Once upon a time I met Alec and we dated and never fought. I was cute but not very trendy; on our first date I had the cutest shoes that were shiny, boxy, red loafers. And that was five years ago.
Since being sucked into the vortex of baby then children, I’m lucky if my clothes are clean.
For the past almost-three weeks, I have been back to work. And I just have to say: I have nothing to wear.
Here are some examples of my semi-tragic state of being:
- Just yesterday, I tried on my (very thin) friend’s maternity 7 jeans. They finally fit me. My youngest is seven months old and I am not pregnant. They’re the cutest jeans I own.
- Shoes. All my shoes have to be kicked off to get in and out of the house and in and out of the preschool (sometimes while wearing a baby). I have very few options and they’re not very fashionable.
- My maternity clothes (jeans notwithstanding) are probably the most current things I have right now since almost everything else is a good five year’s old.
- All my normal shirts are still half-shirts.
Ok, confessions aside, I kinda don’t know how to solve the problem. I want to be cute and stylish but I don’t want to spend a ton of money. I like Susan Wagner’s The Working Closet column but even that seems like too much reading.
Can someone please turn me in to a makeover show like What not to wear?
I hear what you’re saying! I went shopping recently with a skinny minnie friend who had never given birth and realized early on that shopping with her was NOT going to help my self-image.
For instance, I found a really cute top and was holding it up for inspection when she slid by and said, “I know, don’t you just HATE that so many tops in good colors look like MATERNITY tops?”
I’m watching your blog to see if anybody suggests a good show for people dealing with baby pudge.
You are SO not alone. I have the same situation of crappy clothes and I would LOVE to be on “What not to Wear” but would be a really boring subject because I’d just agree that my current wardrobe was awful instead of fighting Stacy & Clinton on every change…
I looked into turning you in. But they’re not looking for someone like you right now. I think I’m pretty good at shopping with/for you. And I’d rather do it for you than for me right now. (I think you look hot.) Let’s have an “inside out” shopping spree in six weeks. In the meantime, I’ll start bookmarking some picks for your new wardrobe.
Whit, you’re funny. Maybe we should offer you as a wardrobe consultant for other postpartum moms. I’m sure there’s a market.
Alec says if I can avoid treats in the afternoon, I can save up my $$ for some overpriced jeans in no time. $3 for every time I walk past a brownie.
oddly old navy right now is perfect for the postpartum body- all the empire waists and bell like shirts work pretty well. and they have a decent workwear section.
I got some cute 3/4 length sleeve shirts, with a flattering collar at (Shhh! don’t tell anyone!) Wal-Mart (the shame!). And I think they were only like 7 bucks each. Niiihhiiice.
And they’re long enough. 😀
I thought the shoes you wore yesterday were cute, but I wouldn’t make it a habit of shopping at grocery stores 🙂