Top Tips for the Postpartum Lady

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I am guest posting over at Stethoscopes, Style, & Grace. The topic?Tops that are postpartum friendly. I'll give you a little taste of what I'm talking about:  

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The Pin Tuck: A pin tuck is a very narrow narrow tuck, or pleat, used as ornament in a garment. When used below the neckline of a top, the result is a slight gathering of fabric that flows into a looser fit through the middle to the bottom hem. This can be flattering because you aren't swallowed up in the garment thanks to the tucks, but it is more generous through the midsection.

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The Slouchy Sweater: This is the sweater that has a slouchier, looser cut. Some versions are rather cropped, others are longer and may be called tunic sweaters. A bit of slouch can hide a multitude of lumps.

For four more flattering styles, head on over to Stethoscopes, Style, & Grace!

Spring Wear for Moms

Yesterday I received a really nice comment from a reader - you know who you are - about an old post entitled How Mama Got Her Groove Back (Part II). Long forgotten, I clicked back to see what I would think of something that I did at the very start of this blog. Actually, the advice was really good and practical (if I sound surprised, it's only because I have a tendency to look back and realize how much I didn't know). I almost reprinted it here, but you can just click on the link above if you want to read it.

That same kind reader asked if I had any updates I would make on this "mom dressing" list of sorts. Well, I think everything I said still stands. I still believe wrap dresses are universally flattering, and a blazer and a great bag can elevate the easiest of outfits. So what I thought I would do for today's post is give you a new, current visual of a practical, beautiful "momdrobe" for spring.

V-Neck Tees / Blazer / Blouse / Chambray Top / Jeans / Ankle Pants / Skirt
Dress / Earrings / Watch / Sunglasses / Flats / Heels / Bag

All of these items can be mixed and matched, meaning a few pieces will yield a variety of outfits. And this wardrobe could take the busiest mom from day at home to grocery shopping to date night. Bonus? All of the items are also nursing and postpartum friendly!

Tips for Dressing Postpartum

I've received a few requests to write a post on dressing after the birth of a baby. And I wanted to oblige, I really did. But sometimes when you're in the trenches of this or that phase it can be hard to catch your breath, calm your emotions and see the forest for the trees. And if there is any stage of motherhood that can throw one for a loop, its the postpartum one. Milk comes in, the nether regions are, um, sore, emotions are running high, and then... the tummy. The tummy that looks like a partially deflated basketball. It's enough to make the strongest among us weep. 

And then I remembered that almost a year ago, my friend Sarah over at Mommy Notes asked me to write a guest post on the topic of dressing postpartum. I'm reprinting a portion of it here for you and me both!

Scarf // Sweater // Wayfarers // Aviators // Drawstring Pants // Jeans // Tote // Wrap Top

Start with a good foundation. A correctly fitting bra is key. It keeps the girls up high and gives you a smooth base to build on. Another key foundational element is either a belly binder, or some type of shape wear. Whichever you choose, the key is compression. By binding the tummy area, you are giving your core muscles support, while "reminding" them of their correct position and aiding in good posture. And, bonus, it conveniently tucks things in for a slimmer silhouette. There are many, many options out there. I found several promising products at the lower end of the belly band price range;  check here and here.  As far as regular shape wear, Assets (by Spanx) and Suddenly Skinny (both available at Target) have offerings in the $15.99 - $36.00 range, and have good customer reviews.

Now that we have covered the intimates, a few general word on styles. For tops, try on styles that have a looser fit (not to be confused with styles meant to be fitted but worn too big) such as slouchy sweaters, or the breezy pin tuck. Wrap tops and dresses can be very flattering, as can tops with ruching, or an interesting pattern that confuses the eye (such as the chevron). Maxi dresses with an empire waist can be very flattering and comfortable; halter styles make nursing a cinch, as do some with spaghetti straps or v-necks (look for a fabric that has the ability to stretch). While I recommend dresses with an empire waist, be careful about shirts of this cut. They can look very dated and frumpy (not what we're going for here). Such tops are also often too long; you don't want the hem to fall on the widest point of your thighs. This screams, "Look here, everybody!" Again, not what we're after.

As for bottoms, you are probably ready to get back into your pre-pregnancy jeans. Don't rush this! Even if you lose the weight quickly, it can take your hips longer to come back to their original position (hey, they did just make room to let Jr. out!). My suggestion is to get a pair of drawstring shorts or comfy linen pants. Also, do buy a pair of jeans that fit you! It's easy to convince ourselves that we should just wait it out rather than "waste" the money, but jeans that fit are cheaper than a nervous breakdown ("I feel ugly!" "I have nothing to wear!" You catch my drift.). Old Navy has inexpensive jeans in a variety of cuts. I have found that a straight or boot cut in a dark wash is the most flattering option if you have any substance to your butt / hips / thighs.  Avoid anything too low rise; do you know the muffin man?

