Share your post-child style tips with Ecover - £300 voucher and invite to style event to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Having children is a big life event that involves lots of changes - from the amount of sleep you get to your clothing choices, and Ecover would like to hear about your style tips or laundry dilemmas post children.

Here’s what Ecover has to say: “Ecover’s new concentrated detergents are ideal for your baby's tiny clothes and gentle on their sensitive skin. But what about you? Ecover are hosting a style workshop with a top UK stylist and there’s a chance to either win an invite or a £300 voucher!

When you’re a mum your priorities naturally shift and precious ‘me time’ becomes scarce. We’re excited to be partnering with a top UK fashion stylist to host a feel good workshop for mums! She’ll be covering topics from fashion trends and “go-to” outfits to handy laundry tips to help families tackle their ever growing laundry basket.”

Perhaps you have practical style tips you wish you’d been aware of when you first became a parent? Or maybe you have style or laundry dilemmas that you still wish you had a solution to? Is the kind of outfit you feel great in the same as it was pre-children?

For a chance to win a £300 voucher (for a retailer of your choice, from a list) or an invite to Ecover’s Style Event on 18th September, post on the thread below sharing your style tips or laundry dilemmas.

Please note, the prize draw for Ecover’s style event will be run on the 13th September. The thread will be closing on the 18th September, and the voucher prize draw will take place at this time.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I swear by charity shop browsing. It gives me the confidence to try slightly more adventurous and quirky stuff that I'd never shell out 50 quid for new, from shops I'd never go in to normally, and to take a punt on less hardwearing/practical clothes and "dry clean only" stuff in the knowledge that if a run through the washing machine delicates cycle kills it it's not the end of the world.

I spend every spring in a much loved lilac velvet jacket which I'd never have though of buying new but which gives my entire day a lift.

More tediously parenthood has made me switch from commuting in my work heels to wearing trainers in and switching to work shoes under my desk, because I have a complicated school run to manage at the end of the day which may involve shopping, playgrounds, cross country walks, sprinting to catch buses etc.

Don't wear black - it shows up every baby sick and mucky fingerprint stain!

Try to get a regular haircut, it makes a huge difference to how you feel about yourself.

I always seem to wear a lot more layers since having kids, probably a hangover from breastfeeding, also great to pull off a layer when one gets stained or you're in and out of baby groups etc.

Invest in a flattering waterproof coat, I did so much walking when mine were little trying to settle them to sleep and don't forget some stylish gloves too! Ditto good quality boots. One of my friends has some awesome floral print DM style boots which always attract complements - and as a new mum a complement can go a long way to make you feel great :)

Agree entirely with the big scarf, great for covering stains and doubles up as a BF cover up. I have couple in different colours which tie with different coloured coats

Embrace colour! Find a colour palate that suits you and buy some basics in bright colours. I had lots of long sleeve tops in bright colours (mustard, plum etc) to layer under short sleeve tops which always made me feel like I'd made an effort rather than throwing some bland colour

Try out styles which you might not normally wear, my friend turned up to toddlers wearing dungarees and looked amazing! (I'd look like a slightly overweight, overgrown toddler!). Also try and mix up your style a little, jeans are practical but once you've been wearing the same uniform for months you need to something else for you're sanity! Different shape of trousers and a skirt/dress can do wonders to get you out of a style rut

Style tip- choose clothes with busy patterns- that way the odd sticky finger print won't show up as clearly! (My children always suddenly feel a need to grasp me with sticky fingers once we are heading out of the door to school/work. )

Seek out the advice of a stylist particularly if your shape has changed post-children.

Not sure about the 'nice flat shoes' BTW...I spent fifteen years doing loads of walking with the DC in flats and the last couple of years hobbling for having collapsed arches.

Do the basics. For me this is also brief make up and tidy hair. Trying to buy nicer clothes too rather than cheaper ones (eBay is good here).

