Even Personal Stylists Struggle with Style

Finding Confidence in a Changing Body

Big things are happening over here!

If you didn’t see my Instagram post, my husband and I are expecting our first baby. Woohoo! We are truly excited and appreciate all the well wishes we've received so far.

I’ve been wanting to share for a while, but life kept getting in the way. One reason for the delay was how I was feeling—not just morning sickness and low energy levels, but also reckoning with my fast-changing body. In short, I was feeling anything but confident in my clothes and definitely not in the state of mind to offer style advice to others when I felt so lost.

Yep, even we personal stylists struggle with our bodies and style sometimes. It took time to get to this image of me feeling confident and happy this bright, fitted outfit.

Now, sure, you may not be in this exact situation. Maybe you have a partner, or friend, or family member going through something similar though. Or maybe, you just know what it feels like to go from confidently understanding how to dress your body to feeling utterly lost. As we go through life things happen to all of us that can shake our body confidence.

To all those who have or hope to have a baby, you may have had fantasies of how you’d dress during pregnancy and maybe even thought it would be a piece of cake. I definitely did. I was excited for new style choices and, sure, expected some self-image struggles, but I was ready to embrace my big pregnant belly. Reality, however, was different.

What people don’t talk about is the awkward phase between not showing and being obviously pregnant. For me, around 12 weeks, I wasn’t “showing,” but my waist was growing, meaning my usual clothes didn’t fit and felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, I started looking at myself critically in the mirror. It was as if every negative body image issue I have worked through in my life came roaring back, and very loudly! I’m sure a lot of you can relate to this moment.

I resorted to stretchy leggings and flowy shirts, avoiding the mirror. I definitely didn’t feel like I was the “glowing” expectant mom. After a few weeks of feeling sorry for myself, I knew this wasn’t helpful and I needed to break this spiral. I’m a personal stylist god damnit! I should be the most equipped to handle this situation.

So, I went back to basics. I asked myself “How do I coach my clients through wardrobe updates when their bodies change?” I help to determine their desired style, and what body shape we are working with right now. These questions help guide us toward a style that works for their current frame and lifestyle. I teach them to stop settling for clothes that don’t fit or feel good right now. It was time to start implementing my own advice.

Our generation has many more style options than our moms and grandmothers did. It was like a switch flipped. I polled friends and took to Instagram and Pinterest to see how other pregnant women similar to my shape were styling themselves. It was the inspiration and confidence I needed to see.

BUT, I didn’t want to rack up the credit card on new clothes that might not fit later, and did you know baby gear is expensive! I embraced fast fashion options and summer sales. Not every item was a winner, but trial and error helped me find what worked. When I finally put on a dress that made me feel confident, my mood shifted, and it was as if the volume of my inner negative self-talk got turned way down.

The first outfit I felt great in was a black, stretchy bodysuit from Athleta. I styled it with white, high-top Converse, an oversized denim jacket, and some jewelry for a little of my style personality. It was casual, comfortable, and felt like me again!

Why share this simple outfit? Because it’s the basics that build confidence. I needed to rebuild how I dressed my changing figure and my confidence. Starting with something casual and comfortable was key. I could wear it to brunch with friends or sightseeing around Chicago depending on how I styled it.

As my confidence grew, I tried more outfits and moved on from what didn’t work without judgment. Now, in my third trimester, I have clothes that flex with me and compliment ME! I’m finally enjoying fitted dresses, two-piece bikinis, and crop tops with flowy pants. I’m embracing the moment without constant self-criticism. At least as much as I can. I am human after all.

To all the expectant moms out there, or even those going through a struggle with their self-image for any reason, I hope my journey inspires you to find joy and confidence in dressing your changing body. Embrace the unique time and find what makes you feel good right now. You deserve to feel amazing every step of the way.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Here’s to embracing change, celebrating new beginnings, and finding our own unique styles along the way.

With love and style,

Kerilynn

P.S. Interested in learning a few key factors to look for when dressing a body that may be in transition? Stay tuned for an upcoming newsletter on strategies that I’ve found help!

KLV Styling - Wardrobe Stylist