And finally, if your budget allows, I recommend a few "feel good no matter what size I am" items. A great pair of sunglasses is an easy way to feel chic and pulled together. Use the principle of balance by opposite. If you have an angular face, choose rounded rims. A rounded face? Go with a more angular frame. Still not sure? Try the aviator; it looks good on most. A beautiful bag will class up the simplest of outfits. Don't feel like you have to go with a traditional diaper bag. There are many totes out there that have plenty of pockets and space to meet your diapering needs! And finally, a statement necklace or scarf in a bright color draws the eye up to your lovely face, right where it should be! Scientifically, yellow and red catch the eye more than other colors, but any bold color will suffice. 

How to Look Hot in a Minivan and Other Pressing Thoughts

Apparently that could be the title of this blog. Okay, not exactly, but Janice Min's "Real Woman's Guide"has the same driving idea behind it: Just because you have kids doesn't mean you can't be chic, and do so on a budget. And as a mom herself, Min espouses the idea that motherhood is both exquisitely beautiful and a life change that presents certain difficulties. Her message is to resist images of perfection and the other temptations to 'throw in the towel.'  By approaching your appearance with intentionality, you can be even an even "better" version of yourself after children.

How to Look Hot in a Minivan is basically a guide that covers what to expect postpartum, clothing, hair, makeup, and healthy living for the modern busy mama. The book is an easy read, perfect for skipping around to the areas that pique your interest. I would recommend borrowing it from the library rather than purchasing. It's fun, but I think that there are better resource books out there in most of the areas covered.

That being said, I did find the Introduction very interesting. Min spent six years at Us Weekly as editor-in-chief, and she comments on "the beginnings of a seismic cultural shift" that she and her colleagues were noticing (about 10 years ago). The cultural shift? The fact that many celebrities were not only pregnant, but flaunting it, and ushering in the age of the "momshell," the fashionable mom. Min points out that just ten years earlier even celebrities like Madonna avoided the limelight while pregnant. Now, high profile women were giving birth and then posing for bikini shots weeks later, apparently physically unaltered by the ordeal that is nine months of gestation and labor and delivery.

In this age of lower birthrates (and therefore a lower number of women who have experienced pregnancy, and even a lower number who have experienced multiple pregnancies), it seems to me that our culture tends to approach maternity in two contradictory ways. On one hand, it's portrayed as the end. The end of a desirable body. The end of being fit. The end of being anything other than saggy and lumpy and unattractive. And if one pregnancy doesn't do you in, several will ensure that your body is "ruined." In gestating, our bodies are destroyed in what is [at least implied to be] an unnatural state of things.

On the other hand, there is the cultural shift that Min mentions. A part of this shift is that pregnancy is portrayed as inconsequential in the physical sense. One should have a flat stomach weeks after giving birth. Not only will the weight come off immediately, pre-pregnancy jeans will come on immediately (wider hips who?). Anything less is unacceptable, and should be fixed.

I have experienced both of these contradictory attitudes to pregnancy, and strangely, sometimes even simultaneously.  As a person with body image issues in my past, my first pregnancy was plagued with apprehension. Would I immediately gain fifty pounds? Would I be covered in stretch marks? Would I be stuck with the pregnancy weight forever, even if I exercised and ate right? Basically, would my body be "ruined"?

After making it through the pregnancy with a healthy amount of weight gain, I was left with some stretch marks, and hips that were a bit wider, but all in all, intact. Better than intact. But I couldn't get my jeans on. And my stomach was soft, and rounded. I admit that I was discouraged and tempted to take some immediate food restriction measures even though I wasn't overweight and I was nursing. Thank goodness I have a really affirming husband, and an addiction to the Google, which informed me that it is normal for the uterus to take four weeks to return to its pre-pregnancy size.

What is the correct way to view pregnancy in this age of appearances and impossible expectations? That it is both radically natural and radically altering. The female body is equipped to get the job done, albeit with changes, some permanent, some temporary. A healthy view of the female body sees these changes as a normal part of life. I mean, what's the alternative? The end of the species?

The dichotomy between motherhood and being attractive is a false one. And it is just as false to portray motherhood as carrying no physical affects. But every body is going to age, and therefore change. At some point your bosoms will begin to sag a bit whether or not you have birthed a child. So, believe in your body, be good to yourself, and be not afraid!

