How to rediscover your personal style after having a baby
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Feeling ‘stylish’ after pregnancy has been unexpectedly challenging. I tend to dislike change and didn’t want to believe people when they told me my body and style would evolve. Whilst I am happy with my general shape after having my first baby last year, it’s been more of a mental game to know what to wear, especially when I've felt sleep deprived and generally a bit confused as to what is going on day-to-day!
I vividly remember getting ready for my first (much needed) ‘date night’ with my husband (when our baby was around 10 months) and staring blankly into the dark abyss of my wardrobe - I seemed to have lost all ability in pulling an outfit together from anything that was in there. I now see that before having a baby I didn’t really have a ‘go-to’ style, I just had more time to make decisions.
What to wear postpartum: finding your style
Now, with all the unknowns of my day-to-day life what I really need is a style that suits me, which I can pick it out quickly, and can be worn on repeat with minimal tweaks, season to season. Higher quality pieces that will work harder and last longer is the aim. One benefit of Motherhood I've found is a new sense of freedom and less desire to please others. My post-partum style is therefore less about following the trends and more about what I feel great in, as well as being practical for mum life.
My hero brand in the postpartum period has without a doubt been Marks & Spencer. It’s one of the only high street brands I can rely on for jeans that fit my tall, in-between-sizes figure. Baujken always come up trumps for me as a more premium brand with great cotton and linen shirts but I love to pair my high street finds with a timeless bag. I have a treasured Saint Laurent black tote bag which goes with everything, and I plan most outfits around it.
However, I also love my baby changing backpack. I have tried to remain stylish with this, opting for the Tiba & Marl changing rucksack. I’m a classic jeans and t-shirt girl by nature and working in lifestyle journalism means I don’t have to dress in formal office attire. Usually, a ‘smart’ work meeting will be jeans and a statement shirt. For florals I love Boden but I really think you can’t go wrong with a great white shirt when it’s paired with the right accessories.
Roberta Lee, stylist, adds “Simple, versatile accessories like a black belt, statement bag, and everyday jewellery can be game-changers. They seamlessly fit with any outfit, can be worn every day yet look different with each outfit, and have the unique ability to transform a look from basic to polished with minimal effort.”
Briony: "Who says mums over 40 can't wear a cut-out dress?"
Mother of two Briony Fisher (40), shares her experience, “Since having kids I love being able to still wear the type of clothes I have always felt good wearing. Everything changes so much when you have kids, I didn't want to have to throw out my whole wardrobe as well. I love a crop top or cut out dress which I'm sure some people will say mums over 40 should avoid, but if I'm happy with how I feel in clothes then that’s all that matters.”
“The hardest working pieces in my wardrobe are baseball hats and activewear- I'm always in hats as I'm in and out of the gym, yoga studios, and on the school run. Plus, I can't be bothered to blow dry my hair all the time! Hats are my saviour accessory along with my trusty oversized Tom Ford Sunglasses which hide the tired eyes of all the sleepless nights when kids arrive. As a yoga teacher for elite athletes, Lululemon is my go-to activewear brand as it means I have transitional pieces that look and feel great for work, but that you can put a little street style twist on if needed.”
Anne: "I wanted to step back into the professional world with confidence"
Anne Tempany (42) explains how she found her confidence postpartum, having visited a stylist and colour analyst. “For the first year of motherhood, I embraced relaxed clothing that allowed me to breastfeed easily and comfortably while attending mother and baby classes. My wardrobe was more practical than stylish, prioritising comfort and functionality.
However, when it was time for me to return to work, I knew I needed a change. Motherhood had changed my body and how I felt about myself. I wanted to step back into the professional world with confidence, despite these changes. Knowing the colours which worked for me allowed me to embrace bolder patterns with confidence.
“My favourite pieces to wear now are wide leg jumpsuits, wrap dresses, bootcut/flared jeans, block heeled boots and trainers. As a high street shopper, I love Zara, Next, or the timeless elegance of Boden.”
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