Ever had that feeling of a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? It's all too common when you're facing pregnancy and postpartum. In this episode, we talk with stylist and new mom, Julia Nauer of Sort and Style Co about how to dress the bump and beyond—and what it means to keep your clothing simple, functional, stylish, but also true to you. We'll cover how to solve some of pregnancy’s unique styling pain points, the wardrobe questions to ask yourself, and how to punch up basics to feel stylish no matter what life phase you're in.
Note: Information in this episode is based on personal experiences and is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information in the podcast does not constitute personal professional advice. We encourage you to independently evaluate any content and consult with appropriate professionals as needed for your specific circumstances.
Getting Started with Baby Podcast: The Stylist Edit
A Few Key Quotes on Pregnancy and Postpartum Style
On the closet full of nothing to wear:
"I had a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Very similar to what my clients experience. And I was stressed every morning getting dressed about what to wear to work. I would end up just changing my outfit a million times, wearing the same thing over and over again." — Julia Nauer
On keeping your personal style:
"Sometimes people feel like they've lost themselves [after having a baby] because they almost just feel like, now I'm a mom, I have to have this new style, or I have to dress like a mom. You don't. You still want to dress like yourself and who you are at your core." — Julia Nauer
On the importance of getting dressed:
"I think that a big part of doing well is just taking a little bit of time at the beginning of the day. You don't have to do a full face of makeup or anything, but I think putting on an outfit in the morning and getting a little bit ready really helps your mental health and your well-being." — Julia Nauer
The Takeaways for Pregnancy and Postpartum Style
- You can wear more than you think during pregnancy: Don't assume everything in your closet is off-limits. You can still wear jackets, stretchy pants (under your belly), elastic waist items, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. Many pieces will work if worn differently—try sizing up in tees, tanks, and oversized sweaters rather than buying true maternity versions. This approach also helps in the immediate postpartum period when you'll probably want to avoid wearing things labeled "maternity."
- Wait before the big wardrobe reset: If you're considering working with a stylist or doing a major closet overhaul, wait at least six to twelve months postpartum. Your body is still changing, your life is adjusting, and you need time to let everything level out. In the meantime, focus on identifying your pain points and building a simple capsule of comfortable pieces.
- Store what doesn't fit—don't stare at it daily: Remove clothes that don't currently fit from your main closet space. Box them up, move them to a different closet section, or store them on a high shelf. Looking at clothes you can't wear every day only contributes to that "nothing to wear" feeling. Your closet should only contain what you would actually wear right now.
- Master the art of elongating when pregnant: The two main pregnancy pain points are feeling big and losing your waist. Combat these issues by focusing on elongating techniques: wear monochromatic outfits (same color top and bottom), try pointed-toe shoes, choose longer-length layers instead of cropped jackets, and consider wearing form-fitting pieces to create shape and curves rather than hiding in oversized tent-like clothes.
- Don't neglect any wardrobe category: Build a functional base by ensuring you have pieces in every category—base layer tops like tees and tanks, a casual pant, a dressier pant for dinner, jeans (if you wore them pre-pregnancy), shoes that pair with your pants, and accessories. Accessories are especially valuable during pregnancy since they work regardless of size and can make basic outfits feel more polished and personal.
- Your style preferences may shift—and that's okay: Don't be surprised if shapes and styles that used to work for you suddenly don't feel right anymore. Give yourself grace to try something new. If your old standbys aren't working, don't force it—pregnancy and motherhood can genuinely change what makes you feel confident and comfortable.
- Go deeper when editing your closet: When getting rid of items, ask yourself why you don't wear something. Is it the neckline, the color, a specific detail? Understanding your preferences at a deeper level helps you avoid buying similar pieces again and builds confidence in future purchases. This self-knowledge is key to feeling comfortable and confident in what you wear.
- Matching sets are your postpartum friend: For those immediate postpartum weeks when you have minimal brainpower, invest in matching sweat sets and lounge sets. You don't have to think about coordinating pieces, and even inexpensive options from Amazon can make getting dressed effortless while still looking put-together.
