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I hear so many moms say that they feel better about themselves and feel more positively about their day when they put on “real clothes.” When they get ready for the day by doing some combination of hair, makeup, or fashion, they feel more put-together, confident and like themselves. 

But on the other hand, moms can’t only think about looking cute. Mom outfits also have to be functional, sturdy and comfortable, otherwise they are unrealistic for everyday wear.

In this post I’m sharing my take on mom fashion, tips for shopping for cute mom clothes, how to put together casual mom outfits effortlessly and what kinds of outfits check all the boxes. 

The Essentials of Casual Mom Fashion

Balancing comfort, functionality and fashion

Uncomfortable clothing puts me in a bad mood. If you haven’t shopped in a long while and realize that your clothes don’t fit you well, try to budget the money and time to get yourself some basics that fit comfortably. 

My personal approach to clothing is to shop higher quality items that will hold up over time. I usually spend more per piece, so I pick items that are highly versatile, can be dressed up or down, can mix and match, and are sturdy enough to last years. But I keep a smaller wardrobe and don’t shop that often, so it works out for my budget.

Part of the fun of finding your personal style is putting together the puzzle of what you’re looking for in your outfits. Some prioritize functionality, some prioritize comfort, and some prioritize fashion. It’s up to you to decide what’s most important in clothing choices.

Wardrobe Basics for Casual Mom Fashion

Jeans, pants or leggings

Everyone has their favorite brand of jeans. My personal go-tos are Madewell. Once I know my size, I try to find secondhand pairs on the Poshmark or Mercari apps to save some money. I’m not a huge legging person, but some people live in them. They also work well as a staple bottom.

I find that *comfortable* jeans are great for mom-ing. They have pockets, they can be dressed up or down, and you aren’t worried about sitting down in the dirt with your kids. In the summer, I love comfy denim shorts and in the winter, cropped jeans. I wear them with loafers if it’s warmer and boots if it’s cooler.

The versatile t-shirt and its variations

Decide if you like V neck or crew neck, fitted or loose. Figure out what color palette you gravitate towards and then get yourself 2-3 shirt basics. I like the ABLE Drapey Mae Tee and also love a basic crew neck tee, like this one. 

Layering with cardigans, denim jackets, and sweaters

Layering is one of the staple fashion moves, especially for moms. You may start the day cold but then get warm as the weather changes or you run after your kids all day. Throwing a sweater, button down flannel or cute jacket over your outfit will automatically take your outfit to the next level AND give you the body temperature versatility that you need to stay comfy all day. Not all jackets are made equal, though. My ABLE denim jacket is very comfy and soft; I could never mom in a stiff and rigid jacket. But I’m more likely to layer with a cozy crew neck sweater. And a trusty down jacket in the winter. 

Footwear: sneakers, flats, and comfy sandals

Comfortable footwear is critical for moms. You’re on your feet for so much of the day, that you’ve simply got to have supportive shoes. But you also want them to be cute and fit your outfit. Here are some of my go-to shoes:

Sneakers

Hoka sneakers. Thankfully, the chunky sneaker is very on-trend right now. I pair my Hokas with shorts, cropped jeans or joggers and love how supportive they are. I go for bright pops of color that work great with my otherwise neutral outfit. 

Allbird Tree Runners are another super comfortable shoe with a classic sneaker look. Just like Hokas, I love a pop of color. But I’ve also had a gray pair that were versatile and neutral enough to go with anything.

Flats

For a loafer style slip on shoe, I’m a huge fan of my Rothys. They have never given me a blister, are machine washable and very cute. 

Sandals

I love my brown Birkenstocks, purple Chacos and just purchased some Portand Leather Goods brown sandals for next summer. 

Boots

As you’ve noticed, I’m not opposed to spending a bit more $ to get a higher quality item that will be more comfortable AND last longer than the average less expensive pair. For leather boots, I am looking at Nisolo and Portland Leather Goods for my fall and winter cute shoes. 

