Help me dress like a Bethesda mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I don't understand why everyone feels the need to wear skiing/mountaineering coats on weekends. Your regular wool coats work on Saturday too. Are you going to ascend K2 between the run to safeway and picking up the kids at soccer?

Why I wear my ski jacket (or down full length coat) when I am not skiing:
It is warmer than any of my wool coats (I have three of those, too).
It has pockets that zip, so I can have lip balm, tissues, gloves, earband, house keys, phone, etc., where I need them and can skip a purse.
It is wind-proof.
It is water-proof for those drizzly, sleet days we have.
It is washable.
I am a jeans and parka girl, not a wool coat and slacks girl.

I'm a PP who suggested a nice tailored coat. Thank you for explaining this! I had no idea about the pockets...

I'm someone who wears a ski coat or a down coat on weekends (well everyday). I agree with the other pp's reasons and will add that I've developed muscle issues in my neck and shoulder areas- you'd never think it if you saw me, I'm pretty young, thin, fit and active- and can no longer wear my wool coats or leather jackets because of the weight of them on my shoulders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Not by anyone worth caring about.

This IS a rather horrifying thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?!

Yeah doesn't seem like the moms gravitate to high end brands. A nice puffer is moncler. I had a north face in high school almost 15 years ago! If moms truly wear these kinds of brands I don't think you have much to worry about.

Those are the brands. Many Bethesda moms are busy paying for the vacation, the 2nd home, the 3rd home, private school, the 2 lux cars and they just don't spend that much for true upper designer clothes.

There is some truth to this. We have a second home, travel quite a bit, kids in college, etc. I don't pay much attention to brands but tend to mid tier brands like the first post. No Chanel or Louis Vuitton here. Exception is ski wear where we do have Bogner, Kjus, etc.

I don't get the button down shirt thing though. I rarely see people wearing those. They are unflattering on many women.

Under a sweater or a blazer.

Don't wear button downs unless you're very thin with no boobs.
Also LOL @ the woman who categorized "Bethesda moms" up to age 55. 55!?!?!? We're talking about mothers of young kids here.

You haven't spent much time in Bethesda have you? I am 53 and while my kids are now in high school/college I am pretty sure I am still a Bethesda mom. Or will you come take away my credentials after a certain age? Many of my friends still have kids in elementary school (in Bethesda). There may not be many parents of kindergarteners in my age group but I do have friends with 3rd and 4th graders.

[Anonymous]

Holy crap. I don't want to be mean, but the linked coat is so ugly. Mainly the length...either wear a normal length puffer coat, or a longer wool coat. But that coat, at that length? Oh, man.

You ladies can do so much better. You deserve better.

[Anonymous]

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

North Face is a pretty inexpensive designer brand. less than that and you just look like... well you shop at marshals. Just not a "Bethesda" look. And the knock off handbags -- yes people can tell so why do it?

[Anonymous]

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. I'm a Chevy Chase mom and I own one of these because my husband bought me a white one last Christmas. I wore it a lot last winter, because last winter was one of the suckiest winters ever here, and that is coming from a native. But I haven't even brought it out of its dry cleaning bag this year. I am incredulous that anyone is wearing these already.

[Anonymous]

My sincere advice would be before you invest too much in clothes lose as much weight as you can to get to your ideal weight. Then get a flattering hair cut and brow shaping. Being fit and having healthy skin and a current hair style will go a long way to making you feel great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally feel you, OP. I'm a Kensington mom and over the past couple years I've decided it was really time to upgrade my wardrobe. I'm out of the infant years, I also WOH (government so no real pressure to dress stylishly there) and frankly was just tired of hating my clothes. I take a lot of cues from the stylish looking moms in my neighborhood, in part because frankly, I don't always trust my own personal sense of style.

Here's some purchases that have made me feel happier in the past couple years: one black and one beige trench coat (Cole Haan at Nordstrom Rack), one classic-looking Coach bag and one fun-colored Kate Spade cross body bag (not the highest end brands but ones that fit my budget), Born ballet flats in a few neutral colors. I like dark-rinse Lucky jeans and Frye-type ankle boots in dark brown (I got Adam Tucker boots at Nordstrom - they looked like Frye but were much less.) I got a couple pairs of Cole Haan Chelsea pumps for dresses - on sale, fortunately. I look for fun jewelry at places like Loft and LouLou, too.

I have a pair of tall black boots from Nordstrom that I also adore, however I only wear them with skirts. I have not yet figured out how the boots-over-pants look works yet (probably because I still favor bootcut jeans.) I hope to solve this mystery sometime this fall as I would like to wear my tall boots more often.

I am really not a fan of the long puffer coat, but I have thought about getting one that hits at the waist. I see a lot of Tory Burch and Uggs in my neighborhood too, but neither appeal to me in the slightest.

I am not saying I'm a fashion template or anyone should emulate my choices - in fact I'm sure there are those who would mock them. I only share all this as an example of looking around what others in your neighborhood are wearing, and choosing what you like and what works for you.

Try putting hair ties around your ankles (over the pants, obviously). It will help keep your pants in place under the boots!

[Anonymous]

Aren't most Bethesda moms hideous? Why would that be your aspiration?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not too many 20-young 30 something couples can afford to buy in Bethesda. It's usually people on their second house.

This is not the case at all. Many young families in 30s.
Signed - bethesda home owner in her 30s

[Anonymous]

How to wear boots with non-skinny jeans.

http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/977647/how-to-tuck-non-skinny-jeans-into-boots

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?!

Yeah doesn't seem like the moms gravitate to high end brands. A nice puffer is moncler. I had a north face in high school almost 15 years ago! If moms truly wear these kinds of brands I don't think you have much to worry about.

Those are the brands. Many Bethesda moms are busy paying for the vacation, the 2nd home, the 3rd home, private school, the 2 lux cars and they just don't spend that much for true upper designer clothes.

There is some truth to this. We have a second home, travel quite a bit, kids in college, etc. I don't pay much attention to brands but tend to mid tier brands like the first post. No Chanel or Louis Vuitton here. Exception is ski wear where we do have Bogner, Kjus, etc.

I don't get the button down shirt thing though. I rarely see people wearing those. They are unflattering on many women.

Under a sweater you can just wear a dickie shirt.

Under a sweater or a blazer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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. I'm a Chevy Chase mom and I own one of these because my husband bought me a white one last Christmas. I wore it a lot last winter, because last winter was one of the suckiest winters ever here, and that is coming from a native. But I haven't even brought it out of its dry cleaning bag this year. I am incredulous that anyone is wearing these already.

I'm anemic so I am always colder than the average hot-blooded person. I had to bundle up a few days last week. Honestly, everyone has a different interpretation of what is cold. If I am cold I'm bundling up, regardless of "style" or trends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My go to look is: my Burberry Brit, my Tory Burch tall boots, my Prada bag, my blonde hair in a ponytail (sometimes I'm relaxed-- Tory Burch flats) and my black Mercedes suv. This is MY LOOK -- if everyone else wants to copy it they are just poseurs.

A+

prada is so 2000. I never carry any of them anymore.

[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.

Not by anyone worth caring about.

This IS a rather horrifying thread.

Your sarcasm detector is broken.