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?

now that the weather is getting a little cooler, it is time to pack up our summer wardrobe and welcome in the fashions of fall.  here are the modern mama’s must have pieces when it comes to fall.  all are casual, yet chic – and can be just as appropriate for the playground or the office.  and, best of all – they are all ‘sin forgiving’ if you know what i mean!

must have #1 (see blouse under swing coat)

the ruffle-bottom or elastic bottom blouse – these are a definite must have, especially if your flat abs from pre-baby days are a distant memory and a thousand sit-ups a day is no were in your near future.  this look instantly slims and elongates your waistline…and who couldn’t use that?!

must have #2
the sweater coat or swing coat – call it what you want, i just call it salvation – or perhaps SALIVATION – since i literally drool over the sweater coat look.  not only does it give you a sleek, long profile, but it also conceals the upper-arm giggle – not to mention unloads some of the junk in your trunk.  get one in black, then get a few more with bold prints in your signature colors. read more

let me just start off by saying, ‘fear the mjs’.  no, i am not talking about michael jackson or michael jordan, but now that i think about it, you probably should fear them, too – what i am talking about is the ‘mom jeans’.  never heard of the term ‘mom jeans’?!  then you probably have a pair or two in your closet – in fact, you may even be wearing a pair now.

check out these two FUNNY videos on the dreaded mom jeans.  for those of you at work and are in a cubicle environment, i recommend you wait until you are at home to watch them because (1) you need to have sound and (2) you will laugh your pants off…but, then again, if you are wearing mom jeans, that’s a good thing….

here are the modern mama’s rules when it comes to jeans:

1. first of all, don’t call them jeans.  they are called denims. it is kind of like referring to soda as       ‘pop’…you are just outdating yourself and appearing a little old school – but not in a good way.
2. if you have ANY denims purchased before the new millennium, or in reality, before the last presidential election – get rid of them.
3. unless you are a celebrity/rockstar, you should not own any colored denims (one white pair for summer and one black pair for winter are ok, but they’d better be jet black and dressy, not acid washed and 80’s)
4. each pair should sit 1-4” BELOW your belly button and not taper down from your knee (unless they are ‘skinny denims’ that you pair with some ballet flats or boots).
5. your denims should NOT however, sit below your hip bones – unless you are under 25 and have abs of steel…then feel free to flaunt away and the rest of us will just despise you
6. the hem should sit ¼ of an inch above the ground.  this is sometimes hard to pull off with different shoe heights, but if you can fully see your shoes when standing up - then hopefully you are at a clam bake diggin’ for clams and waiting for the next tide to roll in.
7. buy denims by the fit, not by the size on the tag.  the old 501 days from the 80’s are gone so your waistline isn’t advertised on the outside tag.  this comment goes for clothes in general since there is no universal standard to clothes.  denims fit better and look better when they are slightly ‘too big’ and drape nicely on your curves – rather than all eyes focused on your zipper screaming for air and just waiting to bust out at the seams.
8. don’t wear denims with pleats.
9. don’t wear denims with pleats. (sorry, i had to put this one twice, just in case anyone missed it the first time!
10. and, since i started off with michael jackson, i might as well end with him – if you wear mom jeans - never never never wear exposed white socks with your tapered leg mom jeans – you will just end up looking like the king of pop with everyone within range of your fashion foul wanting you to ‘beat it’.

finally, the ONLY thing worse than a mom wearing mom jeans is a female who is NOT a mom and still wears them…and for the record – i don’t cook, but at least i clean – and i wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of mom jeans!

ps. want more mama fashion tips?!  be on the look-out for my upcoming post on “two-word phrases that should never be uttered or found in your closet!”