Fashion tips for first time Mums: Adjusting your style to fit your new body

[LibbyMumsnet]

Finding clothes that are versatile, comfortable, yet stylish can be tricky for us new mums as we adapt to new body changes and lifestyles. This thread is all about sharing your go-to outfits, styling tips, and hacks that have helped you feel confident and comfortable in your day-to-day life as a new mum.

Whether it’s a super-soft pair of joggers, a nursing-friendly top, or that perfect throw-on dress that makes you feel put together in minutes, we want to hear about your favourite pieces and how you style them.

With the launch of UNIQLO’s new Autumn-wear, we’re especially keen to know how you would incorporate these staples from UNIQLO’s latest collection into your everyday looks. With their new range offering everything from soft leggings with Heattech warmth, to cosy knitwear, it’s the perfect spot to discover some comfy yet practical additions to your wardrobe.

You can check out the new collection here: UNIQLO New Arrivals

So, share your favourite finds or styling tips that have helped you embrace your postpartum body changes below to help a new mum out!

• Post your picks or tips from UNIQLO in the thread below to be entered into the prize draw.
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 UNIQLO voucher.
• Don’t forget to vote in our poll below

Insight T&Cs apply

Shirts with leggings/cycling shorts were always my go to for breastfeeding!

These are lovely:
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469422-000/00
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E470735-000/00

Casual, comfy and stylish!

A good pair of soft, high-waisted leggings has been a lifesaver, especially for those days when I’m on the go. Their Heattech leggings sound perfect for the colder months!

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E460408-000/00?colorDisplayCode=00&sizeDisplayCode=003

Oversized knits with leggings were a lifesaver!

Anything soft and stretchy really! I love the look of this cardigan, with buttons making it easy to open - I'd definitely go for the beautiful pink colour 😻Women's Cashmere Crew Neck Short Cardigan | UNIQLO UK

Soft and stretchy layers were my go to because I find it hard to judge how to dress so I’m not too cold or hot and some days seem to bring the full spectrum of weather.

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E470922-000/00?colorDisplayCode=03&sizeDisplayCode=003

I love this skirt, it would be great in a brighter colour too but this would be perfect for a capsule wardrobe. Comfortable and stylist, can be formal or casual. Love it

It's hard when you're a first time mum as you don't feel like you anymore and I was breast feeding all the time. I found wearing layers was a great way to feed discretely but still feel vaguely stylish! For the first few weeks I wore my maternity leggings under baggy top so I could just pull up my top to breast feed and not feel worried about showing my belly as they went right up to under my breasts. Once I was used to feeding an my body I was less self conscious but stuck with layer that are easy to lift up of things like cardigans for easy feeding access. I love these tops and these wide trousers. I think they'd be comfy and cozy whilst trying to breastfeed as the weather gets colder www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E473227-000/00?colorDisplayCode=08&sizeDisplayCode=026
www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E471668-000/00?colorDisplayCode=57&sizeDisplayCode=004www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E472095-000/00?colorDisplayCode=31&sizeDisplayCode=002

Layers! Starting off with a long sleeved heattech teeshirt as a vest.

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469746-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09&sizeDisplayCode=003

For me the journey was tough. I went from a size 8/10 to a 14. All the clothes that I would chose to wear before no longer suited my body. It has taken almost two years to adjust and be able to find my personality in clothing again and feel confident In myself.

my top tips are;

1. wear what makes you feel comfortable
2. choose a few stand out items that can be dressed up or down.
3. shop around for jeans that fit well. I personally love a mom style Jean or straight leg. Some brands offer different leg lengths which is a must for me.

my choices from UNIQLO autumn range are

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E472549-000/00?colorDisplayCode=57&sizeDisplayCode=00

love this dress as you can just throw it on and pair with some shoes or boots with a drop of a hat on a busy morning.

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E470921-000/00?colorDisplayCode=31&sizeDisplayCode=004

this skirt is a great style to highlight your new figure while drawing the eye away from the belly. Super cute. Thus can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I’d most likely wear this when I felt like I needed a little umph.

