So, this post started out one way...and then it ended up totally different.
Sometimes posts do that. At least my posts do. ;)
I won't even tell you where it started, because it wouldn't make sense to you. At all.
But it ended up as a post that many of you have been BEGGING for!
I've received no less than 50 e-mails about this topic, and I just couldn't ever figure out how to tackle it, so I kept on putting it off. If we're being honest, I'm still not sure I'm handling it in the best way, but I figured it was a good starting point.
So...today I present to you.......
YEP!
I'm going to talk about coordinating your family for family pictures!
Families are different sizes, with different genders, and different ages, and different combinations of all of the above, but I'm going to do the best I can today and hopefully all of you will take away a tip or two that will help you coordinate for your family!
Tips and Tricks to Follow When Picking Outfits for
Family Pictures:
1)
Pick one outfit that you love... it can be your kids, yours, your hubbies, whatever!
Use that favorite outfit as a jumping off point!
Coordinate all other outfits around that one.
2)
Don't be afraid to mix patterns and colors!
Going with a neutral theme with a pop of color here and there is also great!
Just don't try to be too matchy matchy or it can read cheesy.
3)
Pile on the layers and textures!
Layers and textures add interest to photos and make them look amazing!
Layers can come in many forms: jackets, blazers, cardigans, boots, a scarf, etc.
Layer it on people!
4)
I know this seems silly, but make sure your clothes fit well.
Clothes that are too baggy will make you look bigger than you really are.
Clothes that are too tight will be uncomfortable and you will be too self-conscious.
OKAY!
So after I put together the simple tips and tricks list, I was trying to decide which direction I wanted to go with the rest of the post.
At first I thought I would only talk about what us wives and moms should wear in pictures.
That seemed the most simple in my mind.
But when I looked back through some of the e-mails that you girls had sent me, there weren't many specific questions about what we girls should wear. In fact, most of the questions centered around what the hubbies should wear, which I TOTALLY understand.
As moms, we typically do a pretty good job of dressing ourselves and the kids, but dressing the hubby is a little more challenging.
At least it is in my house. Ahem.
We want our guys to look HOT but not like they are trying too hard...and they don't want to look like we dressed them (even that's what most of us ladies DO want!). ;)
So, when Nordstrom reached out and asked me to talk about Nordstrom menswear, specifically men's shoes, I thought this post would be the perfect time to do it since I was going to be talking about how to dress our men anyway!
We'll start out with clothes for our men, but we'll get to their shoes in a minute.
BUT FIRST, OUTFITS FOR THE GUY!
I hit up Pinterest (of course I did) for some inspiration pictures, and I found a couple that I created source boards for.
Now, my guy is not a puffer vest kind of guy. But maybe yours is?!?
If your guy can rock a puffer, then by all means let him!
This outfit was a good way to illustrate how a guy can pull off a pop of color in an otherwise neutral outfit.
via
Do you like the idea of the puffer outfit? If so, here are some sources for like items!
orange puffer HERE / grey sweater HERE/ cords HERE / black slip ons HERE
So, the above outfit showed how to create an outfit with a pop of color.
However, I decided to focus the rest of the post today on warm neutrals.
I felt like neutral colors with layers would be the easier theme to highlight...and I figured that many of you might already have items in your closets that could make this work!
So, because I'm going with neutrals, the interest is going to come in with the layers and the textures!
Do you hear that ladies?
LAYERS!
and
TEXTURES!
I put together a make believe family from Pinterest images (because pinterest told me to) ;), showing how neutrals combined with some other muted tones thrown in make a pretty palette for a picture!
So here's the picture that caught my attention. Can you blame me?
I know lots of guys steer away from color, which is totally fine...but if they don't want to do color, then they need to LAYER UP for sure! Just take it from this guy. :)
Even just the grey tee peaking out from under the sweater is a layer that adds interest!
#yummy
If you like the above look for your man, here are some sources:
brown suede bomber jacket HERE
olive sweater HERE / tee HERE
(I accidentally cut off the best part of the tee! Dangit! I don't love the pocket on it, but as a layering piece, I love the contrasting collar.)
blue jeans HERE with AMAZING reviews and ONLY $88
I'm ordering these for Chris today! They look like AWESOME jeans!
brown braided belt HERE / lace up oxford shoes HERE
And since Nordstrom asked me to specifically highlight men's shoes (I was of course happy to do so!), let's take a minute to look at some of my favorites out there right now before we get to all of the other outfits!
