David Meister with Get Dressed Mommy’s Lauren Burge (left) and Sophia Spencer (right).
Get Dressed Mommy recently interviewed famed designer, David Meister, during his Spring 13 Fashion Presentation at Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek. David shared with us his inspiration for his collection, his feelings about the disappearance of Fashion’s Night Out, and what celebrity he would love to dress. Be sure to check out the slideshow!
GDM: Tell us about your inspiration for the spring collection and what we can expect to see today?
DM: A variety of bright colors and prints for spring. Daytime wear will consist of a Bright orange, hot pink, yellow and blue dresses. For the evening and cocktail wear there will be non-traditional lace. All of the prints for daytime wear in my collection are placed very specifically to fit a woman’s body in the right way. Also, black and white is a new trend for spring.
GDM: You mentioned in another interview that you hate pantyhose! “Burn the pantyhose! …They’re just so gross!” There has been a huge rise in the popularity of tights recently. Do you have strong feelings toward them as well or are they acceptable?
DM: Yes, burn the pantyhose! I do love tights especially when they are textured or knitwear.
GDM: So many designers have done collaborations with budget retailers like Target and H&M. Do you have any plans for a collaboration of your own or is it something you would consider if the right opportunity came along?
DM: We are always looking at opportunities. I think that it is great when designers collaborate with Target because it gathers brand awareness and reaches a whole other audience. I would certainly never say never.
GDM: We are so sad to hear that there will be no Fashion’s Night Out this year? What are your thoughts on the hiatus? Do you think that cities and stores nationwide will step up, save the day, and keep the spirit of the event alive?
DM: They may, or even if it is not on the same night there will be some kind of fashion event. Maybe we will see it come back or maybe it will be every other year. With an event every two or three years it becomes special and stronger and has more relevance. I think we will see it again.
GDM: Our blog, Get Dressed Mommy, seeks to encourage moms to do just that take some time for themselves and get dressed. It can be a challenge after having children to find the time. Do you think your dresses are a good match for busy moms? Why?
DM: I think dresses are the best answer for anybody because you put it on, you zip it up and you’re done. All you have to do is pick out your shoes and you’re done. To me, dresses are the easiest way to dress up and the quickest. So many of my dresses have knit or stretch which is great for women who just had babies.
GDM: What is the one thing you think every woman, every mom needs to do to, wear, or have to be beautiful?
DM: Well, obviously a dress and if you really got it together a David Meister dress. I think that no matter what you are wearing you have to be comfortable. If you don’t feel comfortable in your clothes you are not going to feel confident. Know your comfort zone because if you are comfortable in what you are wearing you are going to exude confidence. You should be able to put it on and forget about it.
GDM: When I think of my mom and her style, I always think of how she could never keep track of her shoes and I’d have to help her search for the mates every morning. When you think of your own mom and her style or beauty regimen, what is the one thing that stands out in your mind, the one thing you will never forget?
DM: For my mother it has changed over time. It used to be the higher heel the better. Now it’s the no heel the better. It is interesting to see how it has changed. She definitely has good taste and she is amazing.
GDM: You are an ambassador for Dress for Success. One of our blog founders, Monica, works with a similar local agency called Wardrobe for Opportunity. One thing she’s mentioned is that many clients and stylist are reluctant to select dresses. Why do you think so many women are skeptical of wearing dresses in a professional environment? Do you think dresses are a work wardrobe staple? Why or why not?
DM: I think dresses actually look most polished. A dress is a one uniform pulled together look. I think a lot of women associate dresses with getting “dressed up” for an occasion or an event. There are so many options out there for day dresses. If anything, it makes your life a lot easier.
GDM: If you could pick any celebrity that you haven’t designed for which one would you pick?
DM: I think Jennifer Lawrence would be amazing. Even in the last year and a half she has grown so much. She is such a cool girl and she is modern, and tells it like it is and I like that.
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Many people find it surprising that my biggest supporters initially are men. “Aren’t you a mom blog?” Well yes, this is a mom blog but it’s usually dads who get excited. I attended the Oakland Museum Fundraising Gala last year and the dad sitting next to me explained that he’d experienced problems with his wife in this area. After they had children, she stopped picking out nice clothes, wearing makeup, and doing her hair. He finally reached a point where he didn’t recognize the woman he married.
Before we had children, I heard a friend of my hubby’s complain of a similar situation, “When I leave for work she’s in her pajamas. When I come home, she’s in her pajamas.” As a good husband, and with most good men, they’d never complain to us about our appearance and the last thing they want to do is hurt us. But just as our appearance affects us, it also affects our men and how they view us. It’s hard to see your woman as a sex kitten with ratty hair, frumpy pjs, and that ever lingering question, “Did she take a shower today…or yesterday?”
I know how you look is at the bottom of your to-do list. “No one is going to see me”, but our husbands are someone and they count. So when men hear about my blog, they grab my card and bring their wife over to meet me. Moms are more reluctant. They want to look better, but they’re busy and many attempts and failures have discouraged them. “The effort is more important than success” is what I usually tell them.THAT IS WHERE I LOSE THE HUSBANDS! That’s not what they want to hear!
The fact is when you are just starting out, not every outfit will be gold. In fact, quite a few will be awful, but you did it! You took the time to do your hair, to put on makeup, to select an outfit and you will get better. You might never become a fashion icon but you can find great personal style and you will feel better about yourself. It’s just like exercising. You might never lose a ton of weight or have six-pack abs, but you will get stronger. You will notice a difference in how you feel over time.
