fashion Archives - Serendipity Mommy

10 Online Stores for Finding the Best Kids Clothes

May 15, 2018 by Mandy

Between soccor practices and playdates, it can be tough to find time to shop for clothing for your growing tots. Luckily, there are plenty of great kids clothing boutiques online. Click here to learn the 10 top websites for finding the best kids clothes.

Dressing up your kids in cute, and sometimes highly impractical, outfits is a guilty pleasure that almost all moms share. Sure, your 1-year-old doesn’t need Chuck Taylor high tops that they’ll grow out of in a week, but they’re so cool and cute!

But not all of us have the time to go out and shop, especially with energetic and busy kids running around. That’s why online shopping is the go-to nowadays: 79% of Americans shop online.

It’s both more convenient and cheaper than going to a mall or a department store. And you can stay in your pajamas the whole time!

We’ve got a list of 10 sites with the best kids clothes you can find. We’re going to give you variety: from inexpensive graphic tees to designer labels, you’ll find the perfect site for you and your kids on this list.

1. Zulily

Zulily has clothes for both adult and kids with options for babies, toddlers, kids, and teens. The interesting thing about this site is that it’s a “flash sale” site. This means that the inventory of clothes is extremely limited and the clothes on the site change daily.

It has big brand names along with smaller clothing companies to give you a great variety. Hope on Zulily early to get the pieces you want at great discounted prices and sales.

2. H&M Kids

H&M Kids is a great site for keeping your kids rocking the latest trends while staying on a budget. Shoes, jackets, joggers, accessories, jeans, and more can start at 5 dollars or less. They’ll all be modern and stylish and sizes range from newborn to teen.

You can also find great cheap themed clothes here: red-white-and-blue bathing suits for the 4th of July, Christmas sweaters, Halloween graphic tees, etc.

3. Uniqlo

Uniqlo is a Japanese retailer that specializes in clean and minimalist clothes. This store is perfect for getting all of the basics: plain t-shirts, jackets, and even kid-sized trench coats.

They’re especially well known for their puffer jackets that are warm, stylish, and affordable.

4. Kids With Style

Kids with Style provides you and your kids with the latest seasonal styles complete with sales and discounts compared to department stores. Their simple and cute clothes will keep your kids stylish and comfortable.

Their site also features a “stylist recommendation” section. If you’re never sure what’s on trend or aren’t sure how to style your kids, this can be a great resource to take advantage of.

5. Walmart

Hear us out on this one. Walmart actually has a lot of cute kids clothes for an extremely low price. It’s especially great for graphic tees, basics, and even underwear and socks.

You can get Disney brand clothing for cheap, which is perfect for your Cars or Frozen loving toddler. Walmart also has really fun onesies for the whole family. Pajama party, anyone?

6. Amazon

Amazon really does have it all. You might not have thought to shop for kids’ clothes on this huge online retailer, but they actually have some great stuff. Not only do they offer Prime free 2-day shipping on many clothing options, they also have a lot of brand name clothes at a discount.

They carry clothes for those of all ages from brands you know (Nike, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, etc) alongside other smaller brands. Returns and shipping are easy with Amazon so you don’t have to worry about something not fitting or not liking something.

7. Gap Kids

Gap is one of those classic American retailers that is well known for their denim and their slightly preppy style of clothes. You can get some precious kid-size button-ups and chinos for the summertime, or some cardigans and jeans for the fall.

They also offer free shipping on orders totaling over $50. You can also return anything you don’t like free of charge.

8. Alexandalexa

Let’s give you a little bit of a different option here: alexandalexa is the online store to go for designer brand kids’ clothes. Not only do they offer high-end branded clothing, they offer it at a great price.

These luxury clothes are both high-quality and fashionable for moms looking to dress their kids in labeled and branded clothes. They offer free shipping on orders over $99, and they have a large and varied sale section.

9. Mini Boden

This kids’ brand is an offshoot of the menswear brand Boden. The clothes on Mini Boden are stylish, sleek, and modern. With sizes for kids ranging from 18 months to teens, you’ll have a myriad of options.

