Even though I don't have kids, a lot of this is relatable to changing bodies in general as well as how we dress impact our mental health. Thank you for sharing with us!
Agree, some of the turning points could have been from my own (child-free) style journey. The proportions especially; one day I woke up and no one was wearing skinny jeans anymore 😅 J/k. Thank you for sharing about your journey, Anna!
Agree, I thought the exact same thing while reading! I’m in my early 40’s and my body has changed drastically over the past decade, even without ever being pregnant. In addition to body changes, we all go through life shifts that can be disorienting, from moves to jobs changes to health issues to just regular old lifestyle and emotional priority shifts. I’m also starting to see that these style shifts can happen many times over for us in life as we age. What a lucky and beautiful thing, to be able to give ourselves the grace and gift to do something new!
Anna, thank you for this. As a mother with a nine-year-old—far, far from my postpartum days—so much of this still resonates.
Time moves forward, but the echoes of those early years never really leave us, do they? The exhaustion, the tenderness, the quiet negotiations with our own reflection in the mirror. Your words hold such candor, such warmth, and I’m grateful for both the honesty and the deeply practical wisdom you share.
And I think you’ve captured one of the hardest lessons of motherhood (or maybe just womanhood itself?): grace.
The grace to soften when we want to be sharp, the grace to rest when the world insists on more, the grace to forgive ourselves for being human.
We are so often our own fiercest critics, and the world is more than willing to pile on expectations of its own—especially for mothers. Even down to what we wear! Thank you for holding space for a different way.
Anna, thank you for this newsletter. I am pregnant right now and struggling with my style. This is my first child so in my head I am longing for those postpartum days, where I can fit into jeans again. But I know I have to be realistic with what that is going to look like in the first couple of months. However, I've been consuming your content for 8+ years now and feel like I have been on this style evolution with you. With what you have shared I feel empowered to be able to make the right choices that will still make me feel good. For example, I asked my mom for a nice new pair of espresso colored Lululemon's to wear when I am postpartum. I am hoping to style them like you styled yours in the fall with a cardigan on top and a jumper around the waist.
I also want to say that I have so much empathy for what you went through. I was there, watching every video when you came back after pregnancy. It is hard for us to understand what you really went through. From the outside looking in, I still found your style and your content super inspiring.
Thank you so much Katharina for such a lovely comment!! Oh I love those espresso coloured Lululemon's - a very good shout! I had a pair of vintage, loose fit jeans too that were so soft and something I lived in in those early days! I'm glad you found this helpful and wishing you all the best for you and your little one! xx
Am I postpartum? No. Am I even pregnant? No. Did I read every word of this anyway? Why, yes, I did.
As another commenter said, this really applies to any 'changing' body. My body changed dramatically after going through breast cancer at 29, and like you, hardly any of my pre-cancer wardrobe fits. I loved all your practical tips, but most of all, I loved how kind you were to past Anna. What a beautiful lesson for us all, thank you ♥️
I think everyone should have a personal style amnesty for at least a couple of years postpartum! My youngest is 4 and I'm only getting to the other side of the huge (and very challenging) identity shift now. In the meantime I've been through a number of style phases that were probably ill-advised (a lot of stuff has since departed via Vinted). But just like adolescence, I think you sometimes have to try on a few identities during matrescence too.
Anna, this is the best newsletter ever. In my unofficial data collection, I have found that ALL moms experience a serious style shift and that, on average, when a kid is turning 3 things actually start to click. I hope that encourages people to know they aren't alone! I'm absolutely blushing that you would include me in your resources as I continue to be inspired by you every day.
Reading this with a 10 week old babe on my boob and nodding along in agreement. I’m so excited to have those pockets of time to play in my wardrobe again (and to clear out the jeans that will NOT be fitting these new hips of mine) - but in the meantime I’m going to try out that formula you included at the end, tweaked for the end of our Sydney Summer. Thanks for your vulnerability 🤍
Thank you so much for writing on this topic, especially around your postpartum struggles in general (not just style). I’m sure it wasn’t an easy one to write. I can relate to so much of what you have written and it’s nice to know others have gone through something similar. Thank you again.
