8 Stylish Looks For Busy Moms

Tina, here.

This fall I asked my fabulous team of stylists, Barbara and Amy, to share their must-haves with you on the blog, and so far you've seen Barbara's and mine. We get to see Amy's today. You're going to notice something.

Tina Adams Wardrobe Consulting, LLC

Amy has been with us for about a year and a half. Our clients come back to her every season for her kind heart and fab style.

We at Tina Adams Wardrobe Consulting have a shared style sensibility. We may express our tastes in different ways, but we all love good, classic style, or as we sometimes call it QGT (quiet, good taste). We're the people you come to for timeless style. A look that is modern and current, with a dash of trends. We're also teachers. Showing you what works and what doesn't, and more importantly, why. We teach you how to dress like you want to feel, how you want to present to the world. It's not about dressing to impress. It's about dressing to respect; to respect yourself and the people around you. We sincerely believe that there are timeless classics every woman needs in her wardrobe, no matter how trendy of a dresser you are. Trends are worn better when they are grounded. We also sincerely believe that the fastest way to age yourself is to wear an outdated trend. So we're the trend police. They've gotta go when they've expired. And you've gotta resist overpaying for them at the time, because it'll be easier to toss.

Timeless style.

Forever 21? No. How about Forever Chic. Image source.

Anyway, I was just struck by the similarities and overlap in Amy's, Barbara's and my fall must-haves. Our brand is built on the creed that modern style is grounded with timeless classics and popped with a dose of current trends. 

Amy Croker, our Williamson County and Nashville Stylist.

Amy is a mom of two young, active girls. This past spring you got to see how she runs all over town keeping up with a crazy life and still manages to look like Audrey Hepburn. Doesn't she though? We all want her style. It's a gift she has, but today you can learn from a busy mom how she keeps her look together, and why that's important when you're raising the next generation.

Amy's 8 Stylish Looks For Busy Moms

1. Leather Skirt

Fall Must-Haves: Leather Skirt

When I saw this skirt I knew it needed to belong in my closet. The style is so unexpected for me, as I normally go for a plain, black pencil skirt. So with this a-line style, I can wear my more tailored tops, giving me a fun but still very sophisticated look.

Fall Must-Haves: Leather Skirt

I would wear this outfit anywhere from shopping with clients to meeting girlfriends for dinner. If I accidentally spilled my ten gallon jug of coffee on my white blouse (and such a reality for me), I would not only have a back-up but I would also have a black top to take me into evening. Mamas need back ups! Shop my leather skirt, just added to the September Style Vault. It's 50% off! Find it in the Style Notes section.

Fall Must-Haves: White Blouse

So I can totally hear some people saying I cannot keep a white blouse clean! Yes you can. Keep a back-up like me OR keep some of Tina's must-have cleaning products on hand. Really, I love a white button down when you are pairing it with something kind of edgy like a leather skirt. It gives you a more feminine look. (The best white blouse is featured as a must-have inside the September Style Vault.) Then, when I want to make the skirt more casual for the weekends, I will wear one of my slouchy sweaters tucked in or a denim button down. Another favorite!

Fall Must-Haves: Merlot and Animal Print

Because my outfit is simple, I wanted to add some texture and color. I love a good leopard print! When I'm styling a client, I can't wear fussy jewelry, so the leopard print shoes and merlot handbag act as my statement pieces.

2. Statement Jacket

Fall Must-Haves: Statement Coat

Okay, I must confess, I have a little problem with collecting cool coats and jackets. Number one, I am very cold-natured but number two, I grew up in Florida and so never had a chance to have fun coats. When I moved to Atlanta and then Nashville, I made up for that! My mom has given me a fun coat or jacket for every birthday since. Thanks, Mom! I use my statement jackets or coats as accessories. Because most of my wardrobe is simple and neutral, that is my accent piece. I love this jacket because it's lightweight and something I can wear with dresses to see clients and then throw on with a tee and jeans on the weekends with my family. That's how we like to shop for our clients, too.

Fall Must-Haves

This is an outfit I would wear to meet a new client, and then still be comfortable to pick up my kids from school and go about our many activities. I love to be comfortable but it is also very important to me to look put together. I've been showing my clients lots of statement coats and jackets this fall. Shop a similar style to this one inside the September Style Vault, Style Notes section.

Fall Must-Haves: Statement Coat

As a busy working mom, I love to dress up, but I also need to be prepared to transition from one event to another. With that being said, I don't want to always be in yoga pants or jeans, either. I don't want to sacrifice my style. As a mom to two girls, I want to be sure to show them that it's important to take pride in how you present yourself. Yes, my girls at times have messy hair and like to wear their cowgirl boots with their Sunday School dress, but as a mom, I have to walk that fine line of embracing who they really are and teaching them about being a lady. Believe me it's hard, but I am hoping that when my girls look back, they were happy!

Fall-Must-Haves: Cognac Boots

I love a good cognac boot! This color goes with black, charcoal, winter white and my favorite, navy. By adding this color to my navy dress, it gives an effortless, yet sophisticated look. Shop these boots inside the bonus issue of the September Style Vault, The Perfect Fall Shoe Wardrobe.

