How To Dress Your Post Baby Body
Antoinette Stonham from All About Style has helped to guest write this blog post for us. Thanks Antoinette!
While becoming a mum is an amazing journey, there are a few things along the way that may make us feel overwhelmed and at times unattractive. As women our body shape changes at significant times in our life… it begins with puberty… turbulent teenage years… pregnancy… post baby… and menopause… and at times we may struggle with unwanted weight gain.
You need to feel good about yourself. I bet your thinking ‘I don’t have the time’ and it’s those days when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, when your top is stained, it’s 3pm and you haven’t even brushed your teeth yet, your hair is a frizzy mess and you can’t remember when you last had a relaxing bath without feeling rushed. You’re sleep deprived, hormones all over the place, you look around your home and all you can see is the house work building up…
You need to try to create a routine for yourself where you allocate “ME” time to do things for yourself that make you feel good. YOUR feel good mood will benefit you and the whole family.
After having your beautiful baby, you look at yourself and all you can still see the jiggly baby belly and a body shape that you don’t recognise as yours. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to recover and it’s important to feel good about yourself.
If you’re struggling with what to wear and you’re sick of looking at what you were constantly wearing during your pregnancy, then during your ME time, I want you to go to your wardrobe and be creative. Again, I bet your thinking “I don’t have the time”. Well you don’t have to spend hours doing this… I just want you to try on three garment at time and don’t get stressed if it doesn’t fit.
Don’t dispose of all your maternity garments. Look at what you can reuse as you are sorting clothes that fit NOW and clothes that you would like to fit into LATER.
As you find garments that are working for you hang them together. Donate the garments that you just don’t want any more, and toss any that look tired and tattered. This should leave you with garments that you can work with - remember, you want to feel good about yourself. I want you to be excited and looking forward to putting an outfit together every morning that will get you through the day. My tip to you is to get in the habit of preparing your outfit the night before this saves so much time in the morning especially if you have school drop off. Most importantly I want you to dress for NOW not to wait for you goal wait or for your pre-baby body to return.
I’ve put together a list of garments that you can to choose from that you may want to interrogate into your wardrobe to help mix and match with your existing clothing and accessories. You don’t have to spend a fortune as these garments will help you feel good while your body shape is transitioning.
“Please don’t worry about size just buy what fits, never let a number define you!”
Underwear that is comfortable and will give you a smooth line.
Stretch high waisted pants or jeggings.
You’re buying for now so look at garments with a drawstring waist.
If you’re breast feeding, button up tops and crossover, tops or a dress with a zipper down the front will be your best friend.
An unstructured jumpsuit that you can add a belt as your body shape changes.
Avoid tops with a banded bottom as they will make your tummy look larger.
Cardigans and a vest to layer your garments.
It’s so easy to buy shapeless clothing try to go for a semi structured garment buy something that drapes and is not baggy.
Be creative use scarves to add that pop of colour and individuality to your outfit.
Wrap dresses are a good investment as they can be easily adjusted as your body shape changes.
A-lined skirts or stretchy straight skirt with a top that sits just above the hip line and just over your belly.
Singlet and T-shirts are great for layering.
If you are large busted go for V-necklines.
A new pair of practical shoes or ankle boots will always make you feel good.
If you’re concerned about your tummy, accessories will draw attention to your ears and wrists and neckline. Choose a creative conversational piece.
Tops or stretchy dresses with side ruching cane be used as a trans-seasonal garment.
Maxi dressed made from soft flowy fabrics are great.
Try not to wear baggy tops with baggy pants.
You could try a top with an asymmetrical hem line.
Don’t always gravitate to black… choose a colour that brighten your eyes, lights up your skin and makes you feel alive. Black attracts dust, animal hair and marks are more evident.
Remember, it’s all about feeling good about yourself, and dressing for NOW with confidence.
If you’d like to get in touch with Antoinette, please email her here, or call 0400 108 959.
Antoinette is an expert in personal and professional styling and has a background in customised pattern making and design. Her skill set and experience has seen Antoinette work with the rich and famous, constructing garments for her clients to suit their body shapes and personalities. Turning Fifty made her stop and think about doing something that she was truly passionate about. With her skill, passion and expertise Antoinette undertook a Personal Styling course with one of Australia’s leading stylist and launched All About Style in 2013. Since its inception her business has won multiple awards including the Linking Ladies Home Based Business of the year 2015, Most Inspirational Mum in Biz 2018 and was finalist in the Local Business awards and Australian Small Business Awards Champion Awards multiple times from 2015 onwards.
Antoinette wants to help both men and women no matter what size or shape they are, to feel confident within themselves and be able to look in the mirror and love what they see. She believes: “Style is a package. It’s how you speak, how you walk into a room and the way you stand.”
About Essential Me
Hi, I'm Amanda. I support women and couples during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey as a Doula, Ka Huna massage therapist and Pilates instructor. I'm Based in Sydney and would love to help you. Please check out my Top 10 Tips for the best possible birth experience here. I'd love to meet you for an obligation free interview to see if you feel we're the right fit. Contact me here. Thanks, Amanda x