Birth Announcement!

We welcomed Edmond Pierre to the world on Wednesday, January 15 at 2:49 P.M. He weighed in at 7 lb 14 oz (I made an ounce typo on the FB announcement, but I couldn't edit it...), and was 20.5 inches long.

We're both home and healthy. Thank you to all who offered prayers and encouragement; it was all greatly appreciated!

The blogging may be hit and miss for a few weeks as we adjust to a new rhythm, and enjoy this new addition to our family. Please bear with me, and occasionally check in to see what's going on here at Atelier!

One Day Shy of Forty

Weeks, that is. And still pregnant, as your astute eyes will inform you. You may have wondered if the silence on the blog meant that sweet baby child had arrived, but no. I've just been in a weird semi-reclusive, semi 'edge of my seat' impatient state for this baby to be birthed. I've felt inexplicably moved, nay, impelled, to do such critical activities as thoroughly clean out the vacuum and schedule bill payments a month in advance. And take lots of hot baths.

The Outfit: Turtleneck: thrifted (not maternity, just super long) // Jeans: Gap 1969 Full Panel Boot Cut (30% off with code OFFER4U until 1/7) // Suede Boots: Impo Stretch (years ago, so no longer available, but I really like these as a low heel camel option)

At 37 Weeks. In Loungewear.

It's been four weeks already since the last belly pics; at that rate these just might be my last. And that's a thought that gives me nervous happy slightly frightened butterflies. You know what I mean.

It snowed yesterday, and more is in the forecast for today, tomorrow, the next day, the next day, and the next day... So if you need me, I'll most likely be here, wearing something comfortable like this: 

The Outfit: Grey Tee: Old Navy Maternity (circa my first pregnancy!) // Linen Blend Fold Over Pants: Old Navy (similar) // Our Lady of Perpetual Help Necklace: Gift from the Husband // Belly: See Previous

33 Weeks. And Counting.

I realized yesterday that it has been almost three weeks since I posted an outfit photo (and a belly growth update, of course)! Since I wasn't yet  blogging during my other pregnancies, they were quite poorly documented, and that's something that I regret. I really love how Sheena has been doing a side by side comparison (on Instagram) of her current pregnancy and her previous one, in which she was carrying twins. Really so cool.

Anyway, let's keep this short and sweet. This is me at 33 weeks, trying to keep the frumpy away. Last round of belly shots there were some comments that I didn't have much of one (a belly), so I made sure to get some better angles this time, complete with gratuitous belly holding.

The Outfit: Dark Grey Blazer: Nordstrom via Goodwill (not maternity) //  Dark Grey Tee: H&M Best Basics // Jeans: Old Navy Maternity (last pregnancy, circa Fall 2009) // Winter White Boots: Kenneth Cole Reaction (new via Goodwill) // Clutch: Vintage (thrifted) // Watch: Citizen Eco Drive // Chrome Cord Bracelet: DIY here

De-frumpifying the Third Trimester

Today I'm honored to be guest posting over at This Felicitous Life on the above mentioned topic. I'll give you a hint - it's all about affordable stylish staples. Head on over and check it out. Meet me back here tomorrow :)

Pregnancy Style Tip #37: Pursue Ponte

What is ponte, you say? Ponte (pronounced "pon-tee") is a double knit fabric that can be composed of various materials in different ratios. Some common components are cotton, polyester, viscose, rayon, and spandex.

And why should you pursue it? Well, it has some great characteristics, especially for the childbearing body. It is slightly structured, it has a bit of stretch, it resists wrinkles, holds color, wears well, is of medium weight, and most importantly... it is oh so figure flattering! The combination of give, structure, and fabric weight works perfectly to disguise those bumps and bulges we all (pregnant or not) know too well.

My first experience of of ponte was actually this dress, which isn't maternity, but I was able to wear well into this pregnancy. And then, about four weeks ago, I found the Gap Maternity dress you see me "modeling" (smile) below.  You might be questioning whether I am the best source on bump and bulge management because, admittedly, pregnancy isn't too unkind to me. But. But. I do have scoliosis (a curvature of the spine) and all that thickening that occurs in the middle accentuates the differences in my hips and makes me look lumpy and lopsided.

The Outfit: Dress: Gap Maternity ("new with tags" from a local consignment shop, but there are lots of similar options on ebay) // Black Tights: Target // Angora Snood: DIY here // Bracelet: DIY here

So next time you are shopping, pregnant or not, do a little search for "ponte" and see what you find. Okay, and I can't help but pointing out a couple of cute finds. This ponte skirt dress from Gap (take 40% off today only with the code SWEET16), this classy Liz Lange dress, perfect for dressing up or down, and for those of you who can't get enough stripes, this super steal from Merona. 

