A (postpartum) Closet Refresh
Or, how just 13 pieces can be combined to create over 30 fantastic outfits
Getting dressed when you are postpartum is really hard. You are going through a period of immense change - both in terms of having a new member of your family that you are adjusting to and learning how to care for, as well as literal physical change as you go from being pregnant to not.
I think it’s really common to feel uninspired by your wardrobe during this time - you are tired, and different, and so is your body. This might last a short period of time, but it also might extend for awhile - there is no right or wrong when it comes to this.
It’s part of the reason why I wrote about postpartum uniforms. To lay out some formulas that work, that you can mix up a little, swap something in here, or out there, and be able to get dressed quickly without a ton of analysis paralysis or frustration. In the early days, having a few things that I know I can pull out of my closet and put on on autopilot makes getting dressed easier, faster, and dare I say, more fun, even when I’m not feeling my very best.
Although I regularly dream about the Clueless closet / getting ready scene (Cher’s closet might actually be my Roman Empire), when I’m getting dressed on a daily basis, I’m not regularly spending hours trying on outfits. I have no time for that - I don’t think most of us do - whether you have kids or not! I know what I have in my closet, and I have a good sense of how to create outfits out of those pieces.
The reality is, that whether you are postpartum or not, if you have kids or not, the easiest way to get dressed, and feel great is to have a few uniforms or outfit formulas that you love, and can create and recreate with pieces in your closet. Most people with a great sense of style are following their own uniform. And we admire and lust after their style and taste! It doesn’t mean your outfits are boring. It doesn’t have to mean you wear the exact same thing everyday (we’re not talking Steve Jobs uniform here). It doesn’t mean you only have X number of pieces in your closet, or only buy certain colors (I think many of us associate a capsule wardrobe with a minimalist style, but it doesn’t have to be that way). It’s about understanding what works for you (what is your personal style sweet spot), and knowing how to combine the pieces you have in a variety of ways so that you’re not bored.
Besides remembering to give yourself a ton of grace and time to recover from growing and birthing a human, the best advice I have for getting dressed during the postpartum period especially, is remembering that you don’t actually need that many pieces. This is where a lot of us get bogged down - we are buying, shopping, browsing, and pressing purchase on a ton of things, but not necessarily thinking about how we can wear the things that we already own, or even how (and whether) that new piece fits into your wardrobe (just because you like something doesn’t mean you are going to wear it!).
Especially if you (like so many of us!) find yourself in a body that is different after having a baby, I hope this is good news. Yes, you may need to buy some new things (at whatever price point that feels right to you) that fit - maybe they’ll fit for a few weeks, months, years, forever (who cares!) - but, with a small number of pieces - you can put together A TON of outfits to get you through a season (or multiple seasons!)
And while I can tell you this over and over again, this week, I thought I would show you!
I recently helped a friend of mine with a closet refresh. She is newly postpartum, still on maternity leave, but eventually going back to work. She wants to be able to be comfortable, but still feel polished and put together - including when she is working from home. She cares about pieces that she will wear for a long time - she told me that in her ideal world she would be buying one really great piece and wear it for the next 10+ years. And she doesn’t want to go crazy buying a ton of pieces while her body is still recovering from pregnancy, but she also wants clothes that fit and feel good.
I developed a list of 13 pieces she could add to her closet - and options to shop each item at a variety of styles and price points. With those 13 pieces (plus a few things I knew she already had — the types of things that most of us already have), I created a look book of over 30 outfits!
While this refresh was developed for someone who is postpartum, it isn’t only for someone who is postpartum. The core pieces work for many of us. Depending on your style, you might make different choices on the specific pieces. And, the concept stands no matter what - if you feel like you are stuck in a rut, you don’t need to throw everything out and start all over again - with a few new pieces you can breath a lot of life into your wardrobe and start to feel really good about getting dressed. If you need help with this - email me, I would love to work with you!
So, what were the pieces, and how is she wearing them? Let’s dive in.
If you’d like, you can see all the pieces linked in this post (pictured and not pictured) here.
1: White Button Down - This is a versatile piece in anyone’s closet - you can wear it so many ways. It’s especially great if you are nursing or pumping, and is also appropriate for the office. I am currently very into a more Oxford-style, slightly-oversized shirt (so, a little more oversized, straight cut, thicker cotton), but if your style is more feminine or structured, you could go for something more form fitting (like the Sezane Tomboy or Everlane Oxford)
2: Smocked Dress - A smocked dress is great ALWAYS, but especially if you are postpartum (or pregnant). The stretchy bust will accommodate whatever size your chest might be on a given day (or given time of day), it is comfortable, and can be worn a variety of different ways. I am partial to ones specifically by Hill House Home, but you can find many options like this!
There is not just one way to wear a dress! Get so much wear by adding sweaters, boots, a belt. If you have a blazer, that is a great piece to add as well!
3: Boyfriend Cardigan: An essential layering piece. Looks just as good over a nursing tank as it does layered with your button-down shirt. You can wear it un-buttoned, buttoned, partially-buttoned, over your shoulders, tucked in, the list goes on.
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Button Down Sweater ($99) (this is cool, sort of like a sweater / shirt)
4: Oversized Sweater: Again, another great layering piece. If you are pregnant, this is a great investment for now because a sweater that fits while you’re pregnant will be perfectly oversized when you have the baby! You can’t go wrong here; I would choose a color you feel you will wear the most, if you get two - choose one lighter color, one darker.
