My Mom Uniform | Favorite Amazon Purchases
Do you have a mom uniform? You know, a few go-to favorite outfits that you know you can put on and do anything in… run errands, Take the kids to the park, lunch with your friends, then come home and cook dinner and do laundry in without feeling like you have to change into more comfy house clothes?
I sure do! And guess what? Almost all of my current faves are things I ordered on Amazon. I KNOW! RIGHT? Amazon?? It can be really hard to find clothing on Amazon that doesn’t look like a low-quality piece of junk. But I’ve scoured and come up with a few amazing pieces that I think every mom should know about.
MY FAVORITE EVERYDAY PANTS
I’ve become a little bit obsessed with jogger pants lately. They comfortable enough to lounge around the house in all day, but also stylish and flattering enough to wear as part of an outfit. I bought the $89.00 Trekkie North Joggers from Athleta and I loved them, but I actually like these $29.00 CRZ YOGA Hiking Joggers even more. Both fit well and are so light weight I’m comfortable wearing them all summer long. The CRZ YOGA joggers have a higher rise (which I prefer) and the fabric seems more supple than the Trekkie Norths, which I feel makes them a little more flattering. But the biggest difference for me is the pockets. The Trekkie North Joggers have front zipper pockets that, while cute and stylish, are a pain to get into. They aren’t comfortable to put your hands in and they don’t look cute open, so I have to keep them zipped up. I can see how the zippers would be a huge plus if you were hiking and wanted to be sure your keys stayed in your pockets, but for everyday wear they are irritating. The CRZ YOGA joggers have a regular slash pockets, which I find both more comfortable and more functional.
Maybe you’re thinking joggers…in florida…in the summer…with my big butt? But I’m here to tell you, along with my own ample booty and thighs that rub together, these pants are everything. Super flattering, ultra-moisture wicking. I’m actually cooler in these while photographing summer family sessions than I ever have been in shorts.
I have these in black and the Nubei Blue, which appear to be the same as the navy, but is actually more of a dusty, muted blue shade and I love it. (For reference, I wear a 10 in the Trekkies and a Medium in CRZ.)
MY FAVORITE EVERYDAY SHIRTS
For my last trip to Paris, I was looking for a charcoal colored fitted tee to round out my travel capsule wardrobe. Something that would be thin and breathable enough if we had warm weather, comfortable for walking the city and photographing all day, and stylish enough that I might fit in with the average Parisian and not stand out as a tourist. This shirt fit the bill.
Since then I have bought roughly 10 of them in various colors. The are (once again) comfortable and breathable enough to wear to the gym, but a chich to dress up and wear out to dinner (especially the vintage black). They look great with literally everything and are long enough to be styled several ways (knotted, half-tuck, fully tucked).
And they are CHEAP! They also hold up really well. I try to remember to pull them out to hang dry, just to further preserve their life, but more often than not the get tossed into the dryer and have done just fine… unlike my other faves (for their fit at least), the Madewell Whisper Cotton Tees. Speaking of fit, these Next Level shirts run small. You may need to size up 1-2 sizes for the right fit.
MY FAVORITE ALL IN ONE OUTFIT
This jumpsuit. I added it to a prime wardrobe box order as an extra item to fill up my box. I thought there was no way I was going to like it. SURPRISE! It’s become one of my favorite things to wear. It is as comfortable as pjs, really cute with a pair of casual sneakers, and classy enough to wear with a pair of heels and some blingy accessories. I didn’t think I would like the cropped leg, but it is actually really flattering. That’s so great to know, because wide leg pants like this are always WAY too long for me. And who has time to get pants hemmed?
I have it in black and a medium is a little too big. I think a small would be too small though. That navy blue one is pretty cute… I might have to get that now too.
One small downside: the wrap around part tends to gap at the stomach when sitting. I’d wear a undershirt with it if I were wearing it anywhere nicer.
MY GO-TO WARM WEATHER SHOES
These rope sandals by Plaka have become some of my favorite shoes. Growing up in Florida, it should come as no surprise that flip flops have always been a major wardrobe staple and are wearable most of the year. I’m sure that something like 80% of all the shoes I’ve ever owned have been flip flops. But now in my 30’s, I’ve realized that I have to be kinder to my feet. I’ve struggled to find shoes — especially sandals — that have enough cushion to support my feet, stay on without my toes having to grip them while I walk, and don’t have a hideous, 2-inch thick sole that just look stupid with dresses and skirts.
Enter Plakas. The Amazon reviews are mixed, but at just $35.00 I thought they were worth a shot. I have the Seashell Flat in Sapphire-Blue and the Palm Leaf Flat in Sand-Yellow. Initially, the ropes were a little tight and rubbed, but after a couple of short wears, they softened up and are now comfortable against my skin. A lot of the negative reviews were able the footbeds making their feet sweat. I took the advice of some of the reviewers and only purchased colors that had the denim looking footbed lining. The lining is soft and my feet have stayed dry.
While they don’t have the arch support my Chaco’s do, they are pretty cushioned for a truly beachy sandal. And all without sacrificing an ounce of style. I wouldn’t hike in them, but I could definitely see walking around a small beach town like Seaside, Rosemary, or Alys Beach for the day in these and a breezy sun dress. Or taking them on a vacation to Mexico or somewhere tropical… if I took those kinds of vacations. (I already live at the beach, I’d rather vacation in big cities or in the mountains.)
These sandals go perfectly with everything I’ve listed above.
If you are looking for affordable, durable, comfortable, and stylish clothes, I hope you’ll give these a whirl. Amazon makes it so easy to try new things and return them if you don’t like them. (And it makes me feel like I’m doing my part to keep my local delivery drivers employed, right? LOL.)
If you’re checking out more of what I use and love, from camera gear to hospital bag must haves, you can hop on over to my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/pensacolabirthphotographer. As an affiliate, I get a small commission for anything you purchase through my storefront, at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for shopping!