Julia's Pregnancy and Postpartum Wardrobe & Baby Product Picks
Credit: Beyond Yoga
Beyond Yoga Maternity Leggings
Julia calls these incredibly comfortable and a pregnancy wardrobe essential for both comfort and versatility.
Credit: Hatch
Hatch Before, During and After Flared Crop
A great pant that can be dressed up or down and truly works through all stages—before pregnancy, during, and after. Perfect for versatility.
Credit: Amazon
Kindred Bravely Longline Bra and Contour Nursing Bra
It was difficult to find a t-shirt bra that looked good for nursing while also having a comfortable option. These solved both problems—the contour bra works under clothes, and the longline feels comfortable without feeling like you're wearing a traditional bra.
Credit: Amazon
Belly Band
A life-changing hack that lets you wear your normal pants unbuttoned throughout pregnancy. This means you don't have to buy as many maternity pants and can extend the life of your existing wardrobe.
Credit: Baby Brezza
Baby Brezza Bottle Washer (with washer, sterilizer, and dryer)
Not just a sterilizer, but the version that actually washes bottles. Julia wishes she had gotten this from the start instead of hand-washing bottles at 3 a.m., which left her hands chapped and raw.
Getting Started with Baby: The Full Conversation
[edited from audio transcript for clarity]
Jane Dashevsky: Something today's guest, stylist and new mom Julia Nauer, mentioned really stuck with me, especially when it comes to thinking about my closet postpartum. She mentioned this feeling of having a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, and I think that's something a lot of new moms can probably really relate to. In today's episode, Julia is going to help us dig deep into that feeling and think through what to do when we feel it—how to dress for pregnancy and postpartum, and what it means to keep your clothing simple, functional, stylish, but also true to you. We're going to get into how to solve some of pregnancy's unique styling pain points, like where did that waist go? And we'll talk about the questions to ask yourself when you're starting to edit your closet. Plus, we'll talk about how to punch up basics at any phase of your pregnancy.
So welcome to the podcast. We're so excited to have you.
Julia Nauer: Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.
Jane: To get started, could you share a little bit about your background and your family?
Julia: Sure. So, I have been working in the retail and fashion industries for over 15 years now, and I've been on my own working as a full-time personal stylist for the past three years. I just had a baby boy back at the end of December—Charlie, who is eight and a half months old now. It's been a lot of fun, but definitely the transition in terms of wardrobe and what to wear, even for a stylist, is always a little bit tricky.
Jane: Yeah, I can't wait to get into how you navigated that and what your advice is for moms. And congratulations on your baby as well. Eight and a half months is a fun age—they're really coming online.
What made you want to pivot from what you were doing in fashion and merchandising to becoming a stylist?
Julia: It was my own experience, basically. So, I worked in buying and merchandising. I knew all of the trends. I understood what was happening in fashion, but I had a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Very similar to what my clients experience. And I was stressed every morning getting dressed about what to wear to work. I would end up just changing my outfit a million times, wearing the same thing over and over again.
I just realized that during the pandemic—I think everybody had a lot more time on their hands—I decided I needed to figure this out. I went through my own process of editing my closet, getting very clear on my vision, creating an intentional shopping list, and then breaking a lot of very bad shopping habits that I had picked up over the years. I really started to dress in a way that aligned with my lifestyle, my body shape, and my personal style preferences. I knew that if I did that for myself with my background, I could definitely do it for other people. So, I started doing it on the side during the pandemic. I've been full time for three years now.
Jane: I can totally relate to that problem. Although I feel like during the pandemic it was pretty much all leggings all the time.
Julia: Right, yes. But it was a good time to find time to edit and get rid of things, and then start with a clean slate and build back slowly. I work with a lot of clients who haven't shopped for a long time, or their lives have dramatically changed—like having a baby, changing jobs, things like that. Sometimes it does require a bigger reset. But once you reset and get to a baseline, my philosophy is shopping less but more frequently. So, feeling like you're continuously staying updated, but you're not overbuying.
Jane: That's super helpful because sometimes it feels like, especially if you're having a kid, you're just in the cycle of having to buy stuff all the time, whether it's for yourself or your kid or whatever.