Creating a Capsule Part of Your Wardrobe

Not everyone is into the capsule wardrobe idea. Some people prefer more options of what to wear. They enjoy the process of picking out their clothes and getting dressed each day. So if you don’t necessarily want a small and minimalist wardrobe, that’s totally fine! What I encourage moms to do is to at least have a portion of your wardrobe be capsule style. 

A capsule wardrobe makes getting dressed easier. Most of the pieces can mix and match. You love each item and are eager to put them on.  They fit comfortably, they make you feel confident and they are the right style for your usual everyday activities. 

Decluttering Your Closet

If your closet overwhelms you, take a day to go through it and donate items that no longer fit or you never reach for.

OR go online to Pinterest to get ideas for how you can style pieces that you never know what to do with. 

For donations, I like the company For Days. I take some things to my local thrift store, but For Days will also take items that aren’t re-sellable and recycle them responsibly. I send them socks, old sports bras, items with holes or stains, towels, etc. Get a Take Back Bag here. It’s not free up front, but once you send it back with your recycled textiles you get all your money as store credit.

Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips

• Shop secondhand! Check consignment or secondhand stores in your area OR these online/app merchants: ThredUp, Poshmark, Mercari, Depop 
• Shopping online- try to find a coupon code or sign up for a company’s email newsletter and get the incentive discount code
• Many online stores offer free shipping if you have an account on their website. Free to have and usually comes with benefits. 
• Shop for opposite seasons- when it’s summer, snag the winter staples and vice versa

Outfit Ideas for Casual Moms

A. Everyday Chic: A go-to jeans and t-shirt ensemble

B. Effortless Dress Up- Elevate a casual outfit with accessories

C. Athleisure: Combining comfort with sporty style

D. Mom-on-the-Go: A look that balances comfort and functionality

E. Date Night: Dress up your style for a night out

Make getting dressed easier

Monday uniform

This is an idea I originally got from The Lazy Genius. Having a go-to outfit idea for Mondays helped make that day of the week feel just a little bit easier for her. I believe her outfit was denim bottom and black top, but your fall Monday Uniform could be… plaid button down and jeans or black denim bottoms and chambray shirt or leggings and oversized sweater and boots. Options are endless, but the idea is that you pick one type of outfit and come Monday morning you barely have to think about getting dressed; you’re just putting on your “uniform.”

Mix N Match

If you stick to one central color palette when shopping, you’re more likely to end up with a closet full of items that can all be worn together. I’ve noticed I trend towards denim, black, white with stripes, and other one-colored tops. I also love auburn/burnt orange and military green. 

Pin board of ideas

Just like we use Pinterest to collect ideas for crafts, meals or fashion, you can make a literal board of outfit ideas to have in your closet. If you get dressed and love your outfit, snap a pic and then print it out and tack it up on your closet wall to start building a visual outfit idea board. Alternatively, you could put that pic in a phone album to easily reference when you’re in a rut with your clothing. After a few months, you should have a visual catalogue of cute mom outfit ideas.

Confidence and Self-Care

There’s a definite link between how you feel and how you show up in the world. I think some people love their leggings and hoodie and they rock it. It makes them feel like themselves. That IS their personal style.

But for other moms, they don’t feel like themselves in their spit up stained loungewear. They want to feel more put together but either feel like they don’t have the time or don’t know what to wear to accomplish their responsibilities and look cute.

If you don’t have clothes that you love and that fit you comfortably, start working it into your monthly budget to invest in some new staple pieces. Make a list of the items that you would like to add to your closet and slowly work your way down the list. Some stores (like ABLE) even offer an exchange of sizes down the road if and when your body changes.

TL;DR

If you’re in a rut with your daily mom outfit, scroll through these pics to get an idea of what I’m wearing everyday as a busy mom of three. I made a list of the staple items to include in a capsule section of your wardrobe. And I talked about how getting yourself dressed in the morning- in comfortable, functional and stylish clothes- can help set the right tone for your day. If it helps you to retain a little bit of essential YOU amidst all your other roles, then I think it’s worth spending the little bit of time to do it.