Very small, casual capsule wardrobe for (chubs) new mum?

[DarkRoomDarren]

Any ideas please?

Ideally I’m looking for clothes with workable access for breastfeeding / pumping.

I am 5’8”, a size 14/16, (actually, more like a 16 if I’m being honest) and apple shape. Very big tummy now, due to two pregnancies and one csection. I’ve had to have a lot of hair chopped off recently, to shoulder length, which doesn’t especially suit me, so I’m already feeling a bit frumpy (boo). So, I just need a few staples which all go together so I don’t have to put much thought into dressing. Hopefully a wardrobe refresh might make me look a bit more presentable and less tired and frumpy!

I’m on a bit of a budget as I’m a sahm and I also am trying to lose some weight, so don’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes which I might (wishful thinking) not fit for long.

When I was in this position I left dd with DH for an hour and just hit Primark. £50 later I had a pair of skinny jeans (after trying on 6 pairs! High waisted are good) some leggings, a couple of tops, a couple of shirts (good with a vest for feeding) and a pair of pumps. Lived in this in rotation for a good while!
Sainsburys currently have 25% off so you could try there too?
I'm getting a bit more adventurous now and able to fit in some of my old clothes but I found it helped to have a 'uniform' of sorts and to know I had clothes that fitted!

Thanks.

Yes, a uniform is exactly what I need!

I’ll take a look in Sainsbury’s over the weekend if I get the chance. I’ve had a few nice things from there over the years.

I think making time to try on is important. Otherwise I just buy online and end up with things which sort of fit and cba to exchange them, so I just wear them for a brief while before I decide they aren’t right and donate them .

I've very loosely followed this.... Mostly purchased from boohoo and new look and used bits I already had in my wardrobe. Can dress up or down and add other bits

I feel your pain - this was me this time last year. High waisted stretchy jeans, with camisole tops and cardigans. You can wear 2 camisoles for OUOD or I got a couple of cheap floaty camisoles from H&M and cut slits across the boobs in the bottom layer. Also got a great wrap dress from Oasis which I put a popper on the chest so it was a bit more decent over enormous boobs but I could ping it open to BF.

Thanks all. Some good ideas there.

Re access to feed - all I did was buy some vest tops that I wore under everything. Then when I needed to feed baby I unhooked bra cup and pulled bra and vest top down off the breast, then just lifted the top I was wearing up. It means top of breast and stomach are covered whilst giving easy access to feed.

I also blitzed Primark. They always have these viscose blouses with buttons down the front and are nice and wide at the bottom hem so they slip nicely over a post baby belly. And they also do vest that are quite long for underneath.

Definitely don't waste money on specific nursing clothes.

Scrappy top/ vest top with a tshirt or jumper over the top. Top layer up, vest top down, unclip nursing bra and instant boob access. Way more discreet than unbuttoning a shirt etc so easier if you feel at all self conscious.