Parenting Advice

Mommy Style
Contributing Writer - Whitney Wingerd, founder of Mommies With Style.

Back in the day, being pregnant meant walking around in a big moo-moo of a dress for the better part of nine months. Cankles, bathrobes and stretch marks, it's a miracle any woman got herself (willingly) knocked up a second time around.

After pregnancy came motherhood: sweatpants, spit-up stained shirts and a big ugly diaper bag.

Mommy Mutiny

But recently, and thankfully for Moms today, there has been a fashion and accessory uprising. Moms of the world are no longer settling for frump because there isn't anything else on the market to accommodate them.

In part, it's thanks to Moms themselves. So many Moms have turned into mom-prenuers and they've taken it upon themselves to design the clothes and products that have been long overdue.

It's also because manufacturers have finally clued into the group power that exists in Moms. We're educated women with style and a wallet, it would be crazy NOT to produce and market to us.

Diaper bags, onesies and blankets, oh my!

There are endless options for mothers today. Hip pregnancy lines and stylish diaper bags fill boutiques and online storefronts.

Stroller pushing has turned into an art. There are Kate Spade Maclaren strollers. You can accessorize your Bugaboo by color about as much as you can toenail polish if you are so inclined and have the means.

Mom style for everyone

And what's great is that you don't have to have the financial resources to afford a Bugaboo to look chic. Whether you're a big Hollywood mom and you're carrying a $500 Italian leather diaper bag, or just your every day mom looking for something a little more low-key, there's something for everyone.

Blackberry & baby in the checkout line

Want to keep your pre-mom sense of style, but don't know where to start? It's as easy as this: hop online.

Modern Moms are plugged in, we're wireless and because of it we're educated. There are literally dozens to hundreds of sites recommending cool Mom products out there.

With multiple kids in tow, it's sometimes hard to get to the mall or shop at length. Which is why the online resources offered to modern moms are invaluable. No need to feel shy about where to start as you enter Mommy Land, find a site you like and let them do the recommending for you.

Stylish Moms and centered kids

The bottom line: being a mom today is finally as it should be.

It's a change - a big one of course - but you can take your former, stylish and hip self and bring her into motherhood with you. If your kids see her, they'll learn to take care of themselves and respect your confidence.

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