Capris

[Stella]

Hmm... I don't like those shorts. Vishenka may disagree because she likes the whole bermuda short thing and these are kind of close in length...sort of. I don't know, I just don't love them and I think they can make you look... chunky. Especially with cargo pockets.

Anyway, try some cropped cotton pants for the sandbox. I have a pair from J. Crew that hit at the ankle and look really cute with a ballet flat and fitted top.

what the hell is the difference between cropped pants and capris?

[Sheherezade]

Stunned. Simply stunned that this thread is 6 pages long.

Isn't it hilarious that now the big fashion debate has to do with pants length instead of skirt length? I remember years ago looking at a fashion headline that stated "The Tyranny of Hemlines Is OVER!". Apparently, they meant only with skirts...and only that season. It used to be "Are skirts long or short this season?" Above the knee, at the knee or just below? It made a big difference in determining who was fashiionable and who was.....not so much. Now, it looks like the same debate hgas come to pants? Cropped, capri, gaucho, bermuda, shorts......all different lengths. Some are in and some apparently are fashion poison.

It does make a big difference in look. Hitting the leg at the wrong point is just like a jacket hem that hits you right along the backend.....not a good look for me. That said, I think it is interesting that after 40+ years of debate on the skirt hemline, we've relaxed that and gone to pants. Of course....maybe I'm wrong. Are minis, pencils and ankle length skirts all acceptable now? Or is only one length in this season?

*sigh*

I think I'll stick with jeans/canvas cargo pants and a fashionable tank/T-shirt combo - with the occasional skirt as well. I'm so glad I don't live in abject summer heat. Sounds complicated.

[Vanquisher]

I am pracitcally resigned to the fact that I will never be fashioable and never be the envy of others in the wardrobe department. Rather, I will likely be the one who gets the odd stares and whispers, "She is a doctors wife?"

Yes, yes I am! I am a capri-wearing, flat-shoes (one pair less than $20) toting, ponytail embracing, frumpity frump frump woman, and it will not define me as a person. For I am also sarcastic, fun, intelligent, a good mother, a good cook, and incredible baker, a lousy housekeeper, good listener, sensitive, caring, and have other great qualities too.

I will never be hip or stylish or in! I am proud! I like wearing denim capris! I like wearing flat sandals or just going barefoot. I rarely wear makeup, and I have no routine. I so feel like I can't fit in with the dawkter's wife crowd.

[Sheherezade]

Well, that's obvious on the minis. Now they've added the leggings underneath. Funny that I'm considering these fashion trends now with my daughter in mind -- not myself. I've definitely crossed the line on "real" minis. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I can still get away with a denim skirt just above the knee? I was thinking I might be able to pull that one off with some cute leggings and flats in the Spring. Still debating it. I'm sure it's one of those outfits that I'll put on and know immediately if it's not happening. You can only fool yourself in your imagination -- not so much in the mirror.

ETA: Heidi, you just described the wife of the head of foot/ankle ortho at the Clinic. She's fab, funny, smart and totally with-it. I've also seen her in denim capris at many a baseball game. I know it may shock you but she's very well respected by all the other women around here. Fashionistas included.

[Vishenka69]

Denim skirts with leggings? On adults? OMG! Where do I start?

I'm not completely against flats (although my idea of flats is still 1-2 inches of kitten/platform). But I strongly believe that "mommy" is not a fashion style. It doesn't have to define who you are fashion-wise. Clothes can be comfortable and stylish at the same time, it's not an either or debate. You just have to be willing to leave your comfort zone and try different things.

But I strongly believe that "mommy" is not a fashion style. It doesn't have to define who you are fashion-wise. ....

You just have to be willing to leave your comfort zone and try different things.

And spend a lot of money. For me it's not a matter of being comfy, it's a matter of being comfortable in my skin w/o throwing a lot of money into something that doesn't really matter to me. Just like the eat to live / live to eat thing.

I don't go out in hole-y / stained clothing, but my reason for dressing is mainly not being nekked (and cold).

[Vishenka69]

Jenn, I have to disagree. You can continue to shop in the same stores, just buying different items. Also wearing something that fits you better, makes you look better and raises your self-esteem and mood. When you look in the mirror and see a rocking babe vs a suburban mom it changes your whole attitude.

[houseelf]

Oh, and Kelly. . .titlenine has some great skorts! I'm tempted.

I have two skorts from Title nine. They are awesome.

