What are your tips for looking stylish with a baby /toddler?

[Nineloves1]

I'm trying to improve my look,which is often fairly scruffy.

I've read the tips about nice nails /hair.

I'm trying to shop more carefully and buy better quality clothing less often. I've conceded short people don't look groomed in standard length trousers tatty at the bottom, even if they are a bargain.

But some people just look groomed.

I look OK, if haggard from lack of sleep, but with hair that the baby has given an affectionate tug to, baby slobber on one shoulder and a side swipe of food on my leg where I missed it.

So if you do look groomed how do you do it? I'm not after ultra preened, just not Worzel Gummidge.

In winter I always think a smart coat helps me feel stylish. I don't generally wear anoraks/waterproofs but have a wool cocoon coat, waxed parka or a leather jacket.

Same with the bag, I always carried a leather handbag not just a change bag, that made me feel nicer.

And finally some jumpers that have a bit of 'style', I like Cos for knitwear, and wear with a chunky necklace or a pendant.

Pinterest is good for ideas.

I am by no means an expert, but I am starting to come out of the toddler years (DS is almost 3 so I'm praying hoping I'm through the roughest part) and what has worked for me is:

• Drinking a pint of water with Berocca and Spatone every morning to make me feel human even after 4 hours broken sleep
• Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial (although this is pricey and people either seem to love it or hate it so I hesitate to recommend it in case it's an expensive failure)
• Not too much make up but a few key items to bring me back from the dead: Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation (think they might call it something else now), Touche Eclat under eyes and around nose, light blush and tinted lip balm. Nothing at risk of smudging around the eyes but groomed brows, tight lining with waterproof liner and curled lashes with Benefit They're Real
• Always wear perfume, not necessarily expensive but makes me feel better

Clothes-wise it was nothing revolutionary but outside of work it was a semi-uniform of:

• Jeans in whichever cut suits you best
• Longline vest top under whatever else you wear to avoid muffin top and general flashing when crawling on the floor at baby groups
• Mostly plain tops with some detailing or interest (All Saints with back poppers or draping works for me)
• Blazer or leather jacket over the top to look vaguely pulled together
• Big scarf to hide baby sick

I don't think anyone would say that I look especially groomed but the thing I found helpful at your stage (and still do) was having a neat, tidy base which basically means eyebrows and hair (and nails for some people, I'm crap at nails) well maintained. So, I get my eyebrows waxed every few weeks and my hair cut every six weeks. I book them in for the next time at each appointment otherwise they just fall to the bottom of the list of priorities and don't get done until they're weeks past their best. I've found it makes a big difference to the way I feel about how I look even if I don't manage to do my makeup or my clothes have snot on!

I'm finding this completely impossible at the moment! You have my sympathy!

Good coat.
Good boots.
Scarf that suits you.
Being a good weight - easier said than done.
Drinking water so your skin glows.
Dry shampoo.
Short clean nails.

Thanks for the ideas. Especially like scarf to hide snot!.

Weight is OK, am slim, but so untoned I look like a skinny jelly baby.

Does your skin really glow even if you are so sleep deprived? I must drink over 1 l of water each day already, will try to double it.

I have outfits I only wear together so I know that it looks good without having to think about it.

A dribble cloth on the shoulder not a nasty stained muslin a nice one works over your knees too.

A really good skin care range and routine I use Liz Earle makes you look so much better even with no make up

A nanny helps 😬

Or if not, good shoes/sneakers, bag and coat.
Hair always clean and blow dried.
Gel polish is good as doesn't chip (generation, shellac or similar), either in a nude or dark red colours.
Depending on colouring, make up can help too.
Brows always groomed.
Teeth whitened or at least a good electric toothbrush.

Just wanted to add, baby and toddler years fly by. Snotty shoulders and biscuit hair will be over before you can believe it and are so worth it!

Love this thread ! I'm in the same boat but with an 8 month old so still a way to go - I have nothing to add but wanted to say you're not alone!

I tong my hair into messy waves. Just grab random sections and tong then ruffle it all up (and sometimes more dry shampoo than is necessary). I find if my hair is "done" I feel so much better. That and good sunglasses.

nigella such a useful list!

A nice coat is my top tip. Doesn't matter what is underneath then you always look tidy. And a nice scarf hides baby sick and jelly belly :) And setting clothes out the night before so that you don't have to think of t in the morning. If I was going somewhere when the DC were babies then I would wear an old tshirt round the house in the morning so that when it inevitably got dirty (reflux babies) then I could just pull on my 'nice' top as I was leaving the house.

