How To Look Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom

Looking Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom: Is It Worth The Effort?

Did you come across my blog because you’re trying to figure out how to look put together as a stay at home mom? I can relate!

I’ll admit, when I transitioned out of real estate a few years ago, I didn’t really think I would need much in the way of new clothes. I figured lounge pieces, leggings, and a few graphic tees would do the trick.

And maybe there was a small part of me that didn’t think I deserved the effort of putting new outfits together? Afterall, in my mind, I wouldn’t be leaving the house very often (NOT TRUE). And as a stay at home Mom, I wouldn’t be working nearly as hard as I had in real estate (also NOT TRUE). What did it matter what I was wearing?

Honestly though, spending most days bra-less, in random, old clothes that I threw together didn’t really do much for my self-esteem. I felt pretty frumpy, and not at all like my old self. At that point, I decided to start shopping for real clothes again, and that’s when I ran into another problem.

Nothing I already owned really fit my new lifestyle, but I also had a hard time finding clothes that were stylish AND comfortable. I didn’t necessarily have a lot of use for silk tops and blazers anymore, but the cute sweats and plain leggings didn’t feel like “me” either.

Thankfully, I don’t really have those issues these days. As a stay at home Mom of five, I’ve developed my go-to wardrobe of closet staples that are stylish and realistic for what I have going on every day.

If you’re reading this right now and trying to figure out exactly how to look put together as a stay at home mom, you’ve come to the right place. Or blog. Whatever(: Let’s jump in!

Join now for more style content created for busy stay at home moms like us(:

More outfit ideas coming right up! Here’s my recent post on cute Summer outfits with lightweight wide leg cargo jeans.

What Should I Wear As A Stay At Home Mom?

The good news: this is largely up to you! Whatever your personal style is, you don’t necessarily have to switch that up just because you’re primarily at home with your children. You still leave the house right? Gotta get dressed some time!

If you’re not sure what your personal style is, start there. What pieces do you already own that make you feel ten kinds of fabulous when you put them on? How are they similar?

If you don’t have a lot of pieces like that, try Pinterest! Create an inspo board with celebrities, influencers or just regular people in outfits you love. Or head to the mall on your own and try on a few things to get an idea of what you like!

Once you’ve determined what your vibe is, that can inform the kinds of items you start buying. As a stay at home Mom, you want to be realistic about what you need.

For example, I wouldn’t recommend fabrics that are super high-maintenance or too delicate for the washer unless you’re prepared to hit up the dry cleaners frequently. If you’re still nursing, you’ll want tops and dresses that are nurse-friendly so you’re not constantly tugging and readjusting your clothing throughout the day.

Bottom line: you can honor your personal style while still being realistic about the outfits you’ll most likely need throughout the week.

How To Create Stay At Home Mom Outfits That Won’t Sacrifice Comfort

So, this bit of advice may be controversial, but I promise it works! When you’re shopping for yourself, start with the item you want in mind, NOT with whether something is comfortable.

Let me explain…

Say you need new pants. You can easily find comfortable pants, right? Jeans, trousers, cropped pants, etc.; there’s a comfortable version of all of those options that may or may not work for you. But will they fit your personal style? Will they be comfortable, but kind of frumpy?

Don’t get me wrong, comfort is incredibly important, especially when you’re chasing the babies around all day. But, if you start with the kind of item you want, for example, a pair of wide-leg jeans, you can narrow it down from there. Search “wide leg jeans” and then you can start looking at construction, fabric content, etc.

Here are few more things to consider when shopping for new items:

1. Go for soft knits and/ or natural fabrics like cotton or cotton blends

2. Know that everything is not created equal. You don’t have to drop a couple hundred on one item but, DO consider construction and fabric content. These things make a huge difference in fit, comfort level, and how long a particular piece will last you.

3. When you look at a potential new piece, think about how it will fit into your existing wardrobe. Unless you’re planning a complete style overhaul, you probably want to avoid that adorable top that only works with one specific pair of jeans. Versatility is KEY when figuring out how to look put together as a stay at home mom.

Speaking of pieces that you can style a bunch of different ways, graphic tees are so great for this. The one below is one of my own designs. It’s a favorite because I can wear it around the house with leggings or with cute, tailored pants when it’s time to actually head out into the real world.

How To Look Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom: Tips & Tricks I Wish I’d Known Sooner

#1 You ARE Worth The Effort

You may be reading this and thinking, “What’s the point?” If you truly have no feelings one way or the other about clothing and style, that is totally okay! But if you do care about style, it’s also perfectly okay to honor that.

The fact that we’re SAHM’s doesn’t make us any less deserving of cute outfits or new clothes every once in a while. So, this might be the most important tip of all!

Recognize that you’re worth the effort and then make time in your day to focus on getting yourself together. Not for your hubs. Not for other people that may see you throughout the day. FOR YOU.

#2 Embrace A Daily Skincare Routine

This tip leans more towards wellness than style but, hear me out. Part of looking put together is taking care of yourself and that includes your skin.

If you have dry skin, like me, here’s a great dry skin routine to get you started. Oily or combo skin? Everyone needs a great cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF, so you can start there too! A clean face also sets the tone for makeup IF you choose to apply any at the beginning of your day.

#3 Look For Elevated Basics

The key to looking put together as a stay at home is to go for elevated basics. Elevated basics are all the rage right now, so you may have heard this term before. If you’re unfamiliar, here’s the deal: elevated basics have something special about them that sets them aside.

They may be made of an elevated, luxe fabric. Or they may have fun, unique details that make them stand out. But, elevated basics are great because they’re a quick, easy way to take your outfit to the next level.