Mini Boden provides a wide variety of styles, patterns, and colors all while maintaining a polished and sleek silhouette.

Mini Boden is also unique in that they understand these are kids’ clothes. They’re stylish and fashionable, but they’re made for kids to feel comfortable in. Kids can play and run around in these clothes without feeling confined or uncomfortable.

10. Old Navy

After going over some higher end options for children’s fashion, let’s return to what we consider an old favorite.

Old Navy is well known for their awesome sales and inexpensive flip-flops (1 dollar for polka dot flip flops? Yes, please). The back to school sales both in-store and online are awesome. Deals on kids’ jeans, pants, polos, and t-shirts can save you a ton of cash while maintaining great kid-style.

You’ll also find some insane deals specifically on the online store. A lot of kids’ clothes are 50% off with options ranging from baby to teen. They also offer in-store pick-up if you don’t want to pay for shipping costs.

These 10 Sites Have the Best Kids Clothes

Finding the best kids clothes isn’t always easy. Dressing your kids in cool and stylish clothing sometimes means the clothes aren’t the most comfortable. But not all of the comfortable clothes are the most fashionable.

The good news is that these 10 sites offer comfortable, stylish, and good-quality clothing for your kids. They’ll be able to run around the playground while still sporting the modern styles you love.

Check out our other articles on fashion and clothing to stay up to date with all the modern trends.

5 Ways to Find Trendy Affordable Maternity Clothes

May 15, 2018 by Mandy

Finding out you are expecting is one of the most exciting moments in your life, but finding maternity clothes is not. Here are 5 ways to find trendy affordable maternity clothes.

The cost of raising a child continues to rise. In 2017, it was estimated that it will cost a middle-income family about $233,000 to raise a child from birth to age seventeen. If you’re pregnant or expecting to be soon, you’re likely focused on plans that will allow you to meet these financial needs.

You may be thinking about daycare, diapers, and all that fancy, high-tech baby gear. These things add up. You don’t want the additional worry of where to find trendy affordable maternity clothes.

Dressing Fashionably Throughout Your Pregnancy – It’s Possible

With the focus on fashion bloggers, mommy bloggers, and well-dressed celebrity moms, we understand the desire to look and feel fantastic throughout your pregnancy. Plus, your sense of style is such a personal thing. It’s what helps you feel attractive and confident.

Being able to dress the way you want and feel comfortable is especially important during pregnancy. It may sometimes seem like you have no control or insight into your own body. Dressing in a way that makes you feel amazing can make a world of difference in how you feel overall during your pregnancy.

Wondering how and where to buy trendy, affordable maternity clothes that will help you maintain your personal sense of style? We understand, and we can help! We want you to be able to focus on other things, like buying adorable outfits for your new baby.

So we’ve put together 5 simple tips on where to buy maternity dresses, shirts, and more without breaking the bank.

1. Shop Your Closet

Before you start looking for new clothes, take inventory of what you already have.

First asses your dresses. Have body-skimming dresses that you don’t always feel comfortable in? Now is the time to really take advantage of these pieces to show off your beautiful growing bump.

You’ll probably find you have at least one looser, flowy dress that can accommodate a growing bump. If you find your dresses are getting too short as the bump grows, you can pair them with leggings if you like that style.

Speaking of leggings, you can get a lot of use out of these and yoga pants, especially in your first trimester. Pair with tees and long cardigans – depending on the season – in fun colors for cute, comfortable weekend and errand outfits. Roll down high-waisted leggings and yoga pants as the bump grows to stay cool and comfortable.

Remember the tee, legging and cardigan combo, as it can be helpful in dressing yourself post-partum, too.

When taking stock of your tops, keep in mind that like dresses, flowy, looser pieces may be worn further into your pregnancy than you may think. Consider layering with camisoles and tanks if necklines feel too low or hemlines feel too high. If you’re pregnant during cooler months, you can take advantage of cardigans, blazers, and other open-style layers throughout your pregnancy.

