I don't know what my mummy look is!

[Rainatnight]

I've always considered myself (without wanting to sound like a wanker) a fairly stylish person. I always know what to wear, am interested in clothes, people compliment my clothes and I've helped people find outfits etc.

But I can't find my mummy look! We've adopted a beautiful amazing baby girl and I'm having the most lovely time. But I went straight from work to adoption leave with barely any notice and my mind, let's say, has been on other things.

I'm wearing the one pair of jeans and its begun to drive me mad.

My style generally is at the prettier end of Cos - not the big voluminous stuff, but the nice structured dresses. I wear a lot of black. I'm short. I need to be comfortable for crawling around on the floor with a baby.

I'm at a loss! Any ideas?

Cos have loads of nice things in at the moment. Go there and try on a couple of outfits that you can imagine wearing in your 'new' life.

For me, that might be things for coffee shop outings, park walks and the odd baby class - a pair of side zip trousers, - couple of jersey tops, couple of nice pieces of knitwear. Plus some knee length dresses I coutd wear with thick tights and ankle boots so still remaining decent when sitting in the floor. I found jewellery too tempting for the little-ins at baby stage (back in a big way now she's 3).

Think about them as outfits, and you'll be grand.

Oh and washable!

Congrats on your adoption!

(Perhaps don't refer to yourself as 'mummy' to other adults though )

Many congrats on your adoption!

But WTF is a 'Mummy look'?

Ok 'mummy look' might not have been the best choice of words (though I did mean it slightly ironically). But you know what I mean - what I'm going to wear as a mum. For crawling around, cleaning up, but not feeling like I'm always in the same old jeans and tshirt.

Congratulations on your adoption. My mummy look consisted of one pair of jeans, dead eyes and vomit on my shoulder.

I wear the same things as a mum as I did before!

Congrats on your adoption!

dead eyes

What I wore before doesn't really work, alas (apart from the jeans). Not practical.

Wear much what you wore before.

But choose the easy-to-wash version

The crawling around the floor stage is very temporary. Mine are 3 and 1 and I don't do any crawling any more!
Rather than dresses, can you adapt with smart jeans and structured, pretty tops?

I know what you mean by mummy look OP! And that it is meant somewhat ironically. I don't know what mine is yet either. All I've bought so far is a denim shirt dress which goes well with pre-LO leggings and Ugg type boots. No more necklaces due to tiny grabby hands, though I'm still wearing earrings for now as LO not yet that coordinated with the grabbing. It's hard wearing naice clothes knowing they'll get vommed on at any moment though. Denim dress lasted 20 minutes before vom decoration arrived

Crossed with your last (not flatly contradicting you).

But it's hard to imagine anything that's a no-no for the fecund. Though things like vertiginous heels do tend to fail the practicality test, and small children might grab (and destroy) things with lots of fringing, frills and furbelows

(Idly wonders if buyers for M&S have wardrobes entirely made up of the things they choose for sale, because perhaps I can imagine something that would need a total overhaul)

I had/have the same problem. I've lived in Jeans and grey/black tops for a year now. I have to go back to work next week and it's a very young "cool" office. I'm scared.

Some new jeans, good quality t-shirts (cos are great for these), sweatshirts with something a bit stylish about them (loads of these around cos and &mother stories would be a good start). I tend to stick to quite simple things but in a good colour/ fabric/ with something added for extra interest like ruffles on sweatshirts at the moment. A high waisted jean is better for all the bending over, I like to wear with a belt and then tuck a bit of my t-shirt in so it doesn't just hang.

If I want to stray away from jeans then I go for a loose-ish tailored trousers that I can wear with casual shoes.

What kind of footwear do you like?

Again, I read one of your posts and think 'snap'!

I've found that nothing stays clean or vomit free for more than 12 hours, so I've gone for the multiple pairs of vaguely different cheap jeans/jean skirts and harbour tops look (original, huh?) along with a scarf if required (scarfs are great for any last minute hiding of vomit marks you've not previously noticed).

Have also bought a few simple tunic dresses which I can throw on without having to even engage my brain (not usually a dress person at all).

Four weeks after placement, I treated myself to a decent across the body bag as a treat to myself (I've never actually used the nappy bag I so carefully chose!) and also got some lower heeled boots in a sale as I'm usually a higher heels girl. However, the shoes I'm most grateful for are some Moshulu (washable) slippers I had for Xmas. Would usually hate slippers, but have lived in them during the first few months of adoption leave.

Anything that's dry clean only has been put to the back of my wardrobe and Vanish Gold has become my friend!

I know what you mean OP! Back later with some ideas and for inspiration

I know what you mean too. I need things that I can just pull on so I tend to wear jeans and t shirts or vest tops most of the time but I've invested in some really nice scarves and cardis that make me feel a bit nicer.
Shoes - converse/toms/gazelles/ flat boots are all comfy and I can chase a boy on a scooter in them!

In the summer jersey dresses and havianas work well

Marmalade 😂** mine too, but after 8 years I've still got the dead eyes!

Jersey dresses like those Joules nautical ones would be good.

I saw last summer but they must do similar this year light blue and white striped t shirt or long sleeved top for about £12 in Cos that would work well.

Oasis do nice long sleeved tshirts.

I know exactly what you mean. I found it easier to get a bit of a uniform going - mostly black/white/navy with a bit of burgundy and yellow thrown in. I just got used to doing a wash a day.

My best buys in the first year of being a mum were good trainers, 4 pairs of Uniqlo cord leggings, one navy & Other Stories boilersuit, a yellow Stutterheim raincoat on sale (woo), the COS long oversized shirt (two navy, one white), and of stuff I already had, I wore the Whistles Helena drawstring trousers in navy and black whenever I needed to look a bit smarter.

abc if you're after nice cardigans this Emily and Fin one is perfect, I got a similar one in duck egg blue in a sale in local boutique this winter and it's a really nice cardigan, nice weight etc. I get the feeling it'd last too.

emilyandfin.co.uk/shop/knitwear/mae-cardigan-emerald-green

Thank you!

Rufus, we are living parallel lives! I endlessly Google cross body bags as displacement activity when I can't sleep and am worrying about DD. Which one did you get?

Funkin Brilliant, thank you! The idea of sweat shirts with something going on has really helped unlock it for me. &Other Stories has some puff sleeved sweaters at the moment. I love a puff sleeve. And a batwing. On shoes, I like heels, but what I actually wear are flats, shiny brogues and the like.

Glamorous I'm all ears!

Pistachio Drawstring trousers are a great idea.

Little Good luck in the new job!

Ps so far, she doesn't vomit very much. And when she does, it's just a little genteel spewing. So that's not a major consideration.

(Prepares self for major D and V onslaught now that I've tempted fate.)

I went from pencil dresses and high heels to jeggings, vest, shirt/long sleeved top and flat boots as my 'mummy look'

Oh yes and cross body bags so both hands are free!