Mat leave/school run

[Noathleisureplease]

Please tell me how to update my wardrobe to reflect my current lifestyle! Gone are my days of working every day in the city with nice outfits and handbags. I now work largely from home and am also currently on mat leave with a very young baby and a school aged child. I spend most of my time walking with the pram, being puked on and spending time in cold playgrounds/watching swimming lessons etc. Most mums near me seem to go for the athleisure look - they look great but it's just not me! My favourite brands are sezane and whistles so I think I prefer to be slightly on the smarter side of things. I don't really like to wear trainers....

Any suggestions, particularly for coats and shoes? I find myself resorting to my old skinny jeans and short wellies for practicality but hating it! And how to look slightly smarter when everything needs a regular job wash (sicky baby means my cashmere is out). I'm tall and slim.

I’ve got the same problem, well, I like leisurewear but I want to look smarter and less like a teenager.
I’m now wearing Chelsea type boots and a coat from Isabel Marant, sometimes quality leather trainers ( Sans Martin) or a trench, with black trousers from Saint and Sofia- Finsbury and Keller pants. I need more ideas though please!

Well it sounds like you need to work out what you personal style is and then plan a wardrobe that works for your like style. There’s an influencer called Allison Bornstein who developed the “three word method” which seems a starting point. I think it would be easy to find an explanation online. Once you have your words you could review the contents of your wardrobe and see if any pieces could transition either now or in the future once you’re past the baby sick stage. I’ve thought about this a lot recently and I’ve realised the shapes I really like to wear are very tailored. The challenge for me is how to wear tailored looks so they’re not too formal. What was it about your old lifestyle clothes that you liked and are there slightly less formal versions that work for you? A cotton shirt rather than a silk shirt for example. I think it will pay to do the thinking about this before you start buying items of clothing. Amy Smilovic from the fashion brand Tibi has a cool philosophy on multi purpose clothes and has a very pared back look herself. She posts a ton of videos on Instagram regarding personal style.

Also love Sezane and French clothes. I'm about to go on my second mat leave, and will also be doing a lot of dog walking. I've already bought some good quality cold machine washable jumpers and cropped chunky cardigans, which I'll be wearing with high waisted wide legged jeans. I know I can't be bothered to constantly hand wash cashmere or iron shirts, so I'm avoiding those. I've also bought some non-athleisure black leggings to wear with longer knits for comfort.

Footwear wise I do wear trainers a lot. I am very slobby at the moment and want to look a bit better put together, so any tips here gratefully received.

I also need to make sure to do my hair, because I know I feel so much better when it's groomed (curly/frizzy naturally)

Thanks for the responses! I think I do have a fairly good idea of my personal style - probably classic British with hints of dark academia/well dressed librarian 😃. Strong penchant for a victoriana collar and a some interesting earrings. Recently I have found myself really drifting away from trends and feeling like I want to be dig into my own style. No desire to be 'current'. I am however really struggling to identify anyone who nails that style to be 'inspired'. Sezane is probably a little too 'polished' and Whistles can be a little too 'city' for both my location and my lifestyle. That was very meandering but hopefully someone out there knows what I'm getting at 😀.

Something like Wyse or is that way off the mark?

Not off the mark - I do like a lot of their stuff, mainly the plainer things. Some of it is too bright and colourful for me. I do like some Brora too - mainly the silk dresses - but they are both hideously expensive and highly impractical.

I'm struggling with silk and cashmere etc in my wardrobe too, and it not suiting my current lifestyle!

Maybe Me&Em, and some of the (less tartan) stuff in House of Bruar. I've had some great bits from both.

I'm here for some more recommendations also

If your off duty style is a little more polished, I would build a uniform based on a pair of good trousers or jeans, boots and a few good coats. I’m not into athleisure and my own weekend uniform is wide leg black trousers or wide leg jeans with a tucked in sweater or shirt, a long coat (in winter I rotate a trench mac, black and camel wool coat), thick sole chelsea boots, loafers or chunky white trainers, jewellery and I have good hair and make-up. It’s a polished, but easy look. If I were into dark academia my uniform would look something like wide leg black corduroy trousers, dark green sweater and swap my red lipstick for a plum shade.

There was actually a dark academia thread a while ago that you might find helpful.

I love the idea of well-dressed librarian chic :)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4915762-dark-academia-2-the-conversation-continues?page=1

Hi here’s the second part of the Dark Academia thread - it might have some recommendations that work. I was in it for a little while but my tastes are a bit more urban. I like men’s blazers and would probably wear them with wide legged trousers or jeans. In winter I’d do brown boots and a battered leather rucksack for the baby bits. I’d probably swap out my cashmere for cotton sweaters / boyfriend cardigans just for ease of washing and pair with big scarves ( but I’m talking me here). But have a look. I think Vinted might be your friend if you have time.