my approach to postpartum wardrobe purchases

Hi friends! The last time I posted, I was sharing our baby’s nursery. Now, our daughter Blair is here and six weeks old. We have been absolutely loving the past month and a half of baby snuggles, getting to know Blair, and figuring out how we work as a family of three.

When I was in my last month of pregnancy, I wrote a note on my phone listing my intended postpartum capsule wardrobe. I focused on stretchy fabrics, oversized pieces, and cozy items, knowing I’d want to be as comfortable as possible. (I did this for my maternity wardrobe as well – you can find that post here!)

Now that I’m a few weeks postpartum, I can say that my initial capsule has worked for the most part. However, I’ve found that my existing wardrobe isn’t serving me quite as well as I hoped, and while I’m definitely comfortable, I don’t feel like myself. (This of course makes sense – I just went through a huge life change and my body is in a state of healing!)

I wasn’t intending on buying any new pieces so soon after having Blair; I was really just going to wait and see how my body healed and settled. But it’s fall and I want to feel good! So I’ve added a few new pieces to my wardrobe, and I want to share how I thought about these purchases with a slow fashion mindset. I want to preface all this by saying the most sustainable option probably would have been to just wear the pieces I already have that fit me, but I also want to be realistic; clothing is a way for me to express myself! I want to dress in outfits I love! And while I have no idea what my body will look or feel like in the coming months, and I’m sure it will continue to change, I have worked to be as intentional with these purchases as possible. Our bodies are always changing and doing incredible things every single day! I really want to honour my body while honouring our earth too. This post is about that balance 🙂

The below considerations are not just for those who are in the postpartum phase; they’ll work for anyone who is feeling a shift in their wardrobe needs for whatever reason. Here is my approach to postpartum wardrobe purchases as I get used to my new body, and as my body continues to heal and change.

buying pieces that work now and long-term

For most of the new items I’ve purchased, I’ve thought about if and how they will work in my wardrobe long-term if my size changes. This has meant purchasing pieces that fit me now, but that I’d also be okay with potentially being oversized down the road. I’ve bought a knit sweater, a cardigan, and a t-shirt, knowing that if I happen to go back to my pre-pregnancy size, I’d still love and wear these items in a size up. While I was buying these pieces, I opted for natural fibres; I find I keep and love items longer when they’re made of fibres that feel good and wear well over a longer period of time.

I’ve also ensured these items fit my existing wardrobe by saving them to my wardrobe Pinterest board. I explain this board and how I use it in my Instagram highlight here.

buying potential short-term items with intention

One of the items I’ve purchased has been a pair of pants. While I love my leggings, I need a pant I can reach for when I want to feel a bit more dressed up. Now, I know pants might be a short-term purchase, and I may only wear these for a few months. However, to ensure I approached this purchase with a slow fashion mindset, I:

• only bought one pair – if I decide I need more, I can buy another pair later.
• bought a versatile style – I opted for trousers because I know I can dress them up or wear them more casually. They’ll be appropriate for a lot of different occasions.
• bought a style I already know I love – I have an older version of these pants already and have had them for years.
• have a plan to extend their life – I won’t shove them in the back of my closet or throw them out if/when they no longer fit. I’ll be posting them to my Poshmark account!

ultimately buying slowy

The main point to all of this is that I’m buying items slowly and as I feel I need them. I don’t want to go out and buy twenty new things when I’m not sure how I’ll feel over these next months. The postpartum period is new to me, and I want to treat my body with the love and respect it deserves! Right now, that looks like giving my body time to heal, and feeling okay with adding to my wardrobe with intention. I know that I’ll get a ton of wear out of the pieces I’ve added recently, and if I choose to buy more, I have a slow approach to doing so.

If you’re also in the postpartum period, or in a state of transition in your wardrobe, what is your approach to adding new pieces?