Moxie is here to help!

Sunday, 28 February 2010 00:21

A dear reader wrote us to ask:

"I am a busy stay-at-home mom with two energetic kiddos who keep me moving all day long. While I want to wear as comfortable clothes (like, no 4-inch heels or pencil skirts...thank you very much) as possible, I still want to look current and stylish. That said, Danskos and Gore-Tex are not on my list of must-haves...want to look cute and trendy. Even if I am covered with either mud, dog hair or spit-up most days. Ideas, ideas, ideas...puhlease!
Another question: I recently bought my first pair of MoTO skinny jeans (gotta love MoTO) and while they are fabulous...I don't know what to wear with them. Yes, I *do* want to look trendy but let's just keep in mind that I am no longer 15. Or even 25. So, what would go well with skinny jeans?"

Ah, a classic conundrum. Don't fret, mommy dearest! We would never want to see you fall off the fashion bandwagon (by which I of course mean wearing sweats everyday.) A Moxie woman's gotta look good and feel good too! Here are a few ideas I whipped up for the comfort question:

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First and foremost, I would like to say this: embrace the legging! That's one trend that's going to stick around for awhile. So in addition to being on-trend, they are suuuuper comfy, look great on damn near everyone, are inexpensive and easy to wash. If you aren't willing to embrace the "leggings as pants" trend that's making waves these days (I will when they stop making them so sheer!), then stick with wearing them under dresses and tunics. Buy them in any color, cut, or pattern that suits your fancy (we have some darling black lace ones in the store!) 

I definitely understand that you need to be able to run around after the little tots and that you want to be able to look put-together at the same time- and why shouldn't you?! I would recommend you invest in some cute sweater dresses or knit tunics. Something form-fitting (but not tight)is always flattering, but you should also consider something with more volume or drape. It's comfortable and chic, and very flattering when belted at the waist. When it's a dressier kind of day, no one (I mean no one) can go wrong with a pretty wrap dress. They cinch the waist, the v-neck cut slims and elongates, and the paneling flatters the waist. Opt for a solid classic color that you will wear all the time, or a colorful, feminine pattern if you want a modern look. Pretty much your whole outfit is taken care of. I would also suggest a comfortable but ladylike cardigan with embellishments (ribbons, appliques, prints, studs) that you can throw on over an otherwise drab outfit. And as for shoes, I would say to find a chic-er sneaker (if you haven't noticed, we love our TOMS!) or a durable boot in a neutral color, either flat or with a low heel. Boots will never go out of style, but you're always better of picking a classic pair without a lot of bells and whistles. Even the low-maintenence among should be able to accessorize and still be comfy. I would suggest the always-stylish combination of a colorful scarf and a skinny belt (for your waist, not your pants) to pull any outfit together. Bonus? Unlike dangling earrings or necklaces, it won't hurt when the little ones try to pull them off!

As for your skinny jean stumper, just know that skinnies are now classics; they are here to stay. As a result, pretty much anything goes. But proprtion is important. If you have the form-fitted bottoms on, you should shy away from having something skintight on top (not the most flattering look anyhow.) You have more room to play around with the drapey and oversized trends that are going on right now, since these styles wouldn't really work with baggy jeans. If that's not really your style, just stick with a cute top, sweater and/or blazer with a scarf during the day and a girly blouse at night. Floral and vintage styles are very flattering on a lot of different body types and can be easily adapted to your personal style (pick a decade and run with it!) They are also perfect for stuffing into those boots we talked about. Another great thing about skinny jeans is their versatility. They look just as good with soft, girly tops as they do with menswear trends. Have fun playing around and seeing what looks you like best!

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I hope we helped! And remember, if you are sartorially stumped, don't hesitate to send your questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We'd love to hear from you!

xoxo,

Sally