The Oscars are almost here and we can’t wait for the red carpet fashion. Gugu Guru wants to know what you think so vote on your favorite today! (Did we miss a dress? Comment below to let us know what should be on the list!)
mom style
What Mom Shirt Are You This Year?
It’s a New Year, so why not take some time to reflect on what sort of mama you want to be in 2017? We rounded up some of our favorite “mom life” shirts to help you figure out what kind of mom you’d like to be this year!
Are you a mom of all girls? Perhaps you’re outnumbered in a house of guys? Mom of twins? We’re loving these super soft shirts from LeoJudeCo!
All you hard working mamas, we have shirts for you too! Are you a mompreneur? Perhaps a feminist mama! Run your own company?
We are totally in love with this mombie shirt (who isn’t a mombie, seriously?!); um, that #momlife shirt pretty much sums it up, but we’re also loving on the jeggings and mascara life too!
Which mama-shirt are you?
Mom Style: Staying Stylish When Breastfeeding With Allette
The lovely ladies of Allette are here today to share their tips for dressing chic while breastfeeding! Head to the bottom of the post for an exclusive discount, too! Want to know more about the company? Head to our Product Discovery post on Allette.
Hello new or expectant parent!
This is Celine. My business partner (and fellow Brooklyn mom), Oksana, and I started Allette, a new line of cute clothes to breastfeed in. For you.
If you’ll indulge us a little bit, we’ll tell you a little about us, our brand, why we started it and our fashion tips for making the best out of your nursing journey and beyond. If you’re already nursing, some of this may resonate with you. If you’re planning to nurse when baby comes, take note! Fashion and nursing’s relationships have been on “it’s complicated” status since, well, forever, but we are determined to change that.
We created Allette for moms who love clothes and do not want to compromise their style when they’re breastfeeding. Each unique Brooklyn-made style is comfortable, flattering, easy to care for, and yeah, pretty cute. So about you. Let’s assume you’ve had the baby already (yay – congrats!). Maybe you don’t quite fit into your old clothes yet and you don’t want to spend another day in your maternity wardrobe (made to show off the bump!). That’s where we come in. Our approach is simple; we design and make clothes that we love – and then figure out how to stylishly and conveniently include discreet nursing access. The result is a collection of dresses and tops cool and chic moms actually want to wear. When they’re nursing, and when they’re done nursing.
Making your wardrobe work for breastfeeding is definitely doable. But some days, you have a lunch or party to go to (with baby in tow of course!) and you want something that will look amazing. Something that you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to breastfeed. That’s an Allette day. And once you have just one top or dress that is just right, you’ll be amazed how much easier life gets (ok oversell, dressing gets easier!). Designs made to be dressed up or down, you’ll want to wear your allette piece every day. And now, here are three fashion tips we live by. And because, as we’ve already established, we don’t believe in changing your style to nurse, these apply to whatever life stage you’re at.
1. Know your body and what looks good on it. Sure, those off-the-shoulder tops are adorable and that high-waisted A-line skirt to die for. But does it look good on you? As we get older we have a natural tendency to move away from wearing clothes because they’re trendy and choose styles which actually look good on us. This is a good thing. There are so many designs out there, not all of them are right for us. And when you’ve just had a baby, this is doubly important. Getting to know your new body and what works with it is key. That’s why Allette clothes are designed to be flattering on a postpartum body and still look great when you lose more of the baby weight (because you will – patience!). We test all of our styles on multiple body types to ensure it works across many shapes and sizes.
2. Mix and match. Who can afford a designer wardrobe? The key is to pair inexpensive mass retail items (think H&M or Zara) with one or more unique pieces from designers you love. The result is effortless chic without breaking the bank. So maybe it’s a Forever 21 tank top paired with Sandro jeans and cute flats you got in a flea market. Or an Allette dress with a pair of cool Urban Outfitters loafers you got on sale and a H&M tote. Invest in a few items you love and play around with your wardrobe.