Julia: Yeah, I think that something else that no one really talks about is becoming a parent. You know, you talk about the registry and what to buy for sleep and all of this. But people buy you a ton of clothes in the beginning for the baby. But then all of a sudden you have to organize all of their clothes constantly. You have to buy them basically a whole new wardrobe every few months. And it's a lot of mental load on you. And then to also have to get yourself ready and get yourself dressed is just another level.
Jane: Yeah, absolutely. Plus, the amount of time something just gets immediately stained. You do have to really think about it being both something you're going to feel good in and comfortable, but also practical.
So you talked a little bit about your style philosophy. Can you talk a little bit more about what that philosophy is and where it came from? And even if it's adjusted since you've had a kid?
Julia: What I really do is I work with busy parents and professionals to help them create functional and polished wardrobes in 60 days or less, really without the mental load of the shopping, the scrolling, and the shipping. So my philosophy really is all about making it simple and easy to get dressed. It's all about versatility. It's all about simplicity and ease. I believe you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style. I really specialize in helping you build your everyday wardrobe—so what you're going to wear day in and day out.
I don't think that my philosophy necessarily has changed, but because my life has changed, my clothes have had to change. And I think that that's where the rub is for a lot of people—they're frustrated by getting dressed because they're missing something in their closet. I think before you shop, it's really important to really understand what your pain points are and make that intentional shopping list, so you go in with a game plan and you're not buying things you don't need.
Jane: There is such a difference in what you need, depending on what life stage you're in or how you're spending your days. I think the other thing I certainly experienced after having kids, and I'm probably still in the cycle of, is I have a lot of my pre-baby stuff still. And I mean however many—it's been five years with all the pregnancies included, but I still have a lot of my pre-baby stuff and I feel like in my head I haven't moved on from that stuff yet. You have to realize you're in this new phase and you need new stuff.
Julia: Right. So what I always say is, well, first, I think things that don't fit—putting those in a different area. So a different section of your closet, boxing them up, putting them on top, putting them in a different closet, just getting them out of the way. Because you're looking at things every day that aren't going to work, and that's just contributing to that feeling of having a lot of things but nothing to wear. So you really just want what's in your closet to be what you would actually wear.
Then I would also say, if you think about if you're hanging on to some things just in case, would you really want to wear that or would you want to wear something new? It's doubtful. Sometimes if your body's changed and things have changed, it's not going to actually feel good to put that thing back on. So I think it just takes being very honest with yourself.
What I do typically when I'm cleaning out closets is I take a very gentle approach. Generally, people are ready to let go when they hire me, but I ask a lot of questions and a lot of times the person kind of comes to the conclusion on their own that this piece should go. So when was the last time you wore it? How do you feel when you wear it? Do you like wearing it? Sometimes it takes an impartial third party to get you to where you need to go.
Jane: Yeah, and I'm sure even just having the time to really think, like, hey, it's time to do this thing where I'm going to look at the closet, I'm gonna get stuff out of here that I don't need, and then think about this again. And I'm sure hiring you, for example, would force that conversation as well.
Julia: Yeah. And you also can't stop in the middle of it if you hire me, which is a big thing. You can't get sidetracked looking at some sentimental something in your closet and trying everything on willy-nilly. And then I take everything that we edited away and I handle that for you, too. So you're not driving around with the bags in your trunk for a couple of months, like some people do, which I also am guilty of.
Jane: Oh my God, totally. I have one in the corner of my room that's just waiting to be donated right now as we speak. It's been there for weeks.
Julia: Yes.
Jane: So if someone were to work with you, what can they expect from start to finish? How does that process work?
Julia: Sure. So first of all, I also want to say if you are immediately postpartum, I 100% would wait. I would recommend waiting to work with a stylist for a true transformation—which is generally what I'm doing—until at least six months to a year. Because your body is still changing, your life is changing. You just want to let everything kind of level out, and we can talk through other quick fixes for that time period.
Jane: Actually, I was just going to ask—during the transitional time, what should you do?
Julia: I would say for that time period, really think about where your pain points are. So what still fits you in your closet? What doesn't fit you? Actually trying things on because you would be surprised—there are things that you can still wear. When you're pregnant, you can still wear jackets for the most part. You can still wear any type of stretchy pant. You can typically wear them under your belly. Anything with an elastic waist, typically you could wear. Shoes, jewelry, accessories, bags—all of that is still fair game.
