…I’m a cool mom.” A quote made famous by the cult classic Mean Girls, and immortalized on tee shirts everywhere. I totally get the sentiment, but I don’t think I need the shirt because my wardrobe says it all. I wore this outfit just recently for a lunch date with girlfriends, then breezed over to pick up my daughter from preschool. I’m not at all shy about showing up at her beatnik, suburban preschool dressed to the nines. And even if the other moms think I’m weird I don’t care. My sense of style hasn’t changed just because I’m a mom. And for me that is seriously important. Women sacrifice so much to be mothers, and I can tell you firsthand it’s easy to lose yourself, especially in the early years. Babies and young children are inevitably needy, and because they’re helpless, their needs come before yours. I’m not particularly self-sacrificing, but I love my daughter more than anything on earth, hence I would do anything for her. So it’s a strange and uncomfortable paradox. Somewhere in there I must retain my sense of self. It’s not an easy task, and I believe that loss of autonomy was a major contributing factor to my mental breakdown.
One thing that almost always helps me feel better is dressing up. I don’t do frumpy, because when I look frumpy I feel frumpy. Even on yoga days I make sure my workout wear is cute, and I still accessorize with earrings, sunglasses, and cool kicks. Looking good and feeling good go hand-in-hand, which is why I do what I do. I wouldn’t be a stylist if I didn’t believe in the power of fashion. That being said, my style philosophy might not work for every mom. Perhaps you derive energy and confidence from exercising, or find peace in your favorite hobby. The bottom line is – it’s important to prioritize the things you love. Don’t give too much of yourself because you’ll wind up unhappy. It’s not a perfect science since you won’t always be able to carve out “me time”, but that shouldn’t stop you from making the effort whenever possible.
SHOP THE LOOK
Bodysuit: JOA / Skirt: Rachel Roy (it’s majorly discounted!) / Shoes: Old, similar style here / Sunglasses: CRAP Eyewear (similar version, mine are sold out) / Earrings: Kate Spade / Necklace: Betsey Johnson / Bag: Kate Spade (similar version)