3. Take good care of your clothes. So, this one often gets overlooked but so true. How many time have you seen a girl wearing a super cute top but it’s so wrinkled it looks like she pulled it out of a bin at the Salvation Army and threw it on? If you don’t take care of your clothes, they won’t take care of you. Obv you’ve just had a baby and the last thing you feel like doing is ironing your top which will just have to be washed again in a few hours once baby feeds. At Allette, all of our clothes are easy care so you don’t have to worry. Machine washable and almost always dryer-friendly to take a load off the laundry load (puns are awesome!). If you look good, you’ll feel good. And if you feel good, baby will also feel good. It’s science.
To find out more about Allette and visit our latest collection, visit www.alletteboutique.com. Use discount code GUGUGURU to get 15% off your entire purchase. Because, you know, congrats!
Love, Allette
Vote on Your Favorite Diaper Bag
Gugu Guru surveyed some of the most stylish moms and bloggers we know and asked them about their absolute favorite diaper bags. Take a look at the top ones named and give a thumbs up to the ones you like the most. Did we miss a diaper bag? Comment below to let us know which one should be on the list! Winner gets the Gugu Picks badge in the registry!
Product Discovery: Allette Nursing-Friendly Clothing
Today we’re beyond excited to introduce you to Allette Boutique – a gorgeous line of nursing-friendly clothing, created for the most stylish of mamas. Started by two friends who decided to create clothing they love, and then make it nursing-friendly, Allette is the ultimate line for any mama who wants to look and feel her best. Co-Founders, Celine Cohen and Oksana Pavlowsky are out to prove that even when having just had a baby and nursing, women do not have to compromise on their sense of style. If you like what you see in this post, head over to Allette and use Gugu Guru’s exclusive code GUGUGURU for 15% off!
Having just launched this year, Allette has taken the style-world by storm with their brilliant and innovative designs. Their fashion forward designs are created in small quantities in Brooklyn, and feature easy access for breastfeeding, and finely-crafted silhouettes perfectly designed to flatter the post-partum body. Their clothing features high-quality, yet easy to care for fabrics, for they understand the messiness of life, but don’t believe a mama shouldn’t look her best just because she may get spit up on!
We love the concept behind Allette; a woman is still a woman when she has children, and should be able to look and feel her best. In this busy world, sometimes a mama is hopping from playdate to premiere or snuggles to soiree; Allette is changing the face of “mom style” with their confident and feminine designs. As Co-Founder, Oksana Pavlowsky says, “we basically just design clothes we love and then figure out how to make them nursing accessible. That way she can wear them when she’s nursing but will still want to wear them when she’s done nursing.”
Some of our favorite looks:
1. Black Denyse Dress – Loose and lovely, this ultra modern double v-neck dress features a gathered skirt that truly compliments, literally, everyone. Detailed with cuffed sleeves, this all in-one dress is feminine and edgy. The perfect (nursing) little black dress.
2. Jacquard Esther Top – Say hello to your new favorite sweater. The one that meets any and all criteria of awesomeness. Texture, shape, contrast, style, color, oh, looks nothing like a nursing top. But it is! Discrete and integrated side nursing access are there when you need them. You’ll be wearing this one for years to come.
3. Indigo Sasha Dress – The dress that does it all. Deep front pockets with faux-suede trims and an exposed back zipper are just some of the details that accentuate this one-stop nursing dress. The vintage-looking denim peppered with a classic damask print creates a timeless and contemporary look. The sexy double V-neck serves as discrete nursing access.
Must Haves: Hoodies and Sweatshirts
As we head into the chilly weather, it seems as though you can’t have enough warm sweatshirts and hoodies, for both mama and baby. We rounded up our Must Have hoodie and sweatshirt picks for this wintery season.
