This post about dressing with confidence was created in partnership with Lane Bryant. All opinions expressed are my own and not those of the company.
Guys, it’s been a while! My little boy just turned 18 months so I’ve officially been a mommy of two for an entire year and a half. One of the biggest struggles for me after having my second baby was finding the confidence to accept that my body will never be the exact same. I think it’s just one of life’s many journeys you accept. As you go through new life stages like pregnancy and motherhood, your body adjusts to that. And sometimes, your confidence might take a hit if you’re not intentional about shifting how you look at this new version of you. For those of you who (like me) may need a boost of style confidence, here are three tips that have helped me:
1. Accentuate What You Love Most
Before my babies, my favorite area to accentuate on my body was my bust. While I still love the twins, they honestly don’t look the same after kids. Y’all, I breastfed both my babies and the twins are not as perky as they used to be (shoutout to Cacique for the best Boost Strapless bras, ever!) What I have come to love more, are my shoulders. Picking up and chasing after two kids has made my upper body pretty attractive.
So I now love wearing tops with the bare and off-the-shoulder silhouette like this Embroidered Poplin Off The Shoulder Top from Lane Bryant. Even though I love my shoulders, I’m not fond of my upper arm area, so I love that the sleeves have a bell shape and draw attention upward.
2. Find Your (New) Perfect Fit
I remember how much I dreaded getting dressed right after I had my babies. I couldn’t wear my maternity clothes anymore because they were too baggy, but my old pre-baby clothes also were too tight. I would get super frustrated and just pop on black leggings and an oversized sweater. I was OVER it. Then, I realized I literally just had to clean my closet and start from scratch with new items that fit my new body. My first step was discovering which jeans accentuated my curves best. Silhouettes like this Ultimate Stretch Skinny Jean are the perfect fit for me.
They have a higher rise to help me tuck in my belly, they’re stretchy and comfortable for running errands with the kids, and the Skinny silhouette helps accentuate my curves!
3. Add Pops of Color
I don’t know about you guys, but color makes me happy. I do pops of bright color on my nails every week, and I try to incorporate bright colors into my accessories and my wardrobe whenever possible. It was love at first sight with these Short Block Heel Sandals. They’re super comfy, low heel for running after the kids, but still cute and work well to add color to neutral outfits.
My biggest takeaway for dressing with confidence – wear what makes you FEEL GOOD! Trends are cute or whatever, but don’t get sucked into thinking you have to wear styles straight off the runway to be stylish. And most important, know your body and dress for it.
Photos by Gianna Dorsey
Name one item in your closet you can’t live without. What is it and where is it from? Leave a comment below!