2. Shop Your Friends’ and Family’s Closets

Do you have a sister, cousin, friend, or colleague who was recently pregnant? They may have some maternity style clothing that you can borrow.

The great thing about swapping maternity clothes is that you and your friend or sister don’t really have to be the same size in regular clothing. What a taller person wore during their second trimester can work for a shorter woman during the final weeks of her pregnancy.

Take what is offered and try items on at different stages in your pregnancy. You may be surprised at what can fit and look great at 6 months pregnant versus 3 months pregnant.

If you have a group of girlfriends who are at different stages of pregnancy now, or who may be pregnant at different times over the next few years, consider starting a group inventory of maternity clothing. You can hand off things as they no longer work for you and see what’s available for you to take off someone else’s hands. Keep these clothes within the group so you can all share if some of you experience additional pregnancies over the years.

3. Shop Local Facebook Groups

We know that buying clothing from a stranger in your town isn’t the same as buying a dresser you’re going to refurbish, but hear us out on this. Even if a pregnant woman is working with a small collection of clothing throughout her pregnancy, she’s probably taking great care of her items. And because a pregnant woman’s body changes so much and so quickly, nobody is really wearing items so often that they fall apart.

Join local mom and mom-to-be groups on Facebook, as well as groups that focus on swapping and buying pre-owned items. Browse daily if you can, so you don’t miss out on great offers.

Some women post entire wardrobes of pregnancy clothing in one shot. You can pick up several items at once for an amazing price. You may even be able to snag an item or two from more upscale brands.

When it comes to picking up and paying for your goods, remember to be safe. Familiarize yourself with the rules of the group, meet in a public place during the day, and take someone with you. And, if you want to pay it forward, post well-cared-for items back in the sale group once you’re through with them.

4. Ready to Buy New, Trendy Affordable Maternity Clothes? Start with the Basics

So, you’ve exhausted all the options that kept you away from the mall and you’re ready to buy some new pieces. We have some great tips to help you stay on budget.

Don’t go searching for that perfect body-con dress in a trendy pattern just yet. Remember, items like that may not fit or be comfortable for long enough to be worth the splurge. Start with basic wardrobe staples.

Focus on items like solid color tees, blouses, cardigans, and easy dresses. Invest in one or two maternity work slacks or jeans, depending on what your lifestyle requires. Look for shapes and fits that you can wear throughout your pregnancy and even after.

Post-baby you can tie loose and bigger tops with cute knots for a better fit. Keep this in mind as you shop. You can even stray from the solid, basic rule if you find a fun shirt you think you’ll wear long after baby, like the trendy graphic tees sold by this company.

Once you have your new basics, start experimenting with your outfit choices. Mix, match, and layer. Revisit your options when you have time, so you can avoid the morning panic of feeling you have no idea what to wear that will fit and make you feel good.

Repeat pieces as often as needed – we promise only you will notice if you wear the same dress or top twice in one week.

Add your favorite accessories for final touches. Silk scarves, statement necklaces, and of course incredible shoes can all make a huge impact on an otherwise plain outfit. Bonus? Your accessories will always fit perfectly.

5. Shop at the Right Places

If you’re looking for great basics as mentioned above, there are several stores that offer the high-quality but affordable staple wardrobe pieces you want. Some of our favorites include Old Navy, H&M, and Target.

These stores carry a decent range of standard sizes if you want to try stick to clothing that can be worn post-baby, but they also have affordable maternity lines. You can even shop these stores online. If shopping online is your thing, there are other fun options for you, too.

The market for online maternity shopping is growing, and online retailers are striving to meet the demand for trendy, yet inexpensive maternity clothes. Zulily is an example of an online discount site with deals on fashionable maternity clothes. Asos is another fashion-forward online retailer with an impressive maternity selection.

Sign up for emails from retailers like these and be the first to know about special sales and coupon offers. These retailers are especially popular among moms-to-be who are looking for dresses for their maternity photo shoot, baby shower, or a special event like a wedding.