- Raising Tiny Humans is Exhausting Hoodie, Weestructured, $45: Being a mom to wee ones is rewarding, but who knew raising tiny humans could be so exhausting? Made from sustainable Eco-Jersey for a super-soft feel and vintage heathered look, this timeless hoodie goes with everything and is destined to become your closet’s greatest hit.
- It’s Good to Be Me Sweatshirt, Kid and Kind, $54: This super soft cotton/poly sweatshirt is bound to quickly become your little one’s favorite piece of clothing. We love the adorable (and true!) slogan.
- Peplum Crew in Lavender Gray, Childhood’s Clothing, $44: Our sweetest, girliest sweatshirt! Featuring a twirly peplum, raglan sleeves, a “V” detail at neck, and rolled sleeves. Made of our signature soft & cozy 100% cotton french terry which has been milled and pre-washed just for our line, the Peplum Crew is warm, comfy, and feminine!
- Sweatshirt with Animal Hood, Zara, $20: Adorable zip-up sweatshirt featuring animal head illustrations. It has front pockets and contrasting appliqué text which says “little boy.”
- Mother Hustler Pullover, SweetTees, $45: You’re going to live in our trademark “Mother Hustler” pullover, which gets a glam nod in the form of gold font on a cozy yet flattering hoodie. Made from sustainable Eco-Jersey for a super-soft feel and vintage heathered look, this hoodie goes with everything and is destined to become one of your new favorites.
- Henley Hoodie in Dash-Dot, Childhood’s Clothing, $48: The Henley is brand new this season and it’s an instant favorite! Similar to our ‘trademark’ style raglan hoodie and featuring a henley placket with 100% natural coconut buttons. Made of our signature soft & cozy 100% cotton french terry which has been milled and pre-washed just for our line. So cute on tiny babies & big kids alike!
- Team Leader Hoodie Romper, Soft Baby Onesies, $48: Adorable unisex romper features a snap bottom, making diaper changes easy.
- Organic Red Cuff Purl Lamb Hoodie, $29: Super soft organic hoodie for your little lamb!
Holiday Gift Guide: Holiday Party Attire!
It’s getting to be the time of year chock full of holiday parties with your kid’s school, neighbors, families, and friends. While you want the family to dress up for these parties, you also have to be realistic about comfort level and breastfeeding the baby, too! Today we’ve rounded up our picks for comfortable and cute holiday party attire for the family. These would make wonderful holiday gifts, or add them to your registry.
Sponsored Post
Rainbow Pompom Hat and Booties, Land of Nod: If you’re gearing up to visit family and friends this holiday season, you’ll want the baby to look adorable, but also stay warm! We’re loving this hat and bootie set because it’s classic with a twist. Designed to fit babies 0-6 months, this set (which would make a perfect holiday gift) is designed exclusively for Nod by Misha and Puff.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57dd0ecdaf09b10f8e7f485a
Layla Dress, Loyal Hana: The Layla 3/4 sleeve dress is the perfect mom style staple for the holidays this year. With its clean and chic style, this dress is a must have for your closet. The open back is discreet enough to hide bra straps, yet looks sexy at the same time. And, best of all – with the hidden zipper seams on both sides it makes discreet breastfeeding convenient and effortless. You’ll find yourself wanting to don this dress all year long – holiday season or not!
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 582b41ecaf09b12cc2a69f4a
Bobux iWalk Shoes for Boys + Girls: Holiday season is indeed about dressing up, but you also want your toddlers and kids to be comfortable and safe. We love Bobux Shoes because they are healthy for your child’s foot development, and come in such cute styles. The iWalk line of shoes is the perfect transition shoe between baby booties and big-kid shoes. With a secure fit around ankle and heel, yet unrestricted space for movement, these shoes are super comfortable and also very safe! Running around in the rain? No worry – the tread pattern provides grip and notches provide flex points for feet to bend naturally. Plus, the flexibility of the shoes accommodate growing feet, so you won’t have to worry about your little one being uncomfortable dancing it up at your family’s holiday party this year. Special deal for our readers: use code GUGU15 for 15% off your order!
