The eternal question for modern style is quite the paradox: what comes first, fashion or function? Implicit in any answer is the expectation that one calls for the sacrifice of the other. While the asphyxiating Victorian corset is a thing of the distant past, stunning, figure-hugging silhouettes still tend to involve fabrics and cuts that restrict movement. On the flipside, garments designed for maximum movability conjure up baggy, shapeless athleisure wear that barely qualifies as fashion. This dilemma is no more pronounced than when it comes to footwear for city girls on-the-go. Some of us entertain dreams of traversing the concrete jungle in Louboutins only to have them dashed by a few commutes on the MTA. Either way, all function and no style or all style and no movement is no fun. And that’s what living in NYC is all about – fun.
I was lucky enough to kick off the holiday season at a celebration of both fashion and function with the Mrs. Momma Bear and Sneex holiday pop-up. Hosted by The Purist, a luxury lifestyle and wellness magazine, at Majesty’s Pleasure, a beauty social club, the afternoon of manis and bellinis was as much pre-Christmas party as a celebration of female entrepreneurship.
Mrs. Momma Bear was founded by Lee Evans Lee, a fifth-generation rancher from West Texas, whose busy lifestyle called for transitions from the ranch to workouts to social engagements without multiple wardrobe changes. Inspired by her love of textiles, Lee experimented with sustainable fabrics that provide functionality and durability, without sacrificing aesthetics for a modern, fashion-forward wardrobe. After finding the just-so-right blend of deadstock nylon and spandex – the same fabrics used in all workout wear – Lee curated a universally flattering collection of suiting, dresses, and bodysuits that require no dry cleaning, just a cold water wash.
Suitable for workwear and evening wear, Mrs Momma Bear’s separates work as coordinates that allow mix-and-matching of pierces, silhouettes, and colors for a full wardrobe. The recently launched Gilded Collection features the Promise Me Nothing set – a high-waisted, tapered pant, with a matching long-sleeve, deep v-neck ruched blouse that defines the female silhouette with an empire waist and a flowing, modern bustle. Equal parts pant suit and gown, it’s as versatile as it is elegant. During the busy holiday season, it’ll take you from important work meetings to evening engagements. For events calling for formal wear, the Come Closer dress and capelet marries a modern silhouette and sexy flashes of skin with a free flowing cut for maximum movability on the red carpet or dance floor.
As for sizing, available in six sizes from XS – 1X, the ultra-stretchy fabric accommodates a wide range of body shapes and silhouettes.
The perfect accessory for Mrs Momma Bear Sets, aside from a bold piece or two of statement jewelry, is a shoe that trail-blazes the same fusion of fashion and function – Sneex. The brand is the brain child of Sarah Blakely, the same female entrepreneur who founded Spanx in 2000. It’s more than intuitive that the founder behind modern shapewear – which prioritized movability minus the punishing constriction of the girdle – created an ultra-comfortable heel-sneaker hybrid.
Available in a variety of colors and styles, The Icon shoe features a skid-free rubber sole, comfortable toe box and arch design to support weight distribution in a 3-inch slip-on. The black patent leather sneaker pump for the holidays puts the final kibosh on the “function vs fashion” dilemma. With Mrs. Momma Bear and Sneex, we girls can have both.