And once you've got your nice coat, hang it on a coat hanger rather than a coat hook, it'll hold its shape better and you'll be able to see easily of there are any fluffy bits sticking to it before you put it on.

On the subject of 'fluffy bits' I always feel like I'm the master of my own destiny when I depile and clothes brush my woollens. It's not a quick win though, you need a good 30 mins to get through four jumpers and a coat.

YY to a long line vest top under tops. Nothing worse than knowing your knickers/bum crack is on display when crawling around at a baby sensory class/toddler group.

I sympathise. I have a 5 month old and feel completely lost as to what my style even is anymore. I feel frumpy and haggard!!! It makes me feel better to find half an hour just to sort my hair and put on some make up but even that isn't possible all the time. Great list nigella, I will be following some of your tips.

Downtowndiva I agree on the sunglasses. 😎

Get a nanny 😁

Another one with an eight month old here. I was always a dresses and heels person before so it's been an interesting transition..!

My tip is sweater dresses (the ones made out of actual sweatshirt material) and leggings to avoid the monotony of jeans every day. They're actually more comfy and easier to move around in, as well as being easier to wash.

Second a large leather handbag rather than a change bag.

Cream blusher takes seconds to apply and I instantly look more human when I'm wearing it.

Hair is my nemesis and I haven't yet worked out how to make that bit look good!

Oh and I agree with cakes about the "in the house" top. DD is a sicky baby so I have a few asda t shirts which are like my overalls when I'm indoors. How glamorous!

Great ideas here.
I second the good hair cut and colour - I always ask for a style I can maintain easily and replicate in the mornings before I go out the door without much hassle - no time for heated rings or straighteners - but it s amazing what you can do with salt spray ....

A nice Coat / blazer

I tend to wear sweaters or jumpers with a nice detail and jeans or jersey tube skirt and boots/ brogues / trainers depending on the weather. The key i find is also taking care of your stuff - have enough to rotate it so you don't feel you re wearing the same jeans and sweater every day, if boots shoes get scuffedir worn - polish wipe or re heel them, same if you get grubby hands on a coat - baby wipes are a saviour - when I take stuff off I give it a quick once over so it s in good wearable condition the next time I want it.

For days at home I also have a small cross body bag - for phone purse keys and tissues and a seperate tote for baby gear rather than one large voluminous tote that everything gets lost in ...

I find that hanging said toddler around one's neck is most stylish. Or around the waist like a belt?

Good coats, think leather biker, wool camel coat or a smart mac instead of anoraks.
Trendy shoes - never been easier to look stylish and be comfortable with all the trainers that are in fashion at the moment e.g. Stan smiths.
I've tried to stay away from what had become my mum uniform of jersey top (often striped!) and blue jeans. Even just wearing black trousers or jeans feels smarter and less dowdy, somehow. Plain separates like grey tshirts, a white blouse, crew neck jumpers all work well in different combos and can be layered.
Agree with others about tidy hair and nails.
I feel so much better about myself now I love got out of the rut of wearing the same clothes all the time.
Worth following a few bloggers on Instagram too if you're on there. Chloelovestoshop, dresslikeamum, thefashionlift, ifthebabyallows, stylemum, myfashionable30s, shotfromthestreet, meandmywardrobe..., there are loads.

I drink turmeric lemonade every morning, or two hours before going out. Tastes revolting but makes an enormous difference and makes me look and feel alive and radiant even when have been awake and being puked on all night!

I have an almost-one-year-old and I think the secret has been establishing a uniform of sorts. At least 80% of my wardrobe is black, white or navy. Almost every day I wear Uniqlo skinny cords and an interesting shirt or jumper (I wear loads of Cos) with either black chelsea boots or Adidas gazelles. I do have a good makeup stash and some nice accessories from pre-baby days (sample sale and Ebay finds), and I just treated myself to an Acne Canada scarf in burgundy. I can't shop much and have to do it mostly online so I don't really do fast fashion at all, just classic stuff. I dress a lot more boyishly than I used to - I still use the sling and breastfeed so practicality is super important. But I've stopped caring about looking hot, I just want to look like a cool beatnik. Pockets! Jumpers! Collars! Oddly I
am more into clothes than I have been for ages.