5: Kick Crop Pant (With Stretch!): This gives you an alternative to leggings or jeans, but is still incredible comfortable. Can be styled casually, and more dressed up for work or other events. Black or Navy or any color you feel you will wear a lot!
6: Dressy Sweatpant or Knit Trouser: This is your elevated sweat pant - you are going to feel comfortable, but you will also feel put together & polished. You may decided you only need this OR the stretchy Kick Crop. I have and love and wear the High Hopes ALL THE TIME. These pants are great for weekends, for running errands, for working from home and for travel.
7: Maxi/Midi Skirt - This is a skirt you can dress up or down - you could wear out to dinner/drinks/etc, but also with a sweater or even sweatshirt and sneakers on the weekend.
Anthropologie Tilda Maxi Skirt ($98)
A patterned skirt can go with basically every top in your closet. Look 1 & 2: Leverage your basic shirts as layering pieces or alone. Look 3: The structure of a button down plays nicely with the feminine skirt. Look 4: A cozy sweater adds great texture to your outfit and makes your skirt cold-weather-proof.
8: Turtleneck, mock-neck or crew-neck Long Sleeve - Probably, something you already have - white, black, navy, stripe long sleeve shirts to wear as layers during the winter. Gap & Uniqlo have great, inexpensive options if you need a refresh!
Gap Modern Crewneck ($30, but regularly on sale)
Gap Mini Rib Crewneck Tee ($30, but regularly on sale!)
9: Great Pair of Jeans - You do not need a million pairs of jeans. You need one, or two. Yes, I have more than that, and it’s great, but I typically buy 2 pairs of jeans a year - I’m not buying them all at once! Also, right now I have 2 pairs that fit the way I want my jeans to fit - and I’m wearing them on repeat. I love a straight leg, or a wide-leg, but you might have your own cut preference. If you are choosing one pair, I would go for one with a little stretch (I feel like as a mom, it’s nice to have a little stretch because you can sit on the ground, move around constantly, etc.), but I also love a true denim pair too!
Good American Good Classic Slim Straight Jeans ($120) - These are not a skinny jean, but a slim-cut straight leg. They have stretch!
Gap Kick Fit ($80) - Also a slim fit, some stretch, with slight flare at the ankle; they run short, I take a tall.
Mother The Hustler Jean ($238) - These are expensive, but they are great. Stretch, slim fit, but have the ankle flare to feel modern/”in.” I have these, I size up.
Levis Ribcage Straight Ankle ($98) - Depending on the wash, these may have no stretch, or a little stretch - you have to read the details. The Dark Indigo wash that I have
Reformation Cynthia Jeans - A true denim, straight-leg jean. I love these. I am 5’6” and the crop inseam (27”) is great for me. If you are taller, you probably want the full length.
Agolde Pinch Waist Jeans - These are on my wishlist!
Gap High Rise Wide Leg Stride Jeans ($80, regularly on sale!) - A great choice if you want wide-leg
10: Belt - You can wear a black belt with gold hardware with almost everything!
11: Boot - If you don’t have a pair of black boots, I would start with an ankle boot (it should hit a little above your ankle) or a tall boot since I think they are the most versatile. There are a variety of styles here - from more classic, to funky western. I did a huge roundup of black boots here.
Sam Edelman Knee High Boot ($200)
J.Crew Ankle Boot ($220)
12: Blouse - If you need outfits for work, or frequently have evening events, then adding another blouse or top with buttons will take you far. You can wear this anytime you would wear your white button-down!
13: Slingback Heel - Picked specifically with the holiday season coming up, and more occasions to get dressed up. A fun heel (if you find it comfortable!) can take a simple outfit up a notch and make it feel really special. If you don’t love heels, try a silver flat!
Sam Edelman Heel ($140, available in black, silver or nude)
J.Crew Leona Slingback ($148)
Phew. That was a lot of pictures & words, but I really, truly hope that this helps to illustrate the fact that you don’t need that many clothes to be able to get dressed and feel great. I don’t believe in rules about the number of items you should have in your closet - there isn’t a specific number of items that is going to “unlock” your closet for you, but I think many of us are buying pieces because we think more is more, or because we constantly want (or feel like we need) something new. There is nothing wrong with that - believe me, I love new things, and I love to shop. But, it’s not great to feel like you NEED something new, or to constantly feel like you are just buying, buying, buying. Instead, if you understand what works for you, and have lots of ideas and inspiration for how to combine the pieces you have in a variety of ways to get fresh ideas, and lots of ways to wear the things you have can make a huge difference.
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After stumbling upon your post about Personal Style in Motherhood - I went down a rabbit hole and I feel SEEN. After reading (and loving) about twelve posts, I had to leave a comment.
The way you write about style articulates almost exactly how my brain works when I think about my closet and getting dressed … it’s uncanny. I have a 9 month old and a 3 year old, and not to be dramatic or anything, but reading your substack feels therapeutic and calming, and gives me this sense that I will be ok if I can still get excited about my outfit and getting dressed every day 😅Thank you for being you ❤️
My postpartum uniform is Les Lunes jumpsuits with a wrap style top (great for nursing!) or an H&M ribbed maxi, and long robe coat sweaters from Neiman Marcus cashmere. When I can’t deal with the tyranny of pants, I always get compliments on those jumpsuits.