Yes, we all waited excitedly to see the inaugural activities a few weeks back - and to see what Michele Obama would wear each step of the way. And, like always, she did not disappoint! Ms. Obama is the muse that all fashion houses have been looking for all these years. She personifies how a beautiful, intelligent, woman, mother, wife, and working professional should look. She doesn’t dress too trendy or matronly for a ‘middle-aged’ woman, the elusive demographic that designers have been missing the mark (and dollars) on all these years. I love that Ms. Obama has her signature colors and cuts/styles that she is drawn to and looks fabulous in. More importantly, I love the fact that she chooses emerging designers who are culturally diverse and talented.

As modern mamas, we can all watch and learn from Ms. Obama, such as:

1. Fashion is not a luxury - it’s a right: Fashion should not have to be expensive. Ms. Obama goes from haute couture, to J. Crew, to White House Black Market to Old Navy - and looks fabulous in each instance.
2. Rocks the low, kitten-heels and ballet flats like none other!: Have you ever chased down your wee ones on the playground at the daycare after a long day at the office in 3″ Manolo Blahniks?! I have…and will never do it again. Kitten heels are professional and sexy for work, and your feet will thank you later.
3. Flatter your best assets…and don’t be overly critical of your ‘perceived’ flaws.
4. At special events, your kids should look nice, but they still should look like kids. Young kids don’t need couture, nor make-up…ever.
5. Find your signature colors and develop your own sense of style - don’t just follow trend after trend.

Most working professionals between the ages of 35-45 have a hard finding work appropriate clothes that are still stylish — and don’t break the bank, because currently, there is not a lot to choose from. Fortunately, I work in a creative field, so I don’t have to dress as traditional as some, but I still need to look polished and professional at the office. Here are a few labels that I tend to be drawn to for stylish, affordable, and professional clothing.

- Kensie
- I.C.E
- Ellie Tahari
- BCBG
- Hale Bob
- Theory

What are some of your favorite designers? …And what was your favorite inaugural day look for Ms. Obama?

the boston globe had an article on the newest trend in retail therapy that has emerged due to the current state of the economy. the new trend has a name - the ‘returnista’, which is the definition for someone who shops, then stresses out about their purchases, and then returns the unused/unopened items back to the store. some due it out of stress, others guilt, and others just for the thrill of the hunt and their addiction to shopping.

as stated in the article: Unlike “wardrobers” - crooked shoppers who buy with the intention of using their purchases before returning them - returnistas are guilty of nothing more than a bad case of buyer’s remorse. Some have lost jobs and know they shouldn’t be shopping at all, others haven’t seen a decrease in income, but worry they should be saving for an uncertain future. Some feel guilty about spending when others can’t.

as a self-professed shop-aholic, I know that I have bought and returned this year. some out of guilt, and some out of uncertainty - although I also think I have purchased more high-end items due to some of the extreme sales and closures of local businesses and boutiques. I do try and limit re-think purchases when shopping in small boutiques since the return and credit-card fees add up for these family-owned businesses, but with kids in tow, it is so much easier to ‘throw it in the cart’ and decide whether to keep the items later, once you are in the comforts of your own home.

with the global economic crisis and as a modern mama - has your shopping patterns changed? what have you given up or settled for that you may not have done in the past? what is the best bargain you have scored (if any)? or have you not made any changes to your spending habits?! do share!

recently, elle magazine had an article on 10 things that should be found in every woman’s closet. i would share the list with you, only due to my lack of organizational skills – i can’t find it, since i am sure by now one of my boys turned it into a paper airplane and soared it into the neighbors yard – again, or perhaps my husband confiscated it since he thought it was yet another shopping list of mine as i do my part to stimulate the economy. anyways, the list contained items such as a good pair of black pumps, the lbd, a crisp white shirt, a nice pair of denims, diamond earrings…etc. in fact, i did have all the items on the list, minus the crisp white shirt – mine is dingy gray with clorox bleached tiny spaghetti handprints on it (c’mon, i’ve got boys remember?!) – but then i realized, women, especially modern mamas - have WAY more than 10 items in their closets! so, with this in mind, i thought it is much BETTER to have a list of 10 items that should NOT be found in any woman’s closet, so here goes:

10 things that should NOT be found in your closet (from the modern mama’s perspective, of course):

1. mom jeans (need i say more?)
2. white pumps.  white, strappy sandals are fine, metallics are even a better alternative.
3. nude nylons. …especially in ’suntan’.
4. anything with shoulder pads (make friends with a good tailor, if the blazer/coat is salvageable)
5. neon. citrus colors are good (think turquoise, citron, and coral) – neon is bad.
6. colored slouchy socks. your’e not in jr. high anymore, your socks shouldn’t be coordinated to match your outfit.
7. hair scrunchies.
8. pants with pleats. they were cool in the early 90’s when you wore them to the mc hammer concert (i know I did…twice! – lol), but now, even mc hammer ‘can’t touch this’ fashion foul.
9. mock turtlenecks. anyone seen in public with someone wearing one of these should assume the ’scared/embarrassed turtle position’ and tuck their head in and hide.
10. gauchos.  unless you are a native cowboy of south america (where the name is derived from), these fashion fouls need to ride off into the sunset never to be found again.  they made a brief blip on the ‘c-list fashion scene’ in the summer of 2006, but now they need to find a permanent home at a goodwill near you.

*originally posted on poshmama.com by the modern mama, feature contributor for poshmama.com, the hip hangout for haute mamas!

with the holiday season fast approaching and your party schedule beginning to fill up – just say NO to any urge you may have to wear a ‘christmas sweater’. instead of wearing a sweater with a reindeer, snowman, or holiday motif on it, opt for a cranberry colored velvet blazer or matte-metallic silver sweater with a faux fur trim collar. both are chic alternatives that will leave santa (and all your friends and family) saying ‘ho-ho-ho’, not ‘no-no-no’.

also,  when attending a christmas party - don’t overdo the glitz and ‘christmas spirit’ with your outfit (see above).  remember, you are going there to have fun and mingle with friends and family - not compete with the christmas tree!

have you seen any holiday fashion fouls that were just complete train wrecks?!  do share…and hopefully you weren’t looking in the mirror!

i think the biggest offeder i have witnessed is someone wearing a christmas tree sweater with matching christmas tree earings that actually blinked!  and of course, she had to have the socks to match!  omg…keep the spirit inside/outside your home - not on your body!