I’m three years into motherhood, and I finally feel like I’ve found my ‘mommy style’! Over time, I’ve narrowed it down to three distinct clothing styles. While they could be categorized by events, I prefer to think of them as ‘day-of-the-week’ outfits: Sunday clothes, Monday-through-Friday clothes, and Friday night/Saturday clothes.
Sunday
I have one outfit per season dedicated solely to church , along with a nicer pair of shoes. This outfit is reserved just for church, and I avoid eating in it – unless we’re attending a church luncheon. I talk about this in more detail in this post here. (The outfits, not the luncheons).
Monday – Friday
Mom at the park clothes. Dad’s-at-work clothes. Around the house clothes. My go-to outfit is a black or grey maxi skirt paired with a pretty t-shirt. It’s always the same. The color is key. Black is preferred. Gray will do. Every time I am at Goodwill, I pick up all and any I find in my size. If I ever find them at the store (Though I haven’t looked very hard, any farther than Walmart, really) I might just buy 20 (No, really—I mean that.)
Why a skirt? They look pretty, feminine, and modest. (And, of course, you can achieve all that in pants too!)
Why black? Because babies and toddlers. I sit in the sand at the park, hold sticky, pasta-sauce-covered babies, and don’t hesitate to wipe my hand (or theirs) on my skirt. I’ve wiped noses on it when there’s no tissue. I’ve dusted off sandy feet before putting on socks and shoes after park play. Black skirts can withstand all of this.
I don’t want to worry about my clothes when I’m with my children. I want to sit on the ground, hold my sticky baby, and be there for them—fully present for every messy moment. I don’t need to stress about my outfit while juggling the day-to-day.
In the winter, I wear knee-length tights (which I pick up in two-packs at the Dollar Tree) with boots. In the summer, I wear the same pair of Sketchers— they’re simple, comfortable, and go with everything. No effort, no thought—just easy. Remember, I’m not “going” anywhere. I’m at the park, picking up groceries, at indoor play, or around our neighborhood. Nobody will notice or care that I’m in the same black skirt again with the same pair of Sketchers. The cashier won’t notice, and the mom at the park won’t care. But I will feel dressed and ready to play with my children. And they will notice. They’ll remember that Mom played in the sand with us.
As for tops, I always go for a t-shirt. Patterned ones hide little sticky handprints best, and now that I think of it, most of mine are floral. In winter, I opt for long sleeves and darker jewel tones. In summer, I wear short sleeves in lighter, softer colors. Getting dressed in the morning takes no effort at all. I grab a skirt (any one will do—black, gray, really whatever’s clean), then pick out a comfy top. Shoes go on, and I’m ready to go. Minimal effort, maximum results. In just a few minutes, I’m dressed, out of my pajamas, and in a clean, practical outfit for the day ahead. I’m ready to run errands, go to the park, and look nice while still being able to move around with my kids.
Okay, okay, I know—black skirt, t-shirt, we get it! But just let me say one more thing: a black skirt works throughout pregnancy, right up until delivery, and is remarkably forgiving postpartum. In fact, I even wore one right into labor with my son—in the hospital! I’m honestly not sure which black skirt it was (I really wish I could remember which one. I’m sure it’s hanging in my closet right now, amongst the other black skirts.) I changed into a hospital gown just a few hours before he was born. And that’s it—I promise, I’m done now!
Friday night/Saturday
Poor husbands. When you were dating, they saw you in your out-of-the-house clothes, and now that you’re married, they see you in your “home” clothes. I have a few regular outfits—maybe five—real clothes, not “mom at the park” clothes. I try to wear these on Friday nights and Saturdays so my husband remembers why he married me. It’s winter as we’re writing this, I have a white knit top with a few fall/winter skirts that pair with it. Same tights, same boots.
One thing that helps me is buying clothes in outfits. I’ll pick out a skirt and a shirt that goes with it, then hang them together in my wardrobe. That way, on a Saturday morning, I can grab an outfit and be good to go. A bonus of being dressed on a Saturday is that when I’m with my husband, we tend to do family activities or just find ourselves in moments that end up being captured in photos, since he’s there to take them.
Motherhood isn’t about looking perfect—it’s about showing up for your family in the best way you can. So, if you’re in the midst of figuring out your “mommy style,” remember: It’s about finding what works for you, making it your own, and being fully present in those messy, beautiful moments. What’s your mommy style? Share it with me in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
