I’ve been asked if I can follow up my post “what to wear”, which identified why I had so many clothes and nothing to wear. I call this follow up “how to look good” but I know of a bunch of other mamas who do this A LOT better than me, including fellow #allaboutyou featured blogger, Pouting in Heels, who wrote a fab article about style and dressing for her life! I bow to your superior style knowledge.
The truth is, while I loved detoxing my wardrobe and making a piechart of what I own verses what I need (who doesn’t love making piecharts?), the next bit was not to my taste. Finding new clothes, let alone those that look good, and working out how to look good in general while looking after a child is very much a challenge to me!
The infamous piechart of What to wear fame – this represents the number of outfits for each category that I need as a mum over a 3 week period
Probably the biggest change I made after that post was to buy some more “lounging/playing at home” clothes. And by this I mean basically pyjama bottoms! When we get in and I know we’re not going back out, I tend to get changed – this saves my ‘nice’ clothes from getting worn out from playing on the floor with Reubs or getting covered in food. I also don’t have to wash them as much (makes your clothes last a lot longer according to Jessica Alba…!)
For everything else I now spend 90% of my time outside the house in a uniform of
skinny jeans + long vest + top/jumper = how to look good with a kid
It’s quite samey and a bit dull, but I never look at my wardrobe and panic, unless I need to do some washing, and I generally feel good and comfortable. Here is my uniform in more detail…
How to look good 1. Skinny jeans
The staple of my wardrobe at all times now is the skinny jean. I have 3 pairs: traditional jeans; smart black; and, smart blue.
Traditional: Citizens for all humanity
I bought a pair of Avedon low-rise skinny jeans about 4 months ago and I have barely taken them off, they are the best jeans I’ve ever owned. I wear them when I’m out with Reuben, when I’m working on my own, when I go out for a meeting, and even when I go out out. They are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, that is also how much I paid for them at House of Frasier. But I’ve since found them way cheaper online…
Smart black: Warehouse
These trousers are just great for when I have finally taken off my Citizens. They are comfy, and do what they need to when I’m out and about with Reuben: keep my bottom covered. These tend to my choice more for when I need to be smarter, so Christenings, daytime parties, that kind of thing. Just pop on some heels.
Smart blue: Warehouse
These trousers aren’t amazingly comfortable! They basically don’t have enough elastic in them, which is what my thighs really need. They’re OK if you’re standing (once you’ve yanked them up) but can’t handle too much manoeuvring, so they tend to be my jeans for going out for drinks or a meeting. Basically places without Reuben.
What I still need…
I would love another pair of Citizens, especially now I’ve found them cheaper online. In lieu of that, I might try something a bit more interesting. Leopard print skinnies anyone?
How to look good 2. Tops
Jumpers
I now wear jumpers with my skinny jeans. But how hard is it to find a decent bit of knitwear that doesn’t bobble or look generally ‘worn’ within a few washes? I’ll tell you, very.
Mini wardrobe – those first 9 hangers hold the clothes I wear on a day to day basis (plus what I’m currently wearing)
To increase my day-to-day selection after I culled my wardrobe, I bought a few pieces of knitwear from Warehouse, a couple of more pricy things from Whistles (including a cashmere jumper that looks less pricy than it was but feels lovely!) and a jumper from the John Lewis Weekend collection. This jumper looked gorgeous when I first put it on but by the end of the first day it looked like I’d bought it 10 years ago…disappointing. So I’m afraid, despite spending between £40 and £100 on each of these items, I’m still on the lookout for decent jumpers! Answers on a postcard (or in the comments below!).
Bobbly boobs? No thanks!
Cardigans
I used to be a big fan of the t-shirt and cardi but it just doesn’t quite look right on me anymore. So I have shunned this look generally in favour of the jumper. However, I do love this cardigan by All Saints. Unlike it’s jumper compatriots, it still looks almost like it did when I bought it 4 months ago but because it’s hand wash only and light coloured, it now has some dubious stains on it that I can’t seem to get out…so I would suggest getting the dark version over the light one!
How to look good 3. Basics
Long vests and a bra that fits like a glove…I have 3 long vests (2 white and 1 black) from Warehouse that I wear on rotation. I have other bras but my all time favourite is a bra that would never win any prizes for sex appeal (don’t be fooled by the picture below) but it is the best bra I’ve ever owned. Purely because it does what I need it to: keeps my boobs in them. You think that sounds like a simple task? I’ve never actually owned a bra that has actually achieved this. Fact.
I would highly recommend this wondrous piece of essential clothing: Rebecca Spaced Moulded Bra by Fantasie
Even the name sounds like it was engineered by Rocket Scientists. I believe it probably was since the task of supporting breasts is clearly that difficult.
How to look good 4. Boots
It’s winter right, so basically I either wear my knee high boots that I got last year from Dune or, this year’s purchase, some ankle boots from Kurt Geiger.
That’s it thus far! And I’m kind of happy with the set up, I think I just need more of it and better quality knitwear (or maybe worse quality – this 65% viscous jumper that I’m wearing right now seems perfectly capable of not bobbling) that can handle the mama lifestyle!
What are your top tips for how to look good while looking after a child?
I love my Skinny jeans with jumpers….It’s all I’ve been wearing lately with boots…So comfy and stylish at the same time 🙂
Agreed!! Thanks Kim 🙂 xx
Hannah man! Every time I draft something, you go and publish a better version before me 🙁 🙁 😉 xx
Awwww – I don’t believe it for a second xx Anyway, we have different styles so lemme know when you’ve published it so I can see and share it on xx
p.s. thank you for the compliment though 🙂 xx
OMG! A blog about clothes with a pie chart – LOVE IT! I’ve only read this one post, but you have totally got me coming back for more : )
#allaboutyou
BLESS YOU! That’s made me LOL 😉 “you got me at the piechart…”
Thank you so much for referring to my post! Very kind of you x
Really enjoyed this post and I am so loving that pie chart! (How organised are you?!) I’m totally with you on skinny jeans as a mummy wardrobe staple and with the whole jumper thing too.
