I have plenty of professional clothes. I have plenty of jazz singer clothes. I have enough bum-around clothes. But I don't have many good mom clothes. Soon I will need to get my shop on, and it won't be pretty.
Before we get into why, first let's cover what exactly qualifies as “good mom clothes.” For starters let's be clear that they do not include mom jeans. (Mom Jeans: Noun; Denim pants with a very high waist and an unflattering, tapered cut which make the wearer – usually a busy mom – look long-bottomed and frumpy. Often paired with a bird themed cardigan). Hilarious SNL video here.
By “good mom clothes” I mean cute, easywear outfits that say “I’m a hip mom who will not let motherhood affect my ability to look smart, attractive, and fashionable," while also being comfortable and effortless. Good mom clothes should never be embarrassing to be seen in, yet be casual and inexpensive as they will most certainly be soiled with spit-up, fingerpaints and the various and sundry contents of a diaper.
For example:
Perfect for a zoo outing, rolling on the floor with your Kazmanian Devil,
stepping out for a gallon of soy milk, or chaperoning a field trip
where you run into an ex-boyfriend.
Got the idea?
Ok, so here’s the rub: I’m a tall person (5’10”) and regular pant lengths are too short, as are regular torso and sleeve proportions. There is no tall store in Charleston, and most stores here that carry longer lengths only do so in 1 or 2 styles of dress pants or jeans. (And for the record, I'm not crazy about the cropped look or jeans.)
So I will probably have to buy tall sizes from tall specialty shops online, and pay 4 times more for something most women can pick up at Target, Old Navy or TJ Maxx for cheap. Plus online shopping runs a high risk of a poor fit and multiple returns. I don’t mind paying more for my good clothes, but can I really bring myself to spend $179 on one velour jog suit? Should I just suck it up and wear pants that flood and tops with a too-short torso that makes me look thicker? Should I just buy men’s clothes and get a hot new butch haircut to match?
I know, I know, this is a really trivial problem in the scheme of things. With world hunger, Iraq, the healthcare crisis, global climate change, cancer, our disappearing social security, millions of orphans, AIDS, child abuse, the national deficit and the swift deterioration of our children's basic spelling skills due to text messaging, who gives a flying you-know-what about my wardrobe. It has nothing to do with parenting, and our child won’t give a rat’s patootie about my getup being fashionable for at least 10 more years.
And all frustrations said, I wouldn’t trade being tall for an easier shopping experience. At least my summertime garb will be easier; I can throw on one of my sundresses and be good to go in an instant. And the tall selections have improved in recent years. I will find some good stuff out there, one way or the other. I always manage to, but it will take some detective work. If not, maybe Stacy and Clinton will show up on my doorstep. Until then, just watch out for a flood.
19 comments:
Regina - I can't see you in a bird sweater EVER but I certainly have seen my fair share and wondered WHY. In my experience, the best mom clothes are easy care - machine washable and dryable - that's the main criteria. Style comes next - way next!
And then there is the long hair issue...you wash, dry and style it perfectly and the baby burps - all over it. Sigh. And then you understand why so many moms who swore they'd never cut their hair do!
I love how you are having fun.
Regina--
I am 5'10 also and long pants are hard to find unless you ORDER them. Jeans you can find but not cute sweat outfits, nearly impossible. :( I never ever dry my pants, any of them, as I fear I will then have flood pants.
I will wear crop pants in the spring/summer it is easier then looking for long pants :)
Let me know what you find out there so we can be hip together.
Sandi
I've been a frump for years, but I'm working on it. I don't think I'll be any help until after I finish loosing weight and discover a) I have a body under here, and b) clothes can be fashionable. Once I get to that point, I'm calling you for tips!
Ok my mom totally wears mom jeans and we call her on it all the time. if you start doing this we can't be friends
ok i am short so i cant offer much insight on this BUT let me tell you that my favorite store EVER is Lerner or New york and company or whatever its called nowadays and they have TALL in all of their clothes (which seems REALLY tall to me but i am short so everything seems tall). anyways, they have super cute clothing.....and not really pricey and they wash well......I am selling you this store as though you have never heard of it...but yes LOVE it.
