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

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.

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.