Thank you so much for this post, Anna. I’m still struggling with this, even though my son is 2.5 years old—maybe even more now than when he was younger. (Probably because I’m extra hard on myself for not figuring this out, even though I’m not technically postpartum anymore. Anyway, I’m rambling.)
But proportion! Such an eye-opening moment—I’m so glad you mentioned that. Pre-pregnancy, cut-off jeans worked so well for my body type, and now they just don’t. And it makes sense now. Thank you! ❤️
Thanks for writing this. Especially your reflections on how your style is a form of self expression and care when you're lost postpartum.
I feel like ~18 months- 2 years post partum was when I finally found some head space (and actual time) to start considering my personal style and intentionally dressing. Then I got pregnant again (currently 9 weeks along) and back into the whole 'feel queasy, bloated and weird' roundabout again 🙃
Anna, thank you so much for this post. I can’t blame the hormones anymore but I related so much that it made me tear up remembering the struggle it was, both dressing the new me and becoming a mom. I had my first in June 2020 during the peak of covid when we were stuck inside without any help or visit from our loved ones. God it was hard. I had to stay home for more than 20 months (instead of the 4 I had planned) because we couldn’t find a spot in daycare and I completely lost myself. Another baby (who’s now a toddler) and almost 5 years later, I’m finally feeling like myself again. What a journey it was. I also wished I had given myself more grace and time. We’re always so hard on ourselves. Can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to do it in front of so many people, you are amazing 🫶🏻
This was a really great post, such a great topic. I remember really struggling to figure out who on earth I was post bub number three especially. Thinking about personal style and by default thinking about my needs has become an act of self care for me over the last 18 months too, I totally relate to your point. It feels like something I have control over, that’s all about who what I want to be. Reminded me I exist beyond being ‘mum’. Thanks for sharing your story.
Even though I don't have kids, a lot of this is relatable to changing bodies in general as well as how we dress impact our mental health. Thank you for sharing with us!
Agree, some of the turning points could have been from my own (child-free) style journey. The proportions especially; one day I woke up and no one was wearing skinny jeans anymore 😅 J/k. Thank you for sharing about your journey, Anna!
Absolutely!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it x
Agree, I thought the exact same thing while reading! I’m in my early 40’s and my body has changed drastically over the past decade, even without ever being pregnant. In addition to body changes, we all go through life shifts that can be disorienting, from moves to jobs changes to health issues to just regular old lifestyle and emotional priority shifts. I’m also starting to see that these style shifts can happen many times over for us in life as we age. What a lucky and beautiful thing, to be able to give ourselves the grace and gift to do something new!
The bodily change in the early 40s is so relatable. Still trying to navigate!
Anna, thank you for this. As a mother with a nine-year-old—far, far from my postpartum days—so much of this still resonates.
Time moves forward, but the echoes of those early years never really leave us, do they? The exhaustion, the tenderness, the quiet negotiations with our own reflection in the mirror. Your words hold such candor, such warmth, and I’m grateful for both the honesty and the deeply practical wisdom you share.
And I think you’ve captured one of the hardest lessons of motherhood (or maybe just womanhood itself?): grace.
The grace to soften when we want to be sharp, the grace to rest when the world insists on more, the grace to forgive ourselves for being human.
We are so often our own fiercest critics, and the world is more than willing to pile on expectations of its own—especially for mothers. Even down to what we wear! Thank you for holding space for a different way.
Anna, thank you for this newsletter. I am pregnant right now and struggling with my style. This is my first child so in my head I am longing for those postpartum days, where I can fit into jeans again. But I know I have to be realistic with what that is going to look like in the first couple of months. However, I've been consuming your content for 8+ years now and feel like I have been on this style evolution with you. With what you have shared I feel empowered to be able to make the right choices that will still make me feel good. For example, I asked my mom for a nice new pair of espresso colored Lululemon's to wear when I am postpartum. I am hoping to style them like you styled yours in the fall with a cardigan on top and a jumper around the waist.
I also want to say that I have so much empathy for what you went through. I was there, watching every video when you came back after pregnancy. It is hard for us to understand what you really went through. From the outside looking in, I still found your style and your content super inspiring.
