My alarm goes off at 5AM for the gym M-F. Two days a week I'm with a personal trainer, 3 days a week I'm on the treadmill in the basement. I pick one weekend morning to do a long 2hr work out.

I hardly ever go out to eat and always pack my lunch. I walk the stairs at work, up 8 flights each time I need to go to the bathroom.

I only shop 2xs a year and do a big shopping. I always accessorize (this I think is critical)

I do not let my hair get grey. I get my eyebrows and lip waxed every 10 days.

I do not get mani/pedis. Only pedis in the summer and I mostly do them myself.

I hardly leave the house without at least a little make-up. At a minimum: concealer, mascara, and lip gloss. Takes 60 seconds.

Anonymous wrote:DCUM is a place for crazy, obnoxious stuff. You can't think any of this is serious? Where else can you read about smelling placenta, skinny jeans vs boot cut, taking on debt to pay for private kindergarten, "don't hate me bc my DS goes to a big 3..... This site is totally for crazy fun .... I can only read occasionally or I would truly wonder about humanity. Cheers, sweetie.

I actually agree that DCUM is a great place for entertainment, but none of those threads involve taking cheap shots at vulnerable people. In my mind that includes fat people, those struggling with infertility, the special needs parents, and so on. Posters who take advantage of anonymity to be assholes to people who are struggling are reprehensible. It's not entertaining; it's cruel.

You make me laugh. Take your outrage to a site that requires posters to identify themselves. Or go sign up for real activism somewhere.

Making dumb fat jokes on the internet is for stupid people.

DCUM is a place for crazy, obnoxious stuff. You can't think any of this is serious? Where else can you read about smelling placenta, skinny jeans vs boot cut, taking on debt to pay for private kindergarten, "don't hate me bc my DS goes to a big 3..... This site is totally for crazy fun .... I can only read occasionally or I would truly wonder about humanity. Cheers, sweetie.

Yes, picking on fat people is really fun. Grow up.

Always fun to toss a bomb and see DCUM take it seriously.

Anonymous wrote:"Fun jewelry" and scarves are for overweight people.

Tell that scarves bit to the French.

Scarves, jewelry, shoes and purses are easy ways for busy women to look put together because they make classic clothes interesting but you don't have to wash, iron, or dry clean them.

Anonymous wrote:"Fun jewelry" and scarves are for overweight people.

All of my younger brother's tiny, fashion-forward college friends wear scarves all the time.

Anonymous wrote:"Fun jewelry" and scarves are for overweight people.

Tell us, how do bitchy people look put together?

"Fun jewelry" and scarves are for overweight people.

Anonymous wrote:To the moms who look put together, fashionable, and in shape all the time: How much time do you devote to shopping, gym, getting hair and nails done, etc.? How do you manage to fit it in with work and a family? I think it is important to maintain your physical appearance and look good, but it can be exhausting at times!

I think it really depends on what your standards of "put together" are. I am relatively fit (tend to gain weight in the winter and then lose it starting right about now when I start to run outside again) and eat healthy food. I know what styles look good on my body and what colors are most flattering. I have a fairly deep bench of classic clothing items that never really go out of style and that are in good condition. I will occasionally add to the collection or buy a new thing (just bought a pair of red wedges that I am really excited about!). I have a hairstyle that is relatively easy to maintain and doesn't look awful if I have to miss a salon appointment. I don't get my nails done usually - they are short and well maintained. I have good skin and know how to apply cosmetics that work for my skin tone and general personal style (will be wearing red lipstick with those new shoes).

It's not something I struggle to fit in with the rest of my life (single mom of preschooler, work out of the home 40h/wk) and it's not something that I find particularly exhausting. If it became exhausting to maintain my hair or clothing, I would probably reconsider that part of my routine.

If you see something that woks for you, buy it in all of the colors, or buy duplicates. Keep a spare outfit ready for emergencies or when you are in a rush.

One thing I do that really helps is stick to a basic color scheme for my work wardrobe. I generally build around neutrals -- blacks, grays, beiges. I'll then add a pop of color in the form of a blouse, knit top/shell or cardigan. Building my wardrobe this way means I can mix and match at will. It also allows me to stick primarily to black shoes and boots of various types, which simplifies things further. I always accessorize with fun jewelry and/or scarves.

On the weekends I mix things up a bit more by adding a couple of good denim pieces like jeans or skinny leggings.