Please help me I'm lost in a post-baby fashion wilderness

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Another one in need of a wardrobe update post baby. I'm feeling a bit lost by my new shape and role in life. I am 35 and unsure what I can wear anymore (at my age). My post baby body is currently size 12 and I am 5ft 4. I have a bit of a wobbly midriff and I am bfeeding so boobs around a C/D cup.

I have a 3.5 yo and a 4mo to contend with and live in a muddly village in the middle of nowhere so heels though lovely will not be possible to wear. I would like to feel up to date and fashionable and attractive.

I have recently purchased these, which look good (if slightly tight on the waist) but I'm not sure what to wear with them .

I am mainly wearing long sleeved t shirts, jeans (bootcut) and fleeces (Patagonia) . I tend not to wear black.

My hair could do with an update too but that could be a whole other thread.

Thank you lovely ladies. I await your wisdom with baited breath.

bump

I have a similar problem myself with clothes I'm afraid. Hair I can help with...

I am in a similar position really.

I have bought some tops from Joe Browns after a recommendation on here.

I find i feel smarter if i have a shirt (hesitate to use the word 'blouse' ) on rather than my normal long-sleeved T.

The jeans are more adventurous than i would wear so you're ahead of me there!

Last weekend i bought a couple of lighter tops and vests to wear underneath, will see if i can find them and post links (not that i know naything about fashion but they feel nice to me!), thought they would work into the spring/summer...

Hello HMHB

Looking good with 2 LOs and living in the middle of a field is a bit of a challenge - I'm in a similar position myself .

I think the jeans are a good start - you need some nice boots to go with them - it's quite late in the season but you will be able to wear them next year too. Try Duo here.

I do lust after a pair of Dubarry boots to trek through the mud!

I would try layering tops/tunic/knits over the jeans as everyday wear - try either Uniqlo or American Apparel.

Layering might be difficult at the moment because of bfing - LTEC is an expert on this, she'll probaby be along in a minute but I think the Princesse Tam Tam dress has been a favourite this year.

A lovely big slouchy satchel would be good - perhaps Sara Bermann here

Good luck!

JKS - I did want to get some blue straight leg jeans but they were sold out. This whole new layering tops thing confuses me.

Driven - my hair is nearly shoulder length and I have a side parting and a grown out fringe. I would love a fringe but am scared that a) I will not be able to keep it looking nice and b) that I will look like garth from waynes world.
My hair nirvana would be Penny from Holby city. In fact she always looks great although she is a lot younger than little old me and I'm not sure I could carry it off.

hello!! LTEC is here. She of the breastfeeding expertise

just marking my place and promise I will be along over the weekend to post fully. I take the fashion + bfing equation very seriously

thanks porridge!!!

Thanks for all the links porrige. Is it possible to be country practical and fashionable?

I do have some brown, flat boots from a few years ago that may work with the jeans (and the mud).

I'll have a shufty at Uniqlo and American Apparel. . .

oooh

Well I can't figure out the Zara website so can't help there - but i found a smartish top + vests there.

Also bought this in M&S with a blue vest to go underneath.

Both slightly spoilt atm by having to wear some kind of jumper on top but hoping will be good later on in the year.

Plus, I have some short sleeved t-shirts that are a bit more interesting than my usual plain, one from Joe Browns, one from Gap, that make me feel a bit smarted - again better for warmer weather though.

The Gap website doesn't have the tshirt i bought - but it was similar to their Red Collection.

The JB one is here

& the JB shirts I like are here

Hello!

I'm 7 months post dc3 and also bf.

I also live rurally but don't let that stop my love of heels but am a tiny 5ft so they're necessary to stop me looking like a child.

I wear a lot of skinny jeans, vest top underneath long sleeved top and cropped cardigans.

Am back to my normal weight so have invested in good jeans, lovely tops (jigsaw or american vintage) and cashmere cardigans (boden and brora sale).

Nice scarves help too I find.

