I agree on picking your uniform. I'm 31 with a 3 and a 1 y.o. and I SAH. I've decided for spring that I'm going to do skinny ankle jeans. I went to Anthro today and fell in love with AG "Stevie" ankle stretch jeans. I got a pair in a dyed color (trendy) and a pair in a lighter denim. These are nice, expensive jeans but jeans wear well and really make your look, so I'm going for it. I'm going to pick up a white skinny, probably Joe's. I have black skinny pants/jeans by Joe's and a pair of darker denim skinny Citizens. Then I'm going to get some cheaper blousy tops. And a lot of them, because I wear them out and they get ruined. I can't stand wearing out expensive tops.

Lord and Taylor has awesome sales...I recently purchased $520 dollars worth of clothing for $130. I also really like the options at the Marshalls in Tysons (I can't say the same thing for other Marshalls( ..yes, you need to look a little but I find that is the case in any store. In addition, I frequently find things I like and that fit well at The Limited.

I'm a Pre-K teacher and Lands' End is my go to. I think someone on another thread said their stuff "wears like iron" and I would have to agree. You have to pick through their stuff to find the more modern fits and stuff that doesn't look matronly, but it's definitely there. I don't have the time or inclination to shop in bricks and mortar stores, so I do it online. Get on their email list and you'll get great discounts.

I'm in a similar boat with you OP. I'm 32 with two young ones and pregnant with #3 on the way. I haven't found a place where I can do one stop shopping. I usually pick up a few pieces here and there - I don't find Off Saks or Neiman Marcus Last Call worth the drive ( we live in Falls Church), rather I shop sales at the regular Saks and NM here at Tysons. You can find really good deals during their winter and summer sales. Also, I find real gems once in a while at places like Gap. I haven't recently at BR and I find pieces at Loft really cheap looking and I've given up on Jcrew. I tend to look for 100% cotton or majority cotton blends because the kids will destroy cashmere, silk, etc.

I suggest that you come up with a uniform - a style that suits you and then look for those pieces at various places. I often search "tunic" on different shopping websites because my uniform is often longer length tops with leggings, esp now that I am pregnant. I have had good luck with piperlime.com and shopbop.com.

Good luck!

Macy's.

I am a mom and I like to look hip. I shop at Neiman Marcus Last Call and Saks Off Fifth the most. I like to wear leggings with cashmere sweaters and really great boots. I do spend a lot on my boots.

I like Nordstrom Rack, there is a lot to go through but I find the stuff better than digging through TJ Maxx.

I've had good luck with Lands End and Lands End Canvas for tops and basics. For jeans I go to Nordstroms. I haven't had the patience to dig through things at TJMaxx and Marshalls since I've had kids.

Thrift stores, if you have the time to sift. You can find good labels over time, you can pick the stuff that seems to have washed well, and you don't cry when your baby poops all over your J. Crew sweater cause it only cost you five bucks.

BTW, I went to the Lands End section Sears at Montgomery Mall, and I think you get free shipping if use their computer to order online. Also, sometimes the in-store prices are cheaper. I saw some cute shoes that were full price online, but they were 75% off at the store. They didn't have my size at the store, so the clerk called the website customer service, and they shipped my size free and matched the store price.

Anonymous wrote:LLBean still has great quality and colors and some of their stuff as the "slim fit" (you have to look for it, or you'll get the boxy stuff, be careful). Some of the styles are cute, some not-so. It's trial and error, I'm afraid, but the rerun policy is awesome, so at least when it hasn't worked out I haven't been horribly irritated. The stuff in the Sears stores has been really disappointing IMO, so I check online.

Sorry, I'm in the same boat you are, and eager to hear other responses. Haven't been thrilled with Boden. FWIW, ditto J.Jill (not that that's been mentioned yet).

The "stuff in the Sears stores" is not LLBean, it's Lands End.

Are you looking for casual clothes? I've been having really good luck with Lands End Canvas.

LLBean still has great quality and colors and some of their stuff as the "slim fit" (you have to look for it, or you'll get the boxy stuff, be careful). Some of the styles are cute, some not-so. It's trial and error, I'm afraid, but the rerun policy is awesome, so at least when it hasn't worked out I haven't been horribly irritated. The stuff in the Sears stores has been really disappointing IMO, so I check online.

Sorry, I'm in the same boat you are, and eager to hear other responses. Haven't been thrilled with Boden. FWIW, ditto J.Jill (not that that's been mentioned yet).

I like Boden. There are always free shipping/free returns codes.

Are there such things? In my previous, non-mom, life, I loved high-end clothes. Sadly, all my cashmere and silk have been packed away, and I've finally shed most of the baby weight and am ready to burn my black stretchy pants. Now I'm stuck with finding things that are kid friendly, but still fit nicely, don't cost a ton of money, and are figure-flattering. Where do you shop for stuff like this? I've really been underwhelmed with places like Target/Marshalls/TJ Max, due to both the quality and, at the latter two places, how hard you have to search to find anything nice. I'd like clothes that hold up well, but most times that means expensive, and it seems a lot of places lately (J.Crew, Loft, BR) have been trying to pass off inferior product for the same or more amount of money than usual. I'm not looking to break the bank while I rebuild my wardrobe, especially if the clothes aren't great, but I have to think there's another option besides Marshalls. Does anyone have some good go-to stores, either brick and mortar or online/catalogue? I'm in my early 30s, btw.

Thanks!