Oh, heyyyyyy. Hi. Hello. I’m alive!
I now have three kids. I know. Crazy.
…and a persistent pooch that I can’t get rid of. With my first two I was one of those annoying b*tches that bounced right back after having a baby. I would even have like….abs a few months postpartum. FREAK of nature. IknowIknow. Let the eye rolls commence. Well, because of that I’ve always thought I’m just genetically lucky and completely capable of bouncing right on back every time I pop out a babe, but ummmm. Cams, *cough*…it’s because you were in your early 20’s. You are now 30. HA HA…ha. Oh. I guess I have to actually work at it now and stop eating sleeves of Oreos and not exercising. (so lame)
I’ve tried on my jeans a few times now and NOPE. I even tried on my shorts from last Summer. Yeh, why?? Let’s just say…it resulted in me cursing/stifling pitiful cries in our closet. sigh.
SO. I had to make a decision. Instead of sitting in my closet sulking/mumbling expletives/crying for an indefinite amount of time, I decided about a month ago to kick myself back into gear. I had to get a bit creative with what I have that does fit and be okay with ordering a couple sizes up in the much-needed basics that do not fit (i.e. jeans and shorts), because this is my body right now and I need to love it where it’s at…or something like that.
On that note…
LEGGINGS
wearing
wrap: Kensie blanket wrap – I can’t seem to find it anymore, but this Kensie Tissue Knit Blanket Cardigan is similar
tee: BP. tunic top – no longer around, but this tunic top tee from LOFT is essentially the same (and an extra 40% off right now). Long, loose tunics have been my saving grace – comfortable, hide the pooch and allow for easy nursing.
leggings: Blanqi Belly Support Leggings – also found at Nordstrom (limited sizes, currently)…these things are awesome. I can’t rave about them enough…or wear them often enough. They’re my go-to on those days I’m running late in the morning or just when I’m feeling that postpartum fun-ness.
boots: Vince Camuto Roadell moto boot – very limited sizes available at this point, so I looked around and found these Gentle Souls moto boots. They may be a little bit shorter of a boot, but still very cool. Also, definitely wearable throughout the Spring.
Pullover Sweater + Jeans
wearing
sweater: H&M Fine Knit sweater – can’t find the exact one I’m wearing, but this one is similar…and comes in many different colors. I bought two slouchy, lightweight sweaters and lived in them the first month postpartum – comfy and nursing-friendly.
jeans: GAP girlfriend embroidered jeans – amazing, with the flower details, the little bit of destruction and the slightly higher waist. Perfect for Spring. I’ve been loving the fit and the look. I did have to order a size up, FYI (becaaaause I had a baby two months ago). If I was in my normal size, I’m pretty sure they would fit true to size.
booties: Jeffrey Campbell Cromwell bootie – in the stock pic the boots look more black than they actually are. They actually look a bit more charcoal in person (as you can see in my outfit pic)…which I like. They are the coolest boots and yes, they do stay on your heel. 😉
Easy Spring Layers
I J. Crew-ed it up.
wearing
trench: Banana Republic Classic trench – old, but their classic trench coats always seem to be same, with maybe a few small differences. I LOVE a good trench. It’s absolutely wonderful to have during those transitional seasons…early Spring and Fall.
button-down: Banana Republic Plaid Button-down, old. Their Dillon-fit vertical Striped Shirt *drool* is actually more Spring-worthy. I want eeeeet, because it’ll go with a ton – chinos, skirts, shorts, blahblahblah. Imagine it with these Boyfriend Chino Crops. Mmmm-hmmmm. You see it. You get it. Now you want the shirt, too (and the pants). I do. Aaaahh.
tee: Everlane’s Cotton V – I’d like to have at least 5 of these tees to throw on any given day. I am wearing a size Small and it still fits my postpartum body well…with room for pulling up for feeding the babe.
jeans: Paige maternity jeans, can’t find exact style. Yep, I wore my maternity jeans for the first month postpartum and I was all boohoo about it for like a minute…and then realized…it DOESN’T MATTER. Wear what works for you. I am loving these destructed pair of Paige Maternity jeans though…especially for Spring.
scarf: printed scarf, found on thredUp, but Gap has some very nice lightweight scarves, like this patch bandana one.
shoes: not shown, but I was wearing classic white Converse Chuck Taylors – I also really like the Shoreline Converse style. They give you that Summer-by-the-water look. 🙂
bag: a cute, little cross body I found at Francesca’s a while back – can’t find online, but helloooooo. I found the Rebecca Minkoff ‘Micro Moto’ Leather Satchel on sale for $94.97 right now! It’s available in three colors – all of which would be a perfect addition to any Spring/Summer outfit…sans kids or at least, sans baby that needs too many things for a tiny bag like this. Basically, I can’t get away with carrying a small cross body bag right now, but for all of you that can…ROCK IT. haha.
