I’m ashamed to admit this, but I went through a hideous cowgirl stage during 7th and 8th grades.  I pretty much wore Rocky Mountain jeans and Justin lace-up ropers (boots) every single day to school. There is absolutely no excuse for this sort of attire (unless you’re an actual cowgirl, of course) and I’m soooooo thankful that I realized the error in my fashion ways. My Rocky Mountain collection consisted of a rainbow of colors…purple, green, acid-washed red, white with pastel splattered colors, coral. You name it, I had it. Evidently my classmates admired my look, because I somehow managed to win “Best Dressed” during my eighth grade year. 

I look back at photos of myself from those days and wonder what on earth I could have possibly been thinking.  I have a feeling Arle might wonder the same thing when she looks back at photos like this…

Anywho…onto my first official Fashionista Friday question.  Drumroll, please.

Annalee requested the following:

Please, oh please give tips on how to achieve a cute stay-at-home mom look that doesn’t look thrown together, but is in fact easy to throw together!

Well, Annalee, the easiest way to throw together stay-at-home “cuteness” is to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.  Nothing jazzes up a basic, plain-jane outfit better than a great pair of earrings, a fabulous scarf, or a funky pair of shoes. 

I pretty much live in jeans and t-shirts, but the way I convince myself I don’t look frumpy in this ensemble is by making sure that the jeans and t-shirts are “nice.”  I love, love, love my Joe’s Jeans  (which, by the way, my favorite wash is on sale at Nordstrom right now, click here to order your pair before they’re gone). 

Once summer rolls around, I have an assortment of simple capris and skirts that I wear instead of jeans.  If you’re one of those lucky girls with cute legs, break out the shorts, too (just make sure they’re not too short).  Unfortunately, I’m not a member of the “cute leg club,” so I don’t wear shorts. 

As for t-shirts, you can obviously pick some up anywhere, but I love my J. Crew, Gap and Banana Republic tees.  All three stores usually have certain colors on sale at any given time.   Whatever you do, make sure they’re not big and baggy, otherwise you’re sure to look frumpified. 

Here’s a sample outfit I pulled together:  pants + t-shirt  + scarf  (in yellow) + earrings (in gold) + shoes = One Cute Mom

I also must say that it’s sooo easy to look put together in the spring and summer just by throwing on a simple little dress like this one, then add some great earrings like these, and some cute sandals like these.  Always try to avoid being too matchy-matchy and you’ll avoid looking like you’re trying too hard. 

Hope this helps!

**edited to add this important discovery:  For those of you not yet convinced of the power of a great pair of jeans, I urge you to click here to see a “scientific” experiment about pocket placement on jeans.  This blogger actually uses my beloved Joe’s Jeans “Honey-Booty Fit”  to prove her point.  It’s the pair that’s in the closeup photo of Test Subject A’s “butt done right.”  I would also like to give kudos to her brave friends who were willing to allow closeups of their butts to be photographed and posted on the internet for all the world to see.  Oh what I would give for that kind of courage…