Editor’s note: Welcome to the first of a series in which I help Styling You readers solve a particular wardrobe or clothing crisis with a little advice and some shopping suggestions. If you think you’d like to be featured as part of a Wardrobe Boot Camp post, then please email me (nikki@stylingyou.com.au) with a couple of photos and a brief run down of what specific help you would like.
Disclosure: Stacey Roberts is my neighbour. She’s also the very gorgeous blogger behind The Veggie Mama. We share a fence but not enough wine as she’s been pregnant or breast feeding for the past two years. But that’s ok because she makes extremely beautiful babies and occasionally sneaks over for a glass of red or champers with me as we solve the problems of the first world.
Oh, and did I mention that apart from blogging and being a mum of two under two, she works part-time as a uni lecturer? She’s also completely and utterly gorgeous – on the inside and on the out.
Quite frankly, I was surprised to receive her SOS email asking for some help in the post maternity clothes winter wardrobe department. She always looks mighty fine to me … but here goes …
The plea
I am in desperate need for some winter wear, as I am not pregnant this season, YAY!
All the pregnancy clothes I bought for when pregnant with now-five-month-old Pepper (bar one pair of Just Jeans maternity jeans which were awesome) were horrible. I went to my local shopping centre one day and headed straight to the back racks of cheap chain stores. I bought whatever was on sale (nothing over $10) and I just bought oversize everything. Boring black and grey long-sleeve shirts and anything roomy. I paired with leggings from two seasons before and just hoped for the best. NO MORE!
Online is the most helpful as I don’t want to be clothes shopping with two small children, and I like getting stuff in the mail. I just need to know the best places that will serve my needs but am woefully out of touch. I have just ordered some things from Forever21 (I think US sites are great at the change of seasons, they’re sale-ing what I need!) but I really don’t know what other sites are good.
The wardrobe wishlist
- skinny jeans
- cute leggings
- a-line skirts or miniskirts
- loose, maybe oversized tops
- chunky cable-knit longish sweaters
- Peter Pan-collar and button-up shirts
- cute cardis
- some booties
The tips
1. Buy less but spend more on each item that you buy. It’s great to have a bargain but if it falls apart after one season, it’s not a bargain. Now that you’re not pregnant, then think about building up your wardrobe based on quality pieces, not throw-away stuff is a big plus for the environment, which I know is a big thing for you.
2. Yes, look to overseas online sites for sale pieces but don’t discount Aussie independent boutiques and etsy (also your style). By doing so, you’re supporting small businesses that really need our love.
3. Winter is such a short season in Queensland, invest in layering pieces that will take you from the cold morning through to sunny days and back again to freezing.
The shopping
Stacey’s style is young, a little vintage-y and a little rock-chick-y. She’s not afraid of the quirky and showing her personality with what she wears. I’ve been conscious that she’s wanting to stick to a budget so have trawled the shopping interwebs and found 10 value-for-money pieces … many of which are on sale. I’ve stuck to a mainly neutral palette with a couple of pops of colour because these are building block pieces.
There is a show pony piece in there – the Black Milk Clothing Star Wars leggings – which you might be shaking your head at but knowing what I know (that Stacey owns an R2 D2 one-piece swimsuit), I think she may just go for them.
1. Black Milk Clothing Yoda and Luke leggings $105 | 2. Sancerre top $19 (on sale) | 3. Toi Et Moi sweater $35.99 (on sale) @ The Iconic | 4. River Island cardigan $40.24 (on sale) @ ASOS | 5. Pleated mini skirt $US49.28 @ Etsy | 6. Monkee Genes jeans $49.27 (on sale) @ ASOS | 7. Antipodium blouse $65.70 (on sale) @ The Iconic | 8. Boom Shankar mini skirt $30 (on sale) | 9. Mel vegan-friendly ballet pumps $55 @ Style Tread | 10. Ina boots $79.95 @ Style Tread
Did you feel the same way, post pregnancy? Thinking that you had to start your wardrobe all over again? Tips for Stacey?
