Not so mum outfits in hot humid country

[Napdamnyou]

Help? I am SAHM to 13 month old and my uniform has been

The dreaded three quarter length cotton/linen pants
Sleeveless smock top best things
Flappy cotton blouses all bought cheaply when in UK from supermarkets, H&M etc
Birkenstocks ( with pedicure and nin hairy toes, in every colour)
shoulder length hair stuffed into pony tail with straw hat or baseball cap

I also have maxi dresses for going out.

My problem is:

I am about to be 41

Skirts flash my pants when I squat and dive to grab walking baby
I am not about to inflict tiny shorts on people here
Long trousers flap annoyingly round my ankles
Dresses not that practical as a) still breastfeeding b) if they get stained with sweat, suncream or toddler detritus, which happens the instant I leave the house, I have to wash the whole thing instead of just switch tops
Jewellery is wrenched off by DS

I have lost two stone and am now a size 12 and still shrinking/shredding. So all my stuff from UK is too big. Visitors coming over next few months so can bring me stuff from UK plus I can order stu ff oline from USA.

Any points on how I can look less Mumsy and a bit cooler?

Nin hairy toes = non hairy toes. I do have some standards....

Right I am in similar position (hot humid country/ small child/ still BF) so my top tips are:

Long skirts but they absolutely must be fitted over the hips and then flare out from top of thigh if they flare from waist unless you are 6' and 6stone you will look size of house.

Pair with long line tight vest this can then be pulled down for easy BF.

Invest in long necklace that will withstand small child playing with it

Chunky bangles are good - they cannot be yanked off or out like necklaces and earrings and can double as a plaything when child is bored

Team with assorted light weight cotton cards /scarves in various colours.

Those are great ideas, thank you!
Are maxi skirts and dresses fashionable at the mo? They suit me but have no idea...I thought that post Sienna they were No Longer Done. My style is a bit boho but have clamped down on tendency as am already much more hippie/leftie/ lentil weavery/ scruffy by nature than most people here and trying to fit in. Have probably gone to other extreme and now look like my mum.

Mums here seem to live in fitted shorts and laydeez polo shirts or vests, or yoga wear. Think Republican candidates wife on vacation in Miami.

:( not me at all.

Re fashion TBH I wouldn't wear my maxi skirts in the UK but in the humidity you have to adapt your style.

A more fashionable alternative are the peg leg chino style trousers which can be worn with similar top/cardi combos as the maxi skirts but do have a tendency to be a little more sweaty.

Next (believe it or not) have had a lovely jersey twist front maxi dress which you can BF in, in their beach wear collection for the past few seasons.

Dresses have always been my fail safe for summer even with tiny babies and toddlers about. Boden have some nice jersey summer dresses that you could pull down to feed and wouldn't lose their shape. In other shops look for bust lines with a crossover as they are good for pulling to one side to bf.
Otherwise dark denim just above knee shorts (although more the chambray type material than denim) with slightly fitted long line best tops and cami tops.

Over the last year I've picked up clothing all over the place and supermarkets often have bits that look good and because they don't cost a fortune you don't mind the odd stain tht will wash out.

Also while in the us in September I picked up some lovely strappy cami/vests in aeropostale very very cheap and have washed and worn well. I now wear them under jumpers and cardigans or low cut dresses as its obviously cold here in the uk now.

Also BFing in hot and humid but 15 years younger but this is my take:

Maxi dresses (if you are slimmish)
Vest tops and fitted shorts or knee length skirts (if you have decent legs)
Loose kaftan type thing with benign belt on hips and capris
Loose linen trousers
Chunky jewellery
Big hat

Thank you very much. Will start scouring USA sites....there's not much here that fits that description.

My BF uniform in Brazil was pretty silk or cotton tops (or Target nursing tanks) and A line khaki or denim skirts plus Havaianas.

Dresses, too. Silk for evenings, cotton for daytime. In hot and humid places you can usually hire someone to do the laundry and ironing for you, so having to change a few times every day was not an issue.

I find silk a nightmare for BF it shows wet patches like nothing else

I admired how Brazilian women never looked mumsy, even when they were carrying their children. The rich Brazilian women's everyday uniform was a pair of skinny jeans, a flowing tunic top in a jewel color, pretty gladiators, a perfect pedicure (touched up weekly), a mane of glossy hair, the latest it bag (extra large), sunglasses, and large bangles on wrists. Alternatively, just the tunic top with bare legs.

If you don't want to look mumsy: I'd be careful with the Birkenstock (and they make you walk like a duck). They may look on-trend on a lithe young starlet, but here in Italy they are the summertime uniform of middle-aged nannies and grannies. (At our local park, all childminders wear them in the summer.)

I'd also be careful with linen trousers: unless impeccably tailored and crisply pressed, they are solely worn by slightly overweight female British tourists . And ditch the baseball cap (thumbs up for a stylish straw hat).

If you tan at all, you'd be better off by showing off your pretty, tanned legs.

I teamed my silk blouses with a pure cotton nursing bra and washable nursing pads. Very few leaks and I never ruined a blouse.

Yyy to crisp ironed linen. And that should be a big belt not a benign one.

I wear quite a lot of silk tops and dresses. Natural fibres are so much nicer and silk looks more glam than cotton.

Bugger, pressed post.

The rule is not to have everything huge and voluminous. Either the top or the bottom half needs to be fitted to avoid looking like a hippo IME, unless you are size 0.

Skinny jeans too hot and don't suit me anyway,have found some just below knee leggings which can be worn with long tops and jewellery...

My tummy still has that rounded post partum look although it is shrinking, it has never been flat as I have a sway back so is easy to look pregnant, and all my clothes when I got here were summer pregnancy clothes as had sent summer before moving here pregnant.

I do all the laundry and really don't have time for ironing...

Hmmmm.I can make an effort when I go out but for day to day the leggings and sleeveless tunic top is probably the best I can manage....

...until I get to go on a proper shopping trip anyway!

YY to white linen - unless impeccable, which is impossible unless photoshopped for vogue it has the whif of per una.

dona Brazilian uniform very similar to the Dubai uniform except paired with heels: maid and driver essential

Yep Sara... maids and drivers are essential (and gardeners push the stroller). Leggings are allowed in if you team them with a black Land Rover and blindingly white sneakers. Otherwise, they are an indispensable part of the maid uniform.

Oh dear, I dress like a helper.
Which is what I am, I suppose!
I guess I need points on daily practicality rather than glamour, that will have to wait for when I have a babysitter!

Dresses all the way, either maxi dresses or cotton sundresses to just above knee. Wedges with Maxi's, pretty flats with sundresses. French Connection & Oasis do some lovely summer dresses though youll currently be out of season - may be lucky in the sales though