Help me dress like a Bethesda mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

This is true. Otherwise, you'll be made fun of.

I am sure this is a joke. Right? Who would make fun and what would the comments be? I don't understand.

People will lean on their horns as they drive by and scream invectives as they pass you on their way to their fabulous puffer coat lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Nordstrom and use their free personal shopper service if you're not confident in what you want to wear. Splurge on coats, shoes, bags, and good jeans; spend way less on the tops.

FWIW, I am a private school Chevy Chase mom nursing a newborn and every damn day in the winter I end up in leggings (Zelle) or jeans (Paige), ballet flats / riding boots (booties if I'm doing something fancy, which is pretty much never), my favorite huge Splendid t-shirts, and a chic long cardigan. This is largely because I have to get my boobs out constantly; otherwise, would definitely be in my big crewneck cable knits with the above. Nice jewelry, most of which wayyy predates my baby-making days, makes me feel better about not washing my hair (see: newborn).
And I don't own a North Face. A chic utility parka for casual wear and some aviators is way more current.

Now this is some bad fashion advice. Nordstrom has some quality issues, and the OP is trying to leave the "I rolled out of bed with a newborn" look behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Retinol-A scarred cheeks, greenish-white, chlorine damaged hair, ray-bans, wind blasted, leathery legs, gold charm bracelet, gold signet ring, band-aids covering cancerous mole removals, tennis visor, tennis skirt, mules optional.

+1 you got it!

[Anonymous]

Ok, just reading a few of these posts is consolation for me that I can't afford to live in Bethesda (where I only want to live because the schools are good). It really is a boring place with conventional people. Just the thought of buying the right jacket and purse makes me want to gag.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What a depressing thread, OP. Can't you just upgrade by deciding to spend some money on what you like, not what all the other moms are wearing? Is this high school?

My thought as well. I say this not to be snarky, but in complete honesty - I did not know adults still thought this way. Even my college kids are past the idea that they must look like all of their friends in order to be accepted.

Buy what looks good on you and what you can afford.

I'm guessing OP doesn't have a good sense of her own style, so she's going for a certain look she's seen on other people?

I don't really see anything wrong with that. As a new private school mom, I bought a few key items that look like other moms. I caved and bought the one thing they all have and now get lots of compliments. I am not a fashion designer

Wow. I am having a hard time believing these posts are real. I mean, if I see a woman with an item I like and it looks really good on her, I might buy it if I see it in the store, and I'll do that with people I see everywhere, but going out and purposefully buying things to look like other moms? ??? Seriously, that is so middle school I can't get over it.

Clearly you have more time than some of us have. Seriously, "finding my sense of style" is just not the priority item it once was with a 60 hour job and 2 small kids. I think buying things that look similar to what other people in my demographic have is a perfectly reasonable, efficient way to looking put together. In my next life I'll knit tea cosies and plan my wardrobe on blogs, pinterest and in 3 hour shopping trips. For now, I have 30 minutes at 10 pm to pick out some new clothes that make it look like I have been alive in the year 2014. Please, go ahead and snub me as you like.

Take a deep breath... This shouldn't be such a time-consuming pursuit. I have a job, and kids, and housework, and a commute, but those things haven't completely consumed my sense of individuality. I don't see other women and think "Oh, I'll just buy whatever she's wearing" instead of just finding something I like. I mean, what is the difference between walking in a store and buying something you saw another woman wearing as opposed to trying out a couple things you personally find attractive? No wonder some of you are so bitter, you've even sucked the joy out of shopping with your neurotic need for approval from others.

Thanks for sharing. I just don't have time to go to a store though.

[Anonymous]

I'm with OP. Shopping for clothes is tough. Especially when you are short on time and money and fashion style. I like to copy things also because otherwise shopping is too overwhelming. I wish clothes would just appear in my closet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, just reading a few of these posts is consolation for me that I can't afford to live in Bethesda (where I only want to live because the schools are good). It really is a boring place with conventional people. Just the thought of buying the right jacket and purse makes me want to gag.

