Lost my style mojo . . . . where can I find a new one?

[newtoitallmummy]

Well today was the first day since having my LO that I had a couple of hours to wander around the shops on my own. I had high hopes of finding a couple of tee shirts or maybe a nice top to wear. But to be honest it made me feel so bad I cried when I got home. I used to have a lovely wardrobe full of really nice clothes that fitted me and that were for work and home and going out and everything and I rarely had a don't know what to wear moment. And people used to compliment me on how I looked. And I used to love clothes.

And now I spend my life in the same couple of pairs of tracksuit bottoms and some maternity vest tops with an old pair of baggy linen trousers for "best" and that is all that fits

Its embarrassing to say that LO is now over six months old and I am still a stone and a half overweight. i used to be a pear shape. But a fairly toned pear shape and I was used to dressing that shape. BUt now I have droopy boobs and a big tummy and no waist defintion. Oh and rampant cellulite. And my pear is more pear like than before but combined with the new apple-y tummy I really don't know how to dress.

Don't get me wrong I love my LO and would not trade places. But I want to be able to go into a shop and feel like I used to - confident and decisive and able to buy something. Rather than an outsider who is completely lost and who doesn't recognise herself when she catches sight of herself in the mirror. And I don't want to feel ashamed when I do see myself.

So where do I go from here? And what steps do I take to get there? Please help - I see lovely looking mummys all the time in the city where I live and they manage to do it. How do I get my groove back?

[newtoitallmummy]

Sorry - have just realised how terribly long and self indulgent that was. Although it did sort of help writing it down.

[pushmepullyou]

Are you me? My DD is 6.5 months and I could have written this post myself. I look mumsy and fat and have no idea what to do with myself!

I have put it all off for another few months by buying some very cheap clothes in my fatter size and deciding I'm not going to buy anything nice until I've lost the weight - am hoping this will be an incentive!

No real advice I'm afraid. just hoping someone stylish drops in and gives us both some help

[newtoitallmummy]

Thank god I am not the only one! and yes would someone stylish drop in and help - please???

I thought about buying some things in a bigger size but then I went and looked and things that would have suited the old shaped me but the cut was all wrong for the new shaped me .... etc etc i just don't know what to look for and of course fashions have changed and there were tonnes of skinny teenage girls out shopping and I felt so old and out of place

I agree tho - it has motivated me to try to drop some baby weight.

[janeite]

Don't wait to lose weight before buying anything, whatever you do.

Buy a couple of decent pairs of jeans that fit you now - New Look Hula are pretty good and only a tenner, or if Gap have a sale right now, they usually have jeans for good prices. Their long and lean range is quite flattering, though be careful about how low cut some of them are. You will need to try lots of pairs on until you find a decent fit, then pair several pairs of those.

Buy a few nice accessories (I am rubbish at these but lots of people on here will be able to give you good advice) and some well cut/fitting plainish tops from somewhere like M&S Ltd Collection or Autograph. These can then be smartened up with accessories.

A couple of little fitted cardigans (or longer ones if they suit you) can be worn over the plainish tops to either bring colour, or to just add another layer and they will look more pulled together than just a t-shirt on cooler days.

[angrypixie]

I found that my body shape had changed after 3 babies in quick succession and I had to relearn my new shape. I'm not talking about baby weight either but a long term shape change.

I booked a session with a personal shopper, it was free and I didn't buy anything at all because I could ill afford it at the time but the things she gave me to try were all spot on for my 'new' body and enabled me to shop for myself with more confidence.

NB Walking out from a personal shopper experience without buying anything is not for the faint hearted. It almost killed me because I have the terribly British 'must-do-what's-expected' gene. Oddly liberating once I had had several large glasses of wine to get over the shock though

[pushmepullyou]

Like the sound of a personal shopper but fear I am too much of a wimp to walk away!

Hula jeans are my cheap clothes in a fatter size, along with Gap sale T-shirts, which have been great for getting me out of maternity clothes but leave me definitely looking like someone I wasn't before.

angrtpixiew that's it exactly. I have lost quite a bit (although have a lot still to go) but was 8/10 pre preg and can already see that even if/when I get back there my shape is going to be different. For a start not a single pair of my shoes fits....

Oops sorry newtoitallmummy, seem to have accidentally hijacked your thread . It's just all so horribly familiar!

[pushmepullyou]

angrypixie sorry. Knew I shouldn't have had that second gin

[angrypixie]

2 gins perfect preparation for walking away from a personal shopper

[newtoitallmummy]

Hi there

Just wanted to say thanks - whilst I haven't found my style mojo this week I have managed to find some hula jeans that do fit and look quite good )

Also found some bits in accessorize - which will always fit even on a fat day

So thank you

Baby steps and all that