Easy, Breezy Mom Clothes
I once had a friend ask me, “Why don’t you wear shirts with words or graphics on them?” To which, I responded, I don’t really want anyone knowing that much about me without actually knowing me. Not only does what you wear serve the practical function of shielding you from the elements and equipping you to carry out your day, but it also communicates a lot about who you are - lifestyle, personality, preferences. Believe it or not (since I write this blog), I am a private person. I prefer to keep a lot of what motivates and scares me, as well as my feelings, to myself.
With that said, my style has always been and continues to be clean, neutral, and feminine. I purchase clothes that are fitted and tailored, that show I’m a lady without showing exactly why I’m a lady. Before having my daughter, this looked like mini skirts and dresses, zip and hook closures, pleats and ruffles, and a lot of cotton and white. After having my daughter, this looked a little less like mini skirts and dresses (because it oddly felt weird to wear such short clothing as someone’s mom) and white (because spit up does not come out easily). But I maintained the zip and hook fastenings, as well as the skirts and dresses. After my divorce, this looked even more different.
As I mentioned in my heels vs sneakers post, I find that life co-parenting a small child while working a full-time job means I’m constantly on the go. Maybe this is just me. But it just feels like there’s always somewhere to be and something to be doing. Being constantly on the go means I can’t bother with skirts that could show all God gave me as I bend to talk to my daughter, or with dresses that I can’t keep from flying up because I’m holding stuffed animals and backpacks, or with zip and hook closing blouses that could easily pop as I hoist my daughter up on my hip; or with pleats and ruffles that get discombobulated as my daughter crawls all over me; or with cotton that wrinkles at even a hint of movement; or with white that evidence all the blunders I experience just in getting through the day. Nope, something had to change.
My style post-divorce has still been clean, neutral, and feminine. But I think it’s gotten more casual. I wear more tees with my skirts and pants. I wear a lot less cotton, and more wool and synthetic materials. I’ll probably pick elastic and buttons over zips and hooks. And really, I tend more towards looser-fitting tops and form-fitting bottoms. Not only does this most flatter my body type, but it gives me the flexibility and comfort of looking nice while being on the go. I’ll break out the other items when there’s a special event (like church, dates, girls’ nights, work meetings, etc.) or I want to feel especially nice.
Did you notice a change in your wardrobe choices after parenting and then divorce?
