Great post, Laura! I’m convinced… nice ideas. I’ll have to skim the closet to see what I have to work into this. I got a great dress at the YLF swap…a perfect candidate for this!

I love it! And while I don’t wear dresses and skirts that often, I’d love to start incorporating more into my day to day wardrobe. My next shopping adventure will be a skirt safari!

Great post!

I love these post for moms on the go! It has really inspired me to stay away from the easy jean and sweat shirt combination. Thank you so much!!

Laura, you rock. Thanks for reminding the moms of the world that it needn’t be jeans and sneaks every day!

Can you please tell me where that elephant tee is from? I love it! Thanks!

Oops, nevermind, I figured it out!

Laura, another great post! I’ve actually been sporting these looks a bit this spring. I got a great new dress from Martin & Osa and love it with my denim jacket. I’m on the lookout for some fun skirts that are low maintenance. I LOVE that elephant tee! Too cute! This is definitely in my rotation for mom-on-the-go outfits…I just need to expand my dress and skirt wardrobe a bit. Thanks for the inspiration!

Love the outfits- and the inspiration for moms to step it up a little. After years in a rut, I am studying this forum like a physics class, and I’m actually getting some compliments from my daughter on how I look! Thanks, Laura, for your post today.

Thanks, ladies! I am glad to know that moms out there are breaking out of the jeans rut. After a long winter, it feels good to try something new.

When I was putting together the illustrations, I came across so many great dresses and skirts. This dress from American Eagle Outfitters was one of my favs:

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/p.....rod4430105

Keep your eyes open and you’ll find loads of cute, fun options in the stores this spring.

GREAT GREAT post!!! And I agree, BUT I do think it depends on what your day entails, and sometimes it is hard to feel so dressed up compared to the other moms-but all i nteh name of fashion :):)

Another great post Laura! I am truly enjoying this series. The outfit combos are great, and that elefant tee is too cute.

As mentioned, I am not a mom, but lead and similarly casual lifestyle. I have been spotting this formulas last summer and enjoying them tremendously. I have actually made myself a rule That every week I had to wear both a skirt and a dress at least once, and managed to stick it to it very well from mid-May through the end of Septemeber.

I love skirts! The looks are great, especially for spring layering. What changes should I make for midsummer heat? In the past, I’ve not worn many accessories (my summer formula would have been skirt + tee + sandals), so I’m curious would a beaded necklace finish off an outfit if I cannot wear a denim jacket or cardi?

Great post, Laura! I love everything in the outfits you assembled and would wear them in a heartbeat – for mom outings and non-mom outings!

Oh, and Jane, that dress from the swap seems a perfect candidate for this look!

Well done, Laura! (I’m certainly not always right, but I do like to share my pulled together and pragmatic approach to dressing). And you ROCK those dresses that we purchased together in NYC, as everyone can see from the photographs. I’m proud to have converted you. And by the sounds of things, there are more converts.

Tanya and Antje hit the nail on the head. These are dressing formulas for everyone – myself included.

RSRP, in the name of “style” as opposed to fashion

I’m a SAHM and I find dresses and skirts very easy in summer and winter. What I have trouble with is in spring and fall, when it’s too cool for tights (spring) and too hot for boots (autumn). Does anyone had any suggestions?

Great post Laura!

Christine

Hi – I’ve been reading this site for a few weeks and love it but always seem to get stuck with the weather. I’m in the Northeast and it hasn’t warmed up here enough for these light layers and bare legs.

I wear dresses and skirts in the summer with bare legs but am never sure what to wear in the spring when it is spring on the calendar only and not warm enough for these looks….boots seem too winter-y and tights with flats seem so little girl-ish.

Any suggestions for those of us that haven’t really seen spring yet?? Thanks

Cricket, to answer your question, of course you should do what makes you happy, but wearing a basic or printed T-shirt on its own after a certain age is not youlookfab approved. It’s a teenage look and that’s not what you want after 30 or 35. The denim jacket adds structure and sophistication (make sure it’s tailored). If you want to take your outer layer off, it’s best to wear a knitted top in a higher quality knitted fabric (better than what basic T’s are made of). The playful and uber casual outfit with the elephant-T is border line but there’s just enough sophistication to the ensemble to make it stylish. We have to make sure that as a gorgeous and stylish mum, you don’t end up looking like the baby sitter!

Christine, I’m confused by your question. Too hot for boots but too cold for tights. To me, it should be the other way round.

Christine, you might try leggings and ballet flats for that in-between weather. It’s 45 degrees here today and I’m wearing a sweater dress, leggings, and slouchy boots. If it was 10 degrees warmer I’d be wearing flats instead of boots. Does that help?

I’m not a SAHM, but I love this for my casual Fridays (the top option) and weekend casual (because Moms on the go) is weekend casual for me.

Tayna, I had a rule similar – to wear a skirt or dress twice a week. I love it. It makes you feel so feminine to wear a dress.

