Style for the Stay at Home Mom

There are days when yoga pants, college t-shirts, and slippers last you from the time you roll (or run, if you have a crying baby or two fighting children) out of bed in the morning until you crawl wearily into the bed that night. While a few days like this are bound to happen, when we start making it a habit to not make any effort to get dressed, it becomes a problem. Being a stay at home mom can be really challenging at times (and really rewarding), with us giving a lot of ourselves to our children. However, precisely because we give so much to our children, it is important for us not to lose all of ourselves in the process. So taking a few (and I do mean a few) minutes each morning to brush teeth, comb hair, and put on an easy but stylish outfit can go a long way toward improving mood and making us feel ready to take on anything. Classic pieces that can be mixed and match will take you anywhere and universally flatter. Appearance isn't everything, but when you feel good about yourself, it shows inside and out.

Obviously, for a stay at home mom, jeans are a requisite part of the uniform. Make sure that they're jeans that fit! Having baggy jeans that don't fit and don't show that you've lost your pregnancy weight don't help you to feel your best. Conversely, if that weight isn't going anywhere, buy a pair that fit. It doesn't mean that you're married to that size for the rest of your life, but you'll be a lot more comfortable and look better. Jeans go with pretty much anything. However, there are options other than jeans. A nice pair of khakis, in gray, khaki, or olive, mix and match nicely with a variety of colors. They can be dressed up, such as with a cardigan, or dressed down, with a nice v-neck t-shirt. Most khakis are very comfortable. If you're tight on budget, as many of us stay at home moms are, try looking on E-Bay, a consignment shop, or going to a thrift store, particularly if you're in-between sizes.

For the summer, capris, bermuda shorts, and knee-length skirts are universally flattering. If you have younger children and you're always on the floor with them, a skirt may not always be the wisest choice, but on some days where you'll be out and about, give one a try! A nice khaki or denim skirt can be worn just as you would wear khaki pants or jeans. They can be dressed up or down. Capris or cropped pants are flattering on most women when worn with the length to mid-calf. Capris can be worn in a variety of colors. You could wear khaki capris, a red t-shirt, a jean jacket, and look pulled together, yet it didn't take hardly any time to pull that out of your closet! Bermuda shorts can be worn in much the same way. They can be worn to the knee or above it. Above the knee will be more flattering on petite women.

Shirts will vary too. If you're nursing, button down tops and tops that pull up easily work the nicest. Wrap tops may not be as easy to wear. Having a few fitted t-shirts than can go with several bottoms, some more trendy-type t-shirts (such as those with an empire waist or some form of embellishment on them), a blouse or two (particularly a classic white one), a few cardigans and blazers or jackets to wear over those t-shirts and blouses, a few sweaters to layer with, and a few dressier tops, will make a good, full, stay at home mom wardrobe. These can all be mixed and matched together and with any of the bottoms.

Footwear is important. Tennis shoes have their place. So do flip flops. It's nice some days to give the rubber flip flops a break and put on a more embellished pair or a sandal. In the winter, boots are nice at times, but the heel can be a killer! Try a pair of ballerina flats or moccasins. They are easily worn, and if you purchase them in a neutral color, can be worn with anything. If you find that any part of them is rubbing your feet, just cut off a piece of "mole skin" (sold next to the adhesive bandages or in the foot care section with the insoles) and put in the shoe on the offensive area.

Be sure to add some colorful pieces to your wardrobe. It's easy to just have a neutral of everything. If you find that you do have a lot of neutrals, an inexpensive scarf or earrings (if you have older children who won't yank them off) or a pretty headband or belt, can go a long way toward taking a plain outfit to a fabulous one. Also, a belt can create a more hourglass figure, emphasizing your waist.

Of those things that you have, make sure they're easily laundered. There's nothing worse than having to make multiple trips to the cleaners because of the cashmere sweater getting a stain on it each time you wear it. So maybe buying a cotton cardigan would make more sense as you could just throw it in the washing machine.

However you make it work, make sure that you take time for yourself! Be proud of who you are and your accomplishments and enjoy yourself and your kids!