Whatever I can bf in

Beauty Flash Balm & eye serum

SPD is lingering so I'm in leggings, to accommodate the tubigrip. I hate leggings! I want pockets for keys and phone

Once I wash my children's clothes I tend to dry it on a drying rack instead of the dryer. The kids clothes always tend to shrink in the dryer even though the setting is on baby friendly.

I'm trying to cultivate a capsule wardrobe (well two; one for work me and one for 'mum' me). Easier said than done though.

DS also has special 'nursery' clothes, which I don't mind getting ruined or going AWOL.

Also - buy clothes that always coordinate, and that you LOVE. If you're unsure, wait three days. If you still really want it, chances are you'll wear it a lot.

I steer clear of white clothes, especially for the DCs, as get fed up with every little stain showing and them turning grey. With so much washing to do in a large family, I like to keep things simple. Darker clothes are preferable. They must all be machine washable too, and I avoid fabrics like linen which have to be ironed.

Get clothes with similar tones, so you can get dressed in the dark without waking the baby up.
So, I have mostly dark winter clothes which all go with each other... The brown or black trousers and various shade of blue green black tops.

Also, get patterned tops and plain trousers, or vice versa, so you don't have to waste time thinking does this pattern look ok with that pattern.

Shop twice a year at sale time. If you have time to look at the shops more frequently than that you are doing well.

Sadly it is comfort over style for me at the moment.

Keep clothing practical and have things to change into when accidents happen.

There's some things I did to make myself look 'tidy' after the birth of my child, like an oversized scarf and choosing certain colours to suit my shape but as keeping up with fashion trends ? I don't think so. I wouldn't waste a second on it, I've just had a child and I honestly wouldn't want to waste a thought on what the latest fashion trends are, let alone keep up with them !

Buy clothes for the real life you live and not the fantasy one in your head.

Stay away from anything dry clean only. Anything made of silk. Anything requiring lots of ironing. Those items will end up living at the bottom of the laundry basket.

Go for natural fibres that can me machine washed. Jeans, stripe t-shirt tops, merino sweaters and a camo jacket on repeat.

I went for simple outfits with loud accessories and big hair! Always with practicality in mind, if I can sit on the floor in it there's no point wearing it.

Both my DD's are total muck monsters, so wearing something that can be easily swapped, without an entire clothes change, is a must.

Accessosrize basic outfits

Pro mummy style tip: make sure that all of your wardrobe items can be mixed and matched to create reasonably stylish outfits (I.e. Pick one colour scheme and style whether pastels/florals or primaries/nautical and stick to it). You will inevitably reach that low point in your laundry life when you are literally down to your last clean shirt and only one pair of trousers that still fits/doesn't smell of puke so this is the perfect way to stay stylish.

Don't forget yourself! ....It's all too easy! Some lovely loungewear outfits are perfect, there are lots about which are casual and comfortable but can look glam too :) Makes you feel so much better! :)

Style tips - lots of things to mix and match, I go largely plain but then style it up with jewellery - makes me feel a bit more polished!

Definitely easy care clothes that you feel comfortable in. Concentrate on spending time on things you enjoy!

Is there any way to stop fabric becoming bobbly after several washes? Have you any suggestions for stopping coloured and black garments from fading?

I have so many pairs of heels but most of the time I opt for flats so I've learnt to build up a good wardrobe of pretty flats for every occasion so that I can look stylish but stay comfortable.

My style tips are 'Dress exactly how you want' as long as you feel happy it doesnt matter if your just on the school run or popping to the shop, if you wanna pop something nice on and put your make up on then do it dont let others put you down, my mood changes when i feel i look nice x

A capsule wardrobe of clothes you feel comfortable in everyday, that you can mix and match, takes the pressure off! Having a selection of some good accessories and shoes you can wear helps make an outfit too.

My style tip for parents is to make sure you wear fabrics that are comfortable and durable for bending down a lot and crawling on the floor and trousers that don't flash you bottom when crouching 😸