Styling Director and new mum Jessica Steuart-Hoyler (@jessicasteuarthoyler) reveals her top tips on dressing for pregnancy and postpartum travel
“In my role as a Styling Director, no two days are ever the same. What I wear needs to work for various situations on any given day (whether it’s a shoot, presenting, travelling or a day at the office). It needs to be versatile, smart and chic. I gravitate towards things that are more minimal, a touch masculine and things that will last through the seasons. To keep an outfit interesting, I like to play with proportions and accessories, avoiding anything too trend-led that will date easily.”
“As a new mum, I’ve had to adapt aspects of my wardrobe both during and after pregnancy. I’ve been keen to use as much of my existing wardrobe as I can, without compromising my personal style. Comfort, ease and versatility have become top priorities, especially when I need to throw together an outfit in record time, and dress things up easily if I need to. Having a ‘uniform’ approach has made the often-challenging task of dressing during and after pregnancy an enjoyable experience. Some of the key things that have worked for me:
“Timeless pieces are important. I wanted to make sure I could wear the things I bought during pregnancy afterwards, not just for a limited time. I live in jumpsuits, many of mine are oversized and can be belted after pregnancy. Oversized tees, knits and shirts, a long-line camel coat, an oversized trench coat, blazer and silk slip skirts have been on high rotation and are breast-feeding friendly.
“A muted colour palette also helps. Almost everything in my wardrobe is black! But sticking to a colour palette of black, white, camel and khaki makes mixing and matching easier. I also like the approach of dressing head-to-toe in one colour tone.”
“Another tip is layering with light coats, jackets and shirts over something a little more figure-hugging during summer, and oversized coats and knits over slip skirts and dresses during winter. What’s underneath is important and finding nursing bras that make you feel good makes a difference – like ones from the brand Six Studio.
“As far as footwear is concerned, I’ve swapped heels for flat shoes that still feel put-together, and which I can run around in. I like a chunky elevated boot for winter and simple flat sandals for summer, easily worn casual or more dressed-up. I invested in a pair of boots from The Row which I live in, and which can smarten up casual outfits.”
“My jewellery has become more minimal to avoid my little one tugging at it or scratching himself on it. Small hoop earrings that sit closer to the body, and personal pieces like my wedding and signet rings, are what I wear everyday.
“I looked for a long time for a changing bag that was functional [and that could hold] all the things that babies require. But I didn’t want to compromise on style and go fully technical. I had bought another bag to begin with but it was not as easy to find everything I needed in a hurry. The Jem+Bea Marlow has become my go-to changing bag. I love it. It has all the useful compartments I need for easy access, it’s a great size, it can be wiped down and it looks great. There’s no need to sacrifice your personal style in favour of a bulky, traditional changing bag!”
Holiday style as a new mum
“I’m currently packing for a trip to Australia, the first with my newborn. Babies need a lot of packing space when travelling, so I’m trying to streamline my wardrobe for the trip, bringing less and making each piece multi-functional.
“I’ll be bringing things that make me feel good, that are flattering to a post-baby body and that work with a little one in tow. These include:
- Swimwear from Hunza G and You Swim – they do one-size-fits-all swimsuits which are a new mum’s best friend! I love new brand Casa Raki for their minimal styles too. I’ll wear them with oversized shirts.
- Linen and cotton long dresses and robes (pictured L-R, from Sleeper, Mara Hoffman and Joseph) that can be worn loose and open over swimwear at the beach, but which also look great in the city.
- A wrap dress (pictured, by ArtDealer) for evening.
- Utility pieces like a jumpsuit are great for running around town, are easy to breastfeed in and can be dressed up with a heel.
- Simple, personal jewellery to stack and layer.
- A selection of flat sandals.
- Pouches that easily fit into my Jem+Bea Marlow changing bag during the day, but which I can grab-to-go in the evening.
- Loungewear from Deiji Studios that can double as a beach coverup.
- A Turkish towel for the beach and the park, which easily rolls up to fit into compact spaces.
- Natural, organic scented oil from AYU.”
