7. May 2026
How to rediscover your style after motherhood
A client said something to me recently that I’ve heard many times before, she didn’t think she had a style any more.
I understand why it feels that way. Becoming a mother brings a shift in identity, a shift in priorities, and a very real need for clothes that actually work for your life. Add in the noise, social media, the well-meaning opinions, the sense that you ‘should’ be dressing a certain way now, and it’s easy to lose the thread of who you are.
But your personal style hasn’t disappeared. It’s still there, waiting. It just needs a little clarity — and a wardrobe built around your life as it actually is, not as it was before.
Start with what you already know you love
Think of someone whose look you admire, not their body or their hair, but the way they present themselves. What is it you’re drawn to? How would you describe them? Romantic, understated, classic, bold?
Now go to your wardrobe and look for that same quality in your own clothes. Don’t worry about fit for the moment, just ask does this feel like me? Set aside anything that doesn’t. What remains is your starting point.
When you dress in a way that reflects who you actually are, getting out of the door in the morning becomes simpler. You spend less time second-guessing yourself. You feel more settled. That’s not a small thing.
Build practicality in, not around
Dressing for being a mum doesn’t mean giving up on style. It means being more intentional about it. The right pair of shoes can transform an outfit for a day of school runs and meetings. A considered layer, a well-cut jacket, a fine-knit jumper does the same.
Look at the pieces that make you feel like yourself, then think about what small additions would make them work harder for your current life. It’s often less about a wardrobe overhaul and more about a few considered choices.
Fit matters more than anything else
Many clients who’ve recently become mothers hold onto clothes hoping they’ll fit again one day. It’s an understandable instinct, but it means your wardrobe is full of things that don’t serve you right now.
The truth is, fit is everything. A simple outfit in affordable fabric, cut well for your body, will look more intentional and feel better than something expensive that doesn’t quite work.
If you’re working with a budget, the secondhand market either online or in charity shops, offers real quality if you know your measurements. Not your ‘size’: your actual measurements. Get a tape measure out and write them down. Sizes vary so much between brands that relying on S, M or L will lead you astray every time.
A useful exercise: take a photo of yourself in fitted black clothing. It’s easier to see your shape objectively than in the mirror. Once you can see your silhouette clearly, you can think about what proportions work for you and what to look for when you shop.
A few things to keep in mind
- Your style is still there — start with your wardrobe before you buy anything new.
- Fit will make or break an outfit, whatever your size or budget.
- Measure yourself. Don’t rely on generic sizing.
- Don’t forget colour — the right tones will give you energy and make you look and feel more like yourself.
- Be honest with yourself about what you actually wear — and let go of the rest.
If you’d like help working through this — whether that’s a wardrobe edit, a shopping session, or simply a conversation about where to start — I’d love to hear from you.