10 Mom-Friendly Summer Looks

Today is a scorcher! But no matter how hot summer days are, they are still beautiful to me. No other season gives me beautiful, bright days as summer.

I've been in a fashion rut. Before I got pregnant, I told myself that I will never fall in a fashion rut but that's exactly where I found myself after giving birth. I couldn't wear my usual fashionable clothes anymore because I had to breastfeed or the buttons might get loose and my son might end up swallowing them or the print might give my son rashes and the list just goes on and on. I had to settle with a regular shirt and jeans/skirt uniform which is not normal for me. I like dressing up and wearing accessories but all those things took a backseat when my son was born. His safety and comfort are now my priorities.

Today, as my son is getting older and more mature, I am transitioning my wardrobe back to where it was before...maybe even better. I'm much older now so a lot of my older getup wouldn't work anymore. I was browsing through my email archives and found a few photos that have given me inspiration to build my Summer Capsule Wardrobe. Yes, the capsule wardrobe bug has bit me. I've started doing it last year. It just makes more sense to me in terms of money and practicality but we will delve into that soon.

For now, here are the photos. All photos are from Female Network.com. These are old photos, by the way. They are from 2011 but a lot of them involve classic pieces that you can still find today. I'm not necessarily after the exact pieces but the way they are mixed together and presented. When I look for clothes, I consider comfort, flexibility and the materials used as well as the make. I buy investment pieces because I cannot be bothered to shop leisurely anymore. My clothes need to last a long time and I need to be able to run in them, do errands, carry my son without flashing strangers and just move around comfortably with a 2-year old and not worry about anything coming loose or showing out.

I know brown is usually meant for fall but we don't have fall in the Philippines so a light brown is okay with me during summer especially for office/indoor wear. For this one, I like the cut of the dress.

This one looks super super cool and refreshing to wear. It's a simple dress that can be accessorized however you like. For a busy mom like me, it's either a necklace or a belt or both depending on how the dress fits my waist and hips. But this cut is always present in my wardrobe.

I haven't tried these puff (correct me if I'm wrong as I'm debating whether this was a puff or a bishop) sleeves yet. I think they might be too much for my petite frame but I guess it's all in the cut. I think this is a very mommy-friendly dress especially if you are meeting friends for coffee but meeting the kids and husband later.

If dresses are not your thing, this shorts-long blouse combo is a great alternative. I probably wouldn't wear that top because the neckline is not right for me but the whole idea is good. Fashion and comfort in one outfit.

This is probably my no-brainer attire. I just grab a classic dress and cardi and go. The dress is great for walks with my son and husband. The cardi can be used when it gets cold in restaurants or in the mall. I wouldn't wear those heels though. I won't be able to chase my son in them.

I like solid colors and clothes because I can just add some extras like that cuff or a knock-em-dead shoe (but not this one, again hello sprained ankles!) . Speaking of shoes, I've been having a lot of trouble finding shoes.

This outfit is one for the mall as I know I won't last in this heat in that sweater. Great to wear if you have a car or riding a cab but not when you plan to ride the jeep.

Love these long, thin blouses. They just look so put-together for me. They don't even need accessories.

This outfit works for me because I don't like wearing shorts often but when I do, I want to look my age so I need to find the right top to go with the shorts. I think a 3/4 sleeved blouse and some pearls will be appropriate for a mom like me.

Who doesn't like a nice, cool summer dress? When in doubt, just go with a dress. I wouldn't wear this on a windy day though. = )

And finally (number 11), I couldn't resist! I had this exact skirt when I was in my 20's. I still like floral skirts but I look for prints that are age-appropriate. This one for me is too juvenile.

So, that's it! I hope I helped you moms get in touch with your fashionista side again.

Soul Notes: For Your Journal Tonight

Come sit with me for a while. I have my journal open, and tonight I’ve been thinking about something I suspect I do more often than I realize. I turn healing into another thing I need to accomplish. I want to know when I’ll be over something. When I’ll stop thinking about it. When something that hurt will finally stop hurting. When I’ll feel like myself again. And somewhere along the way, healing quietly becomes another deadline. Another invisible date on a calendar. Another thing I can somehow be late for. But maybe healing doesn’t work particularly well under project management. Maybe there are things I will understand quickly and things I’ll have to revisit again and again. Maybe I’ll feel completely fine one day and unexpectedly tender the next. That doesn’t mean I’ve gone backwards. It means I’m still moving through it. I remember one day, many years ago, when I had fibromyalgia. I lived in constant pain. I just couldn’t get a good day. And then one day, in the office...

Used to the Last Drop: The Ones I’d Already Told You About

There’s something particularly satisfying about finishing a product you’ve already written about. Not testing it. Not forming first impressions. Not wondering whether I’ll still like it three weeks from now. Finished. My Molang Honey sheet masks and this body scrub both made it all the way to the end. (Finally for the Molang sheet masks, right?) I’ve reviewed both before, so I won’t review them all over again here. But perhaps using something until there is nothing left to use is its own kind of review. Beauty products come through my bathroom rather frequently. Some are lovely for a week. Some get pushed to the back of a shelf. Some simply stop working for me. And then there are the ones that quietly disappear because I kept reaching for them. Maybe an empty container is the shortest review of all. I liked it enough to finish it. If you want to read my thought about these products, just type them on my search bar. —- With elegance and quiet fire, Lady E Founder, Glow by Lady E...

Part 1: I Finally Had Enough of My Dry Feet and Did Something About It

I have been annoyed with my feet for months. Not because there was anything particularly wrong with them. They were just dry . Really dry. And you know I have a problem with dryness (hello skin, lips). And somehow, despite noticing this constantly, I kept doing absolutely nothing about it. The moment that gets me every time is when I’m waiting for my son at piano class. I’ll sit down, cross my legs, look down at my slip-ons or sandals and there they are. My dry, flaky feet. Then I become painfully aware that there are other people sitting beside me who can probably see them too. 😂 Every time, I think, I really need to do something about this. And then piano class ends, life resumes, and apparently my feet are no longer part of my jurisdiction. Eventually, I had enough. I found this Mond’Sub Chamomile Foot Peeling Spray at KKV and decided that my poor neglected feet were finally getting some attention. The process wasn’t glamorous. There was peeling skin involved. There were bits...

Glow by Lady E

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