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Style Vs Functionality for Mums
Why is it that so many mums are feeling frustrated, depressed, upset, disappointed and downright fed up when it comes to their wardrobes?
Well for busy mums, practicality becomes paramount when it comes to the wardrobe. It has to be quick to get on, easy to wash and comfortable for all the running around you have to do during the day.
Comfortable clothes are ‘quick’, ‘easy’, ‘practical’ and ‘comfortable’, but on the other hand women refer to themselves IN these clothes as ‘unfeminine’, ‘scruffy’, ‘frumpy’ and even ‘unattractive’. Obviously, a concern when the majority of their wardrobe reflects this, and when you’re a busy mum, this can happen without you realising!
How Becoming a Mum Can Affect Your Wardrobe
I have worked with many mums and often find that when the children get to three or four years old and start school, I receive a call from an exhausted mum, fed up with her wardrobe! One day Mum has come to look in the mirror and all of a sudden feels quite lost as she realises that the majority of clothes she has been wearing are leaning heavily towards practical as opposed to stylish. She reflects that over the last three or four years she has literally grabbed what clothes she could, when she could (common busy mum syndrome).
Admirable the fact is, she has been entirely focussed on her children and like any good parent the wardrobe has dropped a number of places in terms of priorities. No matter what age, shape or size, Mum starts to worry that perhaps she can’t get away with the same styles she used to love before she had children – there’s something about having the title ‘Mum’ that makes us think about this. Plus she just doesn’t really have the time or energy to focus on herself long enough to get to the bottom of the issue and resolve it!
The secret to getting your style mojo back is making some ‘you’ time to find the right style and appropriate garments. Most women can tick the ‘fast’ and ‘easy’ box without my help, but struggle to tick the ‘stylish’ box too; therefore make do with their usual buys that are becoming somewhat uninspiring.
One Mum says...
“I met Nicola (for the first time) for the 4 hour shopping experience today & I can honestly say it was the best decision I have made in a long time....! After the birth of my 1st child a year ago I had lost a lot of my confidence & felt I had no idea any more of what on earth to wear. Shopping trips left me miserable and bewildered - there was too much choice! I had also been sticking to those 'rules' about what apparently 'worked' for my shape, which I'm sure many of us follow, touted in many fashion mags (i.e boot cut only and NO skinny jeans). Within minutes of meeting Nicola, I was trying on things I would have admired but have been scared of wearing, such as my new gorgeous skinny jeans!! I couldn't believe how fantastic & slimming they were. Also not only have I got an incredible new funky wardrobe, I have a much better understanding of what works for me, and my body shape, so I can be much more savvy when shopping on my own in future.
I did worry that this may be an indulgent treat, but Nicola has surpassed my expectations. Every girl should have a Nicola in their life - book a session now - you won't regret it!!”
Emma Pennington, Mum (read more testimonials on our website www.mystylecompanion.com)
This is where I regularly assist mums, often taking just one session, advising how to refocus on quick, easy, stylish wardrobe solutions. Also helping to realise that effortless style can indeed be less effort!
The key is that a bit of ‘wow’ needs to be injected in to the comfort of their practical wardrobe. I’m not saying that doing the school run, nipping to the supermarket or walking the dog needs to be a fashion parade, but in my experience too much of the ‘Practical Factor’ can lead to a woman feeling unattractive, unfeminine and unnoticed, eventually to the point of possibly lowering confidence levels.
My answer to all of these challenges is that we need to start combining both style and function, but if you don’t know where to start....keep reading...
Here are my TOP 3 MUST HAVES FOR SCHOOL RUN MUMS...
1) A Hooded Parka or Jacket
Choose a practical (but stylish) jacket in a capsule colour to throw on with jeans or over tunics when you run out the door. Come rain or shine, you’ll look the part.
Try the Kimbe Jacket from Ted Baker, £159 in Beige
2) Skinny or Straight Leg Jeans
A lot of clients I meet have been told or have read somewhere that bootleg jeans are the capsule piece they should have in their wardrobe. The fact is, these days, most women wear flats when running about during the day, and flats with bootleg jeans make you look shorter and wider!
Try Warehouse or Dorothy Perkins for Skinny Jeans if you are petite, Try Levi’s Curve ID Straight Leg Jeans from John Lewis if you have curves, and straight legged jeans J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams as a general all rounder.
3) Nude patent flat shoes (ballet pumps, loafers or brogues)
A nude flat shoe will work with everything when Spring kicks in and will be your day to day ‘go to’ easy footwear. I usually go for a patent pair as they stay looking new for much longer as opposed to suede or leather.
Lindsy or Lindy Ballet Pumps by Carvella for Kurt Geiger, or Maggie Moc Loafers by Office. Dune also have some nice options.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR MUMS IN THE KNOW
Get 20% discount a wardrobe consultation or any personal shopping service with My Style Companion by entering CODE: SS12 at the online checkout before the 31st March 2012. T&Cs apply.
For further details or articles about style and fashion advice for Mums in Cheshire visit www.mystylecompanion.com, email info@mystylecompanion.com or call 01625 508264
ABOUT NICOLA CUPPLES & MY STYLE COMPANION
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STYLE YOURSELF CONFIDENT WORKSHOP
19th March, 10am – 1pm, Broken Cross, Macclesfield £45pp (book online through our website)
Do you find yourself continually uttering the words “I have nothing to wear!” You’re not alone. Women tell me they feel ‘lost, defeated, disappointed, frustrated, depressed and lacking in inspiration’ when it comes to their wardrobes, with many feeling like when they look in the mirror, their expectations of the clothes they purchased are not being met.
If you still struggle to find anything to wear from your wardrobe, then why not take 3 hours out of one day this year to have a chat with me and resolve all of your wardrobe dilemmas by coming along to our Style Yourself Confident Workshop in Cheshire. Book online here