This might sound a little superficial, but one of my main resolutions for 2013 is to get my butt in gear when it comes to all things fashion. With our house still on the market, it's hard to set home goals, so, instead, I decided to set a few personal goals to ring in the two-oh-thirteen.
Goal number one? Stop dressing like a new mom. For realz.
I am telling myself that it is no longer appropriate to wear clothing in public that could double as pajamas. If I want to wear it to bed, it doesn't need to be seen outside of the house. And my maternity clothes? Um, four months post-partum... it's time to stop wearing those. And that includes the size-too-big granny panties I bought to accommodate my pregnant rear. I am not allowed to wear those anymore. Yeah, I just talked about my underwear in front of thousands of people. That happened.
I should point out that I have lost all of my pregnancy weight, so I don't have any excuse not to move forward post-partum. I blame the quick weight loss on gestational diabetes and HDawg's dairy sensitivity... and maybe breastfeeding in general... but I was back in my regular jeans within a couple weeks of delivery. I know, you can hate me. But the point is that I have zero reason to still be wearing the slouchy stretch shirts that I donned with a big ol' belly, that's for sure.
So, in 2013, I will be attempting to dress well. I am still nursing H, so it's going to be a chore to find fashionable clothes that can adapt to nursing. Not to mention clothing that can wear spit up and wear it well (and no, I'm not talking to you, awesome silk shirt that I saw at the mall!). Like all things I do, my new fashion mission will be done on a budget... a la Target, Old Navy, Forever 21, etc. I gots to look fly on a dime, yo. In addition to being cheap, I want to be funky. And apparently lame, for using words like funky. But seriously, I want to try new things with my clothes, like the way I mixed the random patterns + colors in the photo above. If they look stupid, just forgive me... it was my first attempt at looking cool. Oh, and I'm going to try and reinvent a lot of the clothing I already have. Which means I probably need to pare down my wardrobe and spend some time donating the old crap to Goodwill. Wow, this is turning into quite the resolution, right?
Thank goodness I have a few fashionable friends here in the ol' blog world, like Michaela, Cassie, Natalie, Anna and Natasha. I will absolutely be looking to them and their blogs for ideas! If you've got any other down-to-earth (read: attainable styles!) fashion bloggers to follow, leave their blogs in the comments. I'm totally digging any inspiration I can get my hands on these days.
So that's it. One of my bigger personal resolutions for 2013. To look hawt.
.jpg)
Figuring it out nursing is tough, isn't it? I wore a lot of t-shirts and cardigans! Nothing new there, I know, but it was an easy way to be comfortable and practical and still work a little cute in with fun t-s and cardis. Love your leopard flats! Great accessory :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer, the leopard flats are great...accessories are definitely the easiest way to glam up an outfit. I stick to simple tops, dark skinnies and flats everyday and then add a fun necklace or earrings..or a watch with a couple of bracelets.
ReplyDeleteIs it weird that I think I own the entire outfit you're wearing here? I may be wearing that plaid shirt now...
ReplyDeleteI had the same dilemma when I went back to work and now I'm actually enjoying dressing "different". I used to wear a lot of dresses in the summer and add in leggings and cardigans in the winter but they're a pumping nightmare. Now I mostly wear skinny jeans/leggings with boots, tunics and scarves scarves scarves! They hide any inappropriateness thanks to nursing. I also shower at night now, so I've been a fan of buns, braids and dangly earrings. I've also lost my weight and it's still definitely an adjustment! I can't run around in those v-neck sweaters and look classy anymore.. :)
I went into a pajama shame spiral after my first was born, and then realized that I needed to put my best foot forward (in a cute pair of ballet flats). It is a lot easier to hand over a business card when you have on real pants and a little mascara on :)
ReplyDeleteLove the outfit you're sporting above & love the resolution too! Do you follow "The Pleated Poppy?" She does an awesome linky called "What I Wore Wednesdays" were people link up their outfits from the previous weeks - I've gotten some great ideas for combining pattern etc from there!
ReplyDeleteWhile I was nursing, I gave up any hopes of looking fantastic. And it didn't bother me. I wore button down shirts and, for the most part, did not nurse in public only because I didn't go out in public very often!
ReplyDeleteBut when my kids weaned (each at a year), I celebrated with dry-clean only dresses, something I'd eliminated since it's not cool pulling up my entire dress or stretching out necklines to feed the kiddo.
You go girl!! Can't wait to see the hawtness happen! please do share
ReplyDeleteI hear you... I'm 3.5 years post-partum :) Just this weekend, I did a brutal 30 minutes in my closet with a large trash bag. A big pile of stuff to be donated, passed on to friends because it's too small/big, etc. I have a wardrobe consultant coming this Friday to give me tips on what I can wear together. I'm really into checks right now which go with a lot of things surprisingly!
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious! And good for you for being back in your jeans so quickly. Awesome. :) Now, through OUT the granny panties. ;) Haha....I 'purged' my closet this weekend....My theory--if you get rid of "stuff" you need to get some more "stuff" right?
ReplyDeleteToo funny! Would love to see your 'new wardrobe' in upcoming posts!
ReplyDeleteLove this post-I can SOOO relate. I am also trying to be more stylish...my babe is 7 months: NO EXCUSE.I also have to accomodate the nursing AND spit up (reflux stinks!) Looking forward to seeing some of your new outfits for inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI had a sweet baby girl on September 10 and I so know what you mean! My mom uniform was nursing cami, open sweater, big infinity scarf...seriously didn't wear anything else for 3 months. Once I went back to work I had to start dressing up again but I've been L-A-Z-Y. Please post your ideas! Would love to see how you juggle nursing/fashion. That has been the challenge for me!
