Recently on the way home from the school drop-off, a mummy-friend of mine gave me a once over and said, “How do you manage to look so pulled together in the mornings?”
I nearly laughed in her face.
I tried my best not to give her a look that said Are you blind? and instead answered, “Well, to start with, I’m wearing exactly what I wore yesterday, which was on the floor in front of my bed when I woke up…”
Listen. The school day starts early for my kids. The bell rings at 7:55 AM, and though we’re only a few blocks from the school grounds, getting there on time, with all the necessary gear AND looking half-way decent is no small feat. Especially since I don’t actually get out of bed until about 6:50 AM some days.
The secret? A fitted jacket and a cute hat.
I have a supremely short haircut (as in, buzzed off with clippers) so some kind of hat makes me feel instantly pulled together. And jaunty. A structured jacket (worn right over the tank top I slept in, thanks) and whichever pair of jeans is closest to me, plus boots or sneakers and some oversized rockstar sunglasses… done. Of course I draw my eyebrows in while I’m brushing my teeth, and chances are I’ve still got enough makeup on from yesterday (because I’m all lazy like that) to make me look semi-normal in front of the other mums.
And I cannot stress enough how a little bit of makeup goes a long, long way, baby.
Oh, and refined white sugar taken by coffee or cans of coke or whatever? Pure magic and totally necessary. If you take in enough in one day, I swear, it will make your eyes look crazy brighter!
The daily life of every mother, whether you work in or outside of your home, can be crazy-making. Seriously. The list of tasks is never-ending, requiring schlepping over here for this one and then aaaaall the way over there for that one, and at every juncture, there’s often a mouthload of sassy lip from The Littles to be endured. Thankless, I tell you. The dinner won’t cook itself, and who is going to fold these clothes? Did I send a cheque for that thing…? Whaddaya mean you lost a shoe at school?! And there’s the newspaper, still perfectly creased as it has been unread today. Again. If it weren’t for sites like D-listed.com, I swear, I’d be completely uninformed. *snickers*
Trying to stay on top of it all? Impossible. The mutherload is just too heavy. Perhaps ’tis better to try to get out from under.
Which brings me back to donning a jacket and a hat – I’m being all Mad Men about things – it’s a trick. Indeed, you can go braless (even shirtless!) under something fitted, and no one will be any the wiser. And pull your hat down lowish on one eye – that’s how one wears a hat, you know. They’ll be left thinking Maybe she’s born with it… maybe it’s Maybelline!! (In my case, it’s totally MAC makeup. Praises to the good people of MAC, whose excellent product always ensures I look like a million dollars, even when I only feel like about a buck twenty-five.) See?
I realize this is a personal-style thing, but the payoff is easy and fast. You will look awesome. Leave the sweatpants and trainers for the gym… you can totally wear your pajamas under these clothes. Makes it far easier to go back to bed in the mornings anyway.
Happy fall, y’all. Go hat shopping!
Thanks so much, Carol!
I’m sure you’re not a bobble head… but even if you are, try a cloche (kinda bell-shaped) – they suit just about every head, every face… try one!
Oh, I agree about personal style getting better with age… maybe we shed more inhibition as time passes? Maybe we’re not looking for approval as much. And yes, perhaps a post about good jeans (and good genes) should come soon…
Thanks Idas! If I moved to Toronto, it would be a return… I’m a Tdot-girl, you know! (And you didn’t typo my name – it has an “e.”)
Welcome Tracey,
Go look great! Love the hat and the advice. I’ve never felt like I can pull off a hat, I’m kind of like a bobble head already and a hat might accentuate that. But maybe it depends on the hat?
Traccey- great post- personal style is one of my favourite topics partly because it is one of those things that just gets better with age. You might want to mention good jeans as well as good genes! Both help! Anyway you look fab and I want to welcome you to the UM family!
And thank you so much for tuning in to my blog and dropping thoughtful comments.
i look forward to reading more from you!
Bedo it is! Merci buckets!
oops, sorry if I typoed your name, I have not slept more than 5 hours over the past two nights with my husband travelling. Should have proofed before submitting…
Tracey,
I am very much enjoying your first post. I feel so warm and fuzzy to not be the only one who is wearing yesterday’s make-up. Really, our neighbourhood could use more people with a more practical attitude….any chance you might move to Toronto?
Keep it real! Awaiting your next post…
Tracey you look amazing. Looking great is a mixture of fashion and confidence and you obviously have both. Can’t wait to read more of your great tips!
Oh my darling, get thee to a Bedo store – there are some terrific designers working for them these days… and the pricing is not at all outrageous. Try!!
For a second there, I read “chin hair” and I thought, “Oh lord, that’s for another post entirely.” Don’t even get me started.
And specks of toothpaste get hidden by jaunty SCARVES an such… ask me anything – I’ve got a million ideas for going the laziest way possible. It’s like, my sport.
Says she with the most excellent eyebrows evah… you need nothing more, lady.
You are adorable. I’ve been brushing my teeth for DECADES and I’m still lucky if I leave the house withough specks on my shirt or chin or hair. Seriously. I don’t know if a hat will help.
Thanks Sara! Want hats? Try Winners… You should go.
PS – I’m sure you were never hideous with a mug like yours…
Hey Tracey!
Welcome – I covet your hat and your hair…I shaved mine off a few years ago and it was hideous at best…
Looking forward to reading more!!!
Great post and beautiful photo, Tracey!
Ever since I had my first baby and he would pull off/destroy any jewelry I wore, I lost the will to accessorize. With anything. But hats! That makes sense!
A fitted jacket is a great idea, too, because it covers up all the snot-wipes, jam-faced hugs and other stains that come with being a mom.
So, where is the fitted-jackets-for-moms store in Montreal? Seriously, I want the address!
See? I knew your style was effortless!
*runs out to buy hats*
You’re the smartest of us all, lady. And I’m choosing to believe that changing out of said clothes before the Oprah-hour still totally counts as being un-crazy.
Dare I say that even Kim Mitchell could rock a jaunty beret… okay, maybe not. But you MUST wear yesterday’s clothes. The trick is changing out of yesterday’s clothes before the end of the day… I haven’t mastered that yet. One trick at a time though. Heh.
Oh thank you, lady! It’s very nice to be here… and indeed, I sometimes wonder why I waited so long to shave my hair off – it’s not for everyone, but WOW the time it saves, plus what I don’t spend on hair-care I can instead spend on shoooooooes… yay!!
We should start a line of maquillage called “Yesterday’s Makeup.” We’ll get stinking rich…
I ALWAYS wear the same thing that I wore the day before. Are you saying that that’s bad??? 😉
OMG. You are so amazingly wise. I always wondered how other moms could pull it together so quickly while I either needed to get up half an hour earlier (never really an option) or pull up and push the kids out of the car in hopes of not being noticed.
I don’t think I can pull off a hat (picture Kim Mitchell…nuff said) but the yesterday’s jeans and fitted jacket I can do. Great advice ’cause yes, life with kids is batty.
Welcome!
WELCOME Tracey!
I love this post! LOVE.
I have several hats that I have as my go-to accessory when the hair isn’t cooperating (or hasn’t been washed…)
I have had hubby say to me when I wake up how pretty I am – I credit the day-before’s makeup for that as well.
And really have no excuse for such slacking off during morning routines. Our school starts at 9:15am…
(I’m also a big fan of DListed!!)