Clothes and Vacations. :-)

I haven't been on an out-of-town getaway for moooonths, and this time around, I finally got myself some time off from work. Sure, we've been to Tagaytay and Quezon a couple of times, but we didn't stay overnight so there was no 'serious' packing involved. This month, we were headed for the Summer Capital of The Philippines, Baguio City. We were to spend a couple of nights at a friend's mansion (literally, a mansion, promise! :-)).

The last time I packed for a long vacay was back in 2007 I think, when hubby and I went to Palawan, and I was just getting stuff ready for two then. :-) This time around, I had to take into consideration the needs of three individuals, me, hubby, and my little girl.

Packing for hubby was the easiest, mainly because his clothing needs are limited to jeans, shirts, and shorts --- the basics really. Doing it for my little girl was quite a challenge (now this deserves a separate blog post. It's that complex for me! Hehe.). But I never thought that it would be that difficult to pack for myself.

Here are a couple of realizations I got as far as choosing and packing the items of clothing I was to bring for a short vacay:

1. Think of the weather. - I squeezed in around 3 shirts, 3 long-sleeved blouses, 2 jackets, 3 pants, a dress, and a couple of jeans in my luggage. And I thought I'd be needing all that for a 2 days 2 nights stay in Baguio. Was I ever so wrong! Baguio's cold weather made me feel so sluggish I even had a hard time pushing myself to change clothes. :-) Kidding aside, since the weather didn't even make me sweat at all, changing clothes wasn't done as often as you usually do on a summer vacay. I'm figuring a couple of shirts, a jacket, and 2 long sleeved blouses would have been a done deal for tops. Bottoms - perhaps, a couple pair of pants, and a pair of jeans would have been good enough. Lesson learned. 
2. Think of the activities - Another thing one should factor in picking out clothes to pack would be the activities you would most probably be involved in during the getaway. With all the clothes that I've dumped into our bag, you'd think I'm taking some serious rough and tumble in Baguio, when in fact we were mostly going to lounge around and sightseeing. :-) If you're going to the beach, or would expect to do some majorly active stuff, then perhaps, more clothing items would be necessary. 
3. Think of what you want to be seen wearing. -  Being on vacation means you're expected to be in a relaxed mood. But that doesn't mean they expect you to look dumpy. :-) Wear clothes in shades that flatter your skin color, and don't forget to make sure that they're a comfortable fit. Plain shirts and jeans are great, but make sure to bring some simple accessories like a fun pair of earrings or a really cool necklace to jazz up your look. Remember mommy, this is one of those moments you want to be seen as the 'hot momma'! :-)
4. Think about comfort. - If you're traveling with your kid, then you definitely have to up the comfort factor of your clothing choices (without losing the style element of course). Dresses would definitely make you look more girly, but it wouldn't feel too 'appropriate' when you're chasing after a restless tot. I personally go for skinny jeans and leggings since they're comfy, sexy, and all it takes to make the look fab is a stylish top.
5. Think about more shopping - Going on vacation made me want to make sure I had all the clothes I'd ever need for two days (I exaggerated my 'needs' on our Baguio trip obviously. hehe). But mommies, you and I know that wherever we go, we tend to get magnetized by clothing stores! :-) So make sure to leave some room there for the stuff you plan to buy on your vacay.

Picture-picture moment with the horse we rented for the kids.

I hope this list sheds some light on how you can be a fashionably hot momma on your vacay! :-) Now after all this realizations I had, I hope my next 'packing' endeavor would be more successful. :-)

Love your body, and the clothes will love you too! :-)

Disclaimer: I'm not a fashion guru or a stylist. I'm just a mom who loves clothes and the idea of fashion, and yes, I am also a 'work in progress'. :-)

When I realized I wasn't going to have my old body back in a heartbeat, I kinda panicked. What am I going to wear? I did lose some weight, so my preggy clothes would make me look, well like I'm in my first trimester again. But I didn't lose enough yet to let me wear my 'just got married' stuff.

Hmmmm... I'm still in that particular conundrum right now, and after some recent trips to the mall (and the fitting room), here's one realization I had about buying clothes for my 'new body':

YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR ASSETS, AND WORK WITH THEM.


My post-CS body made me stay away from clothes that showed even a hint of my belly. Pretty much every part of my body became inflated (still kinda inflated now. hehe). So...the question, what part of my body do I have left to 'show off' through my clothes?

