Yummy Mummy Nicki from North York, ON asks:

After having two children, I'm finally back to (almost!) the size I used to be! I moved to Toronto from England 5 years ago, and I'm struggling to find the right stores I should go to for reasonably-priced, everyday clothes for a SAHM. Please help!


Dear Nicki,

Being a SAHM there are a few staple pieces that you need to have in your wardrobe: a well-fitting blazer, 2 pairs of jeans, and at least 5 polished t-shirts.  For the blazer I highly recommend Smythe Les Vestes. A Smythe blazer is an investment piece, so buy it in a colour you will wear often.  You can find Smythe blazers in Canopy Blue, TNT, and Holt Renfrew. A blazer is the perfect way to cover stains you may have accumulated over the day from being with the kids, and create a polished outfit as you run out the door! 

While you’re at any of the above-mentioned stores, also try on some jeans with a mid-to-high rise – a low-rise jean will be uncomfortable when you’re bending and lifting the kids.  Try David Kahn, and Paige brands as both are made for a womanly figure, and have a wide range of styles from which you can choose. I would also suggest heading to Shopgirls to try their yoga jeans. These jeans are amazing!  They look like jeans, but stretch like leggings and therefore are the perfect jean for any mom on the run!

T-shirts are a great place to save money because you will need to replace them frequently no matter the quality.  I suggest The Gap, Aritzia, Jacob, and Banana Republic for these basics. Look for t-shirts in colours that match the blazer you bought, made in fabrics like cotton, silk, and modal.

To finish off your outfits, grab a pair of Nike Air ballet flats from Cole Haan, and a necklace from either Made You Look, or Banana Republic.

Since you’re looking for convenience most of these stores can be found in the Bloor/Yorkville area: TNT, Holt Renfrew, Gap, Aritzia, Jacob, Banana Republic, and the Cole Haan Flagship store. If you would prefer to go to the chain stores at Yorkdale, they carry Cole Haan shoes at both Holt Renfrew and Davids. 

Made You Look and Shopgirls are on Queen just west of Dufferin, and well worth the trip!  Canopy Blue is on Yonge north of Eglinton – where there are a few of the mentioned chain stores as well.

One last note: Your body is beautiful just the way it is! Have fun dressing it by choosing styles that compliment the figure you have today. Every body changes over time, so we need to adapt the clothing styles we wear and change our shopping strategy with it.

Happy Shopping!

 

Wendy Woods, THE REFINERY founder, is a certified image consultant with extensive training at the International Image Institute, George Brown College and a graduate from McMaster with an Honours Commerce degree.  She lives by the philosophy that “fashion is a business; personal style is what you choose to wear to compliment your unique body, personality, colouring, and lifestyle.” 

She has appeared on The Real Life, Star Report and is a regular contributor to MUM Magazine. Wendy has held workshops at Seneca College, York University, and Shopgirls, and is also an active member of the Association of Image Consultants International.

Contact Wendy at wendy@therefinery.ca, or get some refined style tips!