The eight clothing essentials you need to survive postpartum
A.k.a wardrobe staples for those who like to dress soft
I’m prefacing this newsletter with permission to hit delete immediately if you’re not in the market / don’t want to read anything pregnancy related for whatever reason.. and sending a bunch of love to anyone that might be on their own journey to conceiving ♥️ It’s fucking hard and complicated.
While this one is postpartum focused it’s also just a very solid edit of clothing for those who want to dress relaxed, soft, elevated yet casual. Another preliminary note is that I am five weeks in and yet to actually put a considered ‘outfit’ together, so do what I say not what I do etc? Nah, now is your time to do and dress in whatever the hell you want. But if you want a little help in feeling a little more put together, i’ll leave this right here.
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I cannot tell you how hard it has been to string these words together, I am equally surprised second time around by just how mushy your brain is post baby. The good news is that I am finally relaxing into maternity leave and shedding the guilt of not working (this second anyway). The mental gymnastics that are involved in adapting from full time working mum to couch bound milk machine are intense, but for now i’m doing my best to lean in while keeping my need to create alive with homeroom.
This particular newsletter is actually just as much for me as it is for you given the aforementioned lack of dressing. I’ve barely left the house and when I have it’s been in a version of pyjamas (hence the lack of personal imagery in this post) and I don’t feel guilty about it at all. But I know the day will come when I want to feel stylish again and this is how and what I plan to dress myself in when I do: assisted by this moodboard.
I’ll also be assisted by our very own personal styling chat room, Classmates. Our IG group for paid Substack subscribers which we even get styling advice from. I couldn’t begin to describe the joy both Annie and I get from this group. Yes you need to pay us $2 a week to be a member which we basically just put back into the business in order to keep creating, but the payoff is priceless. It’s like having 24/7 access to a room of likeminded intelligent, style conscious people that are there to build you up and help you feel good about getting dressed each day. There’s shared styling suggestions, reference imagery, outfit pics, brand sizing intel, private sale announcements, discounts and personal banter. It’s so lovely.
What you’ll find below the paywall this week:
3 x check shirts for easy access modesty layering
9 x elevated slouchy sweaters that read ‘oh this old thing’
6 x considered long sleeve tees: baseball, v-neck, graphic and the like
5 x tried and tested chic trackies that avoid the saggy knee / bum situation
3 x leakproof bras that are actually leakproof
1 x compression short that doesn’t cut circulation and hugs you back to life
3 x pyjama sets to keep your sleep deprived nights cosy
1 x pair of game changing underwear
I’d continue to waffle on about my PP experience so far but it was hard enough getting to this point. And to follow Annie’s divine words in last week’s insanely brilliant article was hard enough, so perhaps down the track when i’ve regained some brain cells. I also have a shoes and accessories edit up my sleeve. For now, thanks so much for being here with us.
Sophie XO
The Oversized Shirt
I’m not a big shirt-on-its-own type wearer, they always leans a little too classic for me when they fly solo. They are however a breastfeeder’s postpartum essential for easy access modesty layering, so it’s lucky I do love styling them as a layer - be it an unnecessary styling piece or worn over a tank / tee / boob tube. They are PERFECT like this when BF’ing as you just whip said tank / tube down, or tee up. It’s also just a cute outfit for those not BF’ing that looks like you tried because it’s more than one layer. Win.
E NOLAN / Oversized Shirt — $400
The crème de la crème of winter shirting. I’ve never worn a more beautifully made shirt than my E Nolan. This one is 100% wool so perfect for right now, those that run cold or for a light jacket vibe as the allure of spring enters the conversation.
COS / Brushed Cotton Shirt — $139
For those on a budget (hi, I’m right here with you), I love these tones and it looks to be a good in between weight: not too heavy, not too light. The goldilocks shirt of hormonal temperature shifts.
AIME LEON DORE / Checked Cotton Shirt — $400
For something a little more fun in the check realm, I adore this fancy number and it’s perfect for SS26/27, postpartum and beyond (if you don’t want to burn it by the time you’re back to feeling more “yourself”).
The Slouchy Sweater
My daily uniform is: slouchy sweater + long sleeve tee + leakproof cami + trackies. Lucky for us it’s actually on trend to dress this way, baby or not. I’ve been rotating between an old season men’s Zara cotton sweatshirt that is literally disintegrating from wear and a choc wool funnel neck from Camilla & Marc that they often re-cut seasonally in other shades because it’s the perfect shape. Friends With Frank also have something similar and it’s on sale! I like having a go-to cotton style for home so I don’t overheat / don’t mind it getting stuff all over it constantly and the wool for something slightly more elevated and warm, for leaving the house.
What I love about the below styles are that they each read ‘oh this old thing’. Perfect relaxed cool.