A-line wrap dresses have been my staple with every baby, long length for summer and short length with leggings/jeans for winter- they’re so comfy, especially the plain jersey ones you can get in lots of different colours, and they’re easy to stretch/adjust for breastfeeding. I love the Uniqlo tops which have a boxy cut for easily lifting up to breastfeed, and usually wear them with the lightweight cargo pants in hot weather.

This is a nice option, you could wear it as a dress for a simple complete outfit, or have it undone with a vest and trousers.

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E470883-000/00?colorDisplayCode=31&sizeDisplayCode=003

My reality when DS was tiny was wearing vest tops and elasticated skirts most of the time as he was born at the start of a long summer.

Don’t fret about your wardrobe.
Whatever you feel happy in, is what you should be wearing. If you put something on and it doesn’t make you smile, it shouldn’t be in your wardrobe.
The simplest jeans, t shirt and trainers/plimsoles combo can be the most uplifting if the t shirt shines happiness, the jeans are comfortable to sit in and the trainers don’t give you feet ache.

These wide leg pants are very forgiving and flattering. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469829-000/00?colorDisplayCode=27&sizeDisplayCode=003

Love this for feeling a bit more put together, Satin Frill Blouse (Printed)

Otherwise it's all about comfy knits, smart lounge wear and leggings

I lost myself for a while in my postpartum body - now 18 months on I’m still my heaviest weight and desperately struggling to get back into my wardrobe. Wearing pretty things IN THE RIGHT SIZE (sounds simple but easy to skip if you’re in denial/don’t have the money to afford a new wardrobe) has given me a much-needed confidence boost. I’d pair this with jeans or dungarees for a fresh, comfy, pretty look!

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E473352-000/00

This is a great design for the winter: https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E475109-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09
Unlike a scarf, it can't get unwrapped and caught in things, so it's really good for cycling, gardening and lots of other activities. I live in the West of Scotland and it rains a lot, so being able to pull it up into a hood quickly is very useful!

Leggings with a sports bra and an oversized gym vest on top.

It hides my belly and gives me easy access to breastfeed. Plus breastfeeding can make me have hot flushes, the oversized gym top give me air to breathe.

If I’m outside then a loose neck scarf helps hide the milk leakage.

Definitely high waisted leggings or jeans and a stylish jumper for Autumn / Winter...in weaning friendly dark colors...this shade of green is absolutely gorgeous and would be forgiving with any mealtime mishaps!

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E472281-000/00?colorDisplayCode=55&sizeDisplayCode=003

I found it not just being the change to my body, but lifestyle hard to dress for. Going from wearing smart office wear 5 days a week with some casual clothes for weekend days and going out clothes for evenings, to needing to wear the casual stuff 7 days a week, little use for going out stuff. It was the change in mindset about how much I should be spending on casual clothes, how much of casual things I needed.

Uniqlo joggers and casual pants are so comfortable whilst flattering, and best of all they clean really easily, necessary when children are around!

Invest in a few nice bras / bra tops and know when to let the old ones go!

I am on the larger side and short to boot. Comfy leggings is a staple and various t shirts and blouses to match is what I recommend! I cannot wear a bra so padded sport bras or t shirts help in that sense. For pants anything that is comfy and holds you in should be bought in multiples!

In all honesty, I didn’t care about how I looked. I had two non-sleeping reflux babies and was constantly covered in bits of their throw up. You can’t really look stylish with puke on you. I wore for practicality, loose t—shirts that I could pull up for feeding were a favorite.

With small babies needing and taking up so much of your time, self care is important. So with that in mind, easy to grab and easy to wash (no ironing or dry clean), warm (you may be pushing a pram for hours) and soft and comfy, whilst looking stylish and feeling as though you have made a bit of an effort to get out is the way to go. You just need a few outfits for getting out and about and that will do it for the early months - you’ll have enough outfit changes and washing to keep up with each day for baby, so don’t stress too much.

My Outfit for getting out and about would be

Soft flannel slipper shirt
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469423-000/00?colorDisplayCode=11&sizeDisplayCode=003

Pleated wide trousers
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/stylingbook/20019447/E460311-000/?offset=0

Ultra light down long coat
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469872-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09&sizeDisplayCode=003

For me it was stretchy cotton vests and comfy tops easy access for feeding, felt like I flashed less tummy as could pull the top of vest down and the top up and was still comfortable.