ReplyDeleteAww thanks for the shout out friend!!! You totally made my day!!! And I doooo kinda hate you for losing all your weight so quickly! ;) I'm still working on 5+ pounds! But I totally hear you on the above and LOVE the outfit you're rocking in the pic!! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI love this resolution. I need to get out of the new-mom clothes rut too. This weekend I actually went and bought myself some nice new undies and packed up my big momma maternity underwear! Feels good! :) BTW-I love your outfit above, too cute!
ReplyDeleteTwo tank tops - top one goes up, bottom one goes down at the neckline. Presto. Only the bits that need exposing exposed. Target's nursing tanks are the bomb.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 4 months post-partum isn't really that long post-partum. Give yourself a break and some more time if you need it. Parenting is rough.
Great resolution and YAY for being back to pre-pregnancy weight. That's awesome :)
ReplyDeleteH-Dawg's mommy is hawt already. You are so cute. I was a big fan of the tank for nursing. The kind that is more of a lingerie style under cardis. Then you can literally just pull it down or to the side. TMI? Not sure. Anyhoo. . . you've got it so flaunt it. . . bring on the fashion posts, sister!
ReplyDeletegirlfriend! i cant believe you've already lost all of your baby weight - good for you! i'm sure you'll look so good in whatever you choose to wear! xo
ReplyDeleteI want to hate you a little bit for losing all your baby weight, but I can't b/c you are too sweet. It is tough to want to wear cute outfits, knowing you'll end up having spit-up all over it. I remember putting on the cutest outfit for our first time back at church, and I thought I looked so good. Until Michaela Byrd projectile spit-up all. over. the front of it. I about had a nervous break-down. I wish I could blame the extra weight on baby-weight, but it's been 5 years, so I'm gonna guess that's a no. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you look fantastic! I too love your outfit in the photo. My son is 11+months old and I'm still nursing him and now I'm also chasing him around--which makes dress cute really hard. Bending down to pick him up, carrying him to the car, playing on the floor are all hard to do in cute clothes. What we wear really needs to be cute but also durable.
ReplyDeleteErin @ The Blue-Eyed Bride did a few "Mom Style" posts last year:
http://blueeyedbride.com/2012/03/08/mom-style-for-spring/
http://blueeyedbride.com/2012/09/19/mom-style-fall-fashions/
I can't wait to see what you come up with and hope you'll share here on your blog!
Ain't no mom jeans (not sure how to link from my phone so you'll have to google) is a great mom friendly fashion blog. For nursing, I love a stretchy tank/ cami under looser shirts, add skinny jeans, accessorize & you're good to go.
ReplyDeleteI love love love the outfit you have on the first pic! And I'm not pregnant, nor have I had a baby, but if I could live in PJ pants, I would. I immediately get home and change into them out of my work clothes! I will be in big trouble when I have a kid!
ReplyDeleteWow Michelle, you've lost all the baby weight?! That's so fast! The first step is losing the granny panties! :) You are already HAWT though!!
ReplyDeleteoh how I remember those nursing days. Why cant Gap and Forever 21 come up with some stylish nursing shirts? and while they are at it why doesnt Victoria Secret carry sexy nursing bras? I mean just because we lactate doesnt mean we're not sexy!!
ReplyDeleteYou need to check out Pinterest Told Me To at http://pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com/ She gets her style inspiration from Pinterest and recreates the look for cheap! (a la Gap, Loft, Target, etc). Her style is great and she's hilarious!
ReplyDeleteOooo, this should be fun!! You're so darn cute, I don't see any reason you can't be HAWT too!
ReplyDeletexo Heidi
Gorgeous
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear! There are actually a lot of clothes on sale now at the stores I feel like, so go do some clearance shopping perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all the comments, so forgive me if I'm repeating anyone, but for nursing, especially in the winter, just throw a stretchy cami underneath whatever shirt you want to wear, then lift up the shirt, and pull down the cami to nurse! I do that because I like to keep my belly covered when nursing in public, but don't want to be stuck ONLY wearing shirts that can pull down at the top!
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally hate you for being back to pre-pregnancy weight! lol I never lost the last 10 from my 2.5 year old, and now those same last ten are refusing to budge despite being 11 months postpartum from my son! Sigh.
Love your outfit in the photo!
Dude. Yea I hate you. Said in the most loving way possible. :)
ReplyDeletehaha you go girl! that photo of your buffalo checks, yellow blazer and leopard flats rocks! if that's how you dress all of the time, you are already "funky"
ReplyDeleteGreat goal. I need to buy new panties. Because I'm in the same situation is you. I lost weight quickly (although I could stand to lose more) and I do okay with wearing my pre preggo clothes. But undergarments need a serious upgrade. Nothing fits right.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you on being back to your pre-preggo weight! That's awesome! I should probably try to do this same thing - but my yoga pants are just so dang comfy. ;)
ReplyDeleteI second Ain't No Mom Jeans http://www.aintnomomjeans.com/ And now going to check out the other blogs you linked to.
ReplyDeleteAnd off to go get dressed in something other than "comfy pants".
ReplyDeleteHey Michelle- I keep thinking I need to tell you to check out this blog. http://www.stylinmommies.com/ It's my favorite for stylish, affordable, mommy (that doesn't look "mommy") fashion. Definitely check it out!
ReplyDelete