Trendy Thursday: Daily Basics

One of my friends just asked me for my very favorite long sleeve tshirts and affordable jeans. Talk about the mom-uniform right?

First lets talk tshirts.  PLEASE do not spend money on tshirts. A long sleeved tshirt is not an investment piece. If you have money to buy a $200 designer tshirt, good for you. But even if I was able to afford it, I still wouldn’t. It’s just not worth it. As a mom, my tshirts get rips, indescribable stains, get used as a tissue (not by me, I swear.) and get worn to death. And there are tons of cheap options out there that will last you a few seasons before you need to replace them.
My very, very favorite casual t-shirts are shirred v-neck t-shirts from Old Navy. This is such a flattering cut – gives your chest a tiny boost and the front hangs just a tad loose, so it doesn’t cling to your tummy. Its thick enough to wear alone, but easy to layer as well. I think I have this in 4 colors. AND they are on sale for $6:

I also love the cross front yoga top from Mossimo. I think Target tshirts are really nice – mine have all lasted years. Until I spill something on them. Even plain Mossimo and Merona shirts are fabulous. 

For something a little nicer, try LOFT or GAP. They have tons of shirts that take your long sleeved tshirt to the next level with embellishments, ruffles and fun necklines. Like this one from LOFT:

I love the length of this one by Daisy Fuentes at Kohls. Good for when you are too busy running after your kids to worry about trying to yank up your jeans that are slipping too far down your bum!

Now lets talk jeans. While my very very favorite jeans are designer, I don’t wear them super often. I love them too much to subject them to my daily life. For those everyday jeans, my favorites are from LOFT. I highly recommend their denim – its pricey, but the 4 pairs I have are all from the clearance rack or outlet and were all under $20. I have the modern boot cut, the skinny jeans, trouser jeans and – of course – jeggings!

Another sure bet for denim is Gap Long and Lean jeans. These jeans are flattering on just about anyone and – if you wait for a sale or score them at the outlet – they’re really affordable. For an even lower price point, try Old Navy.

I’m all about saving money. But remember, jeans are the staple of most of our wardrobes – many of us wear them almost every single day. Seriously, think about how often you wear your favorite jeans! When you thing about cost per wear, you really get your money’s worth on jeans. Good denim will last as long as you still fit in them, right? 😉
What are your go-to brands for jeans and tshirts?

Melissa talks fashion daily at b*Stylish and shares about family life on her personal blog, Girlymama.