why do mums of toddlers dress like they are going into battle?

[Pharoahnuff]

i know I think i did.
ALl bagged up, flat boots, look of grim determination. In my day it was all combat trousers, quilty gilets and timberlands.
now its ugly Fly boots and ill fitting skinnies

Oh, and MrsCampbellBlack (and others with small DDs) - Petit Bateau is doing this fabulous pair of pyjamas (and there is also an über cute nightie in the same fabric) which could be used to great effect for a MiuMiu alike look...

Bonsoir those are the cutest pyjamas ever!
I agree with all those saying it's no harder to look nice than crap, and it certainly doesn't take any longer. Good clothes give you confidence, and yes, my DD does like me to look nice. I remember feeling the same about my mother when she was little, loved it when she wore a pretty dress or whatever. It's normal.

Goes to show how much I know - I thought Boden were school run essentials for the 'yummy mummies' . Can't remember the last time I went clothes shopping - or took any interest in what the fashion is. My family (including DH) would laugh like drains if I turned out in a wrap dress and lip gloss!! I suppose it's what you are used to - I can understand how clothes can make some people feel better - personally I'd rather take dogs for a brisk walk and have a quiet cup of tea than apply makeup and squeeze myself into something 'girlie'. I think it also has alot to do with lifestyle - I probably go into 'town' once a month - work in engineering and live on a farm!!! Not really any place for 'nice' clothes ;)

anniemac - I agree, it's a fun and creative hobby that lots of women enjoy. And you can pick it up and put it down to a large extent. I can go for months without thinking about clothes because I am absorbed in another creative hobby. And then, after a bit, I get bored with my clothes and want to re-create my look and so get all fired up again.

Oh love those pyjamas!

Come on Bonsoir - what have you been buying?

I'm asserting myself in society outside a professional context?

That's a relief, I thought I was just fucking lazy.

Pantone363 I like wearing tops with my leggings that don't cover my fanny, it makes me laugh.

I think I am quite dressy, but I have lots of nice clothes so why not wear them, they all go in the machine, even the designer clothes that say dry/specialist clean only.

Erm...when was "your day" Pharoah? Your gilet-combats-timberlands is exactly what I wore today and my children are no longer toddlers. .

Sigh. I do try, but I always look bedraggled anyway.

I brush my hair, and the next time I peek in the mirror at work it looks tangled. And I'm growing out my fringe, and it flops oddly on one side and makes me look like this.

And I put on tinted moisturizer, and a bit of eyeliner and mascara, and you honestly can't tell half an hour later.

You may take my dignity, my sanity and my ability to sleep for more than 2 hours at a stretch, but you shall never away my touche eclat.

Never!

@ project

MrsCampbellBlack - I sadly cannot find many links. I bought a yellow Marni dress in a sort of thick crinkle cotton with lycra (suitable for lunching with other ladies ) and some all silver wedge heeled Sergio Rossi sandals. I can wear the two together now if I wear tights (bought some very fine ribbed cotton anthracite Fogals). Also bought a raspberry sleeveless cotton top in Sofie d'Hoore (for high summer), a pink/white striped cotton knit top in Chattawak with a beige/white stripe reverse that you can see in the collar and cuffs (much prettier than it sounds and ideal picnic-in-the-park and school run wear), a super fine orange-red Hartford cotton sweater and two skirts in Zara, here and here, which dress up any plain outfit really easily.

Did someone mention silver footwear. Am loving these veeeerrrry much.

www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Shoes/Ballet_Flats?colourFilter=Silver

And these metalic lovelies also www.net-a-porter.com/product/178921

I had some silver ballet flats from L K Bennett four years ago that I adored and wore to death - they were good value for money!

Hmm. I didn't really change anything about my clothes after becoming a mum. Wore heels a bit less.
I remember when ds was a baby, my neighbour saying to me "Oh, you always take the time to look nice" and I got all paranoid that she thought I was neglecting ds to do my make-up!
In reality my default look is birdsnest hair piled on top of my head, lots of smudgy eyeliner (takes 1 minute) an oversized top or short dress, leggings and boots.
It doesn't take any longer than putting on a fleece, but if I wore a fleece I would be having an identity crisis!

I remember, at a particularly hormonal stage of one pregnancy, a friend saying to me 'oh but didn't you realise that [insert item I can't even remember] are reeeeeally in style at the moment?' and me telling her to piss off. Oh dear.

I am obsessed with silver shoes. Well, maybe obsessed is pushing it a bit far but most of my shoes are either silver or gold. Turned up to a playgroup with my twin girls wearing silver kickers and got comments that I was dressing them to look like me

wordfactory - LOVE those Chloe flats. I have a pair of pale gold Repettos and they are very comfortable, have almost a padded sole which makes them easy to wear. Bring on Spring!

I really really shouldn't order both...but think I will have to.

Then there are these which I thought would be lovely with shorts on holiday www.johnlewis.com/317473/Product.aspx.

For holidays I was thinking about going a bit old-skool and getting a pair of these - although damn, that puts me in the matching-my-toddler category again..

There was a BRILLIANT article in the Intelligent Life Economist Magazine which was a men's guide to fashion, and basically it was explaining that for some women (like me) their interest in clothes, fashion etc. is like men being interested in sport and that it is rare a woman dresses to please a man, it's more about pleasing themselves and occassionally other women. It is the most spot on article I've ever read on fashion.

I like the Chloé shoes better than the Repetto... but maybe I'm just bored with the ubiquity of Repetto here in Paris!