Like you, I have had little joy keeping my jumpers in tip top condition BUT if you want a cheap jumper shopping fix, I can definitely recommend Boohoo for their knits.
Modern, funky and lasting as long as any other jumper from any other retailer, I have a number of them in my wardrobe and have become quite a fan. And they’re cheap as chips too which means more money for well…chips! (as well as lots of other stuff) 😉
x
Ooh thanks for the tip, Katie, that sounds perfect! I shall give it a look xx glad you enjoyed the piechart xx
I can’t ever see a time when I won’t have a pair of skinny jeans in my wardrobe, I know the time will probo come, but I can’t see it, despite all the predictions over the last couple of years of flares and boot cuts. I do also love rocking a boyfriend pair of old Levis, but skinnies are my fallback. Anyhoo, enough of the eulogising, love this post, thanks so much for linking up to #AllAboutYou, this is another totally spot on post! x
Thanks Luci! I don’t believe any of the rumours about skinning leaving – or if they do, it won’t be in the mummy ring. The amount of times I’ve nearly tripped going up the stairs in flares…you can’t do that with a bairn under your arm! xxx
Oh I am loving that pie-chart!! I think it’s really important that us mamas don’t just give in to the stereotype of wearing joggers all the time when out with our kids – the pieces you chose show how easy it is to look good while being practical, and true to yourself and who you are not just as a mama, but as a woman. Skinnies or jet black always work a treat! Thanks so much for linking to #AllAboutYou – hope to see you again on Tuesday!
Agreed. Thanks Zaz and I’ve got something planned for tomorrow but as ever, I predict it will be the evening by the time I get it published! xx
This is so my style! I suspect the top and cardi look is over for me as it just reminds me of breastfeeding as its all I wore for six months…maybe the sunshine will help the top-cardi look to have a revival in my life but until then it’s jumpers all the way! Anyway, where have you found decent home trousers? Having given my favourite two pairs of jeans white knees chasing my crawler around I think I need some ASAP! X
Oh I know – the afore mentioned Citizen jeans are still going at the knees!! *Sobs*
For ‘home trousers’, as you call them ;), I’m literally just wearing some pj bottoms from ASDA. I got two pairs, to add to my existing 1 pair from primarny, and I wear them all the time! Sexy? No. Comfy? YES!!
Thanks for you comment Ally xxxx
Haha! I couldn’t bring myself to call them ‘house trousers’ as that feels one step away from a house coat and curlers, and I’m just not ready for that!
Thanks for the pointer – Asda here I come!
Help! Love this blog but am completely stumped what to wear breastfeeding so I a: don’t look like I’m wearing a tent; b: boil up in too many hot layers; c; can get them out easily!
I had my last child in winter so it was easy- jeans, jumpers, cardis button shirts etc. a hot summer baby though is tricky. I love dresses but cannot figure out breast feeding and dresses. I also hate my jelly belly so want to conceal that at all costs. Help me so done…Zara is failing me at the moment as it doesn’t cater for big mum bosom!
Ah, breastfeeding!! What a pain in the arse finding clothes for that is. I was so happy when I stopped just so I could wear a dress.
My buddy Beth has done a great post about what to wear for breastfeeding and it sounds like you’ll like her style too: http://bettyandthebumps.com/2014/07/06/loosening-the-apron-strings/
hope that helps and thanks for your comment xxx
Hi!
Looks like Hannah posted the wrong link (although that one is worth a read 😉 ).
Here’s the breastfeeding post!
http://bettyandthebumps.com/2014/06/19/what-to-wear-when-breastfeeding/
xx
Thanks both! I’ve since discovered play suits with buttons from Warehouse which are fab for the hot weather and easy access to the boobs! Oasis do some great shorts too so trying a differ look- going for high waisted and tucked in tops which isn’t too bad at hiding the belly. Still in denial that I’ve got to work this time at losing the extra two dress sizes I’ve gained…
Thanks again x
I used to have the same problem with knitwear but I bought two jumpers on sale at Gap over the summer and I’ve never looked back. I got them at a bargain price of £10 reduced from £30 but I would most definitely pay full price if I had to. Oh and it was the Gap outlet at royal quays.
Nice one Carla!! I must check that out – what type of jumper was it? Did it have a particular name? Thanks for your comment! xx
I took a while to come round to skinny jeans but I think they’re so flattering. I love wearing mine with baggy shirts/jumpers as not a fan of my belly area. Good bra is a must! xx
What an incredibly useful post! I desperately need to go through my wardrobe and have a huge cull. I LOVE that sparkly navy jumper in your wardrobe and I also need to get some of the comfy lounge trousers, I have NOTHING to slob around in. Skinny jeans are my staple wardrobe, I love those black ones from Warehouse 🙂
Great post! I am a big fan of the vest / jumper combo but am afraid don’t have a warehouse or whistles budget…but have honestly had such success with Asda!! I have one tunic type knitty thing and one slightly longer jumper from there that have kept their shapes so well! Matalan has pleased me less, and I definitely need more for my rotation so will definitely be on the hunt on the hight street in the sales! Merry Christmas 🙂 #thelist
Wow you put A LOT of thought into what you wear! Ha ha maybe I should follow your lead. I tend to put on what is hanging on the outside of the wardrobe! Bobbly boobs! 🙂 xxx