Non-mumsy dressing for mums

[Diorissimo1985]

I am feeling rather lost style-wise since having DD 8 months ago. My pre-pregnancy clothes do fit now but they look wrong somehow.. my body seems to have changed shape and I don't get the feeling of being well-dressed and smart anymore.

So I am looking for a style overhaul and would love some suggestions of where to shop for high quality (no polyester!) basics and a few more interesting pieces.

My ideal style is quite classic/preppy and I always want to look a bit continental (snorted with laughter then). I used to shop in H&M mainly and also Zara sometimes. I am 31, 5'5", pear shaped and rather short limbed...

Would love some ideas please!

I don't think I'm especially stylish, but after a terribly unstylish couple of years, I've adopted the mantra ' would Claire Underwood wear it?', which I guess means preppy. Funnily enough, I still don't look like her. But I do sometimes look like me dressed a bit like her, which is an improvement.

I like Jigsaw for 'nice' stuff, and also Hobbs, which I think is one of the few high street shops whose quality has not declined lately. I've found a gorgeous cotton dress there to wear to a wedding this weekend, a very flattering structured cut and lovely pattern. Jigsaw has lovely knitwear, in stylish colours, which looks good with dark jeans.

Boden for winter dresses and classics like Bretons, not so much for jersey dresses printed with sunglasses etc. They do a few simple summer dresses which look nice in black with tan sandals.

Fat Face pima cotton t-shirts are excellent and their cotton basics like chino shorts can be really good.

I've found a navy linen t-shirt dress in Next this year and it's washing up well each time. They also do great cotton ' boyfriend' shirts which I guess works for a preppy style and I find their life, slim and shape jeans work well for me.

Finally, my recent big find ( I'm
very behind) has been Uniqlo. Their merino knitwear is excellent value.

Thanks @Boogle! I agree about Boden - the print stuff is not me at all but I will check for basics.
The point about quality is interesting - I feel I'm looking for good quality well-cut clothes but they are so hard to find!! Never shopped in Uniqlo either ... off to Google

Place marking x

I thought I was too old for Jack Wills until my daughter started shopping there. They do some really nice basics and smart casual dresses. Crew also do really nice quality clothes and their sales are great. Fat Face and White Stuff smock dresses are the mummy uniform round here and most of them look like they’ve given up and gone to live on a farm herding sheep, but the t-shirts and cardis can be lovely.

Agree about jack wills, if you ignore the labelled hoody’s etc. I got loads of lovely striped dresses that are really flattering and a camel coat. Quite preppy and smart.

I'm a little bit like you OP, I like a slightly preppy/classic/european style especially as I get older (am 49) and realise that quirky "on trend" looks faintly ridiculous on me (trying too hard).

Try J Crew, Baukjen, Hush for quality basics. If you use discount codes and shop the sales you can get some bargains. I bought this for summer recently (am shorter than the model so its just on the knee for me)

www.jcrew.com/uk/p/womens_category/beachcoverups/racerback-tank-dress-in-stripe/F0823?color_name=ivory-cobalt

This skirt from Baukjen is fab

www.baukjen.com/uk/baukjen-sale/skirts-sale/gabriella-relaxed-skirt-navy-and-off-white-stripes.htm

and the red and white striped relaxed top is also really flattering

www.baukjen.com/uk/baukjen-sale/tops-sale/hanna-relaxed-top-red-white-stripe.htm

Love all those links caterpuller and Baukjen is new to me actually

Another preppy fan here.

I have the Baukjen Zoe top and it’s the best Breton ever. It washes so well, doesn’t need ironing, hangs beautifully, and I’ve split so much stuff on it (because it’s the most expensive top I own, obviously) it’s on sale atm, just buy it you won’t regret it. It comes up a bit bigger so I went a size down to usual. It really is worth paying that bit more for good fabrics.

Also the Gap bi-stretch trousers - smarter than jeans but just as comfortable, fit really well. Only trousers that have ever fitted me properly (short, curvy legs, big bum) they come in many lengths and patterns.