I love that SNL skit,LOL. I'm really short so no help, I have the issue of the inseam/rise making it lok like I've got, um... somthing down there. :) LOL
I hope you find something, I don't wear Mom jeans but sweat/yoga pants are a staple, ya just have to be comfy to roll with my 2. :)
Okay now you'll know what a loser I am, I like the Mom jeans in the video (not so much the elastic waist band); Where can I order them? I don't see them on the JC Penny website. Doh!
How about a mumu? (Can you hear me, Mrs. Roper??) ;-)
And every pair of mom jeans I see happens to be acid wash. Do they still make those? Or are those jeans 25 years old? That video is hilarious. I too would like to maintain a sense of style while chasing after a toddler so will be reading the comments. What you think is frivolous will probably get a ton of comments!
I am 5'7" but have gorilla arms and long legs so I feel your pain. However, I am happy with cropped pants. I finally found a brand of jeans that fits - Lucky Brand. Finally, jeans that don't have that lovely gap in the back, are not so low slung my crack shows but low slung enough to be fashionable, and are long enough for me to wear with heels if I want.
I also agree about New York and Company - they have "Tall" in almost all of their pants.
Have you checked out Chico's? You have to be careful, some of there stuff can turn into frump but if you put pieces together correctly they are comfortable, washable, and fashionable. One of my best friends is 5' 11" and she shops almost exclusively at Anthropologie. Not sure if you have one in Charleston. Luckily, dresses and skirts are in which helps with the length thing.
Finally (boy, did you strike a nerve), I like that sweatsuit on the left. I haven't found one yet that looks cute on me so I can't help you there. Whenever I put one on I feel like Rocky for some reason?
Shannon
I am an avid Steinmart shopper-and just got some really cute "warm up suits" or whatever the new word is for those. I figured they'd be great for Kaz-they're comfy and i can layer away. I am average height-5'5, and they are long on me. In fact, i even bought some petites and they are not long.
I don't know if you have a steinmart in Charleston, or if things would be too short for you.
I'm with you-i love skirts or dresses in the summer cuz they're a lot cooler and put on a pair of cute sandals and you always look cute and hip.
This was my first year of not working full time, and i had to admit but i spend a lot of time in my yoga clothes. I go to yoga in the mornings, and then its just easy to stay in them cuz they're comfy.
You don't need to redo your entire wardrobe to be a mom. Just some easy wash and wear stuff-I also love Chico's--that was a good suggestion that Shannon made. You are so pretty and so fun i can't imagine you EVER looking frumpy.
I agree with having cute mom clothes. I am going to be leaving the professional world for a bit to stay home, and I am scared to turn into "that mom". So, I am starting to build the cute wardrobe while I can:)
That being said, I also understand your pain. I am 5'8" but with long limbs, and I just can't do velour sweat suits like that. They are just not long enough and look like flood pants or like I shrunk the top. I have just decided to stick with jeans (with Levi's you can order 36" inseam online). Not always as comfortable, but what can you do?
If you have any luck finding something, let me know where!!!
LOL! I hear ya sister! :-) I'm 5'9" and have the same problems. Oh how I wish Target would carry talls.
Funny story- I was home for a total of 3 days with Gigi and my mom and I took her to a friend's house to visit. On the way home, mom commented that I looked the very image of a mother. She was complementing me, but I didn't see it that way. I felt very frumpy and completely unattractive. I dreaded becoming the cardigan wearing, bob hairstyle, thick sneaker (white) wearing mom. The next day the three of us went to the grocery store. I wore heels, a sleek, black halter that showed a skim of belly, and low rise, knee skimming skirt. Mom just looked at me with a look that said, "Um... We're going to the grocery store. With a baby."
I laugh now. At the time, not so much. Hip mom-clothes are the best!
I laughed at this post (with you, not at you) and I feel your pain. I live and shop in Canada so I can't offer any useful advice, though I did love Chico's back when I lived in the States. Good luck with your shopping! Now I'm off to inventory my wardrobe....
