Mama Style - Guest Blogger Nikki

When I started thinking about this series, I thought about other women I know and how they, too, can inspire. I certainly can't give advice that will work for everyone, so I asked different mamas to contribute. Some are working mothers, some mostly stay home. Some have a newborn for the first time, others are doing it a third. Today's guest blogger is Nikki, who is I met at WSU. We knew each other through one of our part-time jobs and eventually decided to be roommates. She survived living with me and I'm fortunate we're still friends today!
 

Hi, I'm so excited to be posting on Liv's blog! I'm Nikki, wife of Mike, mother to 3 year old Eva. I love  fashion. On the flip side, being a fashionable mother is not something that comes easy to me. I just don't buy  clothes that much. I am a middle class mostly-stay-at-home mother in my 20's. That doesn't leave a huge  surplus for frivolous things like me...So, I'm sort of making excuses. My sister is a thrift store genius, and she  supplies me with 25% or more of my wardrobe. If I put more time into it, I could take an education from her  and dress myself from findings at DI (with an occasional Target supplement). Alas, I don't. I usually  dread clothes shopping because I am picky. It has to be the correct silhouette. Right length. Right fit. Right  fabric. While I dress modestly, I avoid clothes that leave "too much" to the imagination. Meaning, I don't  want people to ever wonder if I'm hiding something like a pregnancy under my shirt...and then be wrong.  ~cringe~ 

For me, it's a slow but sure process. As a long time fan of What-Not-To-Wear, I follow their rules and feel  confident when I choose a piece of clothing. It just takes me a long time. I watch for color, texture, pattern  and sparkle. Every outfit should have at least one of these elements, they say. When I DO clothes shop, I try  to go to a place that has great employees. I often don't have the time or energy to choose the perfect  pairings, but I am not afraid to ask for help. I've said before, "Will you dress me?" as a test. I really like  Boheme for that reason.

I have also learned that if I have a basic outfit on, I can feel fabulous with quality makeup. Recently I spent  more money than I feel good about at Sephora. I bought overpriced eyeshadow and eyeliner. Guess what -  it was worth every penny. Before the shopping spree, halfway through the day I would look in the mirror and  wonder where my makeup had gone. Now, I can at least rest assured that my makeup will be there with  me through the day. Plus it lasts a long time, and know I won't waste any. 

Also, I try to be ready for my husband when he comes home. My co-worker said something about this  concept a few years ago: "I just thought how my husband would feel if he came home and it looked like I  had never even tried to look good." I rolled my eyes at the time, thinking in my feminist mind, "Really?" But it  makes a difference. I am more excited to see him, he is excited to see me, and I just feel better. Finally, I try to appreciate fashion and stay inspired. If I'm depressed about how many clothes I don't have (because the laundry isn't done, or I'm just needing more clothes), well, there's always Pinterest. There's always online Anthropologie. It's not about buying everything you want, it's about appreciating beauty and seeing some of that in yourself.

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 Thanks again, Nikki! I agree that there isn't anything wrong with using your husband as motivation to get ready every day. After all, didn't we do that while we dated them? Why change that now simply because we're married? Also, Stacy and Clinton always tell us that we need some key pieces in our wardrobes/beauty bag that will last longer and I agree they're worth the occasional extra expense!