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Twin Cities Mom Collective

Well Dressed Girls

Well Dressed Girls | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Most days my children are dressed better than I am. It is a reality I have come to accept as a Mom to two girls aged four and under. I thought the pendulum may sway in my direction come the start of the new school year, as a uniform is now required attire, but still, my oldest leaves the house looking more put together than I am nine times out of ten. A uniform has a way of adding a touch of polish.

And it is not for lack of trying. I have always loved clothes. My parents placed a strong emphasis on looking presentable growing up. I was one of the girls with strict rules on what was considered appropriate attire, for which I am now thankful. More so, I love to shop. So, I am often on the hunt for fashions to complement my existing wardrobe. The reality is that my wardrobe largely consists of athleisure. Clearly, my use of that term is my attempt at making the Mom wardrobe of yoga pants more acceptable.

As we were making our way through Target the other day (because what Mom can go through life without Target), I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, then at my girls. I beamed with pride over their coordinating outfits (I just can’t help myself) and shuddered at just how far I have let myself go. On the plus side, my outfit matched, on the con side, it was ill-fitting and well worn. I seem to have lost a sense of self in motherhood.

There were warning signs when my Mom walked me into a store last Spring and told the salespeople, “she needs help.” My husband and I were about to go away for the first time, and my outfit choices were lacking. I did find some great pieces that boosted my confidence for the spring season. But, slowly I crept back into my old ways of athleisure opting for comfort over style. As with many priorities, motherhood has shifted my style as well.

This is most applicable when it comes to my choice of footwear. No longer do I have the energy to limp around the day in uncomfortable heels. In my prime I lived for heels, the higher the better to offset my short stature. One pair was so uncomfortable that I dreaded walking from my desk to the restroom at the office. They were beautiful though! Such shoes now collect dust on my closet shelves, tossed aside in favor of more sensible shoes. Shoes that are short on height but long on comfort. That is when I am even wearing shoes. Slippers get the most wear in this house. Either is perfect for chasing the wayward toddler.

Toddlers are similar in that comfort is key. Jeans have not touched my eldest daughters skin in at least two years. Why wear constricting denim when you can wear leggings all day? Not just wear them, but rock them as most littles do. Dare I say they look even cuter on my youngest as they highlight that adorable baby diaper butt.

Well Dressed Girls | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Comfort and color drive my preschooler’s fashion decisions. She has very strong opinions on what she wears. The uniform cramps her preference for princess colors during the week, so the more princess the better outside of school. I am not always sure what a “princess” dress entails, but have learned it usually comes down to color (pink/purple), ruffles, fabric, and length. If it is not princess related I can forget getting her into it. I am happy to let her make her own fashion choices, with some minor requirements. Each look must be situational and seasonally appropriate. When those caveats are met, she is free to leave the house as she chooses. Mom only gets veto rights on special occasions.  Pick your battles…

Her strong opinions came to light at an early age. My initial resistance made for some challenging mornings. I do not give up control easily. Especially on the things that I enjoy doing. This lead to the realization of how much I enjoy children’s fashion. Everything is cuter in mini size. Plus, you can push the style limits a bit more. Bright colors and pattern mixing has never been more fashionable than it is on little bodies! So as much as I bemoan the decline of my own appearance above, I recognize it is a product of my own effort.

What I learned from the discriminate taste of eldest, is that the window to dress your children as you want is limited. So, with my second, I have decided to make the most of it! We have plenty of hand me downs to cover the basics, so can have more fun with special occasions and accessories. Not to mention the opportunity to coordinate their looks. Thankfully, both girls are still at the age that it is fun, not embarrassing.

Enter my new hobby of child fashion. It is amazing how many social media outlets can be found on the subject. There are great sites to meet others with similar taste, find the best sales, or resell gently used pieces. I have met some incredible people through these sites that I may not have crossed paths with otherwise. Other times the dress one of my girls is wearing serves as an icebreaker to others with similar taste. Not to mention, resale has made my love for shopping a bit more affordable.

It is amazing how much value there is in quality clothing.  Not only do you get superior of some of those special occasion pieces that do not get a lot of wear, and are in excellent condition when done. These are the best items to place on a Buy/Sell/Trade site to pass along to a second home. Depending on the brand and condition of the item, it is possible to almost recoup the original prices. This helps to fund future sizing needs.

Selling does take a bit of work. An effort is required to inventory and list each piece. Not to mention dealing with the postal system. In time though it becomes rather routine. Fun even, if you enjoy fashion. The items that don’t sell at more specialized outlets are the perfect pieces to take to your local consignment shop. The return is lower, but so is the time commitment. Donating is another great option, and I love to pay forward our baby clothes to the local children’s hospital.

While I hope my kids are always known for less superficial attributes, there is no harm in them looking good in the process.  If they are confident and comfortable, Mom can have a bit of fun along the way!

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