Post-Partum Attire For Professionals

{what to wear when you are transitioning from maternity clothes to non-maternity clothes}

One of our readers posed a brilliant question: as a professional woman coming off of maternity leave, what are the best transitional clothes to own before you are ready to get back into your pre-maternity clothing? Whether your leave is 6 weeks or 6 months long, and whether you return to your pre-baby weight quickly or not, this is an issue most of us mamas have faced. It simply takes some time before your body is up for being what it used to be.

We get it, and here are our wardrobe solutions in the meantime:

Invest in loose-fitting blouses:

Loose-fitting blouses are en vogue at the moment, and are ideal for any post-baby body. If the bulk of your transitional clothing investment is here, you are doing the right thing – these blouses will accommodate any discomfort you may have with wearing anything too tight around the midsection, but they’ll make valuable additions to your wardrobe long after your are back to your ideal shape.

We love kaftans, and this Michael Kors Mixed Print Flowy Top is up there as both a transitional piece and an investment piece down the line. Pair with a cropped pant or pencil skirt and you’re good to go.

Any blouse that is slightly more fitted on top and A-line toward the mid-section is also perfect for a transitional wardrobe piece. We love this Shoshanna blouse in peach (the sleeve detail is lovely and draws the eye up) as well as this split neck blouse by Graham and Spencer (again, the detailing at the top is good for keeping the eye focused upward if you are self-conscious at all about your mid-section).

Go for low-waisted pants:

Low-waisted pants are not necessarily for everyone, but we’ve found that in those transitional months our mama friends love pants that sit below the belly rather than across. The low waist is more comfortable, and because it’s designed to be a bit looser than your traditional higher waisted work pant, doesn’t create unwanted bulging (particularly when paired with shape wear – see below). (I suppose there is an argument for high-waisted pants to pull everything together – this depends on your comfort threshold in those early months.) The Limited carries a great line of low waisted pants (the “Drew”) that we’ve had a lot of luck with post-maternity.

Find your dream wrap dress:

A wrap dress is for the ages. Everyone should have one. And by everyone we mean post-partum mamas in particular. A wrap dress is flattering on every woman, is forgiving in the mid-section, and can be loosened or tightened to conform to your body no matter the stage. If you’ve still got a bit of belly, the wrap and tie will not interfere and will keep that all on the DL. As you flatten out and return to whatever shape you are aiming for, the wrap can be pulled tighter for a sleek and chic look. It’s iconic, and so are you mama! This Banana Republic Gemma Wrap dress is a classic – and, in black, is perfect for new moms.

Pick cosy coverups:

In those post-baby months, feeling cosy and comfortable is high on the list of priorities (i.e., sweats are a pre-back to work staple in my view). When you head back to work initially, there is no reason to shake this up too much. That is, we’ve found that you will still need a little bit of that comfort feeling until you are back to your old self. Go for cardigans and other cover ups that are work appropriate but still comfort inducing, and that you can wrap around yourself and feel like you are settled in your skin. This BB Dakota oversized cardigan is a great transitional piece, but our heart skips a beat for this Thakoon ribbed knit vest. The Thakoon vest is a little pricey, but this is the type of item we’ll be wearing post-maternity and for a long long time after.

Bonus:

Get some shape wear. We were not big fans of shape wear pre-baby, but we definitely get it now. Whether it’s traditional Spanx or body suits in various colors, shape wear will make you feel confident and allow you to go about your professional life without any distractions.

What transitional, post-partum clothing do you love? Let us know in the comments below!

Sincerely,

HOM

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