Generally, I would say just sizing up in a lot of things. I think getting some maternity pants, some maternity leggings, you need new bras, you need underwear most likely. But I think outside of those couple of things, just sizing up in tees, tanks, oversized sweaters—there's just so much very oversized, so many elastic waists out there.
Jane: Thank God for that trend.
Julia: Yes. So I don't think you need to buy as much true maternity these days because of all of that. And a lot of why I also recommend not buying a ton of maternity is then in the postpartum, in that initial phase, a lot of times you'll feel a lot better wearing things that aren't maternity.
So there are still things that I bought when I was pregnant that I still wear. I have jackets that I still wear and tops that I still wear, just because they're a little bit more oversized. And now I don't feel maternity in them because I know that they're not maternity.
Jane: It's interesting how even that word or where you bought it can definitely make a big difference.
Julia: Yes, it's like the association that you have in your brain is a big thing with clothing also. And that's why it's always like, do you like wearing this? Do you enjoy wearing it? Because if you don't, even if I tell you it looks amazing on you, you're not gonna feel good in it, and you're not going to feel confident in it.
Jane: Well, I can certainly even viscerally feel it when I think about even immediately after having a baby, having to still wear a maternity thing kind of makes you feel like, well, wait, that's not where I'm at anymore.
Julia: Right. So, yeah. For that immediate postpartum period, I think matching sets—matching sweat suits, matching little lounge sets. Just even if you go on Amazon and just buy yourself a few less expensive ones, I think you don't have a lot of brainpower in those immediate couple of weeks. So anything that's just super easy that you don't have to think about matching, I think is huge. You know, you're buying all this stuff for the baby. Don't forget yourself. Don't forget about planning for what you're going to wear.
Jane: Also, I would say addressing that feeling of like, oh, I don't have anything to wear, I don't feel good in anything—that's such a factor in your day-to-day life.
Julia: Yeah, to your point, after you've had that baby in those first few weeks, you just don't have the capacity. But I will tell you that I think a big part of doing well is just taking a little bit of time at the beginning of the day. You don't have to do a full face of makeup or anything, but I think putting on an outfit in the morning and getting a little bit ready really helps your mental health and your well-being for sure.
Jane: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. So I think you shared a little bit about this with your philosophy, and it seems like a good way to segue into this question as well. One of your philosophies is keeping it simple or making it simple. So are there certain principles around what you should be putting into your closet that helps you keep it simple?
Julia: Yeah, and I think it's about really having a good base to work off of. I think that it's important to not neglect any category. So making sure that you have base layer tops, like layering pieces, like tees, tanks that you can wear underneath things. I think it's important to make sure that you have pants—like a casual pant, a pant that you could dress up a little bit to maybe go out to dinner. I think having a jean is important if you were someone that in your pre-pregnancy era felt really good wearing jeans.
I think that having shoes that you feel really great in and that go with the pants, making sure that all of these pieces are working together. And then making sure that you're not neglecting your accessories as well, because that's a big piece too. Even if you're buying more basic items, that's really going to add a lot of texture to your outfits. It's going to add a lot of depth to your outfits, so you can just be wearing something a little bit more basic, but your accessories are going to make it come to life and add a little bit more personality to it.
Jane: I love that, and that makes sense to keep some of those basics and then give yourself the chance to use the accessories to dress it up.
Julia: Yeah, that was definitely my philosophy while I was pregnant for sure. You can invest in more fun shoes or a bag or jewelry, because those are the things that you're going to be able to wear generally, regardless of size.
Jane: Yeah for sure. And those can transcend different trends as well.
Julia: Yes, yes for sure.
Jane: Now as you were going through your own pregnancy journey and you're eight months postpartum now, is there anything that surprised you about either your own styling journey or how you feel about clothes now?
Julia: Yeah, I think that I would say to anyone, don't be surprised if all of a sudden things that used to work for you or that you used to enjoy wearing just don't feel right anymore. And I was someone who really liked wearing those big, oversized, saggy type of prairie dresses. And whenever I was pregnant and I was looking for a dress for my baby shower, I couldn't go back to my old standbys or the shapes that I used to like.
