How to find your style (again) as a mom
For the mom who doesn't know what to wear:
This post is all about my top 5 tips on how to find your style as a mom. These are tried and true tips that are simple and easy-to-follow. Now, let's get you started!
I remember when I woke up and realized it had been a few years since I felt stylish.
I genuinely had no idea what was in or out anymore. Motherhood can do that to you, honestly.
We all pinned the cute pictures of the mom styling her bump and swore we'd be that way, but we ended up wearing our husband's sweat pants for three months straight.
Then.. we had sleepless nights, learned to feed and care for a tiny human, and spent every waking hour thinking of other things than what the new fashion trends are.
All of the sudden, you find yourself with a toddler (or 4 kids) and a great night's sleep, ready to conquer the world again after some years of survival have passed. You step outside, look around, and realize you have NO idea what anyone is wearing anymore. Wait, we're allowed to match our entire outfit in one color now? Didn't we used to call that "too matchy-matchy"?
It's almost like you stepped into a vortex and all of a sudden you time-traveled to what feels like twenty years, and you're trying to figure out what is in style and how to look put together again.
Don't worry, friends. We've all been there! This post is all about my tips and tricks to help you find your style again as a mom. These tips are simple, straight forward, and easy to follow. Because..we don't really have a ton of extra brain power to use, let's be honest!
These are the tips that have helped me personally:
Tip #1: Download Pinterest
If you don't already have a Pinterest account- YOU ARE WELCOME.
Pinterest is going to be your best friend when it comes to finding your style again. You will also find tons of other helpful things like recipes, mom hacks, and organization tips.
To create a Pinterest account, you just need a simple email and password to sign up. No one even needs to know you have a Pinterest! It's my choice of social media because, well, it's not very social lol. You don't have to interact with anyone, you can just browse and look at beautiful things. When you find something you like, simply "pin it" to a board you create. And don't worry, as you begin browsing, you don't have to know exactly what you're looking for just yet.
To pin outfit ideas, simply create a board titled "clothes" or "style" (or whatever you want to call it). Once you created your style board, pin outfits you see that you like. This will be so helpful to look back on and scroll through all the inspo you've pinned to find your personal style!
As you do this, a few things will start to happen.
1: You will see patterns in what you'd like to wear. Whether it's basics and neutrals, lots of dresses, workwear, you name it- you'll begin to see a common thread in your fashion interests.
2: You might come across bloggers and influencers that you want to follow for fashion inspo. I find that the easiest way to find what I want to wear, is to find someone who's style I absolutely LOVE, and purchase the items she shares, or find similar items that are more affordable.
Tip #2: Download LTK
LTK, or "Like to know it" is an app where you can shop products shared by real people. https://www.shopltk.com/
What I love about it, is I can use it to follow influencers who I'd love to dress like. This helps me find deals they may be sharing, get outfit ideas for things I already have in my closet that look similar, and make wish lists for purchases I'd like to buy in the future.
Once you find one or a few people who you love following on LTK, figuring out your style becomes really simple.
Another pro-tip: find an influencer who is around your size or body-type. This helps because what she is wearing will look similar on your body-type as well and flatter you the same. This tip reminds me of times I've gone to my hair dresser asking for a cut or color from a photo of a girl with completely different hair than me and it, well.. turned out awful haha. Most LTK influencers share their sizes which is super helpful.
Tip #3: Find a store or brand you love
Whether all of these tips are in order or not, it doesn't really matter. However, if you are completely unaware of a store you'd like to shop at, or a brand you really love, I recommend starting with the first two tips and then seeing if there are multiple clothes you're drawn to that are from a particular brand or store
Shopping from a particular store or brand is so helpful because you will know your exact sizes in what they sell and how it will fit you, you'll know how well their products hold through the test of time (hello, raising toddlers). You'll also be able to follow their shop along on Pinterest, social media, through getting on their email list, and even in person. Email lists are so great for when major sales happen- Abercrombie and Fitch tend to have a ton of them throughout the year and I love making sure I know when those are happening!
The best part about finding a particular brand or store you love, is that the style will be cohesive.
When your clothes are cohesive, you can mix and match and have an easier time shopping in the future. Once I began to realize what I want to reach for every time it's clean in my closet, it helped me narrow down what my every-day style really is.
Having clothes you absolutely love to be in every day is the biggest mood and confidence booster. Chasing kids around town in comfy yet stylish clothes you feel good in just HELPS.
Us moms deserve to feel as cute as our kids, right?!
Tip #4: Ask a stylish friend
Whether it's your little sister, your cool younger cousin, or a fellow mom friend who's killin' it in the fashion world- phoning a friend is one of the easiest ways to figure out what is working and what isn't. The key is to ask someone who will be sweetly, yet brutally honest with you.
One way this friend can help is by coming over and helping you declutter your closet to get rid of what is out of style or just not your thing anymore. You can show her your Pinterest board and give her permission to take things out that aren't cohesive to the look you're going for.
Another way she can help is by going shopping with you and helping pick out what you should try on, or helping you decide what to buy when you're choosing between items.
Lastly, you can also just straight up ask this friend all the questions when it comes to current fashion trends. Ask her what style she thinks you'd rock best! See how she knows what to wear and what her process is in choosing her own style. What stores does she recommend you shop at? Knowledge is power!
Tip #5: Trial and Error
Honestly, you will never find your style until you get out there and try. You may have to return things or donate things you thought you'd like. You might change your mind on what style you've landed on for yourself and what you want to wear, but this is all part of the process!
In the last few years, as a mom of three 5 and under, I've finally come to my own sense of style after so much trial and error. Honestly, I cringe at the things I felt confident in last year lol. It's okay though, that was a mom trying her best and figuring out what she likes to wear.
You know that old saying "when you look good, you feel good"? Well, I am a believer in that saying. I find that when I feel confident and put-together as a mom (even if that's elevating an athleisure look but staying comfy), I truly am more productive and motivated in my day. I want to get out of my house more, take my kids on adventures, be with friends, and I feel more beautiful around my husband!
Not everything is about material things such as clothing and accessories, but when the material stuff fuels us to feel more confident and more like "the old us" as moms, it's worth investing the time and money in your budget into.
I hope these tips help, and I hope to see you rockin' your cute new and improved style at the park soon! Get it girl.
From my home to yours, Keri
