Ideas for dressing post baby and pre baby weight loss?!!

[Emo76]

Hello, DD2 is 3 months old now and I have started to try to eat more healthily and exercise post Christmas to try to shift back to my "normal" size.

I am size 16 now with a mummy tummy and bingo wings and hoping to get back to my previous 12-14. I am 5 ft 9. I am stuck in a bit of a style rut - don't fit in to my old clothes, don't want to buy too many size 16 pieces but equally want to feel good in what I am wearing! Recently got some high waisted skinny jeans from gap in a nice dark wash, unfortunately still have a muffin top! Could do with some ideas as to other things to buy and wear which are "smart casual". Tops and dresses with sleeves! I have a reasonable budget and would rather get a few pieces than loads of "stuff".

To be honest I really hate my figure at present but don't want to feel worse about my appearance by not making an effort. Any suggestions or links for flattering clothes which you can suggest would be very much appreciated!

I wore my maternity clothes for weeks after the births of my children. Meant that (a) I didn't have to think about what to wear (b) didn't get too depressed by fact old clothes didn't fit for a while (c) they could be easily pulled to one side for breastfeeding (d) all my children had reflux so didn't mind if they threw up over those clothes . As long as your maternity clothes don't scream pregnancy wear (mine were just plain back trousers/skirts and different coloured v-neck tops), then I'd keep wearing them until you feel more confident.

Failing that, ebay some clothes that might fit you in the short term but bear in mind that you probably won't like them until you've lost some more weight.

If you're not breastfeeding, wrap dresses and tops are versatile as they can be tightened up as you lose weight but they do mean that you have to virtually undress when you feed from the breast on the "wrong" side, iyswim.

I wore (and am still wearing 12 months post birth , skinny jeans or leggings with long tunic tops. Ruching and layering are both good to avoid mummy tummy. I try to stick to one or two main colours and have bought beads/bracelets/scarfs etc. to accessorise.

Tops I have are:-

here

www.whitestuff.com/INSPIRE-TUNIC-P29266/

www.whitestuff.com/KYOTO-DRESS-P28983/

I then have their grey and navy leggings, a long navy cardigan (the snowdrop one), a couple of plain long sleeve tops to go underneath and one of the knitted waist costs

I really like that Inspire tunic - oddly enough am off to White Stuff today to return a too short dress I got for Christmas so will look for that one.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm the same size as you, my tummy is the part i'm most unhappy with and where i carry weight. I now wear big knickers (not the shapewear ones, they give me tummy ache) they hold me in a little and don't roll down. Get a good bra pushing the boobs out makes the tummy look smaller. I'm still wearing leggings and tunics, found h&m good for basic ones.

Invest in nice boots, bags, spend on hair and make up and i find i don't feel too bad in my plain tunics and leggings. I find jeans either dig in or slip down through out the day, i do have a topshop pair of baxters skinny jeans that i feel good in but only ever wear them for a couple of hours and change when i get home.

Might have to re-visit white stuff, have ordered once before but as i didn't really love the tunic i felt it was alot of money for just an ok item.

Do you have good legs? your tunics really need to end mid-thigh.

I'm a size 16 and love Mint Velvet knitted tunics or tunic tops, plus they have an excellent sale on at the moment. Their stuff is just a little bit special and these look great with legging or straight leg jeans. Agree that great boots and a bag are your best friends!

Thankyou miche8 and gillybobs

Fortunately the one part of me which has returned to normal size is my legs which are thankfully nice. Mint Velvet looks lovely - have not heard of them before. Need no encouragement to invest in boots and bags!

Got that White Stuff tunic - great colours and will cover up the wobbly bits. Jeans seem uncomfortable whatever style I buy or try - good incentive to lose the spare tire! Need to get some leggings to see me through.

Thanks again for all the help.

I think tunics/short dresses worn with leggings are the way to go. Primark have some fabulous shapewear leggings for £4 which give a good silhouette
New look have some cheap tunic type tops which skim rather than cling this or this worn with longline cardi and boots