Me. Everyday.

I just realized that I have entered the THIRD TRIMESTER of this pregnancy! I almost can't believe it. But then I feel a twinge of back pain, see my belly button through two shirts, realize that my chest is blocking the view of my feet... 

I hope that I'm not boring you with such a very basic outfit, but in the name of keepin' it real (and isn't that the current nom de plume in blogger land?), I must share. This is what I wear almost every single day. Sometimes the color of the shirt will change, or I'll throw on another layer, or wear a different necklace, but this is the foundation, folks. The uniform.

The Outfit: Shirt: Mossimo Boyfriend Tee via Target // Jeans: Mama Slim by H&M (I found the darker wash in-store) // Shoes: Python Print Flats by Banana Republic Outlet // Watch: Citizen Eco-Drive

A quick word about the pants. Does anybody out there have any suggestions for great looking full panel maternity jeans? That aren't hundreds of dollars? I really like this pair from H&M (especially the perfect dark wash), and I have barely worn anything else since I bought them. My only complaint is that I find myself constantly pulling them up. They have the best fit of the options I tried, and I couldn't get the next smaller size past my calves, so I don't think that is the issue. Is this just a thing with full panel maternity pants? I don't remember this from the other times. I don't know. Wisdom, ladies?

Pregnancy Style Stealers

There are certain style quandaries that arise with pregnancy. Some of the them sneak up on a mama-to-be because they happen so gradually, others are shocking and impossible to ignore. Since I am currently in the throes of pregnancy number four (!), I can both commiserate and share some wisdom that I've gained over the last six years. If I had to sum up this advice, I would lay it out something like this: 

Don't abandon your own style. This can be a real temptation especially if maternity wear options are limited in your area, or your budget is very tight. Resist! Make boards on Pinterest of maternity fashions that you actually like, and try to get creative using what is available to you.

Be careful of too short shirts.  This style stealer is a sneaky one; it can happen soooo quickly!

Be careful of fabric that is too thin. I occasionally find a find or two at Old Navy, but this week when I stopped by their maternity section the shirts were borderline transparent. Transparent. The childbearing body is beautiful, but nothing makes me more uncomfortable than every bump and bulge being on display, as is the case with dresses made of too thin fabric. Too thin tops also look cheap, in more ways than one....

Be careful of the plunging neckline. A lot of maternity clothing employs the plunging neckline because it is easier for nursing post birth, because women want to flaunt their new pregnancy "assets" (I can hear you thinking, "I'm only an A cup, this doesn't apply to me." I say, for now you are an A cup. Milk, it does a body good..), and because some space in a collar line can be really flattering and effective in drawing the eye up. But. These necklines, on a person in motion, can be very revealing and uncomfortable. Constantly adjusting to prevent a wardrobe malfunction is not stylish. And as far as nursing goes, I never found it that difficult to accomplish in "regular" shirts.

Be careful of pulling and gapping in shirt buttons. This advice is along the same vein as the previous two points. Bigger girls can leave one prone to unintentional peep shows when shirts just won't stay closed. I always check this aspect before buying. It's a deal breaker.

Avoid maternity jeans with "feathering" across the thighs. Lighter embellishments and/or horizontal lines draw negative attention to the widest point of the leg. Since most of us don't gain just a belly as pregnancy progresses, maternity jeans in a dark wash with no feathering is the most slenderizing way to go.

Invest in some good undergarments. Avoid lines and "spilling over" by wearing the proper size undergarment. I know it can be a difficult fact to face that one's underwear just doesn't fit the way it used to, but as the saying goes, the truth will set you free. For special occasions that involve dresses and skirts, invest in a pair of these for a seamless look. I'm absolutely serious.

A What I Wore at 25 Weeks

The post that was meant for today didn't quite work out as planned, so my four year old and I decided to do an impromptu photo shoot instead. This is an outfit that I wore out to dinner recently. A former employer and now friend was in town, and he and his wife invited the husband and I out. The restaurant was upscale casual, and this is what I wore!

Outfit details: Shirt: Mossimo Boyfriend Tee // Pants: Old Navy Maternity // Blazer: Target via 

Goodwill // Necklace: Handmade // Shoes: Aldo // Undereye bags: Migraine, now easing off, thanks goodness!

I like this outfit because I still feel somewhat sleek in it, even at 25 weeks, and all the attention goes up to my face. What do you think?