Keen to get back into your jeans?

We're all fan-girls of denim

I recently surveyed some of my mum friends and asked them what item of clothing they missed most while pregnant… “My jeans” was the resounding consensus.

I felt exactly the same way – jeans have been my number one wardrobe staple for as long as I can remember. As soon as I had given birth, I found myself longing to put jeans back on and feel like myself again. If I could wear only one item of clothing for the rest of my life, jeans would be it. A well-fitting pair of jeans will give you the best cost-per-wear of all the items in your wardrobe. They should make you feel confident and comfortable and outfit back easily with most of your wardrobe. 

Luckily, denim trends are relatively slow-moving, despite what the high-street stores would have you believe. If you buy a pair of jeans in a classic and flattering cut, you will likely return to them year after year. So, if you're shopping for new jeans post-pregnancy, fear not. You likely have not missed out on any major new trends. 

Anyone who has given birth has experienced the postpartum belly. If it’s your first child, the nature of your belly likely took you by surprise. Instead of a hard, round watermelon, we are left with soft, spongey-like skin resulting from an expanded uterus, which stretches and grows as your baby does. Stretch marks and looser, darker belly skin are all completely normal and present for at least a few months post-birth.

If you’ve had a C-section, you will have an incision mark and reduced internal strength. The healing time is typically longer, so give yourself extra time and be super gentle. Keep in mind the stretch factor, closure style, and the rise of the jeans when shopping. Comfort will be extra important for you. 

Every woman’s postpartum journey is different. The healing timeframe may look completely different whether it’s your first, second, or third baby. If it’s not your first, you may find it easier to anticipate some of the physical changes your body will undergo postpartum. It’s not uncommon to be eager to get back to what your body was pre-pregnancy, and this looks different for every woman. According to The Bump, it is usually around the six-week mark that many women feel their tummies return to a pre-pregnancy state. With this as a general rule, I recommend waiting at least a month and a half before shopping for new jeans. The best way to know where your body is at is by throwing on a pair of jeans that you wore pre-pregnancy.

Don’t be discouraged if your old jeans don’t fit the way they used to. I remember desperately wanting to fit into my old slim and rigid jeans, but the reality was I only felt comfortable in my super relaxed, boyfriend-style jeans. I recommend opting for a relaxed style while your body is still recovering.  Anything without stretch or that is super high-waisted will feel torturous. Slouchy and lower-slung denim is the way to go in the early postpartum days. I approached this by opting for denim in my wardrobe that needed to be belted pre-pregnancy.  

If your old jeans still feel uncomfortably snug at the 6–8-week postpartum mark, but you’re keen to freshen up your wardrobe, I recommend sizing up. There is often resistance to buying a different (bigger) size than what we’re used to, combined with the pressure we put on ourselves to ‘bounce back’ in a relatively short space of time, but relax and start with buying something that makes you feel good for the stage you are at right now, not your future ideal self. 

On that note – let’s talk belly-friendly denim styles that will work for your new life phase and beyond. 

In a nutshell – look for stretch, a comfortable mid-rise, and a wider leg cut. The key to feeling confident is to first feel secure in what you're wearing without feeling sucked in or restricted in your movement. As a new mum, comfort is paramount, but you don’t have to sacrifice your style.

You are likely sick of your maternity leggings and anything with a high-stretch composition. However, having an element of stretch in your denim postpartum is key to belly comfort and unrestricted movement. Check out the jeans' fabric composition, and if there is no elastane, look at the overall shape and rise of the jeans. You may get away with 100% cotton jeans, provided they have a wider leg, a relaxed style, and a mid-high rise.

Firstly – honestly assess where you’re at on your postpartum journey. Have you tried on existing denim in your wardrobe to gauge what feels good? This is the best place to start. Assess if you can *comfortably* fit into your pre-pregnancy size OR if you will need to size up, and remember, it’s perfectly normal if you do need to size up.

Secondly, do you still like your old denim styles? I found that I didn’t love some of my previously adored denim as much as I once did after giving birth. This phenomenon that occurs after having a baby is hard to put into words, but it’s as if everything in your life is demanding an overhaul. You are now shopping and dressing yourself with a different lens than before. 

You might look for inspiration on Pinterest, Instagram, fashion magazines or browse your favourite brands online. The objective is to browse with a checklist in mind AKA – a more considered approach when shopping online.

We've hand-selected some incredible styles from Outland Denim based on the following criteria: comfort, fit, denim softness, wash, and wearability. Any of these styles would make a great addition for your 'mum era' and beyond. 

If you haven’t already, go and take our Mum Style Quiz. This will help guide you when perusing our Outland Denim styles below.