Mama in the City

I am in a rut right now. That zone of feeling not so fashionable and overall quite uninspired. Before I became a mum I regularly took my fashion sense and pay check to different shops and splurged on different pieces. Putting together outfits and mixing and matching accessories to help create 'looks'. I used to put great effort into my wardrobe and will even confess to paying $300+ for a one of a kind belt while on a shopping spree in Toronto.

Back when my husband and I were dating my sweet mother in law gave me the heads up that I was over dressed for the outing we had planned. If I can remember, back to 2001, I think I had on a black skirt and a top with some sandals but I was still over dressed for the crowd, not that I minded too much. I've always liked to look put together and current and I just like to feel good about myself. Dressing nicely makes me feel good about myself.

When I got pregnant I still spent a ridiculous amount of money on maternity clothing from brands like Ripe and Zara Mum. That $300 belt had to be put away because it didn't work with my growing belly but there were enough cool pieces on line or in the shops to keep me looking fantastic through out my pregnancy.

Once my baby came I kept putting off buying nice pieces of clothing because I was breastfeeding (and leaking!). I became a jeans and t shirt kind of girl and that was just fine. I was the Gap's #1 spokesperson and found tops that stretched nicely for nursing my baby and jeans that sucked in my post partum tummy.

It didn't really matter what I looked like because Ben was usually in a sling across my body. In my head I kept on thinking that I would loose that last 8 lbs of pregnancy weight and so I held off on buying anything really nice. The weight was just another reason not to indulge on any real clothing budget and I continued my 'stuck in a rut' feeling but just sort of dealt with it.

The thing is, my child is now almost 1.5 years old and I have not been nursing for almost 6 months. Yet, my closet is still on hold and I am starting to feel more than just stuck. I am terrified of wearing 'mom jeans' or getting a 'mom haircut' and giving up all together on wanting to look and feel a certain way. I don't need to spend bucks of cash on fancy name brand designer cuts but I do want to feel good!

I'm not sure how to change this current state of mind and get out of my fashion rut. I think that I just need the time to peruse and try on items without Ben wandering around the tiny change room while I try to get in and out of jeans. Of course the loss of the 8 lbs would help and a little extra cash would also do the trick.

How can I get out of my fashion rut and start feeling like my old fashionista self? I'm not even talking about high end runway fashion. I just want to get kick started on my daily wardrobe! What tricks do you have up your sleeve to make yourself feel good?

To start get started here is '10 Easy Ways to Update Your Spring Wardrobe' from In Style magazine or 'The Instant Gratification' from J Crew.

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