Help me! Mid thirties crisis

[MobLife]

I've spent the last 5.5 years either pregnant or breastfeeding, and finally last month I stopped feeding my toddler

That week I looked in my wardrobe and realised I hadn't bought anything decent since before my first DC was born-anything I have bought has either been maternity wear or BF friendly

So I've come shopping today planning to get an entirely new wardrobe and I've bought nothing apart from a pair of trousers....for work

I literally don't know what I'm doing! Feel like a kid who's been let out into town on their own for the first time and thinks it's really exciting but then gets there and realises it's scary and big.
Where do I even begin figuring out what I want to look like? I'm not even sure I know who the heck I am anymore!
I've seen lots of people walking around looking so 'done' and put together but I feel lost

For what it's worth I've got a half decent figure despite the tummy apron (which I've grudgingly accepted isn't going anywhere) so I feel like it shouldn't be hard to get nice clothes and yet.....

Please guide me!

I remember this feeling! I had always been so into clothes, and really felt I had lost my way. I started out small, too hard and too much pressure to go for a whole day. I live in an area with lovely clothing stores, so just started off buying a piece a month. Expensive, but something I really love and wore a lot. Look in the windows, if it looks like your style, go in, don’t be afraid to ask for help. One girl was so kind to me, I’ll never forget. I was like a project! Coming up 50 and have the best wardrobe. My 15 year old shops in it. Good mix of basic and unique pieces.

Start with something you wear all the time. Jeans? Wideleg, skinny, mom? Go for it.

See it, love it, buy it
Dithering, don’t get it

Agree a new wardrobe is over whelming at the best of times. Jump on Pinterest first do a little research

Just order a bunch of stuff online and send back what you don’t like. I’m a fan of Zara’s measurement system.. their sizes are whack and you could be a S in one garment and a L in another, but if you enter your height, weight, build and age it’ll give you guidance on what size to choose. Maybe look at the daily outfit thread on here for inspiration?

@MobLife
Get on pinterest and search something innocuous - "winter outfits" or some such.

Pin anything you like, don't overthink it - just pin. Then look back over them all and start to identify any common themes...

Do a few of them features blouses tucked into wide-leg jeans, or chunky knit jumpers over leather-look jeggings and spike-heel boots... do lots of your choices feature lots of layered jewellery? Minamalist? Monochrome or lots of colour? Minimalist or richly textured velvet blazers? Start to notice the things that are catching your eye and then build a little wishlist from there...

I'm in the same boat as you, same age and still breastfeeding a toddler. A few months ago decided I was sick of looking crap and I also realised fashion had completely changed and none of my clothes worked.

Top tips: Jeans shapes are now baggier, loose, cropped. Anything goes really except in my opinion , v tight skinnies, particularly for daytime. Go try on lots of them in M&S or Topshop and find your new jean shape.

Coats: They really make an outfit. I think
M&S and Zara have amazing ones at the moment. Love a neutral coloured coat with a grey leather crossbody bag. But statement coats work too. We wear them so much in Winter, why be boring. eBay great for coats.

Zara have brilliant tops at the moment. All the about the statement sleeve/shoulder. Find a few tops in there you like and you can guarantee they're on-trend.

Pleather: loads of great fake leather out. Love cropped leather culottes trousers , or an a-line mini with black tights and cashmere knit.

I also got a great expensive haircut and spent some money in Charlotte Tilbury(it's all about the eyebrows now!)

Feel so fab after a 5 year baby haze. It's nice to do something for myself for once and I'm a better mum for it!
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