The first-ever "Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show" was presented with Iman and real moms of all shapes and sizes. Yup, you read it right. They worked the runway with strollers and pregnant bellies, looking chic for everything from office, to school drop-off, park play and the super fun date night. Ahh ... remember date night?!
Clothes came from top designers like Tory Burch and Michael Kors and maternity wear from Hatch and A Pea in the Pod.
The vacant model stares were not part of this show. Instead, it was smiles and high fives! People, this is my kind of fashion show. Real women in real clothes that are available in stores right this very second and that seriously work with your lifestyle. Like I said, it makes me feel giggly inside because this works and I love that a supermodel (who is a mom of two I might add) is supporting and getting behind this movement. The mom movement is what it's referred as.
Speaking as a mom and woman who has gone through this. The confidant-beautiful-being-in-a-career feeling to having children and feeling beautiful in other ways to, in the transition, losing your stye and then trying to figure out exactly where you fit in. To sum it up, it sucks and it's almost easier to not do anything about it and live in sweats and grubby tshirts.
Let me just say for the record, it's not ok and you are going to look and feel pretty again - we just might have to rejig a few things. When we do, there will be no looking back and you are going to feel amazing. This is a for sure girls.
This makes me think of something I tell my customers at Stella & Dot trunk shows when the opportunity presents itself. Plain and simple, the jewelry just makes you feel pretty. That's it!
You could have something grubby on and maybe no make up and maybe even your hair is in a ponytail but put on some cute earrings, and you my friend, feel like a million dollars. Maya Brenner, celebrity jewelry designer (can you say girl crush) talked about being in sweats with baby spit-up on her shirt but ... put on a charm necklace and voila, instantly prettier!
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| Maya Brenner Photo courtesy of Glitter Guide |
I loved this quote from one of the models at the fashion show. Not because it was revolutionary but it is what I hope all women can say at least once a day.
"I feel amazing," said mom model Lauren Jimeson, who is 37 weeks pregnant and strutted in a cream cocktail dress with cut-outs on the sleeves. "It's just a great message that you can be fashionable and still be a mom and still look great and feel great."
"I feel amazing," said mom model Lauren Jimeson, who is 37 weeks pregnant and strutted in a cream cocktail dress with cut-outs on the sleeves. "It's just a great message that you can be fashionable and still be a mom and still look great and feel great."
"We need stuff that's transformable and affordable, that real moms like us can wear every single day to all of the things that we have to do, whether it's the grocery store, school pickup, back to the meeting, back to school."
So ... you're a mom! Congrats but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your cute style, lose your love of fashion and succumb to feeling like a mom. Get out there, put on your big girl denim, a clean tshirt and own it! Cute earrings won't hurt you either.
Leanne Italie, The Associated Press Real moms of all shapes and sizes walk a runway at NY Fashion Week looking chic