Bonjour lecteurs! Looking chic and stylish does not mean wearing boring clothes. A wardrobe can be practical enough for school runs, work, appointments and family life while still having plenty of personality. It’s all about styling pieces together rather than buying the latest trends. Plus, mornings can be hectic for mums, so you want to be able to grab something quick and still feel good. Trust me, I’ve been practising the art of looking put together without dressing predictably for years… Here are my best tips to look the part easily.
Start with a Reliable Foundation
Interesting outfits often begin with key pieces, like a capsule wardrobe. Start with clothes that you wear often and feel comfortable.
Personnellement, I like a good pair of dark denim jeans, an LBD, some cashmere knitwear, and a versatile jacket. Par exemple, you can’t go wrong with a Breton top and a good pair of black pumps.
Mothers need reliable foundations that can make getting dressed much quicker. Invest in quality basic pieces in neutral tones. They will go with anything you have in your wardrobe. Plus, you will always look put together, whatever you pick.
Be practical with your lifestyle. There is nothing wrong with some good leggings paired with a cute top or funky shoes.
Play with Proportion Instead of Playing It Safe
One of the easiest ways to make an outfit feel less conventional is to experiment with its overall shape.
Try pairing an oversized top with wide trousers. Another cool tip many Instagrammers use is wearing a longer shirt beneath a shorter jacket. Asymmetric hems can create an unexpected line, while generous shapes can make even a simple colour combination feel distinctive.
Autumn is my fav season to style. There is nothing more satisfying than transitional pieces. You layer up your outfit. This way, you can experiment with colours, shapes and trends.
Fashion brands such as Rundholz clothing offer an example of a less conventional approach to shape, proportion and contemporary layering.
You don’t even need to be a fashion expert. Save the styles that catch your attention and recreate the look with your pieces.
You might discover that you love asymmetric shapes but prefer a restrained colour palette, or that oversized layers feel particularly natural with your existing wardrobe.
Let One Piece Lead the Outfit
An outfit does not need five dramatic elements competing for attention. Only one piece can steal the show, and you then build your outfit around it. Add the right handbag, a few accessories to add colours and dimensions, et voilà!
It could be a sculptural jacket, an unusual trouser shape, a colourful dress or a distinctive piece of jewellery. Once you have chosen that item, the rest of the outfit can remain relatively understated.
This approach makes it easier to get dressed in the morning. A dramatic coat can sit over a simple knit and trousers for the school run. Wear bold earrings to give your everyday outfit a completely different character.
You don’t even need much. A capsule wardrobe will do the trick. You can build it up from there.
Most importantly, wear them. There is little point in saving your favourite jacket for an occasion that never seems to arrive. If it works for an ordinary Wednesday, Wednesday is reason enough.
Stop Dressing According to Someone Else’s Rules
Fashion is about experimenting and having fun. More importantly, it’s the perfect way to express yourself.
Motherhood can bring another set of assumptions. Suddenly, certain clothes may be labelled too impractical, too bold or somehow unsuitable. But don’t let this label dictate your style. If you want to wear heels on the school run, do it!
You don’t have to look like all the other mums.
Le plus important is to consider whether an outfit suits your taste and works with your daily life. Comfort is personal. So is confidence. One woman may adore dramatic volume while another feels happiest in sharper lines and vivid colour.
Experiment Over Time
You are also allowed to change your mind. I’ve changed my style over the years to fit around my lifestyle, but also my body. I don’t wear the same things that I used to love in my twenties!
Mind you, the Y2K style is huge at the moment. It’s always funny to see what I would wear 25 years ago labelled as vintage… If anything, it shows my age!
Experiment and try new things. Something you might not even have considered a few years ago might sound like une bonne idée now.
Looking put together has very little to do with following a conventional formula. It’s about feeling good in your body, whatever shape you are.
Start with reliable favourites, experiment with proportion and don’t be afraid to wear statement pieces too!
Fashion can still work around children, jobs and busy mornings without losing any sense of fun.
The most recognisable personal style develops gradually, through wearing what you genuinely enjoy rather than dressing according to somebody else’s expectations. So have fun with it and be yourself. That’s the true winning look.
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