How about one of those Snow Maiden outfits - you know the dress that Grandfather Frost's granddaughter wears? :) Invest in the long pants! The last thing you want to feel is frumpy when you are sleep deprived and not sure who exactly you are anymore (in a GOOD way!).
Regina,
Too funny! I can say from experience that it is an adjustment going from "working girl" to "stay at home mom." Now add to the equation working from home and mom, and I don't have much incentive to look "hip", but I have never really been into that, I guess. I just am who I am and the tomboy in me can prevent me from wanting to be girly girl on a daily basis. I just wear what is comfortable day to day and live in jeans and t-shirts or yoga pants and a hoodie. Cute is a state of mind, right?? :-).
I can't relate to your plight, since I am 5'4 and bred from hobbits that are no taller than 5'8 (even the men - ha ha), so I am on the other end of that spectrum having to find "short" pants, which are not always available, or roll the pants up (really attractive!) I just got the new J Crew catalog, and they have tall sizes with 36" inseam. They can be a little pricey, but they have good quality, and a few key pieces that would work and are very stylish. I know you said you don't like jeans, but a good fitting pair that is long enough for you, is just what Stacey and Clinton would order! Check it out and see what you think. They would look so cute with a cute t-shirt or sweater, and they also have cute matching sweats and stylish tanks and tees. Great post...you'd look great in a paper sack though, as my momma says...
Love,
Amy
What about Eddie Bauer? Their pants are long. Too northeasterny? Hey and that cracking the window in the playroom, yes that's true it happened to us too and yes they do take the handle off for a bit. Us naughty naughty parents! It is so hot in there you will not believe. Gena Lloyd
I LOVE Chicos! I also love J Jill. Here' their website and they do have tall
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/
I'm still trying to wear the clothes I was wearing before I lost the 40 pounds. I guess I am the frumpmeister! Well I hope to loose alot more, and no sense on spending money on clothes I'm only going to wear for a few months or weeks. I did however, spurge and get a new bra (ooooh-aaaaah!)
What a dilemma! Who needs mom clothes when you have rocker chick clothes! You'll be the only one at the PTA meeting...
Over the holidays I found a light weight fleece pants and top at REI and talked my poor husband into buying it for me! I thought it was perfect for Kaz and perfect mom outfit (extremely comfy but a step up from sweats). The legs are a little long on my 5'7" frame so perhaps you should check them out!
Great idea! Great post! One more thing to think about while waiting for our child to come home. Who said we are not busy women??? :)).
Thanks for laughing with me everyone, and for all the suggestions. Those places are all on my radar and will surely be receiving a significant amount of my hard-earned pay soon.
I figure I'd better do it now, while I still care a little, to prevent me from falling into full frump mode when I am up to my collarbone in child-rearing and no longer have the energy to give a darn!
Tall Chicks Unite!! I'm 5'10" as well, and have the same inseam as my 6'4" husband. I'm a freak of nature, but I love it. I live in Germany (Thanks US Army!), so don't have the luxury of trying on clothes.
Here are the shops that I haunt...
www.longtallsally.com (UK company ships int'l) UK sizes differ from US... US 6/UK12; US4/UK10.
www.gap.com 34 & 36" lengths in modern cuts.
www.bananarepublic.com same as gap.com and I've found awesome pant sales here.
www.nyandcompany.com 34" lengths but the shirts are still too short after drying.
You can check out Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft as well.
H&M is a local German store, but I think they have opened some sites in the US. They have tall length pants, great prices, and keep me looking hip, not hippy.
Victoria's Secret also has awesome 34 & 35" length pants that can be machine washed.
If you want more specific ideas, you can sign up with www.missussmartypants.com. She gave me some awesome ideas to keep looking hot, not haggard. :o)
Stick to the basics: washable fabrics, layering (short sleeve shirt layered over long sleeve, helps if one gets spewed on), comfy /cute shoes (clarks indigo & Privo brands are good).
Good Luck! --Laura
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