Why, hello again LEGGINGS
wearing
moto jacket: Wallis, old from a few years ago. I do love the style though, because it never feels like too much…ya know? I can throw it over most anything. I took some time looking around to find a very similar style and came across this Y.A.S. Soft leather Biker Jacket. I like it, because it’s soft leather…and not the squeaky kind that doesn’t move well with your body. It also looks a lot like mine. Alas, they have limited sizes available. boooohooo. I also found this BLANKNYC Moto Jacket, which I also really like. Very cool looking at a great price.
sweater: H&M lightweight sweater, no longer available. I just found this Wilt Asymmetrical Slouchy Tunic…and really, really like the looks of it. It seems like it would be comfortable and easy to throw on with jeans, leggings or even cut-off shorts.
leggings: Blanqi support leggings – the best maternity/postpartum leggings.
shoes: Shoreline Converse – a favorite of mine
bag: Lily Jade Madeline Diaper Bag – I’m a fan. I have two! – the Madeline and Meggan. The removable insert, ya’ll.
Chambray + Maternity Pants
Don’t hate.
wearing
moto jacket: Wallis, old. Something similar – – BLANKNYC Zip Moto Jacket.
button-down: WhoWhatWear Chambray top – really appreciate this collection at Target. I wear this top a lot. It’s soft, easy to throw on and hides the pooch so well. Also, nursing-friendly.
pants: Isabella Oliver Ness Maternity Cigarette Pant – very comfortable and a great pant to have while pregnant (and for postpartum). It adds something a little different to the mix. I honestly don’t feel like I’m wearing a maternity pant when I wear these.
shoes: Shoreline Converse
A Pooch Hiding Top
wearing
top: Free People Doin’ it Right Blouse – it worked perfectly with the higher waist of the denim skirt…the top is definitely not very long. Something to keep in mind if you’re thinking of buying. I do really like it though…and it makes nursing easy. >> S just recently shared a whole slew of awesome peasant tops (I wanted to buy about ten of them, personally). Many of them would work well with a denim skirt.
skirt: Who What Wear denim pencil skirt – if you’re in the market for a slim, denim skirt…get this one. It’s made and fits just as well as some of the more pricey styles I’ve tried on. I did go up a size in order for it to fit well on this postpartum bod.
booties: DV Garim Wedge bootie, sold-out. The Dolce Vita Gwynn is a similar style or if you’d rather go for a warm weather style…I’ve had my eye on the Vince Camuto Tarita Cutout Lace-up Sandal. Oh, yes.
#myeverydayedit shout-outs:
@madabymada – you make sweats and snow boots look incredibly awesome.
@agirlandherloves -I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pair of flat, open-toed shoes look so cool before (in fact, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a pair of shoes like that before). You rock them.
@chrissisunshowers – that jumpsuit…and your hair blowing just so. Perfectly chic.
@encapsulated_me – because you wore a combo of three of my favorite things…moto jacket, Converse and pajama bottoms. *fist bump*
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Follow the TME team on Instagram — @camilledipaola, @shanachristine, @elletrain and tag your daily photos with #myeverydayedit
Ya’ll inspire me to keep getting dressed into a real outfit every day. Thank you!!…and just so we’re clear, leggings are real clothes. *peace sign*
Cheers,
Cams
I have those Gentle Souls moto boots and they are worth every penny! Super comfortable (I walked all over NYC with them) and look great with leggings, dresses and jeans.
Thanks for letting us know – awesome! Cheers.
I HEAR YOU!!!! Things were definitely different after baby #3 for me also. But when other people told me it was because I was 32 instead of 26 (when I had my first) that just pissed me off. I refused to be plump AND old! So I just committed to working out a little bit harder than in the past and made a few small diet changes, and all was right with the world 🙂 And as soon as baby #3 was on the move I could barely keep any weight on me! You look great lady.
Yeh, I’m with you! I don’t like to hear…”Ooooh, you’re THIRTY now…all down hill from here”. I won’t let it be down hill from here! I most definitely plan on my 30’s being my best years yet. However, haha my body does feel different this time around. I am sure that within a year, after working out more than I’ve had to before, I will be feeling great. I think it’s also that I am in that newborn fog still and just don’t feel so good overall. Ya know? Cheers.
You look amazing! And 30 is so unbelievably young…but you really won’t appreciate just how young it is for another 10 or 15 years 🙂
What Rose said!
Thanks, Cams! So flattering to be featured on TME. So wish I’d been wearing pants for it.
Congrats and welcome to the (crazily awesome / awesomely crazy) three-little-hood!
Thanks, Maggie. It is definitely crazy and awesome. 🙂
Oh, and I think your outfit was awesome. 😉
You are absolutely right. 30 is young…and I hope I didn’t offend anyone in their 30’s, 40’s +. You can be FABULOUS…no matter the age! I plan on being that, too…until the day I die. I am just boohoo-ing the fact that I no longer have the magical body of an early 20 year old. haha!! Cheers, Rose.