And I felt very lost. I would never, ever, in normal circumstances, wear a very tight, fitted bodycon dress. And that's really what I felt my best in, and that's really what I wanted to wear anytime I had to get dressed up. So I would just say, don't be surprised if your preferences change and if your old standbys don't work anymore. Don't be afraid to try something new for sure.
Jane: How did you go about finding that inspiration of what to try? Because I know you obviously have a lot of experience in fashion, but I think sometimes people get into this kind of rut of like, well, this is what I've always bought. What do I do now?
Julia: I know. I do think that it's hard. I think it takes a lot of patience and just giving yourself a little bit of grace. I'll give you a couple little tips in terms of dressing for actual pregnancy. So when you're pregnant, basically what's hard about it is you feel big and you lose your waist. So if you think about those two things, that's generally the pain point, right?
So number one would be focusing on elongating. I'm five-one, so I'm always focusing on looking taller. You can do that through monochromatic dressing, so wearing the same color top and bottom. You can do that through maybe you wear a maxi dress that's all one color, so you're a little bit more of a column. You can do a pointed toe—like a pointed flat, a pointed boot, a pointed heel. You can do a shoe the same color as your bottom. You can do a skin color shoe. So those are just some elongating tips.
The other thing for elongating is wearing longer length layers. So I would put on a cropped little jacket which I always enjoyed wearing, and that just did not feel right with my big belly. So just wearing something that was a little bit more elongating that came down past my hip always felt a little bit better.
So because you lose your waist, it's hard. You're just feeling like a big block or a big tent, so wearing something that's a little bit more form-fitting gives you a little bit more shape, a little bit more curves. And I would also say that you would be very surprised at what you can wear. I have this pair of faux leather pants. They were stretchy, but I never thought I would be able to wear them. And they fit. So sometimes you just don't know, because you can wear things under your belly.
Jane: Yeah, it's totally amazing prior to pregnancy, I would have never imagined some things can stretch the way that they can stretch, and it's wild. You know, it was like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or something. Somehow, one pair of pants just fit through the entire pregnancy.
That's usually the legging.
Julia: Yes, absolutely. I would rather stretch something out and have to replace it than buy something that I'm only going to wear for a couple months, I guess.
Jane: We talked a little bit about how sometimes one of the things that can happen as you adjust to pregnancy and postpartum is that you're still sort of trying to fit into your prior style modes, and that might not apply. Are there other kinds of mistakes that you see moms making, either during that pregnancy journey or postpartum, or that you've experienced working with clients?
Julia: I don't know that it's a mistake, exactly, but I would say just not limiting yourself. So not thinking like, oh, I can't wear that anymore because I'm a mom, or this used to be my style but I can't wear that anymore. Your lifestyle and maybe the specifics around what you need changes, but there's always a way to adapt your style for this new phase of life.
So I think sometimes people feel like they've lost themselves because they almost just feel like, now I'm a mom, I have to have this new style, or I have to dress like a mom, or I have to dress like a pregnant person. You don't. That's not the case at all. You still want to dress like yourself and who you are at your core.
Jane: What do you think, when it comes down to it, is the most important thing for people to feel confident in their clothes?
Julia: I think it's feeling comfortable in their clothing. And I think when I say comfortable, I don't mean wearing yoga pants all the time. I think it's about feeling comfortable because the clothes suit their preferences. That takes a lot of work to really understand. What kinds of things you like. What colors do you like to wear? What details do you like? What shapes do you like? Do you like things that are closer to the body or more away from the body? Do you like a high rise or mid rise? Will you wear heels or will you not wear heels?
The deeper and deeper you can get on what you really like to wear and what you feel good in and what your preferences are, the more comfortable you will be and then the more confident you're going to be. The other piece is when you're going to get rid of things, examining like, what are you getting rid of and why? Because a lot of times it's "oh, I don't wear that." But why? So just going a little deeper and saying like, oh, I don't like that neckline on me, or I don't feel good when I wear that color. I feel very blah, or this detail makes me feel childish. Things like that. Just going a level deeper, I think helps you unlock those preferences.