Thank you so much Katharina for such a lovely comment!! Oh I love those espresso coloured Lululemon's - a very good shout! I had a pair of vintage, loose fit jeans too that were so soft and something I lived in in those early days! I'm glad you found this helpful and wishing you all the best for you and your little one! xx
Thank you Anna! I will keep my eyes peeled for some vintage, loose fit jeans too. Great advice!!
Am I postpartum? No. Am I even pregnant? No. Did I read every word of this anyway? Why, yes, I did.
As another commenter said, this really applies to any 'changing' body. My body changed dramatically after going through breast cancer at 29, and like you, hardly any of my pre-cancer wardrobe fits. I loved all your practical tips, but most of all, I loved how kind you were to past Anna. What a beautiful lesson for us all, thank you ♥️
Me reading this like my only son isn’t 10 years old, and also a cat.
Really interesting and honest, despite our slightly different circumstances, thanks for writing it. Seems like it would take a lot of “you”
I want to you give you a hug too, then AND now for writing such a perfect piece. I couldn't have related more. Thank you Anna x
I think everyone should have a personal style amnesty for at least a couple of years postpartum! My youngest is 4 and I'm only getting to the other side of the huge (and very challenging) identity shift now. In the meantime I've been through a number of style phases that were probably ill-advised (a lot of stuff has since departed via Vinted). But just like adolescence, I think you sometimes have to try on a few identities during matrescence too.
Anna, this is the best newsletter ever. In my unofficial data collection, I have found that ALL moms experience a serious style shift and that, on average, when a kid is turning 3 things actually start to click. I hope that encourages people to know they aren't alone! I'm absolutely blushing that you would include me in your resources as I continue to be inspired by you every day.
Reading this with a 10 week old babe on my boob and nodding along in agreement. I’m so excited to have those pockets of time to play in my wardrobe again (and to clear out the jeans that will NOT be fitting these new hips of mine) - but in the meantime I’m going to try out that formula you included at the end, tweaked for the end of our Sydney Summer. Thanks for your vulnerability 🤍
Thank you so much for writing on this topic, especially around your postpartum struggles in general (not just style). I’m sure it wasn’t an easy one to write. I can relate to so much of what you have written and it’s nice to know others have gone through something similar. Thank you again.
Anna you are the style big sister we all need 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for this post, Anna. I’m still struggling with this, even though my son is 2.5 years old—maybe even more now than when he was younger. (Probably because I’m extra hard on myself for not figuring this out, even though I’m not technically postpartum anymore. Anyway, I’m rambling.)
But proportion! Such an eye-opening moment—I’m so glad you mentioned that. Pre-pregnancy, cut-off jeans worked so well for my body type, and now they just don’t. And it makes sense now. Thank you! ❤️
Thanks for writing this. Especially your reflections on how your style is a form of self expression and care when you're lost postpartum.
I feel like ~18 months- 2 years post partum was when I finally found some head space (and actual time) to start considering my personal style and intentionally dressing. Then I got pregnant again (currently 9 weeks along) and back into the whole 'feel queasy, bloated and weird' roundabout again 🙃
Anna, thank you so much for this post. I can’t blame the hormones anymore but I related so much that it made me tear up remembering the struggle it was, both dressing the new me and becoming a mom. I had my first in June 2020 during the peak of covid when we were stuck inside without any help or visit from our loved ones. God it was hard. I had to stay home for more than 20 months (instead of the 4 I had planned) because we couldn’t find a spot in daycare and I completely lost myself. Another baby (who’s now a toddler) and almost 5 years later, I’m finally feeling like myself again. What a journey it was. I also wished I had given myself more grace and time. We’re always so hard on ourselves. Can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to do it in front of so many people, you are amazing 🫶🏻
What a fantastic article. Thank you! I’m two years post partum and your content has really helped me find my way. Thank you
This was a really great post, such a great topic. I remember really struggling to figure out who on earth I was post bub number three especially. Thinking about personal style and by default thinking about my needs has become an act of self care for me over the last 18 months too, I totally relate to your point. It feels like something I have control over, that’s all about who what I want to be. Reminded me I exist beyond being ‘mum’. Thanks for sharing your story.