Laura and Angie, I find it hard to find skirts that are long enough and no matronly. The AE page didn’t have many skirts and most were short. I don’t mind slightly above the knee but many are much shorter.

Great post Laura! Thank you.

Have you tried the AE white denim jacket that is posted? I think it might really be a good staple to have.

Many days a jean jacket is all I need but cannot wear with jeans on the bottom so wouldn’t a white denim jacket work?

Thanks for another great post Laura. I’m not a mom, but I could use these outfit ideas for my lifestyle as well. I love dresses and skirts, and I am trying to make an effort to incorporate more of them into my wardrobe. I love the ease of just putting on a dress and pretty much being all dressed and ready to go!

This is uber-stylish Laura’s mom writing. I have to say I think you moms look great in the latest dresses, skirts and flats. As a retail person in a small accessories shop, I see you all buying flower rings, layering long necklaces, and buying outrageous colored totes. Keep up the fashion hints Angie and Laura because women are paying attention! Even an older person such as I needs updating EVERY season.

Which stores stock dresses that might hit at the knee more often than not? Places like Ann Taylor or ATL, BR? Do they cater more to the over 40ish crowd and so maybe make their dresses and skirts a little longer?

Anyone here have experience with this?

Thanks.

Thanks, Angie … your suggestion to up the quality of the top makes sense.

I have avoided any printed tee since turning 30, but do see how a graphic tee with a jacket or cardi does look smart.

Angie, someone commented yesterday that you don’t look a day over 28 … well, I’d say you look better than 28. My style goal is to look better in my 30s than I did in my 20s.

Hello, this is my first comment. I am a mom of two (though not a SAHM) who almost always wears skirts or dresses. This arose out of being tall and not being able to find pants long enough, but has now become a habit. I have always felt I look better in skirts and dresses anyway. However, as a tall person, the recent rise in hemlines is troubling. Will I have to haul out the sewing machine?

The only issue with wearing non pants all the time is fielding questions about why I’m so “dressed up.” I just say I was one of those little girls who would only wear dresses and I never grew out of it. (And that’s true.) But honestly, even nice pants and a structured jacket would feel a bit dressed up in this world of yoga pants and t-shirts.

Thank you, Laura! This post is fantastic. I’m really glad you touched on casual wear with the second outfit because sometimes a mom just needs to be casual. One question I have is how to make skirt outfits work when it’s so hot that layering is just not an option– I want to avoid t-shirts then. Angie kind of already addressed this but I’d love some options. Maybe I will start a thread on the forum.
It seems like you could pair more blousie tops with a denim pencil skirt but what to do about fuller skirts?

I just bought a casual cotton dress at Old Navy for $15!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=633406012

Even if I wear it a handful of times or over my bathing suit this summer it will be worth it.

What a great dress, Patience – wash and wear!

Eva and Debbie, you might try Boden for skirts. They offer regular and long lengths, and their skirts are usually casual cotton, like this one:

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....Skirt.html

It’s still early in the season, though, so don’t worry if you can’t find just the right skirt yet.

Debbie, I don’t own the white jean jacket but let us know if you give it a try!

Patience, I’ll be watching for your knit top thread on the forum. I’m sure the ladies there will come up with all sorts of options.

I think this look is fabulous, but I often feel uncomfortable in skirts/dresses in the heat of summer. When it’s hot and humid, the skin on skin drives me batty. Does no one else have this problem? Or have you all found a solution?

Laura, thank you for a wonderfully useful and inspiring post! Visuals are such a help, and I have a similar dress I can’t wait to try if/when I find the perfect yellow flats/wedges.
Mary, if you mean upper leg skin, my MIL used baby powder. I never saw her in anything but a dress or skirt.

Very cute outfits! I especially like that dark gray handbag and the dress. I’m not a mom, but have always worn skirts and dresses a lot, especially in warmer weather. As long as you’ve got comfortable shoes on, the skirt is not a pencil skirt, and doing cartwheels is not on that day’s to-do list, you can be active and comfortable in a skirt/dress.

Absolutely! Especially in warm weather, skirts and dresses are such a great alternative to shorts!

Thanks Laura for another great post, I was looking forward to it since your first one. I do have a question, would a non-denim jacket work as well? My friend bought this one in white from BR and was wondering if it would be as fab as the white denim jacket:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....pid=629792

For knee-length skirts & dresses, Eddie Bauer always has a good selection… maybe a tad conservative for some, but their “regular” sizes tend to run long and their talls are even longer. I usually wear regular, not petite (I’m 5′4″), but in EB I wear petite.

And I second Boden for fun knee-length styles. Garnet Hill has a good selection too.

I love the grey knit skirt, Laura.

I’m a dresses-and-skirts only mom, have been for about 5 years (although I have a pair of jeans and a pair of shorts too), and I love it. More comfortable, feminine, and stylish. Hope it continues to catch on.