Don’t forget about your favorite discount department stores, either. Retailers like TJ Maxx, Ross, Kohl’s, and Marshall’s typically have a small selection of maternity clothes. These are great places to go for fashion-forward pieces and steals on higher-end brand names.

Shine and Thrive Throughout Your Pregnancy and Beyond

Feeling comfortable in your clothing and in your body during your pregnancy is just the start. In addition to finding trendy affordable maternity clothes, there are other things you can do to make your pregnancy and motherhood as enjoyable as possible. Luckily, we are here to help with a wealth of valuable tips and advice.

Browse our blog for insightful articles on everything from food and wellness to education and travel. Whether you’re looking for the best way to clean your kitchen in between soccer practices and work, or you’re on the hunt for kid-friendly recipes, you can find it here.

Pregnancy and parenting can be tough. We hope to help you find balance and joy in all the wonderful chaos.

How to Pick a Formal Dress For Your Body Type

May 8, 2018 by Mandy

Finding the right dress can be difficult. Especially considering we all have different body types. Here is how to pick a formal dress for your body type.

Do you have a business meeting or a fancy date set on your calendar? Events like those may have you scrambling to find a dress fit for the occasion.

Out of all the options, a formal dress is the way to go. But now the question rises: which one is right for your body type?

Surprisingly, not a lot of women know their body type. And if they do, they mistake it for another type.

All in all, there are roughly six main body types: A frame, H frame, ruler, V frame, oval, apple, and hourglass.

If all of this sounds confusing, don’t worry. We’ll help you find the perfect dresses for your shape using easy-to-understand descriptions.

Ready to start?

Here we go!

Full Thighs and Hips

This would classify you as a pear shape. If you find you wear a different size on the bottom than you do on top, here are some options for you.

Go for a dress with an A-line skirt. This will help you look more balanced.

As for the top portion, feel free to pick out dresses that are strapless or sleeveless. Fairweather dresses offer a wide variety that’ll look stunning on you.

Full Midsection

If you carry weight mostly in your midsection, you’re an apple shape. Because of the roundness, you want to elongate your torso.

Deter attention from your waist by choosing an empire or drop waist. Don’t wear thick belts as they’ll emphasize the fullness in your midsection.

Self-conscious about your arms? Aim for cap sleeves or sleeves that are billowy.

Slim All Around

Some women have a more athletic build, which means they’re more lean than curvy. Sound like you fit the bill? You’d be considered a rectangle shape.

With that said, you’ll want to add layers. Ruffles, peplums and even bubble dresses give the illusion of fullness.

For added bulk, opt for a contrasting blazer or cardigan.

Small Bust

For this body shape, you’ll want to avoid plunging necklines. Instead, go for dresses with sequins or other embellishments to add interest.

As with pear shapes, A-line dresses will great on you. Choose ones that come up about two or three inches above your knee to give more balance to your shape.

Full Bust and Defined Waistline

If this describes your body shape, you’re an hourglass. Dresses that emphasize your curves will look the most flattering.

Bodycon and bandage dresses will follow your silhouette and won’t look frumpy. Avoid high necklines as they’ll give the illusion of an abnormally large bust.

Fuller on Top

This body shape is classified as the inverted triangle or V shape. You find yourself to be fuller on top with broad shoulders but slender legs and a narrow waist.

To balance out your proportions, focus on adding volume to your lower body. Dresses that are fitted in the waist with a fuller skirt will be flattering. Go for A-line skirts, ones with pleating, or that are flowy.

You can also go with sweetheart necklines and spaghetti straps to give the illusion of narrow shoulders.

Time to Pick Out a Formal Dress

Now that you’ve got a run-down on the six main body types, it’s time for you to choose a formal dress. Take what you learned into consideration and whether it’s a date or a party, you’ll light up the room.

Looking for more fashion advice? Check out our fashion category today!