3. Baby Bootcut Jeans

Fall Must-Haves

I could live in these jeans and well, I probably have! They go with me on trips, they go with me to the grocery store, football games to date nights. So with that being said, bootcut jeans are versatile and well, let me just say, so forgiving. Everyone needs bootcut jeans!

Fall Must-Haves: Baby Bootcut Jeans

Ummm so I just figured I probably wear these bootcut jeans 4 times a week, but I am very selective when I wear them, and I always make sure they are a dark rinse so they look dressy. To me, jeans have a special place. I know jeans have evolved as to where they are appropriate now, like churches and even at some work places, but to me, you want to be careful with this. Don't always assume jeans are okay and please don't wear them to a job interview no matter how casual the environment is! This pair of dark rinse slim bootcut jeans are featured as one of the 12 Must-Haves inside the huge issue of the September Style Vault. They're under $100!

Fall Must-Haves

The whole boot with jeans thing is tricky. Bootcut jeans were designed to fit around tall or short boots, but the bootie in my opinion is the best one to wear with this style. If you wear a knee boot, make sure it has a narrow shaft so you don't add any more bulk to your look. Shop great booties inside the Perfect Fall Shoe Wardrobe bonus edition of this month's Style Vault.

4. Grey Pants

Fall Must-Haves: Something Grey

Well, again, because I am a mom, I needed a jean alternative. These are so soft and so comfortable. I don't want to always be wearing jeans and it's not practical for me to wear my leather skirt every day. So these grey jeans are a wonderful alternative. I can dress them up with a silky blouse and pumps for a dinner date with my husband, and then add a sweater and vest for running around with the kiddos.

Fall Must-Haves

This cape and my grey jeans are a perfect example of alternatives to blue jeans. I could wear this on the weekends or maybe with friends to Arrington Vineyards (a fall favorite to do right outside Nashville). Shop my pair of grey jeans inside the Vault, just added to September's Style Notes.

Fall Must-Haves

This grey color is a perfect foundation for my wardrobe. I can wear these pants with a denim button down and blazer or do a grey on grey neutral look and add a pop of color. There are so many ways I can wear these jeans, and that is what I look for when buying on the higher end. I want to be sure not only the fit is for me, but that it will be a wardrobe multiplier. This is how we shop for all our clients, too.

5. Riding Boots

Fall Must-Haves: Riding Boots

Riding boots and knee high boots are essential to your fall wardrobe. They are classic, chic and what I love most, they keep me warm. When you are looking for a good riding boot, first of all look for real leather as they will last you for many, many years. You also want to be sure your riding boots are not only functional, but also flattering.

Fall Must-Haves: Riding Boots

You need to be sure the top of the boot hits no more than 2-4 inches below the knee. If it hits lower than the widest part of your calf, it can sometimes make you look stumpy. Now, the lower part of my legs are on the small side and so it can be tricky for me to find the right boot that doesn't swallow my legs (Tina has the same issue - it can be challenging, so please don't hate us for our skinny legs!). I have been known to get my boots taken in by a cobbler if I find a knee high boot that I love. If you have athletic calves, look for a wider shaft. You can shop these boots, which do come in an extended calf size, inside the Style Vault's bonus edition: The Perfect Fall Shoe Wardrobe.

Tina, here again. Here's how I styled some of Amy's fall must-haves...

Fall Outfits

Amy has this beautiful camel sweater that I put with the leather skirt. It is not too bulky, and fits nicely at the waist, which an a-line needs. I don't mind mixing brown and black leathers, but in this case, because of the proximity to each other, I would do a black knee boot with a black leather skirt. Don't forget you can shop this a-line leather skirt for 50% off right now inside the September Style Vault, Style Notes section. 

Fall Outfits: Denim On Denim

I thought I'd show you how to do the denim on denim look if you are so brave. First rule is that the denims must not match each other in color. Second rule is that you have to have the right attitude to pull it off. Amy does becasue she's naturally stylish and knows how to put the right accessories with it so that it's an entire look, not just a sad attempt at doing a trend. The camel blazer (also a must for a classic fall wardrobe) makes it more sophisticated and less street-style-blogger, and the animal print pumps add interest. Shop these slim boot jeans inside the September Style Vault, too. 

Denim On Denim

See how Amy's denim shirt is a lighter rinse than her bootcut jeans? That's what you want.

Fall Outfits

I loved Amy's jeans in grey so much that I might have to get a pair myself. They're inside the Style Vault if you want to purchase them, too. I loved them with her fur vest and plaid shirt. And of course ankle boots and skinnies are kind of a thing this fall (again).

Thanks, Amy, and thanks for reading, dolls! If you are in the Nashville or Williamson County area, you need Amy or Barbara in your closet - check out our amazing Nashville Wardrobe Consulting services.  Or, get inside the Style Vault and start shopping all our favorite looks today. ALL NEW OCTOBER issue is days away! Join the Style Vault today.

* the charcoal pant inside the September Style Vault sold out, but I found it somewhere else and just updated the link inside*

Best Vault Ever!  I got fabulous things – thanks to you!  Best $7.99 I spent all month!

~ another happy Style Vault insider

For our monthly membership, click here. But if you do the annual membership you never have to update your cc, which can get so annoying, can’t it!

Thanks for reading and all the best,

Tina

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Photos by Krissy Leigh Creative
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krissyleighphotography/

 

 

 

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