Hey pretties! After my recent SAHMonday outfit posts, I’ve gotten some e-mails from a few readers asking for my must have closet basics for stay at home moms to rebuild their wardrobe and fight the mom frump, specifically for winter. Which jogged my memory about this guest post that ran at the beginning of winter on my friend Jessica’s blog, Life as Mom. I decided to go ahead and publish it on GYPO today. If you already know me and my story on how I started Get Your Pretty On, you can skip to the pieces and outfits. Otherwise, here’s a little backstory on me and my blog!
How it all started
Hi, I’m Alison Lumbatis, a mom of three and recovering yoga pants addict. Four years ago, I decided to start this blog called Get Your Pretty On to document my journey out of my yoga pants mom rut. After spending fourteen years working in corporate America, I was afforded the opportunity to work from home which was wonderful in so many ways.
Unfortunately it’s what also led me to falling into my yoga pants pit of despair! After about six months of my new work arrangement, I stopped fixing my hair, putting on makeup and dressing in real clothes. It was definitely one of the perks of working from home but also one of the pitfalls. The worst part? I wasn’t even doing anything active that warranted wearing yoga pants. 🙂
My rut was taking a toll on more than my appearance, it also effected my motivation and how I felt about myself. I knew something had to change. The first thing I decided to tackle was rebuilding my wardrobe but I had NO idea where to start. When I did a quick internet search for everyday outfits for moms and how to fight the mom frump, I came up empty. There were plenty of blogs and resources for dressy outfits, work wear and designer outfits WAY out of my budget. But barely anything for everyday casual affordable outfits that I could “do real life” in.
Creating My Casual Look
So I set out to change that. I started rebuilding my wardrobe one piece at a time. Why one piece at a time? Because I used to be a terrible shopper! I’d go out and buy a big bag of clothes, come home and dump them out on my bed and realize that nothing in there went with anything else. I vowed to change that and “shop with a purpose”. Everything that I bought had to be able to be paired up in at least three to four different ways.
I started with the basics – a great fitting pair of dark wash jeans, quality t-shirts and layering pieces, boyfriend cardigans and comfortable ballet flats and loafers. Slowly I added in accessories like printed scarves, statement necklaces, a pendant necklace and a well made leather purse. Before I knew it, I had a mix and match wardrobe that worked for just about any of my every day activities.
Helping Others in their style rut
Fast forward to today, my greatest joy in life (besides my family) is helping other women stuck in a style rut. There are few things that make me happier than hearing a woman tell me that she’s feeling more confident and her life is easier because she has a fashionable, functional wardrobe full of mix and match outfits.
Most of these women have joined Outfit Formulas®, my online styling program. Each season I give participants a shopping list of classic pieces and on-trend items that they are free to shop for on their own. They can spend as much or as little as they want, many shop their closets first. Each seasonal capsule builds on the last. It’s designed so you spend less and less each time around. I also provide a list of links to online retailers for the pieces on the shopping list, if you want more guidance.
Participants have about two weeks to get all of their pieces in place. During that time, our private Facebook group is buzzing with fitting room selfies of women asking for opinions and advice, shopping tips being swapped and new friendships being formed. It’s honestly the best part of Outfit Formulas®!
Once the pieces are in place, it’s time for us to style our outfits. Every day for roughly 30-35 days, participants get an e-mail in their inbox showing them a different mix and match outfit combination created from pieces on their shopping lists. The women post their outfit selfies and show off their newfound style. We also host fun gift card giveaways and regional girls’ nights out.
Today, I’m giving you a tiny taste of what an Outfit Formulas Seasonal Capsule Wardrobe is all about with my ten must-haves to fight the mom frump and seven winter outfits created from these pieces.
(Tip: Shop your closet first! You may have similar or exact items listed below. Or you can shop my links below, most items here are under $50!)
10 Must-Haves to Fight the Mom Frump + 7 Outfits
1. Gray Wrap/2. Printed Scarf/3. Striped Shirt/4. Gray Jeans/5. Delicate Necklace/6. Ankle Boots/7. Cable Knit Sweater/8. Plaid Button Down/9. Dark Wash Jeans/10. Riding Boots
(Tip: Pin this post! You can refer back to it later for the outfit combos once you have your pieces in place.)
Outfit #1
Wrap + Striped Shirt + Scarf + Gray Jeans + Ankle Boots
Outfit #2
Sweater + Plaid Shirt + Necklace + Dark Wash Jeans + Riding Boots
Outfit #3
Striped Shirt + Necklace + Gray Jeans + Ankle Boots
Outfit #4
Plaid Shirt + Necklace + Gray Jeans + Riding Boots
Outfit #5
Striped Shirt + Scarf + Dark Wash Jeans + Ankle Boots
Outfit #6
Wrap + Plaid Shirt + Necklace + Dark Wash Jeans + Riding Boots
Outfit #7
Sweater + Scarf + Gray Jeans + Riding Boots
Of course in a real Outfit Formulas® Seasonal Capsule, we have a much bigger shopping list and a lot more variety with our outfits. This mini-capsule shows you how just a few pieces added to your closet can create a multitude of outfit combos! Shop your closet first, then fill in the gaps with new purchases. I’d love to see how you pair up these outfits. If you decide to style them, be sure to tag me on Instagram!
Your turn! How do you fight the mom frump?
