Lexington-based Beth Parker (34) has been documenting her outfits since April of last year over at seersucker + saddles. She describes her style as “Classic Feminine Tomboy with a dose of Glam”, and has developed a more practical approach to dressing stylishly after becoming a Mum:
“I would say as I’ve gotten older and become a mom, I have finally understood that I cannot (and should not) try every trend. Whether it’s just not practical for my lifestyle or not age appropriate, I understand that I will love many trends that come and go, but that doesn’t mean I need to try every trend. I also understand the importance of fit and wearing things that are flattering for my figure. High waisted — I LOVE it, but not necessarily my best fit. Also, as much as I love high heels, you will NEVER see my wearing them with my girls unless it’s for an occasion or I’m dropping them off at school and heading to work — practicality just seems to have a more important role in my looks than it did in my 20s.”
For anyone wondering how Beth came up with the quirky name of her blog, she adds:
“While it sounds trite, I truly have loved fashion ever since I was quite young. I also was a pretty creative kid and that has only continued to grow as I’ve gotten older. S + S was the perfect outlet for me to exercise that creative need I desire in my life. I knew right out of the gate I wanted to pay homage to both geographies in my life that have played a huge role in shaping who I am today. Florida is where I was born and raised and where my family still resides today. “Seersucker” equates to South Florida and all things preppy that I grew up loving in my little beach town of Jupiter, FL. Lexington, KY is the horse capital of the world and where I currently reside and raise my two little girls. Kentucky also has a very special place in my heart as it’s where my girls were born. You can’t drive through Lexington and not feel that the town centers around all things equestrian and therefore, “Saddles” seemed like the obvious partner!”
Lighter colours and soft pastels play an important role in Beth’s wardrobe. At the same time, our blogger has a refined rocker streak that she likes to express through the use of tougher looking footwear and jewellery. This girly rocker tomboy look marries the two opposing elements seamlessly. The rocker vibe of the camo print skinnies and studded ballet flats is toned down by adding a sweet eyelet blouse with Peter Pan collar. Then the arm candy amps up the tough again: a leather wrap-around bracelet with small studs and a brown animal print cuff on one arm, chunky gold chain link bracelet and black watch on the other. The rich cognac hue of the tote and belt look fab against the camo green. And notice how they both have white stitching, which subtly emphasizes the crispness of the top.
As a busy Mum on the go of two little girls, Beth has a few tricks up her sleeve to dress stylishly every day:
“Choose a go-to look. Mine is a button down and either jeans, be it colored or printed, or shorts — tucked in with a belt and flats of some kind. I try to do variations on it, but I know when all else fails and time is not on my side, I can snag those items and I will feel pulled together. Also, I cannot stress enough, the importance of purging your closet at least twice a year. I swear, the less you have in your closet and the more organized it is, the easier it is to pull together a look!”
Beth is living proof that a
Mum on the go uniform doesn’t need to be boring. She has a real knack for tweaking her go-to looks by mixing it up with different colours, patterns, interesting footwear and accessories. Case in point, this
happy explosion of bright colours! From pale blush to candy pink and neon fuchsia, Beth loves all shades of pink and she wears them often. Here she’s sporting a schoolboy blazer in a saturated bright pink. Pairing this vivid hue with equally bright orange shorts is a bold choice, one that our blogger pulls off with aplomb. The happy turquoise gingham shirt livens up this playfully preppy look even further, while the oversized tangerine bib necklace and colourful assortment of bracelets tie it all together. Choosing earthy browns for the belt, small satchel and oxfords is a somewhat unexpected choice, but it works splendidly. It grounds the outfit, and the hot pink sole on the animal print oxfords — fun pattern mixing with the shirt – is a clever nod back to the blazer.
As a fervent stripes fan, I’m high-fiving Beth who proudly claims that “essentially half of her wardrobe consists of stripes”. This is a great example of
Angie’s striped tops with unexpected bottoms formula. The
streamlined leather pencil skirt look exemplifies Beth’s love for strong, simple outfits with clean lines. Beth rocks a midi, and the proportions with the hip length striped blazer are exactly right here. The soft tucked tee adds a casual, nonchalant touch and forms a nice contrast against the
more severe black leather. Eye-catching croc ankle strap heels and bare legs also create great textural contrast. The black and white theme is continued with the fun clutch, that simultaneously yet subtly adds another pattern to the mix. From her impressive jewellery collection, full of statement pieces, Beth has picked a chunky black and silver necklace and striking cuff bracelet that have her signature rocker twist written all over them. While the soft pink lipstick, tortoise sunnies and Beth’s always polished short do — a key accessory in all her outfits — keep the ensemble feminine and sophisticated.
Colourful Modern Classic with a hint of British countryside, an
equestrian-inspired outfit after my own heart. The over-the-knee boots, argyle pattern and rich orange-y red tones makes this look for me. They make me long for the beautiful Fall foliage and brisk walks with hot chocolate waiting at home. The sleek silhouette shows off Beth’s fit physique. Flat riding style boots are a chic and practical option for business casual offices, running errands with the kids in tow or enjoying family activities on the weekend. Baby wale cords can be a fun alternative for skinny jeans or ponte knit leggings. The open-at-the-collar button-down shirt layered under the V-neck sweater feels relaxed, the sharp-shouldered blazer provides structure and polish. As always, Beth has carefully selected accessories to complement her look. Gold-rimmed Ray-Bans and a super chunky link bracelet echo both the gold of the boot zippers and hardware on the Louis Vuitton bag.
There’s no question that Beth adores sneakers, just browse her blog to check out all the lovely outfits she has created with them. I especially adore this one because it’s such a fun take on the
romantic lace skirt. Sporty spunk with a dash of quirky. It’s also a sweet way to wear red, white and blue together. Beth dresses down the lace by
semi-tucking a casual lightweight sweater. The slub knit adds extra textural interest, the animal print Converse are a brilliant spot of pattern mixing. I love how this look, at first glance, consists of a mishmash of different elements — stripes, animal print, lace, five colours — that don’t necessarily go together, but Beth
makes it work in a cohesive and stylish way. She also has a penchant for good-quality classic handbags in neutral colours that fit her Modern Classic style to a tee. This oversized navy blue number picks up the colour of the skirt, effectively tying together the entire outfit. And notice how the chain strap echoes the large links in the neon yellow acrylic necklace? That’s what I call a good eye for detail.
This is my favourite! I love how the slim fit of the drape front faux leather jacket contrasts with the flowy silhouette of the dress. It reins in the volume and provides a bit of edge, but the dress on its own is just as lovely. Such a gorgeous shade of green and delightful in motion! The neckline emphasizes Beth’s toned shoulders, the trapeze style is breezy and loose without overwhelming her frame. The
high-low skirt, revealing part of the ankle, has the effect of
a midi with a dipped back, which I find flattering and elegant. The big minimalist metal cuff, gold-tone men’s size watch and arty necklace — in the same colour as her bag — take this outfit to the next level. High-vamped animal print sandals and an oversized minty blue clutch finish off this
fashion-forward look.