I’m also a fan of Boden dresses (plain not patterned) they can be dressed up or down and I find they’re cut for a more womanly figure - I have no luck in places like Zara that cut for skinny 5”10 17 year olds.

That should say I spilt so much on it and it’s all washed out!

I have a few dresses from here (I also recommended them on another thread earlier today, about synthetic fabrics - honestly I don’t work for them)

They are all cotton, fully lined and have pockets! The only thing is being cotton they do need a decent iron.

Emily and finn

Op you are only 31 and you don't want to look mumsy, you don't have to wear Fat Face and Boden or even Hush yet - they are all lovely quality but the literal definition of mum style.
If you want to look unmumsy then I'd strongly recommend a trip back to Zara - much more on trend, reasonable and if you're bfing there are a ton of shirt dress and loose styles that I am excited to be wearing once DD3 arrives shortly.
If your budget allows I would SO strongly recommend a half day with a stylist - you can find some good recommendations online and look around their insta/FB/blogs to see if their style clicks with you at all. I did this after dd2 when my shape somehow changed completely (I went from looking like a 10 year old boy to looking like a 10 year old boy with boobs and a pot belly, it alarmed me completely), and the £200 or so I spent for an afternoon was completely paid back by how much I saved on mistaken purchases, and how she hunted out some amazing bargains. DH paid for the session as a present and I used some of my savings and birthday gift from my family to cover the extra, it made me feel so much better.
Other friends of mine have also done it before going back to work, if you don't fit / like your old work wardrobe may be worth considering that too.

Department stores often have their own service, but I've heard it's more hit and miss than choosing someone you know you click with (and who IST restricted to one store). Or the Westfield service could also be good, never tried it myself...

I should add I’m 30, not a Mum, and don’t look mumsy - I just like better quality clothes most of the time.

Thanks all - been looking online this morning and Zara seems to be cut for skinnier people than me! I have especially short legs with generous thighs and I feel I don't have the right shape for most of their clothes

Baukjen is lovely but pricey...!

With Zara I do think you have to go in person, their ranges are big and their fit varies. I was there 2 weeks ago with my sister who is an hourglass shape, size 14 and 5"2 and she found a ton of things including some lovely boyfriend jeans and some great dresses and skirts. She also loves oasis for jeans, their clothes are still on the younger side but also feminine, but most important apparently accommodate proper bums (I'm flat so wouldn't know, sniff!)

Ooh thanks for the Oasis tip!

Some online orders arrived today and I'm keeping the plain wrap dress from Boden (flattering fit and easy to dress up) and some Zara striped shirt dresses. They are a bit long on me but never mind, they are really lovely on

If you like continental style, come across to the Parisienne style thread!
Are you looking for work or casual clothes? For casual I’d recommend getting some well cut tshirts / tops. I got some nice cotton ones (washable!) from Reiss and Jigsaw this summer. Worth a trail of the sale remnants to see if there’s anything you like. Pair with some straight jeans or perhaps linen culottes / widelegs and add some nice sandals or slides and you’ve got a child friendly but stylish outfit. If you’re a pear, best to go for tops that are fitted on the waist or tuck them in so you emphasise your narrowest point.

I would say identify your current body shape, gaps in your wardrobe, what colour neutrals are your best and then develop a plan.

How are your accessories? Do you have the sort of shoes you like to pull it all together?

Build a basic capsule based on the above and add to it accordingly.

In order to stretch your budget buy your winter stuff in summer and
Summer stuff at the end of the summer season if possible.

It is worth buying better stuff on eBay than compromising on quality.

Take a look at the Vivienne Files and Unfancy blog for useful wardrobe planning ideas then work that into your personal style.

I have found good quality stuff from The White Company, Pure Collection, John Lewis weekend, Woolovers, Jigsaw, Autograph and Phase Eight. For shorties with chunky legs -Next jersey denim leggings are comfortable and flattering for when you want the look of skinnies.

most of them look like they’ve given up and gone to live on a farm herding sheep
Snorted.
That baukjen skirt looks lovely!