I had a question re wardrobe (& btw-thank you for YOUR 5 STEP FORMULA FOR A FABULOUS WARDROBE it’s been really useful.) I have a 4 month old baby girl, so especially as an aspiring colour consultant I have been on a misison to get my wardrobe organised, also to reflect the new me (as a mother, but also with the changes to my body-mainly being the fact that breastfeeding has awarded me a cleavage for the first time in my life! :-D)
So the question is: as I start to build a classic capsule wardrobe, how should I go about choosing the fit of items given that I’m not sure what my boobs will do after I stop breastfeeding, or indeed if I have another child in the next few years how different my body may change again?
I know you’ve been through it yourself, so look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thank you,
Stacey 🙂
Thanks for your question Stacey, pregnancy, birth and feeding can all change your body shape, and it’s not the ideal time to start building a new wardrobe as weight can fluctuate wildly during this period. I know after feeding my son for 8 months I was thinner than before I got pregnant, but after he stopped feeding I went back to my more average weight. Rather than build a whole new wardrobe, I’d suggest creating a capsule, a bit like you do with a maternity capsule, that will carry you through the first year or two of your child’s life (and then you may end up back in your maternity wardrobe with another pregnancy anyway).
Ideally, you want clothes that have give in them, so look for fabrics with stretch (cotton elastane mixes, lycra, denim with stretch, ponti) that all will allow you some growing/shrinking room.
Then, of course, choose a colour scheme that is flattering for you and work with this colour scheme so that you can mix and match.
Don’t expect everything in this new capsule will work for you for years to come, some things won’t work when the boobs go, I made the mistake when pregnant of buying a jacket, that I thought would work fine when I didn’t have the bump, and discovered that when I had my baby that the collar looked odd without that tummy (it was a long low collar).
Also, this is not the time to be spending up on the higher quality end of town as baby vomit, banana hands, pumpkin stains are all part of a mum’s life when her baby is in its first two years of life. There is nothing worse than wrecking a favourite garment that cost a lot. Instead go for practical pieces at lower price-points to put together your capsule. Everything also needs to be machine washable, and preferably with little need to see an iron!
Think practical, if you’re breastfeeding, you need to be able to access your boobs easily so most dresses are not ideal – though I have included a nursing dress and tunic which have built in features for nursing mothers.
Shoes need to be comfortable so you can walk and push a pram. You may find your feet have grown during your pregnancy as the hormone relaxing and extra weight can make them spread and expand (my feet grew 1/2 a size so I had to start a whole new shoe wardrobe!).
As with all wardrobe capsules, think about your ability to layer items and mix them together so you can create multiple looks.
That is a great capsule, even for those of us with teems (the baby stage long over) smart casual and the price points are very reasonable…love it
Thanks Angela – it’s not a bad capsule for many women – and I made sure not to pick expensive pieces!
Fabulous post!
Thanks so much!
I also like this capsule – I’m relaxed/casual, and I like the plum-y and bluegreen-y colors you chose. And black and warm gray for neutrals is my choice as well.
Thanks Tall and Slim – always hard to decide what to choose for colours – but this capsule is fairly universal colour wise
i am intrigued by the idea of a “clothing capsule” (not necessarily for pregnancy as i am 57!), but what is it exactly??
Esme – it’s all explained in my ebook which you can download free – if you haven’t signed up already on the right – if you have signed up – email me and I’ll send you the link to download it.
Esme – also check out these blog posts that explain wardrobe capsules https://insideoutstyleblog.com/category/wardrobe/capsule-wardrobes
Oh wow! My name is Stacey, I’m currently nursing an 8-month-old and trying to re-do my wardrobe! Did I send this question in?!
LOVE that nursing dress!!!!!!!! I seriously might go buy one this weekend.
Imogen, I adore your blog and all the wonderful advice you give. If only you lived in Texas….
Stacey – not sure if it was you or another, but glad to have helped and thanks so much for your kind words!
Those collection of wardrobe capsule give’s a lot of idea specially for all the mom’s out there. Different color and style that suited for everyone’s personality.
I wish I could come and hung this entire website, and you, right now. This helps so very much, especially in light of the overall proportions you describe. I’m tall and have always been “plus-sized” but especially post-baby it is so frustrating to try and make sense of my body. I read fashion guides and they just end up making me feel so terrible about my body; using your proportions, however, I discover that I am incredibly long between shoulder to bust line, but my ribcage sits directly on top of my hips! My legs are about a head longer than they “should” be. Anyway, the sum total of that is that I am really having a difficult time finding clothes that don’t cut me off and make me look a mile wide. Most plus-size clothing is sized for a round-waisted apple or a thigh-heavy pear, but that’s not my shape at all. And finding tall plus? Forget it. Your whole capsule idea is so do-able and I am actually really excited about starting over with a post-baby body. Thank you!!
Sometimes Marie when you know what suits you, and your proportions are quite different from the ‘standard’ it’s better to make your own clothes or have them made!
Is there a way I can find out who produces that fabulous romantic jean jacket with the ruffles please????
Sadly I can’t tell you! I made the image some years ago so not current stock and I no longer have access to the designer. Sorry!