#4 Focus Most On The Classics

This is also great advice if you’re shopping on a budget. You want to delegate most of your funds, effort, and time to pieces you know you’ll want to wear year after year, season after season. Bonus points if you’re considering a pair of jeans that you’ll reach for throughout the year!

The bulk of your wardrobe should be classic, timeless pieces that you can mix and match with trendy extras whenever the spirit moves.

#5 Don’t Be Afraid Of Being “Overdressed”

Obviously, you don’t need a formal gown for that upcoming PTA meeting! But if you feel happiest and most comfortable in a cute dress and boots, don’t box yourself into leggings and a tee just because you feel like that’s what everyone wears. Part of looking put together as a stay at home Mom is wearing things that make YOU feel good.

How To Update Your Wardrobe Without Overspending

Even if you’re starting completely from scratch, updating your wardrobe doesn’t have to be insanely expensive. You can shop sales, check out discount stores, and check FB marketplace for gently used, fairly new items. Poshmark is also great for this!

How To Look Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom: 5 Tips & Tricks To Save Cash

1. Be Intentional

Come up with a list of the items you need for your new wardrobe and then stick to that. When you’re out shopping, try things on to make sure they fit well RIGHT NOW (not 10 lbs from now) and the quality is up to your standards.

If you’re ordering online, don’t be afraid to try a few different sizes to see which fits you best. Make sure to check for a generous return policy, though!

2. Create A Budget & Stick To It

Also, remember that this process may take time. If you only have it in your budget to grab a new pair of jeans, it’s okay to wait until the next month to get more items from your wishlist.

3. Get Rid Of Old Stuff First

FB Marketplace, garage sale groups on Facebook, Poshmark, and Ebay are all great ways to get rid of your own gently used items and earn cash for new stuff!

4. Cost Per Wear Is A Thing, Sort Of

We all know the “girl math”. This top is $75, but I’m going to wear it like once a week, so that has to be $10 per wear for the whole season, right? Yes, cost per wear, is important to consider. For example, I wouldn’t recommend buying a $200 coat if you live somewhere with a fairly mild Winter.

But don’t let the “cost per wear” of an item talk you into buying something that’s outside of your budget. If you’ve set aside $75 for multiple tees and maybe a sweater, spending all of it on one item probably isn’t a good idea, no matter how many times you think you’ll wear it.

5. Don’t Let Sales Distract You

Sales are a great way to save money on a few highly coveted items. But if your main reason for buying something is because it’s on sale, let’s pause for a minute and determine whether it’s truly something you need or even want.

The truth is sales and “limited time” promotions come around all the time. If something goes off special at one store, I guarantee it will be back on special soon OR you’ll be able to find something similar from another brand.

If you’re obsessed with it and you see yourself getting a lot of use out of it, definitely grab it! But don’t let the pressure from sales emails and even well-meaning salespeople at the store talk you into spending outside of your budget.

My Thoughts On Capsule Wardrobes For Stay At Home Moms…

Unpopular opinion: capsule wardrobes are fairly subjective. They really depend on your lifestyle, the kinds of clothes you like, what the seasons are like where you live. I could go on and on.

BUT

They’re also a great starting point if you’re literally building a wardrobe from scratch or if you find yourself staring at the closet every day hating what you own.

If I just described you, take a look at my seasonal capsule wardrobes and use them as inspiration. If you find that something I’ve recommended fits your lifestyle, budget, and personal style, go for it! If not, feel free to skip(:

Summer Essentials Shopping Guide For Stay At Home Moms

Winter Capsule Wardrobe For Stay At Home Moms

How To Look Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom: Year Round Wardrobe Essentials

1. Cozy layer (cardigan, cute oversized sweatshirt, etc.)

2. Great fitting jeans

3. Soft tops (consider breastfeeding friendly ones if you’re still in that stage)

4. Bra-less tops (for those days when you just can’t even with a bra)

5. Comfortable bra (when you are wearing one, might as well be comfortable!)

6. Comfortable, go-with-everything footwear

The Spring Capsule Wardrobe will be out soon! Make sure to sign up below so you don’t miss it!

The Key To Looking Put Together As A Stay At Home Mom: How To Create Cute Outfits Quickly

POP QUIZ: You’re 10 minutes late, everyone’s waiting for you, and you have no idea what to wear! What do you grab?

So, there are a couple of tricks to remember when it comes to putting cute outfits together quickly. Number one, you want to start with your wardrobe essentials which we mentioned above.

Create a color palette of maybe 2-3 shades that compliment each other and refer to that when shopping for your new capsule wardrobe. I like neutrals with pops of color, but you don’t have to go for that! This is another thing that’s really according to personal preference.

If most of the pieces in your wardrobe mix well together, that will make it ten times easier to quickly grab a cute outfit that works.

Another thing that helps is cleaning out and organizing your closet. I have mine organized by item type (shirts, sweaters, jackets, etc.) and then by color.

Make sure to get rid of anything that you don’t love, doesn’t fit well, etc. Once you’ve done that, you can figure out the best way to organize your own closet, so you know where everything is.

When you know where to look for that much-loved sweater, you’ll automatically shave several minutes off your morning “get ready” routine.

Last tip: pre-plan your outfits! This one takes a little time. But, it also goes back to what we discussed earlier in this post about how you are most certainly worth the effort! If you want to know the main tip on how to look put together as a stay at home mom, THIS IS IT!

Take maybe an hour or so on a weekend afternoon while the kids are occupied and just play for a bit! Try out different outfit combos, different colors, maybe figure out how to work in that new skirt you just bought.

Plan entire outfits, down to the shoes and jewelry. You can take pictures to help you remember and also to get a better idea of how each outfit looks. Save them to a special album for safe keeping. The next time you’re stumped on what to wear, refer back to your photos!

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