Mommy Vs. Wifey

In all three of this week's posts (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) I am going to show you how to  style basic items in your closet for extended wearability and a more versatile wardrobe. Today's styling edition will focus on transforming a simple dress from "mommy - on - the - go" to a "hot mama" ready for date night with a few basic swaps. So let's get started shall we?

THE BASIC

Today's basic is a simple tank dress I scored from H&M in my favorite color at the moment, army green. The dress is simple enough to dress up or down depending on your itinerary. 

DRESS//via H&M (very similar), (long - sleeved version)

MOMMY

While I'm in mommy - mode the most important thing for me is comfort and practical usage out of my wardrobe. I have to be able to move quickly, carry a growing infant (who is upwards of 17+ lbs), a car seat, and/or maneuver a huge stroller...all while tugging a gigantic diaper bag. Needless to say, I don't need a restrictive or impractical outfit to slow me down. While I still love to dress up when I go out (as mentioned in my last post), I have to think more about what the day calls for. Flats are definitely the real MVPs these days (sneakers, boots, ballet flats, sandals etc.) as I have not been able to really rock stiletto heels as much or for extensive periods of time since giving birth to Grayson. Comfort is KING! That is why this simple army - green colored tank dress is the perfect item for any mommy - on - the - go to have in her closet. This dress is a must have because it can be easily paired with an array of items in your closet, but most of all, it is easy to throw on and is a great foundational piece. 

To achieve my mommy look, I opted to wear this simple dress and pair it with my camouflage jacket, Superstar Adidas, gold - rimmed glasses, and a red lip. This look is super simple, but fool - proof to create (jacket + dress + sneakers = simple outfit)!

DRESS//via H&M (very similar) - CAMOUFLAGE JACKET//via Charlotte Russe (similar) - SUPERSTAR ADIDAS//via Footlocker - GOLD - RIMMED GLASSES//via Charlotte Russe (similar) - BAWSE LADY LIQUID MATTE LIPSTICK// via The Lip Bar

WIFEY

While I love being a mom I have to constantly remember that before I was called mommy I was crowned with the title wifey aka Mrs. Anderson! My hubby put a ring on it (shout out to Queen Bey) 5 years ago, so I try to keep things right and tight to keep our marriage spicy! He knows I love to dress up and go on dates (which are a little harder to come by, since we don't have an official babysitter for Grayson at the moment). So when I get a chance to get fully glammed up, I jump at the opportunity!

To achieve the ultimate swap from mommy to wifey in a flash I kept the same tank dress as my foundational piece but I traded my camouflage jacket for my fuzzy blush coat, my Superstar Adidas for my fringe booties, my gold - rimmed frames with a dope pair of sunnies, and my red lip for a nude softer pout! 

DRESS//via H&M (very similar) - FUZZY BLUSH COAT//via Forever 21 (similar) or (also similar) - FRINGE BOOTIES //via Charlotte Russe (similar) - SUNNIES //old (similar) - PERSISTENCE MATTE LIPSTICK// via (M.A.C)

With a few simple tweaks to your outfit, you can go from day to night in a flash, and turn heads in the process. *Cue Beyonce's "I'm Feeling Myself!"* You don't have to make styling items in your closet rocket science. All you have to do is find simple complimentary items that can be used to dress your basics up or down...and wallah, you have the perfect outfit no matter if you're having a mommy and me play date in the park or going on a hot date with your partner!

I hope you slay your day! Happy Monday luvs!

-Ali

Shaggy Vest + Striped Dress

We made it to another Monday. New day! New possibilities! New blessings bestowed upon us :) This weekend was pretty packed for me. I went and got a tattoo to commemorate my angel DJ on Friday. It was a little more painful than I remember (I have two other tattoos) but I took it like a G in honor of my little guy! My hubby was there to support me. One of my really good friend packed up her stuff and moved 1.5 hours away for a new job, so I went to say my goodbyes. Then Saturday after I had rehearsal (for Praise Team) the hubby and I chilled around the house for a little bit, before going to see the movie Race (I definitely recommend going to see it...I learned a lot about Jesse Owens) then we capped off our night with dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Margaritas.

I decided to wear my shaggy vest (which you've seen a couple of times on the blog now), my striped shift dress, navy tights, and chocolate booties to create my weekend outfit. I paired it with my white collared shirt, a statement necklace, and my glasses to take the look to the next level. The simple combo of a shift dress + vest + collared shirt = flawless foundation to an amazing outfit. Check out the pictures below to see the full look.

Outfit Details: Shaggy Vest (Forever 21), Striped Dress (JC Penny), Collared Shirt (JC Penny), Navy Tights (Target), Chocolate Booties (Forever 21), Statement Necklace (Charlotte Russe), Opticals (Forever 21)

This outfit was very comfy and still is put together enough to run errands or even go on a date with hubby! What did you do/wear this weekend? I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Here's a glimpse of my tattoo (keep in mind I just got it done so it looks a little abnormal). I am in love with it. I think my tattoo artist did an amazing job capturing exactly what I wanted.

I hope you have a great day and a stellar rest of your week! Happy Monday luvs. Lets make it a great one.

-Ali