Jenny, you sweet thing! I want to give you a hug right now for being such a good daughter to your mom! You’ve just restored some of my faith in today’s generation (Oops! I’m not that old!).

You have every right to be proud of your mother. I have great respect for mothers because being a mom is not the easiest job in the world. So let’s cook up something great for the best woman in your life, eh?

Yes to Flattering Jeans!
I’ve seen and heard enough horror stories about “mommy jeans”, the kind that emphasize all the wrong angles on a woman’s body, like the hips and the bottom. I suggest that you and your mom go through her closet and have her model all her jeans. Chuck out the ones that make her hips look too wide, give her a muffin top (means it doesn’t fit anymore), make her bottom sag and look too big, and those that are too long or too short.

Most moms have wider hips so the next time she goes shopping, have her pick mid-rise boot-cut jeans and trousers with a flat front. The mid-rise covers the tummy and hips nicely while not exposing any leftover “pastries”; the pant legs are slim through the thigh and flare from the knee down, so they elongate your mother’s petite figure.

Yes to A-Lines!
A-lines are a godsend for most moms because they camouflage the hips and thighs. To avoid looking too frumpy, have your mom pick out skirts with smaller patterns (bigger will overwhelm her petite frame), and in flattering colors for her skin. Avoid those skirts that have saggy side pockets; they will visually weigh her down further. She can tuck in her blouses and pair these cute skirts with a nice swingy jacket or a cardigan.

Yes to Empire Cuts and Dropwaists!
Empire cuts and dropwaists not only work for moms but for any girl (or woman) who has a little belly trouble. Seen on both dresses and tops, empire cuts emphasize a good bust (coupled with a good, well-fitting bra) while a dropwaist design draws the eye near the hip and away from the waist where the bulge usually is.

To look smart at the office, have your mom wear shirtdresses – these buttoned one-pieces elongate the silhouette and make one look taller. If she has any dresses that don’t have a defined waist (like a shift), she can use a wide patent belt to create a waist instantly.

Yes to Sexy Heels!
Nothing says confidence more than a fab pair of heels. If you mom is confident about wearing stilettos to boost her height, then have her try wild animal prints or metallic tones. She can also try patterns or color combinations that will complement her outfit. Stilettos look great with just about everything – from dresses, to jeans and even shorts.

If she’s not partial to heels, she can try for lower ones like kitten heels, stacked heels, or platform wedges. Kitten heels are about half to a full inch high so she won’t have problems walking long distances or standing around. Wedges have a more solid heel and thus provide a better balance. Choose wedges that aren’t too chunky so they flatter your momma’s legs better.

Yes to Makeup!
What’s the use of all those gorgeous outfits without makeup? If your meré is the powder-blush-and-lipstick-only kind of mom (like mine), she could use a little more punch in her makeup kit. Mascara brightens the eyes while a little blush at the cheekbones can emphasize a gorgeous bone structure. Have your mom throw away her old forever-red lipstick and have fun experimenting what colors suit her skintone and outfits. Lastly, the perfect lipstick frames a genuinely happy smile on a happy mom.

Schedule a special pampering day just for you two (or three, with your sib) and then go shop while having fun ticking of items on this list. Cheerio, darling!

Nikki

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