If you've never shopped for your guys shoes at Nordstrom, then you've been missing out. Their selection is HUGE, and if you think the shoes are all expensive, well then you'd be wrong.
THESE are my hubbies favs.
He loves that they don't have laces and that "you just slip them on like a house shoe".
He of course wears them with jeans, but he also wears them to work with khakis.
He explained to me that they are
"the comfort of a sneaker with a dressier look and not with laces".
Well said babe. Well said.
Click HERE.
If your man is anything like my man, comfort is the only thing he cares about when it comes to shoes! Check out the 10/10 5 STAR REVIEWS.
This particular shoe is great for all ages.
And before we get on to outfit ideas, I wanted to share some of my other favorite men's shoes that are ALL UNDER $100!!!!
Because I know I said early that comfort was the only thing Chris cares about when talking about shoes, but I would like to amend that statement.
He also wants them to be SUPER affordable!
So...all of these great options are UNDER $100!
And if you are dealing with a teenage son, I'm guessing you definitely want to spend under $100 since their feet are still growing!
a) Chelsea Boot HERE / b) Sperry Slip On HERE
c) Jack Purcell sneaker HERE
d) Cole Haan penny loafer HERE for 40% OFF making them under $100
English teachers out there...Should I have said "men's", "mens' ", or just "mens" in the above collage.
I act as if my mom won't be texting me promptly to possibly correct my mistake. :)
Click HERE for lots of other great options ALL UNDER $100!
Did I mention they are under $100? Because they are.
Just scroll through for some more of my favorites.
I think there are several that both you and your hubby will love!
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Now let's plan some outfits for the other members of the family!
Here's an example of what a boy could wear: a button up layered with a sweater and some cords.
The colors are all neutral, but the layers make the outfit cool and interesting.
via
Here are some sources to create the look for your little guy:
plaid button up HERE / brown sperry's HERE (sneaker option HERE)
khaki cotton twill pants HERE/ denim shirt HERE/ grey pullover HERE (love the extra interest with the ribbed texture, the high collar, and the buttons!!!!)
And for us mamas!
I wanted to highlight this look because I thought you ladies might already have similar items in your closet!
via
Want the look for yourself? Well, I found sources for similar items, and every single piece in the below collage is EXTREMELY reasonable!
Here are the sources:
cream cable knit sweater HERE
pendant necklace HERE for $18!
beaded drop earrings HERE are 50% off making them ONLY $5.98!
skinny jeans HERE that are ONLY $44!!!!!!! FOR JEANS!!!
And the reviews on these jeans are great..especially for the $44 price tag!
Over the knee socks HERE for $12!!!!!! You better believe I threw them in my cart and pressed purchase before those bad boys sold out. All of Nordstrom's boot socks sold out last year before I bought any. Shame on me. (I also bought THESE in grey.)
multi-color scarf HERE
boots HERE (I went with a non-cowboy version)
The boots are 30% off right now making them under $100! And 7/10 reviews are 5 STAR!
Again, notice all of the layers!
And for a little girl, I love this sweet combo.
Click HERE for links to the sweater, tee, and skirt (just scroll down to see all items after clicking on the link).
flower head band HERE (bow option HERE)
baby tights HERE / baby ugg HERE
So,this post took around 97 hours to complete.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
Here's to hoping it was at least kind of helpful to some of you!
#ididmybest
#ihavenoregrets
#alittletributetowilliamhung
#iwonderhowmanypeoplegotthat
Before you go, I thought I would put together a little collage with what I think would be good layers for us mamas:
military vest HERE / mixed media military jacket HERE
leopard booties HERE / tall suede boots HERE
tassel necklace HERE / leopard belt HERE
fringy plaid infinity scarf HERE / plaid scarf HERE / be the change bracelet HERE
Have a great weekend everybody!
And thank you to Nordsrom for sponsoring the men's shoe portion of this post!
xoxo,
Sheaffer :)
p.s.
OH WAIT!
I put these on facebook and within my post yesterday...but just in case you didn't see either of those.....Click HERE my favorite patent flats that are now $59.21!
Get 'em before they are out of your size!!!
p.p.s.
And don't forget about the super cute t-shirts HERE that help support our friend Manda!!!
These t-shirts are a MUST HAVE for your entire family!!!!!
100% of the proceeds go directly to Manda and her fam.
The dark heather grey only comes in adult sizes, but the navy comes in kid sizes too!
Remember after you get the tees to put them on social media with the hashtag #mandastrong!