Double Standards

Since having children I seem to have developed some double standards especially when it comes to appearance.  Sat there one morning post snack I looked at my son and realised he'd got food all over his clothes and face so a change of clothes followed. We were ready to go out with both my son and daughter clean and smart looking, great! But me? I was a mess!  Why did I go through the effort of changing my son but ignore the fact that he'd also got his snack all over my shoulder?!

We decided to have our children close together so 6 months after having my daughter I got pregnant.  So no sooner had my maternity wear been packed away and it was back out again.  This made it easy to make excuses for my appearance as I couldn't justify the cost of buying more maternity wear.  8 months after I had my son and I still haven't justified buying more clothes and constantly feel scruffy.  I did buy some jumpers in October as I realised I didn't have anything warm having been pregnant for the past two winters but these have bobbled and aged so quickly.  I do rather feel like I let the side down when we go out as a family as my children and husband all look smart and clean and I come along in my standard attire; timberland boots (sturdy but warm, amazing for winter), jeans which are baggy / faded around the knees (bought in primark as I'm on the floor all the time and not yet in my pre children jeans), either black top or jumper which is bobbled or sometimes I might wear a top but no doubt my cardigan won't go!  I've lost all sense of style... Actually scrap that I'm not sure I ever had it!  The one thing I liked about work was that I knew how to dress, pencil skirt with a smart top and high heels was my favourite combination.  I felt smart and had an outfit that I knew suited my body shape however I never really sorted out my weekend wardrobe.  So it's not a surprise that two kids later, a limited budget, different body shape and extra weight that I don't know what to wear or have an already existing capsule wardrobe to use.  I'm in a total style conundrum, I want clothes that suit me and are also practical for being with the kids. Does anyone have any ideas for what I can do to revamp on a budget, I hate being so scruffy! But also don't see the point in wearing clothes that are too nice because my two lovely little people will get me dirty! Does anyone have any ideas for how to expand my wardrobe on a budget and get some sort of style back?!

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