Sisterhood of the Postpartum Pants that Don't Fit Anymore
- Missy Carlin
- Dec 28, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 27, 2024
Learning what to wear after having kids
I lived most of 2020 in leggings not only because of COVID but also because I was pregnant. Fast forward to the months after my son was born in February 2021 and the world opened up and I had reasons to wear actual pants. I also wanted to just feel put together after maternity leave when my clothes were used as spit up rags by my little baby boy.
Leggings are pants if you want them to be. And babies are cute accessories.
Like most moms, I had to face the harsh reality of clothes refusing to zip or button shut after I bravely attempted to put them on for the first time postpartum. I tried to put on my old clothes with the hope that they had the magical powers of the jeans from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The reality was that my body had changed forever and I had a closet full of clothes that reminded me of what my body used to be.
The 'clothes that don't fit anymore' box
I put those pre-pregnancy pants and dresses into a box with the hope that someday soon my body would magically turn back into the one I knew. Magically, because 1) I am incapable of dieting because chocolate and pasta exist and 2) I simply did not have the time or desire to become a regimented workout girl as a new mom. Within that year postpartum, I came across the box of old clothes several times. Every time I saw it I was reminded that my current body was still unfamiliar and shaped differently than it used to be.
Two pairs of precious pre-baby pants that I loved but started taunting me and are hopefully now in the possession of a new caretaker who picked them up at Goodwill.
One day I saw that box and finally decided that it didn’t need to take space in my home or mind anymore. I wasn’t going to keep those clothes in hopes that someday my body went back to how it was. I had the power to prevent myself from having that heart-sinking feeling of longing for my pre-mom-bod. So those clothes were sent off to Goodwill! Was it hard to come to this decision? Yes. Did I also think about the amount of money I had invested in those clothes and how jealous I was of the people who were going to snatch them up at Goodwill at a great bargain?? Yes.
But I had taken back the control those clothes had over my thoughts. And I came to an acceptance that I was not going back to my old size. I want to say that I learned how to appreciate what my body had done growing and birthing and feeding a baby so I should be proud of it, but that’s something I’m still learning.
Reframe: Clothes that don't fit = Shopping Spree Time
First pair of new jeans I tried on after baby #1. Pre-wide leg jean era
A positive but daunting result of getting rid of these old clothes was the need for a new wardrobe. Almost three years and another baby later, I’m still going up and down in sizes and shapes and trying to rebuild a consistent wardrobe. While I love shopping for new clothes, It has been frustrating navigating the inconsistencies between clothing brands’ sizing systems. ALSO as a millennial I need to update my wardrobe to keep up with Gen Z and buy wide leg jeans instead of skinny jeans?? Who gave wide leg pants the permission to be the next big thing when no one understands what kind of shoes you’re supposed to wear with them??
Given the fact that sizes are so inconsistent from one brand to another, I’ve come to the conclusion that the number size I am means nothing. It also makes me feel better to wear clothes that actually fit instead of bring uncomfortable and sad in clothes that don’t suit my body. The past 3 years have brought me on a roller coaster when it comes to shopping for new clothes between 2 pregnancies, however, the experience of it all has brought me to a place of true intentionality. The things I buy must fit, they must be good quality, and they must allow me to do the equivalent of 50,000 squats a day chasing around two toddlers. As I invest in new clothes and have less budget for them as I clothe and feed two new humans, I make sure they are items that I love and will last.
My Favorite Mom Pants
Some of my favorite pants to wear in my mom era
Because pants were the most difficult clothing item for me to navigate postpartum, here are just two specific pairs of pants that each come in many styles and that I have become fond of over the past couple years as I learn to dress my mom-bod. They combine comfort with style–allowing me to feel comfortable chasing around little ones while feeling good about what I’m wearing. They're part of my daily uniform year round!
Jetsetter Jogger Pants with Elastic Waists from Albion Fit
Need I say more other than they are elastic? Either way I will. These are amazing– I have worn them while pregnant and not pregnant–they can sit below a baby bump. I wore them throughout summer too as they are lightweight and breezy.
The Maeve Colette Wide Legged Pants by Anthropologie
These have provided me a great gateway into the wide legged pants trend while also being in the post-partum phase…The cropped length sits above chelsea boots so doesn’t feel awkward, and the high waist makes me feel nice and secure. They come in a variety of lengths, patterns, and fabrics and I love them so much.
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