The Struggle: Motherhood vs “Fashion-hood”

So I’ll keep this simple: combining motherhood with good style is far from a walk in the park. As a matter of fact, fashion-hood for moms is an uphill task and it would seem, only for brave among us. Do not attempt if, like my 2-year-old daughter, you always wanted to be Barbie when you grow up. It is far from all glamor, but a kiss and a hug from your kids and those little moments of joy and laughter in between totally make it worth all the effort.

Picture this scenario: you’re a working mum or entrepreneur ; you probably have a ton of deadlines to meet; its late, you’re still working and the kids probably aren’t in bed yet or you had to skip the laundry because you needed to fulfill your business orders. The weekend comes and it’s no longer what they used to be: restful, out with friends, fun, etc. Why? Well, your weekends along with the rest of your life are now dedicated to being a “Marie Kondo” and putting everyone else’s life together including yours! Is this you right now? If it isn’t, and you are a mum, you’re probably Beyoncé (rolls eyes) -but if it is, welcome to the club. Yay! Glamorous isn’t it?

Now you’re probably saying: Who cares? I’m a mum now -everyone would understand if I turned up to the office in creased pants and running shoes, right? *awkward silence…*. (please don’t ever do this, I’m just trying to make a point here.)

But motherhood is great, truly it is, regardless of the paragraphs above. I love being a mother (sometimes). It truly challenges me in ways that I never imagined. However, it requires the strength of an Amazon, the resilience of a Nigerian and the patience of Job from the Bible. It is a constant struggle between looking like a trainwreck on some days and killing it with red carpet glam on others. The struggle is definitely real. So for those mothers who want to embrace their “fashion-hood” here are a few tips.

First on my list is a wig, a definite must-have. I mean a good wig! No honey, not darling yaki or premium 2 and definitely, not the ones you get from your local beauty supply. If you can afford it, I would suggest investing in  good hair that you can shake off 4 years later and it still looks laid!

Next is a black blazer. This works with any body shape and and can be worn  over literally anything— a dress, dress pants, a t-shirt, a maxi dress, pretty much anything you like and the fact that it’s a neutral colour means you don’t have to worry about colours clashing. Now we all know that when it comes to blazers, Zara is your go-to. These ones from Zara wont have you questioning your financial decisions. Pair with a nice wide belt to give not only a cinched waist but for a more stylish look.

The third on my list would be spandex. Yes tummy control. There I said it. Not all mums may need this because again maybe you’re secretly Beyoncé but hey even Queen B wore spandex for her 2018 Coachella performance: she is also a fan of spandex! So believe me when I say this is a worthwhile investment. There are some really cool affordable ones on Amazon.

Coming in fourth: the almighty high waist skinny jeans because who doesn’t want to look super curvy? High waist jeans give the illusion of a smaller waist and curvier hips. check out these ones from Fashion Nova. Pair this with a simple t-shirt or top, jewelry and your choice of comfy shoes. For me it’s a nice pair of pumps from my go to bargain boutique The Shoe Shop.

The last item is less specific. I would just say have a go to “statement piece.” This could be an LBD (little black dress), a cape that you can throw on just about anything— I love this cape from Orchid Woman, it literally goes with just anything and is perfect for days when I want a little more glam for work.

So, those are my simple and easy suggestions of must-have items for every working mum/ mompreneur as we are called these days. These items will not only help you win “le struggle” but having them will definitely save you tons of time and effort.