Fashionable Moms : An Interview with Bizymoms Top Blogger 2010 Recipient Sarah-Jean Ballard

1. What do you think makes most ladies stop being fashionable once they become housewives?

Once you become a mom or even a housewife, you spend a lot of your time doing not-so-fashionable things like doing dishes, vacuuming, cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and who knows what else! All things you really don't want to do in your best clothes. It's only a matter of time before your wardrobe goes from fancy to frumpy and some women get so caught up in their "day job" of working around the house, they lose sight of taking care of themselves. The first place we see this happen is in their wardrobe, which is why I started The Fashionable Housewife blog.

2. What do you think is most important factor for moms when it comes to being fashionable?

To not feel guilty about taking care of themselves. A few minutes in front of the mirror every day is not selfish if it makes you present yourself, feel better about yourself and have some self confidence. In turn this will help you be the best mom and housewife you can be!

3. What sort of fashion sense do you think housewives should have? Do you think it's best to maintain the fashion sense they had when they were single?

It's hard to have the same sense of fashion as you did when you were single. We can't be Carrie Bradshaw forever! You have to find things that work for your new lifestyle that doesn't include track pants and a tee shirt.

4. What advice can you offer our readers with respect to dressing well and doing it fashionably?

The biggest excuse for not dressing well, that I get from most women is that they want to be "comfortable." This is such a cop-out because you don't have to wear your pajamas to be comfortable! There are many, many brands and styles of clothes out there that are not only very fashionable, but comfortable as well. So stop making excuses not to dress well!

5. What special fashion tips can you offer our mom readers with respect to choosing shoes?

When it comes to shoes, be sensible but not stingy. If you're a shoe lover like me, you probably have tons of pairs. If shoe shopping isn't your favorite thing in the world, then you aren't doing it right. Don't look for shoes for $10. You'll end up with lots of shoes that fall apart after a couple trips and are uncomfortable to boot. Invest in a nice pair of good quality shoes like Sofft, Soft Spots, Clarks, or Born. These brands are trusted, have many fashionable styles and will give you the biggest bang for your buck. It's much better to have two or three pairs of great fitting, comfortable, high quality shoes than dozens of cheap, uncomfortable shoes.

6. What are some of the most common fashion mistakes that moms make?

The hardest part of being fashionable after becoming a mom is that most all of us do not end up with the same body we had pre-baby. Most of you won't fit back into those size four jeans every again, but that's not a bad thing! Having a baby is a beautiful thing and it's hard on our bodies - sometimes changing them into a more womanly shape. Learn how to love your body and dress your new shape to look it's best. Don't try to cram back into skinny jeans if they don't look right. Don't wear slim fitting tops if you have a post-baby belly pooch still hanging out. You can look fabulous with your new body if you learn how to dress it. We have hundreds of tips on how to dress your body shape on The Fashionable Housewife blog.

7. What are the newest and hottest fashion trends for housewives?

Some of the hottest trends this Spring are plaid and floral prints, safari inspired pieces, jumpsuits, and embellishments. Find out which trend works best for you and rock it!

8. Please tell our readers about the body shape guide on your website.

Learning which body shape you have is the most important part to dressing and looking fashionable. One of the biggest mistakes women make is not knowing what they're body shape is and dressing in ways that are inappropriate and unflattering. Take time to learn what your body shape is and the most flattering way to dress it and you'll be so much happier when you get dressed in the morning!

9. Which clothing stores would you recommend to buy fashionable and comfortable clothes for moms?

My favorites include: Forever 21, Old Navy, Gap, Newport News, and Target. Be sure to check out sample sale sites like Rue La La, Gilt Groupe and ideeli for sales on designer brands. It's a great way to get high quality, stylish clothes at amazing prices you can actually afford!