Of course it's silly and really not true. People wear whatever they want and it ranges from yoga pants to designer power suits. I live here and haven't seen a woman my age wearing a long puffer coat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, just reading a few of these posts is consolation for me that I can't afford to live in Bethesda (where I only want to live because the schools are good). It really is a boring place with conventional people. Just the thought of buying the right jacket and purse makes me want to gag.

Of course it's silly and really not true. People wear whatever they want and it ranges from yoga pants to designer power suits. I live here and haven't seen a woman my age wearing a long puffer coat.

Then you are either blind or you never go anywhere.

[Anonymous]

For coats, I love Mackage. Very flattering. Worth the splurge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

This is true. Otherwise, you'll be made fun of.

NF is ghetto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:11 here. I just thought of something. Check out the blog classy girls wear pearls (yes silly name). She has a really cute, preppy style that I think would fit in Bethesda.

Ugh, boring!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's simple. For winter, you'll need at least one pair of dark blue skinny jeans and one "modern" fit tailored to the ankle. At least one pair of tall boots (but preferably three pairs in black, cognac, and grey) and one pair of black ankle boots. Pair with white or subtly patterned button down shirts and cashmere sweaters on top. Dress up with a Ralph Lauren blazer. Flats (Tory Burch or Cole Haan) for fall and spring. Jack Roger sandals , Tory Burrch, and Lily Pulitzer for summer.

Tory Burch? Jack Rogers? Freaking Lily? Why?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anybody post a link to this black North Face puffer coat? My curiosity is killing me.

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests-lifestyle/women-8217-s-miss-metro-parka.html?variationId=N2M&variationName=DAPPLE%20GREY#

My kids and I play a game where we count how many of these we see in one day.

That is a mean game that amuses at others' expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longchamp bags are super comfortable and fairly durable. Invest in the North Face jacket- it's not that expensive when you break down the number of times you'll be wearing it and the sense of confidence/social assurance you will get. I personally find Bethesda style to be boring as hell but I will give you the rundown of what I would wear were I trying to come off as epitome of Bethesda mom:
Straight legs jeans, tapering in at the ankle (Bethesda moms are very no nonsense so flared, super skinny, or other interesting styles will not fit in.) You can find great jeans like this at JCrew or Urban Outfitters has a reasonably priced line that fit like Sevens.

A couple of button down shirts. (These can be rotated out, and bought for relatively inexpensively. Obviously Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers makes the best button downs but you dont HAVE to get those brands- you can get inexpensive versions that will pass the once-over from all kinds of TJMaxx types shops)
Sweaters: for winter, nothing is chicer than a very simple pull over in a neutral color like navy blue, black, or tan.
A good pair of boots to run around in- should come to about the knee, give or take some inches, in a good leather. These you will want to spend at least $200 on, maybe a smudge cheaper if you go to DSW or find them on sale. No one likes imitation leather.
Pair of flats to rotate out- JCrew makes fab italian leather simple flats in a variety of vibrant colors, for about $100. Or if you are cool spending a bit more, Stubbs and Wooten is a preppy stable that lately has been branching out into more modern. fun designs.
Longchamp, or a big Louis Vuitton tote.

All of these (with the exception of the LV and Stubbs & Wooten) are very reasonably priced options in my opinion. Nowadays, spending hundreds on clothes is reasonable. I subscribe to the French idea that dressing well is a form of politeness, and I always try to look put-together and respectful to whatever area or occasion I attending.

With that being said, this ^list is probably more Chevy Chase mom than Bethesda mom, but in my opinion Bethesda moms usually dress like frumps, like they raided the casuals section at Chico's, so I would never want anyone to dress like one.

Wow you really dropped a bomb there at the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anybody post a link to this black North Face puffer coat? My curiosity is killing me.

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests-lifestyle/women-8217-s-miss-metro-parka.html?variationId=N2M&variationName=DAPPLE%20GREY#

It's ugly but functional. We try to see how many we can count in one day.

It doesn't even get that cold here! My sister wears one of these for her walking commute in Boston during "cold" days, meaning most of the time not. This is so odd.

This! Maybe it's the northerner in me (originally from the upper midwest where it really gets cold) but I can't see wearing this coat apart from like 2 weeks in January. Certainly not now. It's well into the 50s and 60s during the day and mid-30s in the morning - practically shorts weather!