any other wrap sweaters)?

Sweater: DKNY classic cozy.
Cords: Madewell Skinny Skinny.
T-shirt: Old Navy (similar).
Boots: Ecco Shiver Wedge (similar).
Working Mom Outfit Level: 1/Weekend Casual

[Affiliate links disclosure]

Learn more about how to build outfits–and how to find the garments for them that flatter your body and personal style. Join the Style List to get tips, tricks and ideas, straight to your inbox. As a thank you gift, I’ll send you 7 Days to Better Shopping, a week-long email guide to making the most of the mall.

Working mom outfit of the week: Slouchy sweater + skinny jeans

By IN Personal Style, Work It Wednesdays

Working mom outfit of the week: Weekend casual in a slouchy sweater, ankle booties and skinny jeans.

I love a chunky, slouchy sweater for cold weather. It’s warm, it’s comfortable, and for fall/winter 2012 it hits the trend for pattern/texture.

Wear It Wednesdays: Working mom outfit photosThe challenge is to keep from looking like you’re wearing clothes that are too big for you, rather than deliberately oversized.

For me, this means keeping the bottom half slim, so I opted for skinny jeans rather than something wider, like a boot cut.

I wanted to wear my new wedge ankle booties, so remembering the Ain’t No Mom Jeans solution for wearing skinny jeans with short boots, I chose my shorter skinnies and rolled them up.

Looking at this photo, though, I don’t think I rolled them up enough; the denim is bunching a little too much at the knees. (The things you learn taking pictures of yourself!)

Other options for a slouchy sweater outfit: with rolled-up boyfriend jeans and booties or with longer skinny jeans under knee-high boots.

  • Fab mamas: Are you a fan of a slouchy sweater? What’s your favorite way to wear one?

Sweater: LOFT (similar, $24).
Denim: Hudson (similar, $187).
Turtleneck: Michael Stars (similar, $45).
Necklace: LOFT (similar, $48).
Boots: Vaneli Carlee, $86.
Working Mom Outfit Level: 1/Weekend Casual

[Affiliate links disclosure]

Learn more about how to build outfits–and how to find the garments for them that flatter your body and personal style. Join the Style List to get tips, tricks and ideas, straight to your inbox. As a thank you gift, I’ll send you 7 Days to Better Shopping, a week-long email guide to making the most of the mall.

Reader request: Where are the best places to shop for weekend casual clothes?

By IN How-To Tuesdays

Where to shop for weekend casual clothes

Sara writes: “Is there a fast and best place to shop for Level 1 clothes?  I would love to go into one store, spend an hour, and leave with a new wardrobe.  What do you recommend?”

How-To Tuesdays: Style advice and answers for working momsOh, how I wish there was a store so wonderful you could pick up an entire wardrobe in just an hour. But you might be able to get pretty close.

The first step is to do a little bit of homework. The more you know about yourself, the better you’ll be able to pick a store or stores to shop at–and the easier your shopping will be once you get there.

Level 1 is Weekend Casual, so that means simple, solid wardrobe basics: T-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts, cardigans.

Within this relatively narrow category, however, there are variations. Answering these questions will help match you to the store or stores that best fit.

The best places to shop for weekend casual clothes

  • Style. Do you have an aesthetic preference?
    • If you want to go more young and trendy, think H&M, Madewell or Abercrombie & Fitch.
    • Sticking to the classics? You can’t go wrong with the Gap, Banana Republic or J. Crew.
    • Looking for a looser, comfort silhouette? Think J. Jill or Coldwater Creek.
    • What about something a bit unusual? Anthropologie might be for you.
  • Silhouette. Do you have particular body shape needs: tall, petite, plus size? (Not sure? Take your measurements.)
    • Tall girls: Look for pants that come in “long” in addition to regular at many of the chains mentioned above.
    • Petite: The same goes for you; chains like LOFT and Talbots also have entire Petites sections.
    • Plus: There are several boutiques for the curvy girl; find them here.
  • Spendiness. Do you have a budget?
    • I want to save: Chains like Old Navy and H&M are made for low-cost staples. Or try mass retailers like Kohl’s and Sears; keep an eye out for coupons, both paper and digital.
    • I’m ready to splurge: If you really want to invest in your staples, Banana Republic and J. Crew are at the upper end of the chain-store spectrum, or try the casuals department in your better department stores like Nordstrom.
    • I’m in between. Everything else above will generally fall in between “no money” and “no worries.”

And if you really want to get in and out as quickly as possible, here are my best tips:

  • Make a list. Which Level 1 items do you need the most? In what colors? What sizes?
  • Enlist help. If you’re willing to shop a bit upscale, take advantage of the personal shopper services at the higher end department stores (like the aforementioned Nordstrom). Be prepared to provide the information on your list in advance, including any brands you prefer. When you show up for your appointment, your shopper will have your items ready and waiting.

Good luck!

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Learn more about where (and how) to shop: sign up for my email list and as my thank you, you’ll get 7 Days to Better Shopping, a series of daily tips to shop smarter.

What to wear for Thanksgiving

By IN How-To Tuesdays

How to create a Thanksgiving outfit

Figuring out what to wear for Thanksgiving can seem like a challenge. You’re not at work, but it’s not a regular stay-at-home day, either.

But if we apply our usual rules for outfit creation it gets a little easier.

Here’s how to figure out what to wear for Thanksgiving

How-To Tuesdays: Style advice and answers for working moms
  1. Choose your outfit Level. Start by thinking about the way you spend your day on this holiday. Do you go out to eat? Do you stay home and cook for family? Are you in a big group, or an intimate gathering? How do the others usually dress? If you’re going to have a big, boisterous day with close family and friends, including an obligatory outdoor game of tag football, that’s more like a Level 1 or Level 2–casual to smart casual weekend wear. If you’re going out to eat at a white-napkin restaurant with your grandma who always dresses up, then it’s probably a Level 3 or 4 kind of day.
  2. Check the forecast. Yes, it’ll probably be cold. (Unless you live someplace like Florida or Arizona, in which case the rest of us don’t want to hear about it ;) But rain and snow dictate different footwear, and total number of outfit layers, than clear and crisp.
  3. Find a foundation item. OK, you’re having a Level 2/Weekend Chic Thanksgiving, it’s going to be dry, but you’ll be outside part of the time, maybe even playing with the kids. You’ll probably want to build an outfit around pants instead of a dress or skirt. Maybe your slim fit cords or dark wash bootcut denim? Now you can add on garments from there. (For more hints, read the 5 Levels of Working Mom Outfits guides and remember the Rule of 3.)

I usually split the difference and aim for a Level 2/Weekend Chic look in my main outfit, then add a dressier accessory or item on top for some extra polish. So I start off at the relatives’ gathering with, say, a blazer and scarf over a simple sweater and denim.

As the evening progresses, I can get more casual by removing the blazer and even the scarf. It gives me more options than only wearing the denim and sweater or going all out in a dress.

Oh, and there’s one more step: Calculate the volume and weight of turkey you plan to consume and adjust your waistband size accordingly ;)

  • Fab mamas: What do you plan to wear for Thanksgiving?

Want to learn more about how to build outfits–and how to find the garments for them that flatter your body and personal style? I’ve created a new self-guided course, No More Yoga Pants, that teaches you just that–and more. Sign up for my email list to be the first to find out when it’s available (and get a special insiders’ launch offer).