A Guide to Dressing Yourself Post-Partum

January 8, 2018 by Mandy

That period after you’ve given birth while your body readjusts can be tough on a new mother’s self-confidence. Once you’ve been pregnant, it’s common to feel as though your body is no longer your own, and you have no idea how to dress for this next phase of your life. Rest assured, you don’t need to hang on to your stretchy jeans and maternity tops to feel comfortable during the first few months after giving birth; instead, now’s the time to embrace your new shape and dress for comfort and style simultaneously. To help you get your groove back, here are six top tips for knowing what to wear post-partum.

Measure Yourself Properly

If you’ve never taken the time to properly measure yourself, this is the perfect opportunity. Using measurements to find clothing rather than relying on traditional sizing will help you find clothes that fit perfectly and flatter your figure. It may seem pointless to buy yourself new clothes if you expect your size and weight to change over the next few months, but treating yourself to a little retail therapy will help you feel more confident during your time as a new mother and maximize your comfort.

To find your unique clothing measurements, take a tape measure to four areas: your bust, your waist, your hips and your inseam. Your inseam (the distance between your thigh and ankle) will be less important during this time, unless you shrunk or grew taller during pregnancy! However, your bust waist and hips are likely to be different compared to your pre-baby body.

To measure yourself for new clothing, take a tape measure to your bust (the fullest part, usually from nipple to nipple), your waist (the smallest part above your belly and below your rib cage) and your hips (the fullest part, including your buttocks). You may wish to do this every few months as you navigate the post-partum phase, as your measurements are likely to change.

You can now use these measurements to shop for clothes online. It’s also handy to take a copy of these measurements out with you in case you get stuck breastfeeding in a changing room and are unable to try anything on!

Opt for Specialty Clothing

Now you’ve taken the time to measure yourself, you may also want to see if you’d be better suited to specialty clothing. Are you below 5”4, for example? If so, you may be better off shopping in a petite clothing store, even if you have a fuller figure. Specially designed petite clothing has shorter hemlines and narrower shoulders than regular sizes, so it may help to flatter your frame.

Similarly, if you’re over 5”8, you might find that a clothing store dedicated to tall women might be able to offer you more selection than your usual high-street haunts. You’d be surprised how much more confident properly fitted clothing can make you feel.

Find Some Comfortable Flats

Now you’re a mother, you’ll probably have banished your heels to the back of your wardrobe, reserved for date nights and drinks with friends. You don’t have to opt for unflattering footwear in their place, however, despite that comfort should be your number one priority. You can find fashionable shoes that are still comfortable, but you may need to invest in a long-lasting pair that will stand the test of time (and lots of trips out with the stroller).

Now that you’re a mother, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet, so it’s important to find shoes that fit properly and offer optimum comfort. Again, if your feet are particularly small or wide, you can find specialty shoe stores that will cater to your needs. Pretty Small Shoes is perfect for petite women who don’t want to compromise on elegance when it comes to their footwear.

Opt for Oversized Shirts

Oversized shirts are great for the post-partum period for a number of reasons. Not only do they hide “the other belly” (the stomach pouch you’re left with after your baby has been born and your bump is no more), they’re also easy to unbutton when you’re breastfeeding. Luckily, oversized flannel and pinstriped shirts are in fashion at the moment, so you can stay on trend during your maternity leave.

Know Your New Size

Many women feel self-conscious about being weighed after having a baby, so don’t feel pressured to hop on the scales. However, you may be surprised at how many pounds you’ve lost in water weight, and knowing the number on the scale will help you find clothing to fit and flatter your new shape. It doesn’t matter how much weight you gained during pregnancy or how long it takes you to drop the extra pounds. What matters most is that you and your baby are happy and healthy, so learn to love your new figure and embrace those womanly curves as part of the package.

Repurpose Your Maternity Gear

Wearing your maternity clothes after giving birth can make you feel slightly strange, but you don’t want those super-stretchy garments to waste. Any new mother will tell you that it takes a while for the pregnancy bump to return to normal once the gestation period is over, so you will want to avoid tight-fitting underwear, pants and shirts for the first few weeks or months following your new arrival.