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 58189e8c59841f13afaafa3b
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 58189f37f3e6915657d6f2cb
Thank you to Loyal Hana and Bobux for sponsoring this post.
Gift Roundup for the Mama Who’s Heading Back to Work
Around this time of year many mamas are heading back to work after a maternity leave, especially teachers. Looking for some great gifts for a mama who’s heading back to work? We’ve rounded up some practical, and stylish, gifts for a working mama – these gifts are sure to make her feel confident and put-together, even when she’s working on very little sleep. These would make wonderful baby shower gifts, or add them to your registry.
Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra from Bravado: If you’re looking for the ultimate nursing bra which is functional, but also stylish, soft, and feminine, look no further – the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra from Bravado is your perfect back to work under garment. The Body Silk Seamless nursing bra is super comfortable, putting you at ease and helping you feel confident when you head back to work. It is the perfect everyday, at home, on-the-go, anytime nursing bra. The luxuriously soft fabric molds to your changing shape, so that you can wear it throughout pregnancy, post-partum, nursing and beyond. Plus, it includes a bra conversion kit so you can convert your nursing bra to a ‘regular bra’ once your nursing journey is complete – no need to spend money on a bra you’ll only wear a few years, the Bravado Nursing Bra will last many years helping you feel put-together and beautiful inside and out.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef85032505ed1c625cd72e
The Multitasking Cardigan from goodbodygoodmommy: When the Gugu Guru team came across this multitasking cardigan, we knew we had to share it with you all – especially mamas heading back to work. This made in the USA cardigan is a blend of 90% modal and 10% spandex with 2 on-seam pockets, perfect for storing pacifiers, or nursing pads. The cardigan is the perfect addition to you wardrobe at the start of pregnancy and after you meet you baby, it can continue to be a wardrobe staple as it transitions to both a nursing cover and baby wearing cover (seriously cool!). Dress it up or dress it down, the multitasking cardigan can go with you to the gym, back to work, to a night out, or anywhere your mom-life takes you.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef87f8428ba01c11c3f633
Wiley Black Sweater from Loyal Hana: Looking for a wardrobe staple to head back to work? We can’t say enough good things about the Wiley Sweater from Loyal Hana. Made from 100% cotton, this sweater features a waffle texture front and discrete side zipper for breastfeeding or pumping. This sweater is the perfect Fall clothing staple for transitioning from dropping baby off at daycare, to working mama, to out to dinner with a client. You’ll feel modern, stylish, and able to easily pump and feed in the Wiley.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef843f0452727ba81b0d42
Beaugen Breast Pump Nipple Cushion: These breast pump nipple cushions are a universal fit, soft and stretchy which add comfort to your breast pump. Each package includes 2 nipple cushions which fit breast shield sizes 19mm-36mm. Make your time pumping more comfortable with these soft and helpful cushions!
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 579f24b9af09b16d386ff715
Gift Roundup for the Mama Who's Heading Back to Work
Around this time of year many mamas are heading back to work after a maternity leave, especially teachers. Looking for some great gifts for a mama who’s heading back to work? We’ve rounded up some practical, and stylish, gifts for a working mama – these gifts are sure to make her feel confident and put-together, even when she’s working on very little sleep. These would make wonderful baby shower gifts, or add them to your registry.
Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra from Bravado: If you’re looking for the ultimate nursing bra which is functional, but also stylish, soft, and feminine, look no further – the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra from Bravado is your perfect back to work under garment. The Body Silk Seamless nursing bra is super comfortable, putting you at ease and helping you feel confident when you head back to work. It is the perfect everyday, at home, on-the-go, anytime nursing bra. The luxuriously soft fabric molds to your changing shape, so that you can wear it throughout pregnancy, post-partum, nursing and beyond. Plus, it includes a bra conversion kit so you can convert your nursing bra to a ‘regular bra’ once your nursing journey is complete – no need to spend money on a bra you’ll only wear a few years, the Bravado Nursing Bra will last many years helping you feel put-together and beautiful inside and out.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef85032505ed1c625cd72e
The Multitasking Cardigan from goodbodygoodmommy: When the Gugu Guru team came across this multitasking cardigan, we knew we had to share it with you all – especially mamas heading back to work. This made in the USA cardigan is a blend of 90% modal and 10% spandex with 2 on-seam pockets, perfect for storing pacifiers, or nursing pads. The cardigan is the perfect addition to you wardrobe at the start of pregnancy and after you meet you baby, it can continue to be a wardrobe staple as it transitions to both a nursing cover and baby wearing cover (seriously cool!). Dress it up or dress it down, the multitasking cardigan can go with you to the gym, back to work, to a night out, or anywhere your mom-life takes you.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef87f8428ba01c11c3f633
Wiley Black Sweater from Loyal Hana: Looking for a wardrobe staple to head back to work? We can’t say enough good things about the Wiley Sweater from Loyal Hana. Made from 100% cotton, this sweater features a waffle texture front and discrete side zipper for breastfeeding or pumping. This sweater is the perfect Fall clothing staple for transitioning from dropping baby off at daycare, to working mama, to out to dinner with a client. You’ll feel modern, stylish, and able to easily pump and feed in the Wiley.
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57ef843f0452727ba81b0d42
Beaugen Breast Pump Nipple Cushion: These breast pump nipple cushions are a universal fit, soft and stretchy which add comfort to your breast pump. Each package includes 2 nipple cushions which fit breast shield sizes 19mm-36mm. Make your time pumping more comfortable with these soft and helpful cushions!
PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 579f24b9af09b16d386ff715
Trend Report: Velvet
Velvet reminds us of Autumn – it’s both cozy and glam – for mama, baby, and home!
- Sari Velvet Romper, Little Moon Clothing ($49): This sweet little romper is perfect for fall and winter with leggings or tights. Each romper will be unique and different. The top bib is made using a gorgeous wedding Sari fabric with gold/silver woven threading. Has adjustable tie back straps. Two buttons in saddle make for an easy diaper change.
- Shelly Round Velvet Pillow, Urban Outfitters ($39): Soft and luxurious round pillow topped with radial stitch detailing we love. Perfect for a vintage-inspired touch to any couch, chair or bed.
- Velvet Baby Bow, Mane Message ($7 each): The Velvet Baby Bow Headbands are the perfect simple hair accessory for any little one’s wardrobe. The delicate bow and soft materials were designed to be worn comfortably on baby’s head.
- Heirloom Baby Velvet Pouch, Nuraxi ($145): This 100% handmade velvet pouch is hand-dyed and gorgeous – perfect for babies 0-6 months to swathe them in luxurious coziness.
- Tall Velvet Pleated Midi Skirt, Top Shop ($100): Velvet look details add a pretty touch to this midi skirt. Sitting high on the waist, the full skirt comes in a pleated texture. Pair with an oversized sweatshirt and trainers for edgy chic.
- Wool Felt Hat, Janie and Jack ($24): Adorable crimson colored velvet hat with velvet bow – perfect for the holidays.
- Baby Girls Burgundy Velvet Dress, Children’s Salon ($152): Baby girls adorable burgundy dress by Christian Lacroix. Made with soft cotton velvet with a smooth cotton lining for added comfort. It has pretty short puffed sleeves and fastens with a concealed back zip. It has a pleat and pink bow detail to one side and a sparkling pink logo on the hem.
- Velvet Bomber Jacket Pink, Misguided ($51): Velvet is a classic throwback wardrobe staple and it’s back! This novelty bomber jacket is the one you need to dress up or down this Fall. Featuring a dusky pink hue, velvet material and a relaxed fit, you’ll be effortlessly chic and casual; style with denim and flats for girl crush vibes.
