1. Declutter Your Wardrobe:

A lot of moms are so hung up on pieces that are either too big or too small. You know that voice in your head that says “I am working on losing the baby weight so I can rock this gorgeous dress again”, ignore it. The possibility of becoming the size 6 you used to be might not be realistic. Just work on keeping the belly flat (body magic/waist clincher is available) while you enjoy the voluptuous curves that come with motherhood. Decluttering looks like a lot of work but it is really simple. It means you get to take out the old in order to make room for the new. Choose a day and carefully sort out your clothes. The not so fun part is the part of trying each item on and tossing it in the “give this out” box. You can have a friend help you out (at least she will be there to tell you how ugly the dress(es) look while helping you wipe your tears as you give these items up.

2. Know Your Body Type:

One thing that motherhood blesses some people with is an improved body shape. Whether it is temporary or permanent, only time can tell. You know that feeling you get when you try on a dress at the store and it does not sit right? ; That is your body shape telling you to choose something more flattering. If you never paid so much attention to your body type before the baby came, now is the perfect time to make amends. The fact that you have decluttered your wardrobe makes it easy to get new clothes that fit perfectly while playing up your beautiful features. Read more about dressing to suit your body type here.

3. Create Sections in Your Wardrobe:

It is very important to build an easy wardrobe layout. This will not only help you locate fashion items within a shorter time, it will also help you utilize almost every piece you have before starting the cycle again. Seeing everything makes it easy for you to mix and match. Hang up your shirts and dresses (in a pattern). Hanging similar items together prevents one item from staying hidden. Fold your bottoms and arrange them so you can see everything without removing other items (all skirts together, all the leggings together etc.). Have a little bag or storage box for your underwear so you can choose these smaller (matching) pieces quickly. Set up your shoe rack in a corner of the room and lay out your footwear by keeping each pair together. Get a jewelry organizer for your tiny accessories so you can make quick decisions. Having a well-planned layout will make it easy to pick your outfits in little time.

4. Make a List:

For every time you pick out what to wear, you have the chance to take note of what you need. You can have sticky notes on your wardrobe doors to write the needed item(s) so you don’t forget. This way, you know exactly what you want to buy the next time you go to the store.

5. Have a Colour Scheme:

Knowing the right colour choices for your skin tone can help you match items to give you the perfect look. Your skin tone is the reason some colours don’t work for you while some are just perfect. Based on experience, you can tell the colours that make you pop and the ones that make you look otherwise. This knowledge can help you choose fashion pieces that will make you look coordinated and confident (like a well prepared bowl of fruit salad *wink*). Don’t be afraid to try new things from time to time. Dressing experiments can help you learn new things while creating your own style. Embrace it.

6. Prepare for the Week:

Making choices in a hurry defeats the purpose of having a rich wardrobe. The beauty of having an organized wardrobe is in utilizing it. Bottom-line: Slaying requires preparation. Spend a few minutes on Saturday or Sunday to choose and iron the outfits for the week. This will not only help you look stunning every day for five days, it reduces the pressure of doing so much in very little time. All you get to do is throw on your clothes and go on to work. You should also have a compact makeup purse that has all the essentials in your selected bag for the day or week. This way, you can apply your makeup anywhere. Do not forget to carry a pair of slippers for that time you get when you take off your high heels.

7. Get Your Confidence Back:

This is the cherry on your fashion cake. Your outfit will look blah if you walk into the room looking like a sad clown. Hold your head up high, move gracefully and smile. The world is your canvas. Paint the way you like and enjoy the process.

Now that you know what you need to do, get up and slay!

Featured Image: Trendy Wardrobe

The post How to Create a Trendy Wardrobe For Working Mums-7 Easy Steps to Becoming a Slay Queen appeared first on Hermaze | Relationship, Beauty, Fashion, Family Articles for Women.

1. Prepare for the Week: A lot of us think about the week and get depressed. It is a lot of work but “it is our work”. It is not impossible to arrive at work dressed like a clown because you hurriedly picked out your clothes or wore two different shoes on each foot. Doing something as basic as picking outfits can be tiring and time-consuming. You can make your week better by picking out your outfits for 5 days. This does not only help you stay fashionable through the week, it also helps you leave home early. You can also have a standard pair of black shoes in your office drawer so you don’t fall into the rush hour trap and wear slippers at work because you forgot your shoes at home. Take a few minutes on Saturday/Sunday to choose & iron your clothes and watch the week become an easy one.

2. Buy in Bulk: The thought of going to the market after facing the “normal” traffic jam from point A to B will not only rob you of the little energy you have, it will also leave you feeling miserable. You might use the excuse of power fluctuation as a reason to go to the market every day but that is not ideal. There are many food items that don’t require power to stay fresh. The availability of food items like yam, potatoes, rice, beans, cereals, beverage etc. will help you plan your meals properly while working up much-needed enthusiasm to cook healthy meals for your family. The beauty of buying in bulk is the fact that it takes little time and energy to go to the market once or twice a month. It also makes it possible to draw up a meal plan which can be followed through without doing so much. Work out time to buy all you can in one trip to the market and see the food time become fun time for you and the family.

3. Get a Help: No one gets a trophy for dying from stress. The idea of doing everything yourself is gone with the winds of time. The need to meet up with societal standards will only rob you of good health. Asking for help does not make you weak, it only makes you look wise. Get someone to help clean the house, do the laundry and also watch the kids. Don’t forget that these people need the money you pay while you get the rest and free time you deserve. Consequently, you would end up with more time and energy to spend with your hubby and children after work.

4. Install a Camera: As mothers, it is normal to feel guilty because we are far away from our little ones. Every mother wants to know what is happening with her children. The truth is you can’t always be with them but technology has made it possible for you to watch them all day. All you need to do is buy a camera, install and follow their activities on your phone wherever you are. This way, your mind will not play tricks on you because you are virtually with your little darlings. Stay at rest, install that camera today!

5. Leave Work Early (LWE): This sounds unrealistic but it is possible. Resuming early and closing late is not a sign of hard work, it is a sign of time management issues. Working smart can help you close early and get home in fairly good time. The key to this is getting to work early and working in a way that helps you meet all the company needs except on rare occasions when meetings can keep you back at the office. Once you have this figured out, you get the chance to work well and play hard every other day. Put your LWE plan in place today and watch your day go by in a productive breeze.

6. Invest in Wigs: One thing that can make the weekend super short is the regular visit to the salon. It is time-consuming yet unavoidable for every lady (excluding the lucky African queens who have decided to sport the low cut look) because no one wants to go to the office with horrible-looking hair. A bad hair day will not only give you an unprofessional look, it will also leave feeling sorry for yourself. Fortunately, wigs are trending. A wig is a hairpiece that can be worn and removed at will. It can save your life and also give you the look you need to stay beautiful. No matter your budget, you will always get a wig that will not leave your account smiling. Apart from the aesthetic-related comfort you get from rocking one, you can take off the wig and feel fresh air blow through your natural tresses (the Lagos heat has no chill!). Be a diva any day, get that wig today!

Well, there you have it; 6 simple tricks to make your week a refreshing one. Who says you can’t do so much in very little time? Step up your super mum game and watch the family blossom. Enjoy your week!

Image Credit: Darkday via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

The post 6 Ways to Keep It Together As a Lagos Mum appeared first on Hermaze | Relationship, Beauty, Fashion, Family Articles for Women.