As a parent, you constantly put your child before your needs and put all of your time into caring and providing for them. This can lead to feeling like you have limited time for yourself and can take a toll on taking care of yourself, impacting self-care and even your fashion. However, you don’t have to sacrifice style when you’re a parent as there are simple ways you can take care of yourself and still be fashionable. Find yourself and your fashion sense once more with this practical style advice for parents to stay fashionable and implement self-care through taking time with your outfits!
Update your wardrobe
The first step to staying fashionable as a parent is to update your wardrobe. This is essential for women post-baby as your body changes, and for both moms and dads, your lifestyle and tastes change when you have a child. Take a look at your current wardrobe and decide what you love and what you no longer like. Create a pile to keep and a pile to donate or throw away if pieces have holes or look tatty. Once you’ve got rid of what you no longer love, shop for versatile pieces in solid colors that you can mix and match, pairing them together easily.
Make sure you have the basics such as jeans, sweaters, t-shirts, trousers, shirts/blouses, and relaxation wear like sweatpants. Try to seek breathable and stretchy fabrics to provide you comfort no matter what you are doing. This helps with the active lifestyle parents have, particularly if you have a young child as they love to play, head outdoors on an adventure, and have fun with you. You should also make sure that every piece fits you well, if it no longer fits, throw it away or don’t buy it!
Choose pieces that allow multitasking
When improving your wardrobe, it’s important to choose pieces that allow you to multitask in. This is because having a child can bring many different activities and tasks to do in a short space of time, so your clothing needs to be prepared for anything and continue to provide you comfort. Make sure these pieces can transition effortlessly between playing at the park to work and everything in between. This ensures you look amazing and polished no matter what activity comes your way!
Ensure accessories and jewelry are safe
Accessories and jewelry are perfect ways to elevate your outfit and add a touch of elegance and refinement to whatever you’re wearing. However, when you have young children, they can also be a hazard to them and yourself. Little hands love to grab onto anything they can, and accessories and jewelry are the perfect target, especially if they’re shiny! But this doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize and wear jewelry, it just means you have to get smarter with it. Avoid low-hanging men’s necklaces or dangly earrings that little hands can grasp and pull. Instead, choose shorter length pieces and studs that still dazzle without catching the eye of your little one. If you love to wear watches, make sure the clasp is strong and tight so it can’t be pulled open. You should also make sure the material is soft against your skin so it can’t get trapped in it.
Layer clothing
Due to the active lifestyle parents have, you can go from being freezing cold to sweating in the matter of minutes. This is why layering your clothing is vital, so that you can adapt to the temperature and activities in your day. Think oversized jackets, t-shirts, vests, and coats. Depending on the outside temperature, layer your outfit for the day to keep yourself warm and at a constant pleasant temperature. Try to choose less bulky items in case you have to run after your child and need to take a layer off to prevent overheating. Doing this ensures you aren’t carrying heavy and awkward clothing items while doing various activities with your child. Make sure every layer is made of breathable fabrics to help keep your temperature regulated while looking stylish.
Have practical shoes
A really important aspect of your wardrobe when you’re a parent is to have comfortable and practical shoes. Your feet need to be able to handle all sorts of tasks and activities without your shoes rubbing them and creating sores. Plus, you need to be prepared to break out into a sprint if you have a young child, as they can be unpredictable and can run off at the drop of a hat. This means heels or pristine white sneakers are probably not the best options. Choose more chunky heel boots, dark-colored sneakers and even comfortable flip flops that don’t slip off your feet easily.
Have a robust bag that can fit anything and everything
An accessory any parent can’t live without is a robust bag that can fit all sorts in it. Sure, a sleek and tiny bag may look cute with your outfit, but it won’t be able to fit in all the essentials you need for your child. Parents need to be equipped for anything, and this requires constantly carrying items such as wipes, food, drinks, nappies, a change of clothes, and even toys when they head out with their children. A large and stylish bag that is strong will serve you well and elevate your style at the same time. Try stylish backpacks or a large tote bag with various compartments to make sure you have absolutely everything you and your child needs. Try to choose a branded bag or a high-quality one so it can be long-lasting and durable, otherwise you will be constantly spending money to replace it!
Keep it simple
Whatever you do with your style choices, the key to keeping fashionable as a parent is to keep it as simple as possible. Aim for low-maintenance items that provide you comfort no matter what you are doing and ensure they can seamlessly match to create various outfits out of the same pieces. Try to avoid fabrics that wrinkle easily because you need to just slip into your outfit and be ready for the day as quickly as possible. Invest in high-quality pieces that won’t wear and tear easily, giving you a longer lifespan than cheaper alternatives. Pair this with a simple beauty and skincare routine so you’re ready for action quickly while looking stylish effortlessly!
Use this practical style advice for parents to keep fashionable and be prepared for any situation, transitioning seamlessly between activities and tasks. Add in a splash of color and showcase your personality through comfortable, statement pieces to remain stylish no matter what you’re doing!