this weeks mama is my sweet friend and little gemma birds baby penpal's mom, melissa. melissa has a lovely blog where she is documenting her upcoming pregnancy with baby #2, a boy, they named arlo. so excited to see the little man who should be arriving in a just few more months. melissa has managed to keep up her mama style while being pregnant and chasing around her sweet little daughter everly.
melissa's style tips: i've got two and they've always served me well.
the first - don't be afraid of color. it instantly adds interest and can take even the most basic elements (say a pair of dark denim skinny jeans and a fitted white tee) and make them standout when paired with a pretty cardigan in mustard yellow or playful, bright red flats. i love collecting brightly colored day dresses, skirts in crayola inspired hues and cardigans in every color of the rainbow. especially when i'm pregnant (and with so many maternity specific clothing lines stuck in a neutral palette) i like adding a little "POW!" to my wardrobe with sunny additions of color.
my second tip - the single most versatile and useful accessory in my wardrobe is a skinny waist belt. i'm currently 7 months pregnant and wearing a little belt above my bump to help define my waist has been crucial in keeping many of my flowy dresses from making me look like i'm wearing a tent. over the years, i have collected them in all colors and materials (soft suede, braided leather, stretchy ones with vintage buckles) and love how they add interest and detail to my outfits. pregnant or not, it's my go to accessory!
sweater: forever21.
skirt: asos.
belt: vintage.
sailboat pin: vintage.
tights: H&M.
shoes: seychelles.
melissa's look is the perfect mix of bright color and bold pattern. it's definitely what to wear when you want to stand out in the crowd and you will look amazing doing so. want to grab melissa's look? try a bright, lightweight sweater like this one or this. want a bold patterned skirt? get melissa's here or try this or this to-die-for skirt. you can also flip flop the look and wear the pattern on top with this bold striped blouse that i just love and grab a solid skirt like this one. need a vintage broach? here's one, two, three.
