February already? Doesn’t it feel like the year is speeding by. When you start to feel like time is getting away from you, just look back and see how much we’ve covered in 30(ish) days. We’ve accomplished so much, and tackled everything from underwear to outfits to lipstick. And, of course, shoes. Three times. Did I miss anything? Let me know below! In case you missed it, here’s the nutshell version!
30 Days to Gorgeous Mom Style
1. Pretty Pajamas
“I think the clothes you wear in your downtime, around those who are closest to you, say a lot about how you feel and who you are in relation to them. I want my girls, and especially my husband, to see me as glamorous and girly, not as someone who has given up on life.”
“…You’ll need the basics, starting with the 4 most important bra styles: The Everyday/T-Shirt Bra, The Racerback Bra, the Strapless Bra and The Pretty Lacy Bra. To begin with, you’ll want 3-4 of the everyday style, and 1 of each of the others, for a minimum of 6 in your regular rotation.”
“The higher the nylon percentage, the stronger the hold. Extreme shapewear can help transform your body, but unless a red carpet is in your future, stick to medium control for smoothing and shaping. If it’s not labeled, feel the fabric. The thinner and sleeker, the less control.”
“Every woman deserves to wear the very best shoes she can afford. That’s why I tell anyone who will listen that you should own one flawless, classic-but-not-frumpy, totally luxurious pair of black pumps. Plan to spend $200, or more, if your budget will allow. Don’t think you have $200 to spend on shoes? Replace the 4 or so pairs you would have otherwise bought with just one, glorious pair that you will own forever.”
5. Clinton Kelly Tells Moms What to Wear
“I’ve seen moms make the mistake of wearing the mom uniform: a sweatshirt or a hoodie over a one size fits all t-shirt, a mom jean or cropped pants, and a cross trainer sneaker. Those are probably the biggest mistakes, and there are very simple alternatives that will really increase your style quotient exponentially.”
6. 8 Bags Every Woman Should Own
“The Iconic Designer Bag… is the ultimate “grown up” bag, and a rite of passage. An investment, for sure, but you can wear it every day for the rest of your life and look stylish every single second. And then pass it on to your daughter. It’s that timeless.”
7. Shop 5 Cheap Sites Stylists Love
“These sites are my go-to sources for cheap chic, and they also boast great quality and good service. So today’s task – browse one of these fun sites, or check out a local sale, and pick a couple of pieces that just make you smile. Because nothing puts a spring in your step like a pretty new dress. Or 12.”
8. Discover 5 Best New Makeup Products
“I was a beauty editor before I became a fashion columnist. I have been buying, trying and testing products for years, and it takes a lot to impress me. These 5 best new makeup products have blown me away.”
“I have seen the relief that comes over a woman when she learns that shopping for clothing doesn’t need to be haphazard. There is a rhyme and a reason for why some items flatter you and some fail so miserably, and it comes down to your body type…Nothing increases your mom style quotient more than having the confidence to know how to shop, dress and style your body. It’s a game changer.”
10. 12 Pairs of Shoes Every Woman Should Own
“These days, I find myself buying fewer clothes and more shoes. Okay, that’s a lie. I’ve always bought lots of shoes. But now, I am seeing even more how important they are. Almost more important than clothes. Almost. A flawless pair of shoes can turn basics into an outfit, and with a well-edited shoe wardrobe, your style is unstoppable.”
11. Clean Out Your Closet in 1 Hour
“…My closet isn’t perfect. It is neat-enough and current-enough and, most of all, it is functional. I enjoy getting dressed in the morning, because I have options. Not too many, but enough. Enough to make outfits. Enough to mix it up a little. And it’s easier than it looks. And it begins with a purge. But don’t worry. This isn’t the kind of marathon closet session that turns your wardrobe into a war zone for days. This shouldn’t take you more than an hour…”
12. 5 Daily Hacks of Stylish Moms
“The real secret to looking great, day in and day out, can be summed up in one, boring word: habit. Stylish moms have developed a daily set of habits, of style hacks, that are as habitual as brushing their teeth, and just as important to looking good.”
“When you look great, and feel comfortable in your own skin, it shows. It shows in your posture and in your confidence, in the way that you walk and the way that you treat others. Not sure what “comfortable in your own skin” feels like? Then maybe you haven’t owned your personal style.”
14. Try 3 Fresh New Makeup Looks
“I want to reclaim the magic of makeup. The magic I felt when I was little and snuck into my mom’s medicine cabinet to try on her lone lipstick and jar of Rose Dew. (My mom is famously low maintenance). The magic I felt in the days before makeup became just another chore to check off before heading out the door (or, on many days, out of the car). I want to play with makeup. Are you in?”