Well I just wrote a big long comment and then it got lost…

Anyway, congratulations on your second post Laura.

I made a policy of wearing a skirt or dress at least once a week this summer and have largely kept to it. It was made easier by only buying one new cropped pant this summer. One of my dresses, though pretty, does look a bit 1940’s housewife -ish.

I do struggle a bit with the accessorizing and layering side of things, especially because our summers are very hot and there are many days when one layer of clothing is quite enough. So I can understand Cricket’s question about T-shirts.

Indeed I did get mixed up writing my post. We’re almost at the point where it’s too warm to wear full tights and boots, but not quite warm enough for bare legs.

Laura, I think I’ll try the leggings and ballet flats idea…that might making bridging the seasons easier!

Thanks!

Thank you, Cricket. You are very complimentary. I’m sure you’ll succeed with achieving your goal!

Laura’s Mum, you have hit the nail on the head. I love your accurate accessory suggestions for Spring wardrobe updating.

Boston Girl, it takes a LONG time to warm up here too. (We are still in the 40’s). My layers are as if I was dressing for Autumn but in Spring colours, lighter hues and crisper fabrics (nothing too wooly looking). My cream trench is quilted for extra warmth, I have a Spring coat and Spring boots. I am still in hose and socks too. I also wear brightly coloured knitwear with Spring scarves and warm cropped jackets. The look that Laura is describing is a Summer look for Seattle (which has Western European weather). I shall only be able to start sporting it in June.

Eva, skirts and dresses are shorter at the moment. You’re petite, so perhaps try shopping in regular sizes to gain a bit of extra length. You couldn’t look frumpy if you tried.

Macys is overwhelming, but it’s hands down the best place to shop for mainstream and affordable dresses. Laura is my witness.

Patience and Anne, a sleeveless top in a higher-end knitted fabric should solve your problem.

Julia, I’ve seen and tried on the BR anorak and it’s really sweet. Not terribly tailored though, so you’d have to stick to wearing it with pencil skirts.

I’m late to the party but wanted to add that about 5 or 6 years ago, I realized I had a ton of skirts but never got around to wearing them. I loved the idea and how they looked on my figure (hence why I kept buying them), but I would always hestitate for fear of being “overdressed” or “too fussy.”

So I made a challenge to myself to wear nothing but skirts for a month straight! This was in the summer. It was also right around the time I was realizing that my shorts days are over (late 30s).

Well, I am now hooked on skirts for summer. I look for A-line cotton skirts that hit at the knee. When I started in on the challenge, I just paired them with simple tee shirts from the gap (always appropriately “skirt length”). Now I’m more sophisticated about it and have learned to pair with a short-sleeve cropped cardigan and a better quality top. But, if you want to ease into this look, you can try the tee shirt idea at first. Heck…. it’s still a notch up from the yoga pants or the shorts crowd!!!

Shiny I think I am at the point you just described! I have about 5 or so skirts, but all I normally wear them with is coloured t-shirts (SS or LS) plus or minus a cardi. I really need to get some more refined tops for both skirt and pant length. I managed a few SS shirts for summer, but now that cooler weather is approaching I’m feeling lost again. Still you lovely ladies of ylf have given me so many ideas. For once I am kind of looking forward tot rying on tops (normally I hate it!)

I’ve never really worn skirts since I don’t really like the look of my legs. Which has also led to not shaving them, since no one ever sees them. Doesn’t anyone else find the hairlessness dictum a bit too much work? My baby is 16 months old and it seems like I barely have time for a shower, much less extended personal grooming. It’s not that I don’t like the outfits (although they are a bit chilly for the current weather) but truly, I just think it’s too much bother to have to prepare so much for getting dressed. Isn’t a comfy pair of light cotton or linen trousers easier? And also, I like to wear socks most of the time, I find them more comfortable than skin-on-shoe. Any solutions for that? I’m interested, but…

Doubting in London…

Sorry, one more doubt — I’m still nursing, and dresses seem SO impractical. How do you nurse in a dress?

I’m very late in replying Laura, but I just wanted to say that I love this series!

And I couldn’t agree more, what could be easier than putting on an airy dress or skirt in the morning, add a jacket/cardi, some fun accessories and be off!

I’m hoping to find a few fun skirts and a beautiful dress that hit me at the knee (not so easy). And I hope to see you sporting many variations on this flop proof formula this Summer!

ejvc, I agree that nursing in a dress is not the easiest way to go. Wrap tops seem to work well for nursing, and that could be perfect with a skirt, but I’d say that wearing nursing-friendly tops has got to be your first priority for now — and maybe later you can expand your wardrobe into dresses.

Inge, thank you for the kind words. I know we will find some fun skirts and that there will be a dress in your future this summer.

I love Boden’s web site!! I have been trying to find skirts with fun prints….great reference, thank you!