I have been in a rut lately. Not emotionally, physically, financially, or any other one a person usually thinks of when a person says they are in a rut.
Today’s word of the day is:
Fashion.
As of today, I am exactly 9 months postpartum and I have been in a fashion rut for the past 3 months.
After two children, I have realized my body shape has changed. Furthermore, my taste in clothing has shifted. I don’t want to ascribe to the “mommy uniform” of yoga pants, which seems to be what many moms my age are wearing. That said, I also don’t feel super thrilled about dressing older than I am – I am in my early thirties still, after all!
I would prefer to be dressed in cute skirts, and nice, modest tops (which still allow me to nurse). However, designers don’t seem to favor making clothes for mothers, with small children, who need to be ready to bend over and scoop up wiggling children at a moment’s notice. When you throw “modest nursing tops” into the mix, you can just throw the towel in on a search right there.
Mom fashion is tricky – I don’t want to hang out all over the place, but I also don’t want to blanket my shape in tented garb (how I feel I am dressing these days). I must also be prepared to sprint after small children, which for me, renders heels completely impractical.
Furthermore, I am in desperate need of a hair cut. But, unlike days of old, where I woke up and knew exactly what I wanted done to my hair, I am struggling to figure out exactly what style I want for my hair. I am used to a cute, professional-looking bob, but after a terrible haircut experience (two years ago), I am gun shy about letting anyone touch my hair.
On top of that first world struggle, I also have to keep in mind I am setting the example for both my children. My son will base his impression of women off how I not only carry myself, but also how I dress, and more importantly, how I love and respect myself. My daughter will base much of her self-image on how she sees me – not only in the clothes I wear, but in the manner with which I speak to myself, about myself.
So, I want to feel well-put together, modest, beautiful, and confident in my appearance.
Yet, I am in a rut.
So, tonight, I am linking up with A Blog for My Mom in an effort to continue trying to work my way out of this rut. If you get a chance, head on over to read some other fabulous bloggers writing about their Sunday Best!
I love your quote, “So, I want to feel well-put together, modest, beautiful, and confident in my appearance.” This is EXACTLY what I want. I don’t want to look frumpy and exhausted, but I also don’t want to look like I’m trying to be 16. Where is the middle ground?!?!
I’ve found I love the fit and flare dresses at Land’s End for church. I have 2 that I rotate and pair with different accessories/sweaters to change it up.
And…this resource could go either way. I didn’t purchase it, but I checked out the “Dress Your Truth” information. It gets a little new-agey (which was irritating), but I told myself it was just dressing to fit my personality. https://my.liveyourtruth.com/dyt/fashion-beauty/
At any rate, it helped me think about my style. Maybe it’s something that might help you on your quest as well. 🙂
Thank you so much! I will look into both of your recommendations!! (And, yes, there doesn’t seem to be a “middle ground.”)
Thank you for reading and leaving a couple resources!
You are SO beautiful!! And your skirt and shirt look modest and great as well. I’m not much of a fashionista myself. My fashion style is called SIMPLE. And I think the picture your son took, with your big beautiful smile, is how he’s going to remember his momma. He won’t remember what you wore. It’s the joy and love you share through your actions and your smile that he will remember most!!
Thank you so very much for the beautiful words!! And, I certainly hope to keep my actions and smile beautiful while he grows, so that is how he always remembers me!
You can do it!!! Let me know if you need any guidance or input – I love love love finding stuff that works for other people 🙂 Solid color basic tops are so so hard to find these days, because everything that’s good quality is crazy-expensive, and everything cheap is super-thin and will get holes or totally pilled in no time… So frustrating! I generally lean towards patterned tops with solid skirts because I’m always spilling things on my tops and that way they don’t show stains 😉 Some friends of mine are opening up a LulaRoe shop soon and I’m really excited to try some of their stuff – I feel like a pencil skirt (Cassie maybe?) plus their Irma top (it’s a Dolman sleeve top that’s longer in the back so you get bum coverage) is the perfect mom uniform because it’s nice and stretchy but easy to layer a tank under for nursing!
I have loved looking at LuLaRoe clothes, but so far have not enjoyed looking at the prices (although, to be honest, they aren’t outrageous!). And, I agree – you have to pay for quality, and that is where things get difficult – I’m just being cheap. 😂
You are a wise mom. I love that you are conscious of the fact that your kids will be watching to see how comfortable you are in your own skin. They are like little sponges and contentment is huge.
I also feel your pain on the hair issue. Practical but stylish is good but to find the right person to cut it can be traumatic.
Thank you! I feel like I have to remind myself daily to watch how I speak about myself around the kidlets. It is so important, but I think I really started watching it after I had my daughter!
I never had daughters (3 sons) but I really get that. Like I said you are wise :).
Thank you! Only by the grace of the Man Upstairs!
I love this! Your thoughts on how you want to set the example for your children — I completely agree. I avoid letting my daughters hear me say anything disparaging about my body, and I always try to let them see me take pride in my appearance, BUT I’m pretty sure they heard me say at least three or four times this weekend, “I hate my hair!” :/ And knowing the way I am forming my sons’ first impressions of a woman.. wow. Really inspiring.
You look great! Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I have just started to say, “I really need a haircut!!” And then, stating objective things, like, “it’s really too long/thick/etc.”.
And, it is so HARD to refrain from being critical about ourselves in front of our children (or anyone else, for that matter). Way to go in making that a priority for you – not letting them hear anything negative, that is!