15. Beautify Your Morning Routine with 5 Fast Tips
“So many of us take an all or nothing approach to maintenance, i.e. “I don’t have time for a 20 minute skincare routine so I will sleep with my makeup on.” But lack of time doesn’t necessarily mean lack of style. There is a middle ground, and it’s slightly different for every woman. I have been developing and perfecting my abbreviated morning routine for years, and I’ve learned a few fast fashion and beauty tips for busy mornings.”
“Why are undertones so important? Because knowing your undertones helps choose a flattering color palette for your wardrobe and your makeup. And many brands (most notably MAC) classify their colors that way. Confused? Don’t be. I’ll talk you through it! Simply answer these 5 easy questions.”
17. Find Your Perfect Red Lipstick
“My friend A.G. tried red lipstick and said it changed her life. Okay, she didn’t say that exactly, but she did say that she loves it, but her mother hates it. Which is pretty much win win. (Just kidding, mom!)”
“Slim jogger pants and pretty jeweled sweatshirts are super trendy right now, and you can find them at every price point. (Athleisure, as it’s being called, is such a huge trend that some fashion forecasters have predicted the death of denim). The best part about this trend? The pieces are as versatile as they are comfortable.”
“Have you ever looked back at a missed opportunity with regret? Well that’s the way I feel about statement necklaces. When I look back at the years and years of outfits that could have been so much cuter had they only been properly accessorized, I feel actual physical pain. But one must move past these things.”
20. Learn to Layer
“Learning to layer, for me, has been largely a result of practice and a little trial and error. Using J. Crew, Anthropologie and top fashion sites as my study guides, I have mastered a few tricks that can take ordinary separates and turn them into super-stylish outfits, layering separates and accessories.”
“So how many watches do you need. You know I don’t believe in limitations. I do, however, believe in minimums. A basic watch wardrobe for women should consist of these 4 styles: The Jewelry Watch, The Everyday Watch, The Sporty Watch and The Trendy Watch. (How many you own of each style is entirely up to you!)”
22. Buy Wildly Impractical Shoes
“…My point is: Always buy the shoes. if you are on the fence about a pair that seems too high or too bright or too sparkly or whatever, buy them. They are instant outfit makers. The internet is flooded with images of women in basic outfits and amazing shoes. Striped tee, cutoffs and cool boots. Jeans, white button-down and gorgeous pumps. All black outfit and beautiful slingbacks. A closet full of great basics comes to life with gorgeous, stop-and-stare shoes.”
23. Find a Lazy Skincare Routine
“The 17-step skincare routine I had indulged in pre-kids was no longer going to be an option. I needed products that would do the job, and do it quickly. Fortunately, I’ve discovered plenty of shortcuts in my effort to streamline my skincare routine.
“…In spite of myself, I have become a DIY-er. Fortunately, I have help, in the form of some of the coolest skin gadgets and gizmos around. If you haven’t tried a skin gadget in years, it’s time to revisit them. because this current crop of skincare devices is full of overachievers. Here, a few of the top ways to take matters into your own hands.”
“Beautiful brows are like a little face lift. They make your face appear fresher, cleaner, and more youthful. Pluck a few hairs too many, however, and you have the opposite effect. Thin, severe brows are so aging! And in case you haven’t noticed, models like Cara Delevigne have brought back the fuller (yet still polished) brow, prompting many others to follow suit. My advice? Skip full brows unless you have strong eyes – either a strong color, shape or size. You want your brows to frame your eyes, not overshadow them.”
26. Find Your Perfect Mom Jean
“I understand the backlash against skinny jeans, which led to last year’s obsession with the slouchier, more forgiving boyfriend, and now, it appears that someone in fashionland has gotten confused, and morphed both of these two styles into one supremely unflattering pair of jeans. Intrigued? Then you must be cool.”
27. 7 Best Drugstore Beauty Products
“Let’s just say it involves being out during a torrential downpour, headed to a memorial service, and realizing that I was in my husband’s car and my makeup kit was in mine. I didn’t even have a lipstick. I made an emergency pit stop at a Walgreen’s, and made some seriously gorgeous discoveries. Here, the 7 best drugstore beauty products I’ve found.”
The difference between a styled look and an ordinary look is the details. And the simpler the outfit, the more critical the details. A simple tee-jeans-and-pumps look is showstoppingly chic when done correctly. It’s not just a pair of jeans, but a perfectly broken in pair of jeans. Not just a nude pump, but a pointy nude pump with a 4 inch heel. The bag, the scarf, the jewelry – everything comes together to create a memorable look.
“Fashion is full of contradictions, and here are two seemingly opposing perspectives: Take a fashion risk, or you’ll slip into a style rut. Develop your own signature style, and don’t deviate from it. My advice – do both! Impossible? Not really. Here, 3 simple ways to take fashion risks while staying true to your own unique style vision.”
30. Today – the recap!
Whew! We covered a lot of ground in a month. What’s been your biggest takeaway? Let me know how you’ve taken your style to the next level with this 30 day challenge!
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