BB Cream: tarte | Lips: Baby Bat Beauty | Dress: Ezra via Modcloth | Shoes: Target
TRIGGER WARNING: body image talk
I am finally understanding why Mom’s have a bad rep for their fashion choices. I have a closet full of clothing and most are unwearable. Lots are too small, some have too many lacy holes and buttons for Wolfie to grab at, and some are too fancy. Some I’ve just haven’t even tried on yet.
One Bad Mother released an episode about self care. They talked about as you and your children grow, what constitutes self care changes. I know when Wolfie was born showering, eating, and sleeping were on the top of the self care list. But now that things are becoming more manageable, taking care of my self image is surfacing. I want to make an appointment to get contacts again, I want to dye my hair a fun color, and I want to wear clothing that are nice.
But my body isn’t the same. It is slightly different from when I was pregnant- I knew I would be totally different each day getting a little bigger and bigger, and suddenly go through the most extreme weight loss. Wanna loose 10 pounds in ONE DAY?! EASY! Just have a baby!** But now I don’t know what will happen with this body. I am MOSTLY “normal” but I do have a little more fat on my tummy. My boobs are very much so bigger, but what will they look like after I stop breastfeeding? When will I stop?! So how the heck am I suppose to buy new clothing if I have no idea what size to get?
**Disclaimer may take 9 months to create baby
If I go shopping I like to go alone, and I found out quickly, it is hard to shop with a little nugget. I can’t just pick clothing off the rack and know they will fit. My body has changed so much. My boobs are bigger, my hips are wider, I mean I’ve been living in t-shirts and leggings this summer. And I literally have no shorts or pants that fit (that aren’t for working out that is.) So I’ve been thinking about doing a subscription clothing service. While searching around I saw that Dia & Co has a Try-Day Friday fashion challenge- try to go outside your comfort zone.
The simple act of going into my closet and picking out a new outfit is very intimidating. I was so excited when Jon and I would go out for dinner, but 90% of my dresses didn’t zip up. It was incredibly frustrating especially since it use to be my waist that would be too big, not it is my chest. This alone has had me stick to the same tried and true shirts, skirts, and leggings for my wardrobe.
And having my clothing not fit properly around my chest only fans the flames of my personal discomfort around them. I’ve never liked my boobs. They are big, floppy, and pain to find both clothing and bras. The problem is only getting worse, I went from sometimes a D to E, and I can only assume they will look like deflated water balloons after nursing. Ugh. So I thought I would dig into my closet and find a dress or shirt that I would have to wear a strapless bra! Yikes!
I found a dress that I bought on sale from Modcloth. It doesn’t look racey or anything, but bra straps always show. So I never wore it. I went the whole 9 yards, lipstick, bb cream, hair pulled back, and some cute shoes. Once I had everything on, I really wasn’t sure why I put off wearing a strapless bra with this dress. It was all very comfortable.
Now, don’t think this is all sunshine and rainbows. Shortly afterwards I found out that strapless bras and babies are a horrible combo. I had to change before making my errands otherwise I would of been flashing everyone I walked past. But it will probably get worn out next time I am with little Wolfie or when he gets older and doesn’t need me to carry him everywhere.
Then when I looked at the photos on my computer I was not loving how my chest looks. But loving how I look in person is a place to start right? I know part of my dislike of the photos is the lighting. And you can’t see how sparkly the lipstick is, but it was nice to not be wearing an oversized t-shirt with leggings for once. It has definetly inspired me to clear out my closet. Try things on again, try and give my clothing a second chance.
Jennifer Bliss
Very nice! Looks great on you!
I, personally, have always had a horrible fashion sense…lol…and I’m not a MOM! Well, a furmom, I guess! hahahaha
Sarah @ Long Island Vegan
That dress is so cute and it looks amazing on you! 🙂 And you know I love my glitter and metallic lipsticks! Modcloth has really cute stuff.
Jennifer
If you ever see Baby Bat Beauty you should check them out. I found them from a vegan pop up shop. They had lots of more adventurous colors
Jamie
You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress! Self care is important, especially after pregnancy. Body image is definitely a difficult topic for many people to talk about, but it’s something that a lot of women go through in the post partum period.
I can relate with you so hard on the frustration with clothing, while I had kept my old clothes initially I was down for a while that nothing would fit right. Half the time it wasn’t that they were too small, it’s that the shape of my body had changed and I suddenly looked lumpy in everything. So I started hiding in leggings, baggy shirts, and hoodies for several years. I used to get really down that I could never really wear the cute Asian style fashion that I used to love now that I had a lot of curves.
Even after diet and exercise (I lost 30 lbs before I got pregnant with my second kid) and the rest of my body started toning up my stomach was misshapen and it used to seriously get me down. It wasn’t until recently that I found out about diastasis recti (ab muscles separate during pregnancy and don’t come back together after). I wish I could have known about this sooner so that I could adjust my workout, but at least I know now that it’s something mostly out of my control and it’s helped me to start moving past the confidence issues and start buying clothes that could work around it. I have a newfound appreciation for high waisted shorts and treated myself to a vintage style one piece swimsuit this past summer and it’s been a confidence booster.
It’s odd feeling like you don’t know your body or what will fit anymore and it can become a bit of trial and error for a while while you relearn your body and what’s comfortable. It’s best to just keep a positive attitude and don’t let it get to you if you try something on and it doesn’t look right. There’s definitely still beautiful clothes out there for all shapes!
Also I’m all over those hair dye colors, that dark blue one is gorgeous.😍
Jennifer
It is a shame there isn’t more talk about diastasis recti! I’ve been reading a book on postpartum exercise and it seems that everything in the torso area seem to be linked. So aside from vanity, the separation of those muscles can add to back pain, and incontinence. I was reading Bringing Up Babe which is all about a New Yorker raising three children in Paris, and she pointed out that postpartum health is very important in France. There are lots of rehab that is standard in France that are uncommon here. I think in the states it is all about appearance- getting that “hot bod” back.