Today is Laura‘s second guest post in a series on her experiences with Angie’s flop proof outfit formulas. Laura is an uber-stylish mother, professional writer and active YLF forum member from Chicago.

Another true confession: Until I road-tested Angie’s flop-proof outfits for “mom on the go,” (outfit 1, outfit 2, and outfit 3) dresses and skirts seemed, well, a bit too formal. Impractical, even. Moms in dresses evoked June Cleaver in a poufy crinoline, complete with apron and heels, carrying a tray of icy cold lemonade to her three sons on a hot summer’s day. Haven’t we modern mamas gone beyond that?

Then I met Angie at the YLF convention in New York, and all it took for her to convert me was 30 minutes in the dress department of Macy’s. (I am an easy target! Plus, Angie is persuasive and always right!). In the dressing room, trying on piles of casual day dresses, Angie showed me how easy and flattering a dress can be.

For moms-on-the-go, it’s all about a CASUAL skirt or dress worn with flats, or a tiny wedge heel. Imagine popping on a cami, a dress and a pair of flats and looking completely put together. Really, what could be easier? The clincher was that because I live with three boys (including my dear husband), wearing dresses and skirts keeps me in touch with my feminine side. Hurray for skirts and dresses!

Today, I’m here to convert you, too. Moms CAN run around after kids in skirts and dresses, provided that your footwear is comfy and practical. If you’re concerned about cleaning, buy garments that are wash-and-wear. And while it’s not ideal to climb on playground equipment in a skirt, you don’t climb on monkey bars all day, every day (unless you are an actual monkey). Sooner rather than later, your tippy toddler will become a well-balanced preschooler and you’ll be keeping your feet on the ground.

The dress formula: casual day dress + cami + cropped cardi or denim jacket + ballet flats + statement bag

This dress will flatter most body types and can easily be dressed up or down. Imagine it with heels and a statement necklace for a Mother’s Day brunch. On a mom-on-the-go day, dress it down with a denim jacket, and add a pop of color with yellow flats.

The skirt formula: skirt + girlie top or graphic T + short-sleeved cardi or denim jacket + ballet flats, sporty flats or sporty mary janes + statement bag

This fun, casual skirt outfit is cool and swingy and will take me on errands and to the farmer’s market this summer. Angie has loads of clients wearing these Ecco skimmers and they are highly recommended!

Don’t worry if the shapes or colors above aren’t best for you. Simply substitute items that fit your color preferences and body type. Everyone can find a dress and skirt shape to suit their figure. You can start with the Dresses category here at YLF. For more inspiration, check out some of the fashion-forward moms who post their outfits on the forum, like Patience, Dani, Shiny, Kyle, Marianne and Antje, or others who aren’t moms, but have mastered the casual look, like Tanya.

Moms-on-the-go, let’s hear from you. Can dresses and skirts fit into your lifestyle? Have I convinced you to make them part of your wardrobe this spring?

I’ve been promoting micro-check pants as a stylish alternative to jeans for ages, but I have the impression that many people still have their doubts. Perhaps they need to see more people sport these pants and adjust their eyes to the style. Although micro-check pants are a typical Euro look, they are hard to find in the US. This no doubt contributes to the lack of adoption.

For me, micro-check pants are indispensable. They’re fabulous when paired with the right pieces and my wardrobe would not be the same without them. I have three pairs, but the casual cream and black checked skinnies that you see below are my hands down favourite casual pants. They’re soft, stretchy, flattering and loads of fun. I can wear them with different moods and in several combinations. Here are three examples:

1. Classic: add an immaculate button-down for a streamlined look.
2. Retro: add a voluminous jacket for a 50’s vibe.
3. Edgy: add a biker jacket for a bit of tough girl sass.

It doesn’t stop there. Add a graphic T and waistcoat, sport a cowl neck top with a V-neck cardigan, or match up a knitted top with a denim jacket. The possibilities are endless. I wear black, red, yellow or cream ballet flats with these pants most of the time, but occasionally I’ll add a pair of pumps. You could also wear Converse sneakers if the hems are boot cut or wider. This particular pair is skinny so I don’t wear them with Converse (that’s too young looking for a 38 year old).

I bought these pants in Spain last year, so you probably won’t find the exact same pair. My clients got lucky at Talbots, Facconable and Macys last season. This season I’ve seen similar pairs at Euro stores in the US like Zara, H&M, French Connection, and Esprit. And I’ve just spotted a fabulous pair at Club Monaco that has my name all over them.

Thanks to your helpful comments on how to combat extra dry facial skin, my face looks and feels much better. After trying many of the products that were recommended and several others, I’m down to the following routine: taking fish oil capsules, drinking a little more water, using jojoba oil twice a day with super rich moisturizers AND applying Vaseline to my nose and cheek area daily.

I stopped using olive oil because I couldn’t handle the smell. Popping it into a jar with rosemary or lavender to mask the smell didn’t help either (I either reeked of roast chicken or a herb garden). I then tried products with olive oil as an ingredient to see if that worked. I also tried pure Shea butter, cocoa butter, Aquafor, apricot oil and coconut oil. The odour was an improvement, but the products weren’t effective. In desperation, I’m back to using old faithful and dirt-cheap petroleum jelly. If I leave it out and use only the other products I mentioned, my skin is still dry.

So what is a gal to do? The result of adding Vaseline to my facial routine is glowing (and I don’t mind the smell). But many of you are dead set against Vaseline because it’s not good for our health or environment. How bad can it be?

Today is the third installment in my quest to hold out as long as possible with my existing Spring wardrobe, only indulging myself with new accessories that liven up my wardrobe and lift my spirits (refresh your memory with the first two installments here and here).

I’m not particularly partial to florals on fabric unless they’re abstract patterns, but I love floral motifs on accessories. So my heart skipped a beat when I saw this turquoise belt. It was the perfect way to add this season’s it colour to my wardrobe without breaking the bank.

I’m amazed at the versatility of this belt. It works well over last season’s knitwear, blouses and dresses, and it’s going to work equally well over old jackets, knitted tops and basic button downs. I could easily wear this belt with different outfits every day for two consecutive weeks without feeling bored.

I love turquoise with white, yellow, green and red, but can’t help reliving my 80’s memories by wearing it with bright pink. With my current frames the turquoise belt picks up the turquoise on the inside of my specs. I love that. It’s an interesting, subtle detail that will make me want to wear this belt more frequently.

This belt is bold, so in most instances I don’t wear it with other accessories that make a big statement. Only my watch, wedding band, specs and handbag. My chunky pearls work when I incorporate a plain white shirt or blouse, but that’s it. I don’t want to look like Christmas tree.

Belts are not for everyone and the ornate integrity of this style might rule it out for you. But I love them and this one is true to my individual style. It’s modern, retro, trendy, professional and fun at the same time. If you’re a belt wearer, adding a new belt each season is a cost effective way to look and feel fashionably refreshed.

I got particularly lucky with the price of this surprisingly well made belt. One would expect an accessory in this price range to look cheap and nasty, but it doesn’t. It’s virtually an exact copy of the belt styles Anne Fontaine had in her collection last Spring, which cost $300 a pop. Mine cost $34. Fabulous. It passes quality AND budget control.