The best tip here is to buy yourself stylish maternity clothing from the off that you just can’t bear to part with, but not all of us feel inspired by the garments we’ve been wearing non-stop for the past nine months. Repurpose your maternity clothes where possible, and don’t be afraid to rock your old sweatpants for those first few weeks.

Caring for a newborn is hard, and some mornings it will be a miracle if you managed to get dressed at all. Set your expectations low, and wear clothing that makes you feel fresh and comfortable. Ideally, put on something you won’t mind unexpected guests catching you in!

Planning A Spring or Summer 2018 Wedding? Here Are Four of The Hottest Colors To Include In Your Color Scheme

January 3, 2018 by Mandy

One of the biggest choices to make when it comes to the look of your wedding is the color scheme. While there are lots of things you can draw inspiration from, you can’t go far wrong by looking at the color recommendations for the season when your wedding will be from the Pantone Color Institute.

Every year, Pantone, as the authorities on color for everything from fashion and interior design to business branding and website design, put forward one ‘Color of the Year’ (apart from in 2016, when they decided to have two), and they also release two palettes that work with this color for the spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons for that year.

If you are at a loss for where to begin in picking out theme colors and accents for your wedding, the Pantone palette of 12 colors for spring and summer of 2018 is well worth a visit. If you already have a vague idea of a color (for instance, you know you want pink), these palettes can also help you define a shade that is on-trend and beautiful.

Here are four of Pantone’s picks for this season which lend themselves very well to weddings:

Ultra Violet

Ultra Violet tops the list as it was designated as the 2018 color of the year. As you might expect from the name, it is a purple, and can probably be best described as a jewel or tropical flower shade – bold and rich, with a lot of depth. This shade has a hint of exotic twilight skies and looks absolutely stunning in fabrics with a slight sheen – for instance for the ties and handkerchiefs for the men’s suits for the bridal party. If you have young boys in your bridal party too, check out Boys Suits to find outfits for them to coordinate with the groomsmen!

The Pantone palettes are designed to work well together, as well as being fashionable colors to use as accents with neutrals like white. By using Ultra Violet as your main theme color and then accenting with another color from the palette, you can create very different feels. Pairing it with Arcadia, a turquoise-green, for instance, will create a tropical look full of vibrancy, whereas using Pink lavender will give a soft, romantic look.

Chili Oil

If you like the idea of a tasteful burgundy in your color scheme but aren’t sure if that will work for summer, then take a look at Chili Oil. A rich brown-based red, it is sophisticated and attractive without being too dark or earthy to match the season. This is another color that looks wonderful with a sheen, and so is ideal for wedding accents in the bridal party’s outfits, and also for things like napkins for your place settings.

Little Boy Blue

If you love blue and want to capture the feel of clear, summer skies for your wedding celebration, Little Boy Blue is a great choice. Fresh, expansive and vivid, this is a color that is designed to evoke a feeling of happiness and delight, and while it is quite a bold choice, it can be softened by pairing it with one of the softer colors from the palette if you so wish, such as Blooming Dahlia or Pink Lavender. If you are more a ‘brighter the better’ person, an interesting and cheerful choice could be to use Little Boy Blue with accents of the optimistic yellow from the palette, which is called Meadowlark.

Spring Crocus

This exotic fuchsia shade with slight blue tones is a wonderful choice if you want something that is very easy to incorporate into your flowers and yet isn’t too ‘girly’. While it has ‘spring’ in the name, this color is just as perfect for the summer season – reminiscent of tropical flowers, and with a real sense of luxury. Spring Crocus can be a good partner for Ultra Violet if you want to use a brighter accent shade without deviating from a purple color scheme. If you prefer contrast, it can look striking with the very brightest color in Pantone’s palette – Lime Punch – too, or look almost royally opulent next to Arcadia.

Of course, there is no reason to stick rigidly to these fashion palettes. However, they may well help you come up with some combinations or ideas that you may not have thought of, and which could make your wedding look incredible!