A 12 Piece Fall Capsule Wardrobe: The Cool Mom Guide to Dressing

But it happens to almost every one of us.

Which is why I am always surprised that this isn’t talked about more. It is like it is one of the accepted parts of motherhood.

Sacrificing your identity to fall under the title of mom.

I won’t lie, I fell for it too. This was way back in 2004 before the internet took over causing mom-shaming to come from everywhere, not just from those in your life.

This is something that I have talked about many times, but my moment was when one person in particular said to me, “so I guess you are going to have to start dressing like a mom now.”

I don’t even know what that meant but it affected me deeply. I don’t even know why.

Probably because it was a vulnerable, lonely, and sad time for me and in every aspect of my life I was feeling inadequate.

At that time I was 24 and it saddens me how much I let that one person dictate the image I presented for a small handful of years.

The current me would have laughed at her and probably told her where to go, that past me got upset and purged her closet in a way that I still have regrets and anger about.

So the question is why do we tend to lose our style when we become mothers?

Time Constraints: Raising children is time-consuming, and suddenly you find yourself pushed to the bottom of your list leaving less time for yourself.

Fashion and putting together outfits tires you and prioritizing comfort and practicality takes over.

Body Changes: Obviously this one is huge. Pregnancy and motherhood can lead to significant changes in your body, and for many of us this affects our confidence and the way we think about fashion.

It is a hard adjustment and takes time to get used to this shift and accept the changes, finding clothes that feel both flattering and comfortable.

Budget Shift: Also a big one, and one that affected me a lot. But during this time financial priorities will often shift toward the child. This means that spending on personal items, like new clothes or accessories, is often reduced.

This one tends to stick for a long time. We often feel very guilty spending money on ourselves when it could be spent on our children.

Lifestyle Shift: Your life changes in the way that your day-to-day life works and often these times are physically demanding.

This switches our mindset to comfort and functionality in clothing and often becomes more important than keeping up with trends.

Identity Changes: This shift happens, maybe even a disconnect and many moms might feel this shift from their pre-kids style.

It is like a transitional phase and really affects how we dress.

Lack of Energy or Focus: 20 years later and I am still exhausted. The demands of caring for kids can make fashion a low priority.

But there is a way to get back there, I promise.

How Can Moms Regain Their Style After Having Children?

Start with the Basics but Not Basic, Basics

This is something that I keep mentioning post after post. Basics are the backbone of every wardrobe but if you want to bring things to the next level then seek out basics that are not so basic.

I have a whole post on these pieces, but in a quick summary, we should look for basics that have interesting shapes, or details. The cut or fabric makes it step outside of that basic box.

We want visual interest.

They work the same way as any basic and will mix and match just as easily in your wardrobe but they will have that elevated coolness that goes a long way.

Prioritize Comfort without Sacrificing Style

Yes, it is possible to be comfortable and still embrace style and trends.

I have never been a leggings person, or at least not past wearing them for exercise so this has never been a go-to wardrobe piece for me like it is for many women.

I prefer loose-fitting jeans (my favourites being men’s vintage Levi’s), wide-leg trousers, and Adidas track pants.

These pieces I wear in outfits that are intentional, so I don’t look like I am about to go running when I wear track pants, they look like a part of my outfit that gives it a sporty vibe.

I opted for four bottoms in this capsule versus three, and one skirt or dress.

Since it is fall I tend to gravitate more to comfortable pants versus skirts or dresses than I do in the spring and summer.

It just makes more sense with my lifestyle but if you are more of a skirt or dress person you may want to substitute that instead.

As for the pant selection I went with two pairs of jeans in wider more relaxed fit. A pair of cords in a slimmer barrel shape because cords scream fall, and I like to have different textures in my wardrobe.

Trendy Yet Practical Style Hacks

You can still embrace trends. The trick is to add trends to your already established style versus trends becoming the focus. We don’t want to have to waste time worrying whether we are always on trend.

It is an exhausting game you will never win and it will defeat the purpose of simplifying your wardrobe.

Instead, we are going to invest in statement pieces. Rather than overhauling your wardrobe, just add a few trendy statement items that you can shift out easily when no longer trendy.

A pair of fun-coloured sneakers, or sunglasses in a new shape for example.

Try layering trendy pieces like an exaggerated shaped blazer or jacket over your basics for an easy, fashion-forward look. Maybe even something in a fun print like animal print.

Which brings us to experiment with prints and patterns. Animal prints are huge right now, but others like polka dots, stripes, or florals can add flair to an otherwise simple outfit, and they work well with many staples.

Wardrobe Capsule for Moms: Simplifying Your Closet

A capsule wardrobe like this will make your life easier. It is a minimalist approach to fashion that involves curating a collection of essential items that can be mixed and matched in many ways.

Many people think that this means that your style also has to be minimalist but that is not the case as can be seen by all the capsule wardrobes that I build by style.

By simplifying your wardrobe in this way it also allows you to figure out your outfits beforehand. I like to have a visual of the outfits I create so I will often spend some time piecing outfits together and either trying them on or laying them out to get a photo.

It makes it easier to have a reference if you are feeling uninspired and don’t know what to wear.

Follow Fashion People for Inspiration

The fashion world is full of inspiring people who balance style and practicality. Follow Instagram accounts, Pinterest boards, or fashion blogs specifically geared towards styles that resonate with you.

Many women share outfit ideas, beauty tips, and shopping finds that are affordable, comfortable, and chic. Seeing other people share their looks can remind you that motherhood and style aren’t mutually exclusive.

Honestly, I get some of my inspiration from checking out the men’s mannequins in stores.

I love a masculine or androgynous look as it aligns with my style and I often find inspiring combinations that I can replicate with what I already own.

Which leads to my major style tip for you is to always check out the men’s department. In-store, online and while thrifting because there are so many pieces that will work well for many different styles.

Seek pieces like denim, button-ups, sweaters and cardigans, blazers, trench coats, hats, and even shoes.

I shop men’s sneakers more often than women’s because I often like the colourways better and since I am a women’s 8 I can easily wear a men’s size.

Sites like Adidas will always give you the men’s to women’s shoe sizing as well, so pay attention to it because I find it to be very accurate.

As a mom, our lives can be full of constant changes and challenges, and we don’t need to make things more difficult with our wardrobe.

With a few key pieces, a focus on comfort, and a bit of creativity, we can build a wardrobe that reflects our style and works for our lifestyle.

Motherhood doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice everything, fashion being one of them. We just need to rethink it in a way that will work and celebrate our current selves without mourning our past selves.

We can strive for better for ourselves, and we should.

This post contains affiliate links. By using my links to shop I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks for supporting what I do 

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