Ding! Dong! [The door bell rings.] “CRAP! The baby sitter is here already? But I barely even finished homework with the kids!” I look down and per usual I am still in my workout clothes from 6:30 am this morning. Goodness gracious, I need to be out the door in 15 minutes and still have yet to even think about what I am wearing… ugh.
Well Hello Everyone! I trust you are all doing wonderfully. Today I wanted to talk about a reoccurring situation in my life and that is how I pull myself together in a matter of minutes, transitioning from that tiring and not always glamorous mama duty to fun and carefree nightlife chic. Here are the steps I can offer on how I make it work when the realities of motherhood and my social escapes are at odds! Feel free to implement any, all or none of these into your routines. But no matter what, just have fun!
Know the Climate. As I literally go up the stairs to get ready, I am pulling up the weather app on my phone. It is super important to be prepared for cooler temps or wet conditions, and this helps me get my outfit planning gears going. If it is hot outside, I will also consider the temperature of where we will be hanging out. If it is indoors and air conditioning is expected, I’ll think about what I might want to bring along as a cover up if it gets chilly. But… I always consider what both looks will be like with or without the additional pieces, so I can feel confident about my look in either situation. Now that warmer temps are upon us, I am happy to bare a bit more skin whether it is with a cute pair of jeans with a Strappy or Backless top or a cute Off-the-Shoulder dress with sandals. Here are some of the go to styles I consider that could work no matter what the temperature is. Don’t worry, I have a listing section at the bottom of the post where you can shop all of the pieces to achieve these looks!
Location Vibe. Consider where you are going. What type of venue is your destination? Is it a friend’s back porch? Or is it a fancy upscale restaurant in town? Maybe it is a revived dive bar or latin music playing tapas spot. I like to consider these things. I’m not suggesting be someone you are not just to fit the location, but I personally like to think this aspect through. I wouldn’t want to be wearing a satin and lace dress with pearls if I were going to a retro hipster bowling alley … or would I?!?! I do like to make a statement! If I’m rolling into a backyard BBQ, I know I’d be much more comfy in a pair of jeans and T-shirt than my leather pleated maxi skirt and flannel situation!
Activity. What are you doing? I always consider what type of activity is happening. Are we rock climbing or taking a hike? Should I be wearing Active wear? Or, will I be taking an Uber from door to door and sitting at posh bar where I will be tended to all night? In this case I just MIGHT wear those stiletto heels I swore I’d never wear again that night we danced until dawn!
At this point I have made it upstairs and I look through my wardrobe. I apply the brainstorming I had as I stare at my options. I may have a few ideas, but as “time is of the essence” I move on to hair and make up. This brings me to my next tip.
Multitask. Isn’t this a survival tactic in life anyway? Now that I have some ideas, it’s time to let them marinate in my brain while I work on hair and make up. I consider some of my options while I am getting everything else pulled together. I also call my Uber driver at this point, so it keeps frolicking to a defined minimum. “Your Uber driver will arrive in 8 minutes…” Okay then… now this just got real! Usually this is actually my husband… and let me tell you, he proceeds with a countdown as each minute goes by. — Yay, thanks dear Hubs — stay calm, keep cool.
Execute. If time permits I may pull and even try 2 or 3 ideas I had spinning in my mind. If not, I simply pull the looks, hold them up one by one and use those trusty old decision making skills I’ve learned to master over time. I flip a coin (or whatever I see lying around, sometimes it is even a fashion magazine or a piece of jewelry)! But the coin never lies! It forces us to face the outcome of a choice in a split second. If you are not happy with the result, then you know your gut is telling you what to go with. — Now put it on!
Final Touches. I grab my bag for the occasion, confirm I have my wallet (because I’ve forgotten this once before and being out without my ID was a bit of a drag), my phone and then apply my lipstick at the entryway mirror… Throw that into the bag too, and Voilà! I’m out the door!
As promised, I’ve rounded up a list of my favorite pieces shown in the photos above! Let me know what your favorite go to outfits are in the comments below!
LOOK 1:
LOOK 2:
LOOK 3:
LOOK 4:
LOOK 5:
LOOK 6:
LOOK 7:
AND FINALLY, LOOK 8:
That should be enough for now…Until Next Time!
Xoxo,
Laura