Before I got pregnant, I was already 'gifted' chest-wise. Now, I'm even more 'gifted'. Hahahahaha! Anyway, I realized this was one of those very few parts of my body that I can consider my asset (aside from my returning cheekbones and clavicle. hehe).

The trick.  I learned that if you have big boobs, the best way to make 'em work for you (fashion-wise I mean) is to NOT cover them up (e.g. wear a turtleneck), as it would somehow 'exaggerate' their size, which in this case, is not what you want. At the same time, you should also NOT reveal too much. Whether or not you're a mom, I personally think big-chested women should not bare their 'stuff' like it's nobody's business. The secret: Reveal just enough, just to that level you're comfortable with (and that others will be comfortable with too.)

I put together this look through Looklet. I looove red because it brings that ooomph factor to anything you put on. :-) The cut was kinda low on this top, so in cases like these, you can wear a tube top underneath or some really sexy but not too revealing underwear.

I paired it with black pants because it gives a really nice contrast to the brightness of the red. :-) And they say dark jeans/pants are really slimming (note: great for not so slim thighs. not so slim thighs = mine).

Here's another example on how to show off your cleavage, without looking R-rated. :-) If you're wearing a black dress, jazz it up with punches of color here and there! That would sure make it fun!

Hope this helps! :-)

More fab fashion thoughts soon!

The Momma with A Fashion Mission!

A little over three years ago, I was a size small. My waistline was an enviable 25-26 inches.

Now, a couple of pregnancies, a miscarriage, and one CS operation later...I have successfully upgraded myself to a size large to extra large. And my waistline? I don't even bother to check. I don't think I want to know either, as I am sure it's far more than just 26 inches.

But don't get me wrong though, I am happy. :)

I may not be completely satisfied with my 'inflated' body, but I think I am still proportional to a certain degree. But I must admit, I do need to work on it.

I guess this is a dilemma that a lot of moms face. A woman's body definitely changes after a pregnancy, whether we like it or not. I think that's how we're wired. So it's either we feel miserable about it, OR we can live, and work with it.

I definitely prefer the latter. Definitely.

When I was still working in the corporate world, I make it a point to dress up as much as I can, even after giving birth (and I was like 20 lbs. heavier). And it made me feel good, even if I know there are slimmer girls walking around. It's the mama genes I guess, that gave me that confidence.

Now that I'm a work at home mom, dressing up is well, an occasional thing. I only get to do it when we go out during weekends, or have to attend special events. In short, it was no longer a daily habit.

And I noticed I started to become 'rusty' with my fashion choices and decisions, and it showed in the way I dress. T-shirts and jeans...and my beloved flats, became my staples. And there's really nothing wrong with that. Except for the fact that I look frumpy and tired in them.

Nobody wants to look tired and frumpy. :)

I started this blog in my hopes to take myself (and my mommy readers) on a journey to rescue my fashionable confident self with the help of sparking styling ideas, sharing fashion finds, and airing positive, constructive thoughts. :)

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I have two favorite styling sites I want to share:

Looklet and Couturious

They basically have the same features, they allow the user to style realistic models with clothes, accessories, shoes, bags, and whatnots. What I love about these two is that it makes use of real model images and real photos of clothes, nothing like those little girl dress-up sites. :)

The sad thing, is that either of the two allows you to choose a body type. Although from what I heard, Couturious is working on that. I hope they get up on the site soon.

Either way though, these sites help you get a visual of a look you're aiming for.

For example:

This look was put together through Looklet.

I personally love denim jeans, aside from the comfort factor, these things push back my CS tummy! :) I paired the dark skinny denims with a simple white top here. I am a fan of 'skinny jeans', because really, it's not just for skinny people. In fact, it doesn't look as good on skinny legs, as it does on curvier ones. :) Try on one, and you'll see what I mean.

Skinny jeans give curvier legs the hug and fit that helps brings out the sensuality in shapes. :) So for moms who had been wanting to try on a pair, give it a go!

White tops may look conservative, but this classic color gives that fresh, elegant look to a mom who has been through a day of diaper changes, cooking, and cleaning. It gives your face an instant brightening effect, and its clean expanse of color is best accentuated by fun colors like pink in your earrings, bracelets, or bag.

Moms also don't have to settle for flats. Wedges are wonderful! They provide that balance (that stilettos definitely cannot give), comfort, and that much needed ooomph of style factor. :) Have them in bold colors and special textures, and you're good to go!



Never mind the brand, or the price, you can put together this great look and base it on what your budget allows. Always remember, you can look fab, but you have to keep the 'Mommy Duties' in mind. :)

More fab fashion thoughts soon!