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Moms Fashion File: Wanting to Break Away From Black

May 31, 2011 By Leticia

Despite having an art teacher who told me I wasn’t afraid of color, you’d never know it by looking in my closet with the sea of black that looks back at me.  Tanks, Ts, dresses long, short, casual, and formal all start to look the same. I’m ready to color my world an am asking for the Moms Fashion File M.O.M. Squad for help at this year’s Swanky After Hours party at BlogHer!

Recognizing that I have an addiction to black is the first step in acknowledging that I need help.  In May when I was unpacking my dresses after arriving at Mom 2.0, Sandie (aka UrbanMama) took one look and said that she could easily go shopping for me based on the things she’s seen me wear at blog conferences. Just recently while at SheCon, Julie’s (@JustPrecious) Lilly Pulitzer wardrobe was bright and perfect for South Beach whereas the things hanging in my part of the closet were better suited for a funeral. 

My conference wardrobe is practical- a sea of black dresses, some with white, others sprinkled with a hint of color.  All are made of a similar type of fabric that skims the body, flatters, yet also travels well thanks to its ability to remain wrinkle free.  Take a look!

Lost in a sea of color at last year’s Yahoo! Motherboard meetup
I’d be more gorgeous if I took a clue from Getting Gorgeous’
Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland and stopped wearing black!
@ScrappinMichele’s cute Fresh Produce dress puts me to shame at Blogalicious.
Nothing says relaxation like a black cocktail dress
after a busy day at Mom 2.0
 
Glamming it up with favorite accessories at the CA Olives booth
at Mom 2.0: black olives and a black clutch!
Litzky PR’s Kaylie totally brightens my day in her
cheery blues at Time to Play’s spring and summer showcase
What’s underneath my Bosch Rengineered lab coat?
You guessed it!  Another black top with jeans! How predictable!
Lisa Lehmann (aka @TheBeadGirl) is the source of my favorite
silver jewelry because it glams up my boring black & white wardrobe!
And it doesn’t matter who I might meet…I’ll always be clad in black!  And quite possibly in the same dress that has been photographed a zillion times.  Ugh! How embarrassing!
Chef Michelle Bernstein’s cookbook is more colorful than me
at Nissan Cross Cabriolet event
Me, John Besh, and Linda Sellers at Mom 2.0 where no one ever
clashes with chef whites.
Julie Pron, Dara Torres, and me at the Sleep Innovations
party during SheCon. I just love Julie’s Lilly Pulitzer outfit!
Getting ready to take a ride on the Magic School Bus
with Mrs. Frizzle in my non-magical black and white dress
Word Girl did not say Word Up! to my outfit choice!
Meeting Dan (aka Larry the Cable Guy) on the Tooth Fairy 2 set
where even camo was more colorful than my black

Being a practical traveler, my wardrobe allows me to bring along minimal shoes- also black- because we all know that shoes take up room that is often needed for conference swag!  Here are my must-have shoes that pair well with all of the above dresses:

Casual black
Dressier black 

Seeing all the black in the photos above make me ready for a change.  Going into summer, I know there’s nothing summery about black.  Sure it goes with everything, makes it easy to pack for whatever trip I’m embarking on next, looks great with tanned skin, and silver jewelry can sure make it pop but I’m ready to embrace the season with outfits in popsicle-inspired hues that will break me out of the black rut I’ve been in for so long.

I know I have potential to change.  Besides taking a Julie-inspired oath to not buy anything else in black, my wardrobe is sprinkled with hints of color that show I’m open to change and lots of color.
Taking a cue from colorful Julie in my navy and turquoise
top in South Beach.  I swear it isn’t black and white!
Even my car choice for the Nissan Cross Cabriolet
drive was conservative although not black!
 
I introduced the Dr. Otis Brawley, head of the American Cancer Society, in
a top sprinkled with turquoise, yellow, and navy amid the black and gray

Since admitting I have a problem is the first step, the second is seeking help.  