However I am bored to death of winter and focusing on spring. I'll still be bf come the spring so am planning on wearing lots of skinny jeans (white) and vest tops or blouses (I love the whole victoriana/governess look) with heels.

Am doing cloggs and swedish hasbeens for footwear.

You should come over to the shop more wisely thread - we post many many links every day. Its great for style but not so good for your bank balance .

Oh and I've also tried to wear more colour and dresses - bf can work well if they have buttons.

Sorry - its a bit of a ramble - have had wine.

HMHB - check out the Heatech tops at Uniqlo - they're nice and thin and they do these t shirts which have anti deordorising properties - made from shellfish (yes really!!!). Oasis is good at the moment too.

And if you can wear hats - do - they cover a multitude of sins!

Boots sound fine - I have some brown nubuck slouchy ones from Clarks a few years ago that I don't mind getting muddy - actually they don't show the mud at all . They look good with skinnies or jeggings.

LTEC - thankyou!

THanks JKS - can't get the JB links to work but am having a look on the gap website...

Thanks tracybath - good to hear that you can be trendy, bfeed and live in the country!

I have to admit I have had a look at the shop more wisely thread but was too scared to post.

Porridge - I do suit hats but only have wooly ones at the minute. I do like a scruffy looking boot. I have seen a few nice ones in river island but often a bit too high.

Right, will be reading this thread with interest over the weekend. Off to bed now to feed DD. Night all.

HMHB - I don't know whether others will agree, but I found the 'henley' it all it's forms a vital addition to my BF wardrobe. I have several long-sleeved t-shirts, a tunic and a dress.

In general I tend to wear dresses with flat boots (mine are Duo) - less decisions to make in the morning!

I second the cashmere cardigan recommendation - I have two from Pure which have seen me through the whole winter.

Ali have you got a link to the Henley? What is the make?

HMHB - it is the style of a scoop neck, and then buttons. I got the ones I have from Fat Face and Boden and I think Principles last winter before they went bust.

I will find a link.

henley style

I am not recommending this particular top, but this is the style of neck line. V.useful for BFing!

I find that a layer like this that can be unbuttoned and then a nice cardigan are the best combination.

Thanks Ali.

At the min I am wearing long sleeve t-shirts and a zip up fleece / cardigan and just lifting up the top to bfeed with the cardi / fleece covering over so nothing showing.

Tried my boots on with the jeans and they do look good.

Although has snowed today so I am in full snow/ski gear suitable for skeleton bob run down the aptly named local sledging hill Cae Tits.

H&M have long waterfall cardigans, v cheap (something like £14.99 or maybe slightly more) which would work the same way as a fleece but be a bit less.... utility?

Any waterfall cardigan would work well while bf'ing actually. Shirts worked for me too, a shirt, with a vest top under so I could open the shirt, lift vest, but the shirt would provide some coverage still.

my fleece is like this but purple here and I have a zip up patterned one which hopefully isn't too bad but like you say Norkily stil a bit utility.

in fact I think its a hoody

hello again - just quickly - like tracey says, spring will be here eventually soon so not worth your while to spend loads on an AW bfing wardrobe ... but still need to be warm and stylish ... so I checked ebay for you to see whether there was a Tam Tam available (I have 2 and have more or less lived in them as the buttons come down far enough to breastfeed with ease) ... anyway, came across this which is very similar in style ... wear over a long sleeve tee or vest top, unbutton dress, pull up top and away you go, no tummy exposure , perfect.

also this which bodsmum purchased and spoke highly of.

I realise these are both 10s and you say you are a 12 but that's bound to change before you know it, and besides, these styles are very forgiving

This also lovely and a bit dressier over tights & boots

I feel a bit better when I wear a dress, even if over jeans (yours are lovely) and boots - just feels a bit more feminine and like I've made an effort than the endless jeans/ tee/ cardi combo

be back later hope this helps for the mo

sorry - forgot to link

This also lovely and a bit dressier over tights & boots