Queen Bee Styling

I felt slightly apprehensive when I saw the scruffy lady with a buggy standing very close to me in the local shop. However, in that split second I realised that the Vicki Pollard look-a-like was me! There I was many months after the birth of my first child, still in maternity trousers, an old beaten up parka (only updated with baby sick) and my dark lanky roots scraped back into a ponytail.

Sharing this experience with my fellow mums showed me that many were in the same situation. Their bodies had often changed, or they felt out of step with fashion, and they needed a friendly helping hand to get their mojo back. That inspired me to become a personal stylist and set up my own business.

My advice to mums in the same situation is not to be too hard on yourself. Remember that you and your body have been through a major upheaval. In the real world most women don’t ping back into shape a few weeks after giving birth. Be realistic about your body shape and how much you can or will do to change. It is far better to dress for your new shape than be in denial.

In the first few months of motherhood most women have to contend with carrying extra weight and breastfeeding. The pre baby wardrobe isn’t appropriate and most mums are so sick of their maternity clothes they want to burn them. As your body is still in a transitional stage I would advise buying two or three inexpensive new tops from the high street. These will inject a bit of life into your wardrobe but it’s not going to hurt if they don’t fit you in a few months or they are ruined by baby leftovers.

Once you are over this stage, it is time to assess what you have in your wardrobe. Try everything on and give yourself an honest appraisal of what works and what doesn’t. Think about what you want from your wardrobe and how it is working for your lifestyle. I find many wardrobes have lots of smart clothes but lack casual practical outfits.The backbone of your wardrobe should be key basic items that won’t date and are there because they fit you perfectly, not because they are on trend.

You can then layer the fashion items in on a seasonal basis. At the end of the sort out you should have a clear idea of where the gaps are in your wardrobe. You can then write a shopping list which is focused on what you need. Don’t be lured into thinking that you have to be ‘trendy’, there’s a difference between having a outfit that is contemporary and trendy.

In my experience, most mums struggle with finding a casual wardrobe that is up-to-date yet practical. If I had to pick five key items that do just this job they would be as follows:

1. A great pair of jeans.
2. A sweatshirt
3. Ankle boots
4. Rain proof jacket
5. Printed square scarf

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Sally Smy enjoyed a successful twenty-year career in fashion buying working for leading high street retailers, such as Top Shop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams and more recently, as a Buying Manager for Tesco. A mother of two, she understands how easy it is to neglect your appearance with the demands of being a mother. Queen Bee Styling to provide affordable styling services for women in this situation. If you would like more details on their services or to sign up their newsletter which features style tips, fashion advice and details of upcoming events, please contact sally@queenbeestyling.com. www.queenbeestyling.com

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