Rocking Your Mom Style- Tips For Real Women From NY Fashion Week

After I had my first child, let's just say that I definitely sported my pregnancy jeans followed by several pairs of mom jeans for a little longer than I should’ve. I admit it- I suffered from a syndrome I've called momjeanitis. Whereas I once a hip chick, who actually cared and took a real interested in the way I presented myself to society before leaving the confines of my house, once I gave birth I suddenly morphed into those mom jean wearers Tina Fey so wonderfully lampooned on SNL. Maybe it was just being in that fuzzy new mom haze , drunk on changing baby poop and being milked like a cow, that I caused me to simply misplace my fashion sense mojo. 

Fortunately my laissez-faire  attitude towards my appearance has taken a major turn, since I became the mother of a highly precocious, and dare I say it critical ten year old daughter who is extremely cognizant of my clothing and accessory pairings. In fact my daughter, who was recently rifling through old family photo albums and saw me sporting some post pregnancy mom jeans, being the straight shooter she is, looked me squarely in the jaw and said, "Mommy you  are never  going to actually go outside like that again,are you?" Of course my son said, “Mommy you will always look beautiful to me” and therein lies the difference between daughters and sons, but I digress. So in any event, having my little 10 year old at my side is all the influence I need to step up my game, and ditch any tired mom clothing in exchange for some fresh, hip, but comfortable and AFFORDABLE looks!

Enter Vera Sweeney  and Audrey McClelland  the mom fashionistas behind Getting Gorgeous events - a company they founded to help bring affordable, wearable but still glamorous fashions to moms everywhere. These two women, achieved the herculean task of putting together Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show, which premiered as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Lincoln Center, featuring real moms-including our very own Lifetime mom Carol Cain, and some pregnant ones too, walking the runway in outfits from retailers like; TJ Maxx and Marshall's.  Proving that REAL women can afford and pull off fashion forward frocks that are sexy, classic and do not include the dreaded mom jeans. And I was lucky enough to be one of the privileged moms who got a front row seat to all the fashion goodness, and watched real moms strut affordable couture.

So what are the takeaway tips for real moms that I gleaned from The Strut Moms fashion show?

#1 Don't be afraid of color! I know I am the first person to dress in all black clothing, as I've always thought it helped to slim me down- but this spring I’m ready to add a bit of color to my wardrobe. No, I'm not saying you will see me dressing up in a fluorescent pink pants suit, but I am ready to add colorful accents to my outfits like a bold orange clutch, or a pair of neon yellow sling backs. Baby steps!

#2 Take the time to browse discount stores where you can find designer duds for much less than their designer price tags. Of course this takes patience and the understanding that you will need to comb through racks-- but the end result will be outfits that are priceless and on trend.

#3 Accessorize! You can take a plain black dress and add a chunky jeweled necklace, beautiful pumps and/or chandelier earrings and voila you look runway ready.

And for the pregnant moms who don't want to sacrifice style while carrying their baby on board, Ingrid Carney, founder of  Ingrid and Isabel,  who styled the pregnant moms at the Strut Moms fashion show had these tips to add to help pregnant moms look fabulous and fashion forward.

#1 Take inventory of your closet.  There's nothing more frustrating than walking in your closet and thinking, "I have nothing to wear".  Now add the fact that you're pregnant. Look at your go-to pieces to see if any of them may work during pregnancy. List what is black, colorful, the tops especially, the bottoms, and how they all coordinate.

Now, you may have a sense of what your maternity investments need to be. This first step will put you on your way to looking and feeling fabulous.

#2 Invest in the grab-and-go pieces. A Bellaband of course gets you started, but also invest in a pair of skinny, straight, or boot-cut jeans for later in pregnancy, preferably full panel. Buy some leggings. You will live in them.  Get the soft stuff in dresses, preferably solids so that you can accessorize them, dress them up and down, go from day to night. Do scarves, lengthening jewelry, earrings, and fun shoes.

#3 Lips. I love the lips. If you have a Sephora near you or department store with many make-up choices, spend some time there to find the colors for you…the perfect glosses and a beautiful red lipstick (Yes, red is for everyone. You just need to find the right red). And since you're glowing, find a light powder that enhances your pregnant complexion and work in a rose blush...very in right now and perfectly matched to a pregnant mom-to-be.

So what are your real mom go to fashion basics?