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Feeling frumpy after babies

6 replies

Tamtam86 · 17/05/2020 07:21

Help! I seem to have lost all sense of personal style! I've had two children pretty close together so have spent the last 3 years either pregnant or breastfeeding and I seem to have forgotten how to dress myself Hmm

I feel like I need to start again from scratch, all of my old clothes are either too small or look wrong (pre baby I was size 8/10 and had a very flat stomach and wore skirts with fitted waists, tight ish tops etc and I'm not that shape anymore!) I'm currently doing the mutu system which is helping but I'm not back to the shape I want to be yet, and I've got about a stone to lose.

I see people on here saying they spent a lot of time learning about clothes and working out what looks good... Where do I start? I'm willing to put in the time and effort but I just feel so lost!

I want to look effortlessly stylish... Which I'm aware takes a lot more effort than it appears!

OP posts:
MoltoAgitato · 17/05/2020 09:23

Figure out what you do first. If you’re back at work you’re going to need different clothes than if you’re at home all then time, going to toddler groups etc.

Good haircut, short, clean nails, good skin.

Then underwear. No holey socks, no faded knickers where the elastic has gone and good bras that fit. A critical mass of seam free pants.

I try and buy stuff that only goes with things I already have, so no wardrobe orphans.

Start with jeans, t shirt, long sleeve tops. There are loads of good capsule wardrobe ideas on Pinterest - something like 10 items, a month of outfits.

But most importantly, just think and plan. No just chucking whatever is to hand on (though this gets easier when your wardrobe is In a good state).

ladykuga · 17/05/2020 09:50

Get yourself on Pinterest. Type in something you like to wear (eg. Pleated skirts outfit/ideas) and you'll open up a whole new world of fashion ideas and things you wouldn't have thought of. Replicate your own version of what you like and your new amazing wardrobe will build from there. Have fun.

Packingsoapandwater · 17/05/2020 11:15

Tamtam, I had this problem.

Molto is right. First thing to do is figure out where you go in a week, and what you need for it. Then start with basics.

Someone recommended a site on here about building a capsule wardrobe, and I took a look at that. I can't remember the address but you started with a pair of casual trousers in black, navy or biscuit and went on from there.

Unfortunately, about a year later, I then started to lose the remaining weight, so it all got a bit baggy, but one of the most important things I learnt from the experience was to get your shoes right.

For me, that was leather, softino-type plimsoles that I could run around in, walk a long way in, wear to soft play etc, but also looked smarter than a pair of trainers.

I built my casual wardrobe from that point with comfortable, fairly hard-wearing, cotton trousers in navy, black etc and then bought cotton t-shirts and tops to go with them, so I had an interchangeable set of garments to throw on every day without much thought, and still look put together.

Then, from that, I started to get more formal. I bought dresses that could be dressed up or down, so I could wear them with said plimsoles or sandals during a nice day, or dress them up with tights and courts for meetings or evenings.

I found that post baby, I needed different shapes. I too was very fitted pre-baby, but those silhouettes just looked weird afterwards. Instead, I went for dresses that had a slight tulip shape on the skirt and a wider sleeve.

Got to be honest, with money being tight, I dissected the M&S website and got most of my trousers and t-shirts from there because I knew they would wash reasonably well. My dresses I picked up from all over, and quite a few were cheap bargains I found in online sales (one of my best finds was only £20).

Tamtam86 · 17/05/2020 15:37

Thank you, this is all really great advice.

I'm going to spend some time on Pinterest tonight after the kids are in bed.

I think like you @Packingsoapandwater I need different shapes now, I just need to work out what they are! It's quite daunting suddenly having a completely different body shape than the one you've been dressing your entire adult life

OP posts:
Packingsoapandwater · 18/05/2020 22:54

Tam, I tried different stuff, things I never would have bought before. Some worked, some didn't.

I also found my colours changed, weirdly. I reckon it was because I had changed as a person through having dd, and now had a side to my character that just wasn't served by my previous wardrobe.

arinah · 19/05/2020 18:26

I have 2 DC, DS is 4 and DD is 4 months. I BF DS for 2 years and found it easy to bounce back - my body actually looked much better than before, since I now have curves! I'm currently exclusively BF DD as well, but can imagine this time round it will be harder to bounce back.
I've never been able to do the capsule wardrobe method as I just love varying colours etc, but I do tend to stick to a particular style of clothing. Shirt dresses work for me in terms of being able to BF easily, and have found that skater style ones in particular help to create a figure that hides my current kangaroo pouch! Then I can just whack on some leggings or tights and I'm good to go :)

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