I’m tired of my black wardrobe and need Moms Fashion File to choose me as one of the lucky 12 where they will make me over in bright colors along with the help of their secret agents.  I want to step out at the Swanky After Hours on party at BlogHer on Saturday in style this year but not in black!  

And maybe they’ll take pity on me and give me some style tips in advance of my Saturday afternoon Room of Your Own panel so I won’t be the only one on up there wearing black. Because while BlogHer feels I’m qualified to speak about How to Write a Kick A$$ Proposal, they had no idea that I was fashion challenged and am likely to turn up in one of the same tired dresses pictured above! Sigh.

This post was written as my entry for a chance to win a Secret Style session at BlogHer11 from Moms Fashion File.

Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!

Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: BlogHer, fashion help, Moms Fashion File, Savvy Sassy Moms

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stimey says

    May 31, 2011 at 9:34 am

    You always look so beautiful in your black! But I fully support your decision to brighten up. 🙂

  2. Nikki @ Mommy Factor says

    May 31, 2011 at 10:36 am

    Ha. You did wear alot of black but glad to see your going to start wearing more colors!

  3. Heidi/The Closet Coach says

    May 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Good luck with the contest!

    I’m totally with you on the mostly black wardrobe thing. I have finally started venturing into the world of living color this year (and I wrote a blog post about it here: http://bit.ly/fkONWP).

    An easy way to start is with accessories. A bright scarf here, a non-neutral shoe there, and the next thing you know you’re rockin’ some jewel tones!

    (BTW, if by some chance you don’t win the makeover, I do posts with fashion advice and it would be fun to help find you some colorful wardrobe items–if you’d like. Just drop me a line here: http://www.closet-coach.com/get-style-advice/)

  4. JessicaAPISS says

    May 31, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    This post made my night – you always look fabulous and beautiful, but the pic after pic of the LBD’s was cracking me up!! Moms Fashion File, you’ve gotta choose Tech Savvy Mama and help expand her color horizons!

  5. April says

    May 31, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Well, darn it, if you change your ways now, then I’ll be the only one left in black!

  6. CanCan says

    June 1, 2011 at 12:02 am

    It is so hard. Black clothes are so “safe” and they tell us that “you can’t go wrong”. But maybe there is “too much of a good thing” going on. I don’t let myself buy black clothes at the moment. So I do have some yellow shoes now. Not sure if that is a good thing.

  7. Julie says

    June 1, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    I LOVE this post! So funny to see you in monochrome! Go Leticia! Go color!!!

    WHEN are we REALLY shopping?

  8. Lindsey W says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:55 am

    Leticia I can totally see you wearing a Lilly! Go get one the bright colors after the shock will keep you smiling! Plus you can find them on at Marshals and Lohmans on occasion. I love my neon green dress with bright blue sea turtles on it! XXXOOO
    Linds

  9. teachmama says

    June 6, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Leticia–You always look gorgeous, no matter the color you’re wearing!
    xoxo

  10. Varda says

    June 7, 2011 at 5:04 am

    Leticia, I have always thought you looked lovely whenever I’ve seen you. But I know what you mean about being tired of the SAME go-to dress over and over. I have one of those “magic” dresses myself (see my entry post “Shape Shifting”). Sigh. I hope we both win — it’ll give us a chance to hang out together at BH11.

    And also? I have the SAME Born sandals (as your casual blacks) & aren’t they just the most comfortable things? Mine are getting worn out, but this year the heels are either too high or too low. These were PERFECT, wish they’d make that style again!

  11. Justice Fergie says

    June 21, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    What a GREAT post! I have to say that I never realized that you always rocked black, LOL. Aren’t we all supposed to have an LBD? I think you always look great, but I agree that a pop of color here and there can spice up things a bit. I hope that you win!!

  12. patsquared2 says

    April 11, 2012 at 7:47 am

    I grew up in television news where I wore black, navy and brown. Conservative was the by-word but the colors stuck long after I left the news business. Breaking out of black is tough…but I loved reading about someone who finally made it.

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