shame on you! no, i am not talking about cheating on your husband - i am talking about the soccer/baseball/football field (you get the picture, right?) -yes, YOU can and SHOULD be the hippest mama on the field and - STILL be the most comfortable. these days, casual wear has gotten way more casual and active wear has gone way beyond the gym. add a couple cute, comfortable, and ultra-stylish velour tracksuits to your wardrobe and, with no ironing - you are ready to go. pair it with some flip-flops in the summer, or pumas or Ugg boots in the fall/winter, and TADA - YOU are the hippest mama on the block! oh, and one other fool-proof modern mama tip - ALWAYS carry a NICE handbag… you can shop in sweatpants or a worn-out tee shirt, but if you’ve got an uber stylish handbag tucked under your arm (not to mention some larger than life sunglasses!) - you will always be the portrait of style - even if you accidentally walked out the door with your son’s dried spit-up on your shirt… 
modern mama designer favs:
spendy
juicy couture (duh!)
nanette lepore
work chic
BCBG
kensie
laundry
KORS by michael kors
September 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Modern Mama,
Your Juicy Couture soccer-Mom uniform sounds fabulously chic. But what if a Modern Mama lives, say, in Florida, where temps on the soccer field never dip below 80 degrees? After having two kids, I can’t pull off the cut-offs-and-a-tank-top look any more. What’s a Modern Mama to wear to look casually chic yet cool?
September 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
RESPONSE to Fleur de Lis:
thank you for your post and i completely hear ya girlfriend! i am also ‘weather-challenged’ living in the valley of the sun where on a ‘good’ summer day temperatures may go below 100 degrees…at least it is a dry heat. and although we can pull of some cute terry-cloth track pants and a tee in the winter and fall, what IS a modern mama suppose to do in the summer months to remain chic and comfortable while ‘playin’ the field’? i suggest you embrace your ‘inner hamptons’ and go beach chic. now if we were rappers, i would be telling you to do the ‘eastcoast’ gang sign not the ‘westcoast’ one since you can’t beat the classic look of east coast beach chic. think cute, lightweight cotton a-line sundresses in fabulous colors like fuchsia, coral and citron green. you can pair this with flip-flops for the kids games and birthday parties or some gorgeous rhinestone encrusted flat sandals for lunches and shopping (my personal fav!) and TADA! another fabulous look is wearing muted printed hawaiian/floral boardshorts and a lightweight white cotton short-sleeve, free flowing tunic. or reverse the look and go with a dramatic print tunic and simple white shorts. last but not least, don’t forget this season’s new revival, the ‘maxidress’ thanks to lauren conrad of the hills. another bonus - these looks feminine and chic, but not too fitted – and no dry cleaning involved, just wash and wear! for additional inspiration, check out designs by the fabulous modern mama, tory burch. for those of you modern mamas on the westcoast, you may have a little bit harder time pulling off the hamptons look since much of your lifestyle and fashion is inspired by the westcoast beach scene. check out roxy and billabong - two surfwear designers who have evolved way beyond the standard t-shirt and boardshort look, but still manage to keep it simple and cool! so there you have it…now all that’s left to do is slather on the sunscreen and grab your big sunglasses and you are ready for your moment in the sun (literally and figuratively)!
September 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Brilliant, Modern Mama! I love your style. Now, where can I find these sundresses? Tory Burch is my fashion idol, but a little out of my budget. Maybe the Victoria’s Secret catalog? They always have t-shirt dresses in every color. I found some cute tunics and shorts online at New York & Company really cheap!
Also, for the gym, Target now has skorts — a short tennis-style skirt on top (in one color) with built-in shorts underneath (in another color). These are cute if you’re like me and end up spending all day in your gym clothes.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
RESPONSE TO FLEUR DE LIS AND TINK BELLA:
yes, tory burch and the hamptons are a bit pricey and this modern mama is a true believer of the manntra of the uber modern mama, sara jessica parker that ‘fashion is NOT a luxury, it’s a right’. one of my fav places for cute summer wear is oldnavy - check out this strappy headturner for only $35.00. it’s wash and wear and oh so cute - and with that kind of price tag, you can get one in every color! http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=15292&pid=607898&scid=607898012
here is another on clearance for only $10.00 - in the summer heat, a-line and spaghetti straps are a modern mama’s two best friends!
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=15292&pid=400653
i have to admit, i am not a frequent shopper at old navy for myself, but they do a great job with chic summer clothes. check out the nautical inspired boat shirts - pair them with some white shorts and set sail for fashion island -population YOU!
another great fashionista/bargainista tip: if you’ve got an off-fifth outlet or last call neiman marcus in your state, sign up for their mailing lists to receive coupons for extra savings on top of their clearance prices. you would be surprised at the deep markdowns these off-price retailers make to move the clothes off their floor and into your closet…or should i say, my closet…
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
It is just as easy to throw on a sundress as it is to throw on a pair of sweatpants and old t-shirt. I have daughters and as they got older, then stated noticing that their ‘mom’ was not as fashionable as some of the other moms. School is hard enough for kids, I don’t want to contribute to their stress by having them be embarrassed by their mom! Keep up the great posts - I love it!