I can count on one finger hand the number of times a mom like me needs to get dressed up all celebrity-red-carpet-fancy in a year.
It’s a rare occasion that I am both grateful for and loathsome of all at the same time.
For whatever reason, when the time and money and stars align requiring me to hit the mall (or wherever normal people find fancy gear when they don’t just buy it online) for a formal dress, I am rarely able to locate something that I like. That I can also afford. That fits. And doesn’t make me look like a grandma. Or Courtney Love. The cracked out version.
It’s like the universe conspires against me and I wind up crying my way through department stores, going home empty handed, and rocking some castoff of my mother’s.
At least that’s how things used to be.
You know, before the whole embarrassing-ambush-and-celebrity-makeover-thing happened.
Now, I’ve learned to be a bit better prepared. I stay up on trends a little more, I actually go to clothing establishments and look just for fun on occasion, and I even read awesome fashion blogs that give me great ideas and have helped me develop my own sense of style.
Never mind that I know and appreciate my body in its currently cupcake padded form more than I used to which allows me to have a more realistic and flattering approach to dressing myself.
And sometimes, when I come across a fashion gem that looks nearly as amazing on me as it does on the hanger, I buy it. Even if I don’t have shoes to match. Even if I have nowhere to wear it.
Just because.
I’m guessing these hot mamas put a bunch of thought into their outfits for BlogHer last week. At least I hope so because it’s totally not fair if this is how they rolled outta bed!
Thanks to @irocksowhat, @lemusingsofmoi, @25design & @sellabitmum for sharing your Mom Awesome style with me ladies. I’m inspired by your hotness (and your other stuff too!)!
Looking for some party dresses to rock right now? Check these out!
Aw, I think you look adorable EVERY time I see you!
Maybe the secret is shopping at thrift stores. =) Or maybe I just believe thrift stores solve all problems. ha ha
Thanks, Summer! I’ve only recently discovered the awesome of the thrift store and sorta think you may be right!
I saw a lot of BlogHer pics. Now I know I can never go. It’s clearly for really good-looking, wealthy women.
Thanks for the Courtney Love comment. Some of the stuff they sell, for people who are older than 12, is ridiculous.
No, you should totally go! BlogHer is for everyone! And it is so nice to be able to finally meet all of the people we’ve been “talking” to online. Pretty sure we all roll out I most awesome for it though for sure. My feet are still recovering from the torture!
You know where I’ve found some fabulous dresses (even though I loathe dresses and promise myself I only have to wear them maybe twice a year (stupid weddings!!))?
White House Black Market. I bought a gorgeous dress there to wear to a wedding earlier this year. Of course, I’m sure I couldn’t even get it zipped up now, and may never be able to wear it again, but it was pretty and fun.
Well, for starters, your pregnant so if you still fit in your prepregnancy clothing I would have to hate you. And I LOVE WHBM. Aside from their price they are awesome!
I brought two pairs of jeans with me to BlogHer. The rest were dresses. I love what you’ve assembled, especially the orangey one on the top right.
You looked amazing! Seriously, you’re all tall and gorgeous and junk. Nothing I could gather from your avatar even though I recognized you the moment I saw you!
Great choices for dresses! The bloggers looked very classy and well put together. I really like the bluish-greenish dress.
Thanks for the feature.
My skirt was actually a too-short-dress that I altered! What what?
Say what, Willis?! That’s awesome. You’re so creative and junk.
Cute, cute dresses and features! I think one of my favorite part of BlogHer was having a reason to buy an sparkle dress and have a place to wear it. Now my husband wants me to wear it around him. Ummm, where? To Giant. I’m sure I could rock it out and get a few good stares.
I loved your sparkle dress! You looked great every time I ran into you at the conference!
I need fashion help ASAP….BFF’s wedding(9/9/12), no I’m not in it because I suck and told everyone getting married this year that i refused to be a bridesmaid in a wedding b/c will have just had a baby (in may). -I mostly said it so I wouldn’t be in one girls wedding which totally makes me feel like a Shhhhhhh!t bag for turing my BFF down. I know I know I know, I’m horrible!
Okay so back to needing help. I was walking through Macy’s (I do not like Macy’s AT ALL, so unorganized and my OCD kicks in and I just need to clean in there!) with Diva #2 (currently 3m young) who is screaming her pretty little head off (until I through on some Sean Paul-girl’s in love!). I thought to myself, I should just walk through the “formal” dress department, so I did. I saw a dress (on clearance-SCORE!) super cute and super-not my size, but i grabbed it and said I’ll try it on at home, if it doesn’t fit, I’ll return it.
FF to home, try that bad boy (or gal) on and…….dun, dun, dun….IT FITS, SWEET!!! Well, it’s fits but it’s a little (very little) shorter than what I would normally wear but I love the dress.
So what’s my problem you ask? SHOES and ACCESSORIES. I’m the bomb at buying cool Accessories for everyone else, but for me…..I suck! So I can totally drop you an email with a picture of said dress (on the hanger or on me) and you can hook at girl (desperate girl) up with some fashion advice!
Whachu think?
Um I’m sort of obsessed with dresses. Wear them every day pretty much. Going to San Diego for a week long work conference and I’ve got a suitcase full of dresses. I’ll have to send you a photo from this week. Though I hardly think of myself as stylish, but I definitely want a dress movement to come back!
I’m trying not to be offended right now. Where’s my dress?
Funny thing about that, I stalked your photos to find one of you in that lacy number you were rocking. But couldn’t find a single photo of your whole look. You need to take better fashion photos, missy!
You always look so put together!! Thanks for the mention! xo
It took a week long intervention by a celebrity fashion duo to get me here. Meanwhile, all of you are just that way naturally!