Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
When I was on maternity leave for twelve weeks, I watched a popular makeover show every afternoon while I nursed my daughter. The hosts made fun of some unsuspecting women, often a working mom, who they felt looked a like mess and who I felt looked like me. They surprised this woman with a fabulous makeover, including new hair, new makeup, and a new wardrobe. In every episode, the hosts proceeded to turn the disheveled mom into a chic, put-together, modern woman, someone that we all should strive to be.
That show made me feel a little bad about myself because I prefer wearing sweat pants to the grocery store, not a stylish clothing ensemble replete with costume jewelry and heels. In my post-partum exhaustion, that show actually convinced me that I should be embarrassed for myself because of how I dressed. After the hormonal, exhausted fog I was living in dissipated, I realized that I really don’t care what people at the grocery store think about how I dress. In fact, most of the people at the grocery store are dressed just like me. Seriously, who wants to wear heels and fancy jewelry to walk through the freezer aisle and stand in the deli line?
I don’t have time to primp when a screaming toddler is demanding my attention before work, so I have to get ready quickly. Also, since my daughter uses my clothes as her tissue, I need to be able to throw them in the wash. My clothing must be comfortable, easy to clean, and not fussy.
These makeover shows, although entertaining, annoy me because they tell women that they must look a certain way to be accepted by others and feel good about themselves. This is also why I can’t stand the vapid, shallowness of Hollywood and celebrities. The media makes regular women feel awful about themselves because they can’t look like the unreal, airbrushed images of starved and Botoxed celebrities. These celebrities have nutritionists, plastic surgeons, trainers, stylists, and nannies at their disposal. The media’s portrayal of these unrealistic images is absolutely unhealthy for women, and awards season is the worst. It’s amusing to watch with the makeup, the designer clothing, and expensive jewelry, but it’s all so fake.
So when I saw that a group of awesome mom bloggers are sharing who they are wearing this awards season, I just had to show off my working mom style as well.
As a lawyer and a mother, I have to change my outfits throughout the day, so I will start with my fabulous daytime look, which I like to call Lawyer Mom.
This look consists of:
Outfit – Sale price Anne Klein black suit, covered in dog hair; Sale price Victoria’s Secret dress shirt under the suit jacket that can be thrown in the washer and does not require ironing; Black socks, covered in dog hair; and Black dress boots with a practical and comfortable low heel.
Makeup – Powder and mascara.
Hair – Uncut for over 10 months because I don’t have time to go to the salon and pulled out of my face with some bobby pins.
Accessories – Toddler and wedding band.
After work, I change into my stylish evening wear. I call this look Comfortable Mom.
This look consists of:
Outfit – My great-grandma’s hand-me-down fleece zip-up sweater with toddler snot on the shoulder; Pittsburgh Steelers tee under the fleece; TJ Maxx fleece duckie pants that my daughter loves to hug; Nike athletic socks; and J. Crew fleece lined moccasins.
Makeup – None.
Hair – Unbrushed bun.
Accessories – Wedding band.
I know that I have serious style and I pull off my looks flawlessly, regardless of what that makeover show says. So mamas, who are you wearing this awards season?
Make It Work, Mama 
My day also consists of switching from professional gear to mom gear. You rock both looks! Thanks for linking up with us!
You guys are reinforcing great messages! I love your posts.
Thank you so much for joining us, it’s so thrilling for me to meet so many other moms I’ve never interacted with and feel that instant bond over “who are you wearing”. You look great in both pictures – hair cut or uncut (although this is a painfully familiar scenario) – and I completely agree with your observations on the ridiculousness of visiting the grocery store in your finest attire.
Unfortunately, between my hectic work and home schedule, I don’t have the opportunity to interact with many parents. It can be downright lonely. So it is wonderful to bond with other parents using this type of medium. It reinforces that we are not alone. There are other moms and dads out there that we can laugh with, empathize with, or cry with. The community makes us stronger!
I am so happy we all dress like this at home. I bet all those post makeover what not to wear people still wear their eclectic chic rags at home. 🙂
I know. It is empowering to know that I’m not alone. Women need to be proud of who they really are and just be themselves.
Ha! I like the addition of “covered in dog hair,” because that is something I definitely forgot to include in my post. I realized this as I was pulling strands of dog hair off my yoga mat today. Even my yoga mat could use a makeover, it seems.
With two cats and two dogs, I’m most likely covered in both dog and cat hair. I get so tired of vacuuming floors and furniture every day and still getting up from the couch with a fur coat on my rear end.
The first thing I do after asking my son about school when I come home is to take off my too-tight pants and put on sweats or PJ pants. And loved the “covered in dog hair” part as well. Oh. And the lack of haircuts? Totally with you there.
After ten long months, I finally got my hair cut on Tuesday. It looks so normal for once that I haven’t washed it since then. So instead of looking a mess, it’s just dirty.
Such a great post and concept. Those shows always make me feel terrible but I could never figure out why. Now I know, those shows just don’t get what it takes to get dressed for the day as a mom. My two daily outfits are similar to yours. My sweats have hearts on them and that makes me happy, and that’s all that matters.
I stopped watching because I simply don’t have time in my day to feel bad about how I’m dressed. Thanks for reading and I’m glad you enjoyed the post!