Style Like a Mother: Chadwicks

I remember growing up thinking two things about my mom’s style: she was always so dressed up and her shoulder pads needed an intervention.

Of course, like so many other little girls I also thought my mother was crazy pretty. Still do actually. And, I always thought she looked perfect, I just never imagined I’d dress anything like her. She wore grown up lady clothes –blazers, and pumps, and slacks, and blouses. She ironed everything including her jeans, with creases. All fancy like. She’d even get up on Saturday morning and *gasp* put on makeup! She dressed fully and did her hair every day, regardless of her agenda.

Let me just tell you, that is SO not my life. If I’m not leaving my house, chances are I’m not wearing a bra. Or pants. And makeup? Forget about it. I will be furry headed and sweat pantsed and not in any condition to accept guests. You ring my bell you can expect my unfriendly-to-uninvited-visitors dog to meet you at the porch with her snarl face on while I soldier crawl and monkey roll across my living room so you can’t see me through the window.

Don’t judge though, I have my pulled together stylish moments. They just require some forethought and some planning because my mama’s preparedness is not a trait I inherited.

Nor did her taste in clothing. Or, so I thought.

Growing up, I remember going to stores with my mom and being bored out of my mind. She liked the 35 year old ladies shops where she got her basic colored clothing and her big shoulder pads and her sensible skirts. I wanted glitter and sparkle and color and spandex. All of the spandex.

I just remember thinking I will never, ever in life shop at Mervyns. Or Dress Barn. Or Chadwicks because they don’t have glitter and sparkle and color and spandex to meet my discerning, nine year old girl standards.

My how times have changed…

This is an outfit I recently received from Chadwicks.

I am officially 35.

Okay, fine, I’m 37.

Either way, I honestly am feeling pretty great about it.

Yes, it’s a sensible outfit, in a basic color, without a lot of glitter and sparkle and spandex. But, in reality, that is not my life. As an over 30-and-still-slaying-daily mom  of three, I don’t need or want sparkly, glittery, spandexy clothing in my daily wear lineup and I am so thankful that I have moved beyond that.

I love that this outfit is perfect to take me from the end of winter right into spring. And that most of the items on the Chadwicks site are perfect for the fully grown-up, active, stylish woman.

They fit easily into my mom life as well as my business life. The outfit I selected is one I feel comfortable going from school pick up to a quick coffee meeting with a client which means it is comfortable, versatile, stylish, and well made.

Just like the things my mom used to wear.

Plus, the top looks really great with jeans.

Can’t really ask for more than that.

Disclosure: Chadwick’s provided me with some of the clothing items featured in this post. All opinions, extra pounds, and sparkle are my own.