Now you will know what a fashion loser I am. I wear skorts on days that I want to clean up. We bike or swim almost every single day in summer so I wear a lot of t-shirts (not the cute plain kind--the onese with writing on it) and knit sweat shorts. This summer my dermatologist wants me to don some sungear. Do they make a fashionable Legionnaire's hat?

I really should just extricate myself from this forum. I so clearly do not belong in here. I'm beyond hope.

Kelly

ETA: Really? These are THAT awful?

http://www.titlenine.com/jump.jsp?itemT ... itemID=487

Me thinks Vishenka will loose the capri battle.

I will be interested to see how Vishenka dresses 4-10 years from now if/when she has children.

Hey, listen. I have a girlfriend with two kids and she never gave up her heels.

Does she have a nanny

[SuzySunshine]

what the hell is the difference between cropped pants and capris?

Did someone answer this b/c I too would really like to know what the difference is? Maybe I'm not wearing capris, maybe I'm wearing cropped pants? Are cropped pants better?

[Amiens]

I am pracitcally resigned to the fact that I will never be fashioable and never be the envy of others in the wardrobe department. Rather, I will likely be the one who gets the odd stares and whispers, "She is a doctors wife?"

Yes, yes I am! I am a capri-wearing, flat-shoes (one pair less than $20) toting, ponytail embracing, frumpity frump frump woman, and it will not define me as a person. For I am also sarcastic, fun, intelligent, a good mother, a good cook, and incredible baker, a lousy housekeeper, good listener, sensitive, caring, and have other great qualities too.

I will never be hip or stylish or in! I am proud! I like wearing denim capris! I like wearing flat sandals or just going barefoot. I rarely wear makeup, and I have no routine. I so feel like I can't fit in with the dawkter's wife crowd.

I am with Heidi. I will never give up my flat shoes, that is unless I want to pay $10,000 to have my feet fixed again and be laid up for 10 weeks on crutches. I love my comfort of tees, jeans, cargo pants, and capris. In fact there is a lady at church who looks more like a dawkter's wife than I do. Nahht gonna do it!!!

When you look in the mirror and see a rocking babe vs a suburban mom it changes your whole attitude.

I guess I'm with Kelly. Sometimes I think the "suburban mom" look can be cute. The right pair of yoga pants and a nice t-shirt? Throw on a cute pair of Clarks or Merrils ... I see no problem with that look. I'm also a fan of the skort things that Kelly's been posting. Pure skorts that are shorts in the back w/an awful flap across the front? No way. But a stretchy skirt w/shorts underneath so that you don't embarass yourself when you scoop your kid up off the ground - I think functional, comfy AND cute.

I feel better when I have a good haircut / color, or when I take the extra 5 minutes to throw on some makeup. I don't wear what I wear out of desperation - I wear it b/c I like it. Changing what I wear to go with someone else's perception of what works just isn't me.

[DCJenn]

It think we're also talking about very distinct lifestyles.

When I was teaching Stroller Strides in DC, I bought a lot of 'professional' looking work-out clothes because really, I was in downtown and I didn't want to look schlumpy.

Most people who spend their days with kids, regardless of whether they're the parent, the nanny or the day care lady, are going to be default wear something comfortable and something that you can race across the street before junior toddles in front of a moving car. Would I wear my yoga pants, hoodie and birks to a dressy event? No. Would I weat them to the park? absolutely.

I also don't have a job that requires suit/heels/hose. Obviously if I did 1) I'd still be in DC because there are NO jobs in SA that require that look and 2) I'd be dropping off my kid at daycare in heels.

I think what Vishenka has tried to get us to remember is that we can make a wee bit more effort and have maximum impact. and to remember that comfortable is not always pretty. We have all seen people wearing clothes that are either too big or too small or too tight or whatever and thought, "dear god, who taught you to dress yourself?"

and really, we short girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to pant lengths. either we wear pants that are too long, too short or are coughing up cash to have stuff tailored.

(or course the tall girls are going to (rightly) state that everything they find is too short.)

Jenn

[houseelf]

Hey, Vishenka, Lilly, Stella,

Keep fighting the good fight, I hope that this thread isn't too demoralizing or overwhelming. It's just that we suburban moms have to "keep it real" and protect our girlbits from accidental exposure while we keep up with the munchkins.

We are listening and we do realize that frump is not really acceptable. (It's just so much easier ). Be fluid like water and you will slowly mold us into your way of thinking. That is the zen thought for the day.

Kelly