Back to School Fashion for Moms

Today I ventured out into a few stores. It is the eve of back to school in my current location and the retail cash registers were hard at work as parents and children attempted to buy those last minute school necessities.

Moms were snatching jeans off shelves.

Kids were eyeballing expensive tennis shoes.

One child was screaming “Silly Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaandz!” repeatedly, much to every shopper’s (with the exception of his oblivious mother) chagrin.

I must confess and say that I love the hustle and bustle of a frantic shopping crowd. I look forward to such big retail days like Black Friday, Tax Free weekends and post-holiday sales. Today as I navigated the crowded aisles I smiled and enjoyed the activity around me.

As I witnessed these moms struggling to find quality back to school clothes for their children at a reasonable price, I wondered how many of them paused to pick up something new for their own selves. Sure, moms do not experience quite the growth pattern of children and therefore do not need new clothes on a regular basis. This does not mean that moms should simply stick with the old college t-shirt and faded yoga pants while their children are dressed head to toe in the latest styles.

If I could do one thing for the SAHM of today it would be to have her burn those yoga pants and attempt to wear a little something fabulous everyday.

What is something “fabulous” one might ask?

Well, here are some ways moms can add a touch of fabulousness to their everyday wardrobe this back to school season.

• Ditch the boring cotten standards for a  fun t-shirt. We all know that t-shirts are super easy and incredibly comfortable. However, one doesn’t have to wear a college social shirt from twelve years ago to experience some comfort in their daily wardrobe. Find something fun with ruffles or flowers that is feminine yet practical. If you are crafty, make your own shirt for just a few dollars like my friend Jordan did.

• Wear dresses.I think a lot of SAHM’s shy away from the dress because it does not seem very practical when chasing kids around the park. Yes, some dresses(although fabulous) are not really practical for sitting down and finger painting with the kiddos. There are some simple, cute dresses that can go from carpool to grocery store then out to dinner with friends with ease and simplicity. Personally I love the maxi dress right now (and am currently wearing one as I write this). There is no fear of a stray hemline exposing anything when sporting a maxi dress, a plus when dealing with young children with straying hands. I also love the shirt dress. One can go super casual with this type dress or spice things up with something traditional and classy.

• Find a quality jacket. Supposedly temperatures are going to cool down this fall and we will struggle to remember these endless days of 100+ degree heat. A good jacket can carry some of your summer staples into fall.

• Toss on jewelry. I am a huge fan of chunky costume jewelry because it can add a splash of color and whimsy to a standard outfit. The great thing about this type of accessory is that one can find it cheap and in a vast array of colors and styles.

• Get a planner and use it. I am a pen and paper kind-of gal. Lots of what I write is pieced out in a notebook before my laptop is even switched on. I know I can keep calenders and to-do lists on-line, but I function better with something tangible. The MomAgenda is a great planner for moms who have lots of schedules to maintain. (Yes…a planner is not an article of clothing. But it is practical and there are so many cute designs out there!)

What are you buying for yourself this back to school season?