Jane: When you do that and you're starting to think like, oh, well, I don't really like that neckline or whatever the reason is that you don't like that particular style—do you get in danger of just having the same thing over and over again? How do you keep it feeling fresh?
Julia: Yeah. Oh, that's a good question. Another piece of what I try to do, too, is I try to make sure that you have enough variety that you don't feel like you're wearing the same thing every day, so that you can mix, match, and actually feel like you're wearing different outfits. And what I try to do is I also always try to remove duplication in your closet. I see what you're saying about if you identify your preferences and then you're wearing the same thing, but there's a million different ways to do things.
I like a high neck, but I don't always have to be wearing a high neck tank like I'm wearing today. It could be a crewneck sweater in a different fabric. It could be a different color. It could be a turtleneck. There's always a different way to spin it.
Jane: Switching gears a little bit. One of the things that we do on this podcast—it's sponsored by a service called the Starter Set. And the goal of that service, much like we were talking about making things simpler, is to help parents sort through all of this stuff that they need in this phase of life, and really think about the things that are helpful and not so helpful. So as a mom yourself, are there items that either you just generally swear by, either for yourself or for your kids, or for the wardrobe?
Julia: Sure. So I would say wardrobe-wise for pregnancy and postpartum, I would say the Beyond Yoga maternity leggings. So, so incredibly comfortable. I also love the Hatch Before, During and After flared crop. That was a great, great pant that you can dress up or down and you literally can wear it before, during and after.
And then I also highly recommend the Kindred Bravely—the longline bra and the contour nursing bra. I thought it was very difficult to find a t-shirt bra that looked good underneath things for nursing, and then also something comfortable that didn't feel like you were wearing a bra. And that's what the longline is.
Also, buying a belly band that you can wear over your pants so you can have them unbuttoned and wear your normal pants unbuttoned.
Jane: Yeah. It's such a great hack.
Julia: It's literally life-changing. That's a way that you don't have to buy all these maternity pants, and you can just wear what you already have.
For baby life, the thing that I recommend to everyone is I have the Baby Brezza bottle washer—and not just the sterilizer and dryer, but the one that actually washes it. And that was life-changing after we got that, because my hands were chapped and raw from washing bottles, washing my hands all the time. And that was life-changing.
Jane: I just wish I had gotten that sooner, because I remember being like, I don't want another gadget. And then 3 a.m. and I'm washing bottles by hand, it was horrible.
Julia: Oh, God. We were always just washing bottles for the first two weeks before we got one. And then it was a great buy.
Jane: Yeah, that's a good tip. What about anything that you think moms probably don't need? We already talked about overdoing maternity stuff, but anything else that you see people getting that you're like, oh, you might not really need that?
Julia: Well, I think specifically within the maternity wardrobe space, whenever I see a maternity sweater or a maternity just basic t-shirt, I feel like that's where you could just go up a couple sizes but find something oversized. Go into the men's section, even, for a white tee.
And then, okay, this is, I think, maybe a little bit controversial. I did not buy a pregnancy pillow. I just used what I had. I just used other pillows to make it happen because I live in a townhouse, and I guess I don't have a ton of space. And I just kept thinking about what am I going to do with this pillow?
Jane: I totally had the same thought.
Julia: Yes. So maybe it would have made my life more enjoyable for those last couple of months, but now I have no regrets.
Jane: If there was one thing that you wanted someone to take away from this episode, what would it be?
Julia: I think the biggest thing for me is that pregnancy and postpartum—it's an exciting time. There's a lot of change, but ultimately it's a very, very short part of your life in the grand scheme of things. So don't be discouraged if you don't feel amazing about what you're putting on your body every day. It's ultimately what you do after that period of time, after things level out, that's really going to have a big impact on your life.
If you feel like what you're putting on your body is not making you feel good or if it's holding you back, working with a professional can help you to get the results that you want and get you there a lot faster. It's a very personal thing, what you're putting on your body every day, so I would highly recommend getting personalized help there.
Jane: Thank you so much. This has been super informative. We're really grateful you were able to talk to us and can't wait to share this with expectant moms and new moms and all the moms out there.
To hear more from Julia, you can reach out via her website, sortandstyleco.com, or follow Julia on Instagram at @sortandstyleco.
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