Just as you shouldn’t expect to go from the couch to a marathon, nor should you expect to go from super mom to super model (unless you’re Heidi Klum). It’s unrealistic and nothing derails goals faster than disappointment. So for all you readers whose goal for the new year is to find your personal style, look better, lose weight, get into that hot little dress you wore before you had babies, I encourage you to put this quote where you can see it every day, “Strive for progress, not perfection.”
When was the last time you gave yourself a breast exam? Serious, when?
If you’re like me, you can’t remember. To be honest, I’ve become a little desensitized and overwhelmed with the whole “pink ribbon” movement, largely because of the over-saturation of products. Sure they raise money for breast cancer research, but when is the last time you picked up your pink blow dryer and thought, “I haven’t felt up my boobs recently”.
For the first time in quite a while, I thought about my breast health after seeing this hilarious video from Rethink Breast Cancer. Rethink Breast Cancer is a Canadian organization that supports young women with breast cancer and brings creative awareness to the under-40 crowd. This video encourages viewers to download their Your Man Reminder App (YMR). I stopped laughing just long enough to download it myself.
Rethink Cancer stepped it up a notch with their new Your Man Reminder video. The app features videos of well chiseled guys, a doc, and a girl (a little something for everyone) encouraging self-examination. You can send steamy reminders to your friends via Facebook using the man-o-gram feature. The app takes you through the steps for self breast examines (what they call TLC), which includes signs and symptoms, ways to reduce your risk, and a hands-on guide (amusing tutorial). You can set up reminders (I chose the “Surprise Me” option), set a doctor’s appointment in your calendar, take notes about your exam to share with your doctor, and donate to Rethink Breast Cancer. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the man-candy in their newest video (giggles guaranteed)!
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- Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon campaign misleads the world (theallegiant.com)
I am returning to a 9-5 next month. I’ve worked primarily freelance or on special projects since my second pregnancy. I will miss my casual work-at-home wardrobe but I am excited to flaunt my professional style. All this week I have been purging my closet and filling in the blanks of my work wardrobe. The black, kick pleat skirt that was fantastic after baby #1, isn’t quite as flattering after baby #2. The white button down shirt that looked great with my post-baby #1 D bosom doesn’t look so hot with the post-baby #2 DD rack. It’s been fun shopping for cute pieces to update my professional look.
In addition to far too many shoes, I have purchased three skirts (two pencil, one tulip), one pant suit, one skirt suit, three blouses and one chemise (11 pieces). Separates are fantastic because they can be mixed and matched to create a multitude of wardrobe possibilities. With just 15 pieces, you can easily dress for a month. In this video, I love the way Nina chose separates to help this mom understand how to create a professional, stylish business outfit. All the pieces she used are reasonably priced and there’s also a peek into contouring. To make this look a little trendier, I would wear a snake print skirt.
Related articles
- Nina Garcia’s Decoding Style: Jessica Ashford Regains Her Fashion Mojo (on.aol.com)
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- Fancy Pants for the New Year (getdressedmommy.com)
We love you GG. You’ll be missed.
I remember the day this photo was taken. As a new, and somewhat overprotective, mother I rarely left the house with my baby girl. My mother and grandmother came for a visit. I really didn’t want to see anyone, let alone take pictures. My boobs were swollen and leaking, my roots were grown out, my nail polish was chipped, and I was EXHAUSTED. At the time, the last thing I cared about was my appearance, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be documented in that state. I was doing my best to find some stability and sanity in my new life. I was making a vain attempt to get my newborn on some sort of schedule and I resented the interruption in my developing routine by my mom and grandma.
Once they were there, I was happy. It was nice to spend time with my mother and I enjoyed seeing my grandmother cradle my baby girl. Still, this picture never made it to the mantle. In the past, when I looked at it, all I could see were my chipped nails, frizzy, two-toned hair, unsupported boobs, and fat rolls on my side. My grandmother passed away last month and now I am so glad I have this picture. I was so worried about not being as “pretty” as I was pre-baby that I focused on how I looked and not on the beautiful moment I was sharing with my daughter and her great-grandmother. Had my dear friend (the photographer) listened to me, she would have kept the “camera on the baby, not me” and I wouldn’t be part of this memory.
Too often we say, “I will __when/if…” I will go to the pool with the kids WHEN I look good in a swimsuit. I will go to my husband’s work luncheon IF I can get a hair appointment. Don’t miss out on swimming with your kids because you don’t like how you look in a swimsuit. Don’t skip your sisters graduation because you can’t find a dress. Don’t stand in the corner at the school play because you can’t afford to get your hair done. DON”T AVOID THE CAMERA BECAUSE YOU DON”T LIKE YOURSELF IN PICTURES. You might miss an irreplaceable moment.
P.S. Follow us on FB or quick tips and inspiration for looking your best.
This Christmas I received two beautiful shirts, one from my mother and one from my mother-in-law, coincidentally both abstract leopard print. The one from my mother was too small, the one from my mother-in-law, too big. I was naturally flattered by the smaller size purchased by my mother. Who doesn’t like the implication that they appear to be a little slimmer than they are.
I was offended by the choice of my mother-in-law. Curious, I asked a few friends and they agreed, they too would be offended.
While taking offense was my first instinct, ITS THE WRONG ONE! The fact is if it’s too big, it can be altered. If it is too small there isn’t much that can be done. I’ve spent the last week trying to find my size in the too small top, while my too big top from my mother-in-law took a five-minute fitting and is being altered as I type. So the next time someone gifts you clothing that is too big, just say, “Thank you. It’s beautiful and once I have it altered, it will fit beautifully!”
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- Animal Prints for Date-Night (getdressedmommy.com)