No I wasn’t offended at all! Turning 30 was a big step for me. It just seems so far away now 🙁 I’m really enjoying my 40’s, except that I can no longer leave the house without makeup and have to reapply often.
I just bought the shoreline converse thanks to your post! I also bought the Stan Smiths from Shana’s post last week. I hope one of these works out! Something about buying regular converse just brought me back to high school but the shoreline version – wow, such a cute update!
Oh, awesome Jem! You’ll love them. No doubt about it.
If I could give one piece of advice to postpartum moms: Do not go out and buy clothes! I would stick to the leggings. I made the mistake of going out to buy jeans after both of my babies (at 34 and 37) and 3 months later I was back into my old pants. Oh and my breasts were constantly changing! 34 D, back down to 32 “nearly A”…. Goodwill if you must, unless you don’t mind wasting money. But I loved this piece of advice I got: It took 9 months to gain the weight, don’t expect to lose it sooner than that. A lot of my friends didn’t lose the weight until they were done breast feeding. And I agree with Rose, 30 is not old! 😉
Ditto! 30 is not old…just turned 34 here and had my third baby at 33!
I guess I did sound like I was lamenting the fact that I am old now, but I definitely do not think that 30 is old…haha…or 40…or 50…or even 60. I hope to be 90 years young one day. 😀 Cheers.
Absolutely. I agree that you shouldn’t spend a ton of money on an in-between wardrobe. I did, however, find myself feeling very low and unattractive and decided…ya know what? I am going to buy a pair of jeans and shorts that I love that are a bit larger, in order to get me through this postpartum stage. It helped A LOT. Instead of continually wearing my leggings or putting on pants that don’t really fit me…I felt better about myself and my outfits. 🙂 I do need to have patience and realize that I was pregnant for almost a year, so…having an expectation of losing all of the love handles in two months is unrealistic. Ha!
Also, you are SO very right about 30 not being old. In fact, I am incredibly excited about life in my 30’s, because I feel so much more confident and self-aware. I don’t care as much about what others may think of me either, which makes life so much more enjoyable. Anyone else agree on that?
Cheers, Holly.
I agree, it’s nice to feel good. Both of my babies were summer babies, and dresses and skirts are more forgiving- so I had that going . I also probably offended my sister and mom by asking to borrow their jeans.
Thank you! Needed this badly!
You are so so welcome, Emily. 🙂
For the record, I didn’t catch the vibe that you were lamenting that 30 is old. I’ve just had baby #4 at 31 and it’s definitely different from when I had my first in my mid-twenties. So I feel you!
I was hoping we’d get a postpartum style post from you. 🙂 Congrats on your new addition!
30 is youuuung! I had my first at 29, my second at 33. I have several (beautiful) friends who had their first at 40+. Elastic waistbands, and give yourself a year. That’s my wisdom. An Oreo or 4 are your friends. 😉
Just had baby #2 3 weeks ago and have been looking forward to seeing a post from you on some postpartum style! I think I’m with you on investing in a nice pair of jeans even if they are a size up. I could use an esteem boost to get me through the baby blues phase and adjusting from one to two children (insanity.)
You look AWESOME! Had baby number two at 36, and the body certainly didn’t spring back like it did with number one at 34. I’m with you on purchasing some things to keep you feeling you during the next few months. I found that higher waisted jeans were just about perfect, and thank god they came into fashion at that exact moment. Now I won’t wear anything else…one year later. I also stocked up on Athleta dresses and skirts from their sale section. Stretchy and ruched and perfect even now.
GAP Girlfriend jeans are ON POINT! I tried a pair at KOP 2 weeks ago b/c sadly, there is no longer a GAP in Hbg. I fell in love! So comfortable with just enough stretch to be comfortable, but not look sloppy.
My not-a-mom-yet friend pointed something out that I will never forget. I was whining about how blah my postpartum body was and she said, “But your arms must be fantastic!” And sure enough, after I ran to the mirror – I had more arm definition than I have ever had. Hope you are checking out yours, Cam. That pic Shana shared, with your baby on your lap as you grab a photo of your daughter – your arms are AMAZING. I don’t pick up my kids anymore, so now I have to intentionally work on it! )
I tried the VC Roadell in my moto boot search last year (liked the look but they didn’t fit well on my feet) and ended up keeping the Ivanka Trump Coris Boot, which is available in most sizes on Amazon (and on sale!). It has an awesome taller shaft, narrower ankle, and adjustable straps.
I had baby #4 four months ago and yep, it sure did take a minute for things to go back to somewhat normal. I’ve been back in regular jeans for about 5 weeks now, yay! But yes to the leggings and maternity pants. I also found jersey pencil skirts with an oversized top half-tucked to be a good option too.