Recently, I shared a few of my favorite positive affirmations for moms on the blog. One of them goes like this: I deserve nice, functional things that are within my budget.
One of the most difficult areas of life for me to apply that truth? Clothing. I want to look put together. I aspire to owning a wardrobe full of quality pieces that flatter my complexion and figure, are easy to mix and match, easy to care for, and timeless.
But I put off doing the work to figure out my personal style and what looks good on me for a very long time. Like, maybe I had never actually done that until now.
Partly because I was lazy and partly because I was trying to be thrifty, I hadn’t ever really purchased staples that could be put together in multiple ways. Instead I bought piece by piece: “Oh, I like that!” without much thought as to how it fit into my overall wardrobe or style.
The Realization
After having little A, I was searching through my closet and dresser for the billionth time that week (or so it felt) for a suitable outfit. I had the sudden realization that nearly everything I owned was from high school or college. And I didn’t really like ANY of it anymore.
Denim cutoffs that were just a little bit too short for a late 20-something. Ratty free t-shirts from Carleton events. Dresses that now fit just a bit too tight and showed a bit more cleavage than I was comfortable with. My drawers were full of nothing to wear. (Not to mention all the pieces that were dry clean and handwash-only! This mama doesn’t have time for that.)
Overall, my wardrobe was outdated, piecemeal, and impractical for my current life. It was time for a change–I needed a wardrobe for my new mom life.
The Why
I decided to make it my goal for the next year to build a collection of basics that will last me through my mom-of-young-kids years. Things that can be mixed and matched without much thought, that I can toss in my washing machine, and that are comfortable for an active lifestyle with kids.
And things that look good on me. Because personally, getting dressed in an outfit that suits me, putting on a bit of makeup and styling my hair make all the difference in my outlook on the day and overall mental health.
Also, I’m someone who repeatedly hears that I look young for my age in a not-so-complimentary way. I feel that having an age-appropriate wardrobe helps me have less imposter syndrome in terms of being a young mom. (Young for my social circle, anyways.)
Defining my personal style and building a flattering wardrobe requires a bit more research than simply grabbing some new tees and jeans at Target. But, I decided it would be a fun project to work on in my free time. It will also make my life easier as I won’t have to do “the search” for outfits daily. And it will be more eco-friendly in the long run: I won’t be buying piecemeal and ending up with stuff I don’t like.
So that’s the topic I’ll mostly be writing about on here for the next little while: clothing. (And if you’re expecting ground-breaking fashion, well… sorry in advance to disappoint. Just the basics for me!)
xx
I’d love to know, though: have you ever done a thorough wardrobe revamp (especially if you’re a mom)? How would you define your personal style?