Summer styling struggles cast a shadow on new mums self esteem

While summer can’t come quickly enough for most, it can be a difficult time of the year for new mums, with almost three in four feeling more negative about their style during the summer months than any other time of year, according to new research by Tu Clothing.

Lost body confidence (80%), clothes no longer fitting (76%), not knowing how to dress for a new body type (69%), and not having the budget to purchase a new wardrobe (54%) were some of the biggest factors that contributed to negative feelings new mums had towards their sense of style.

These emotions are particularly exacerbated during the summer season when preparing for a holiday, with over half of British mums (51%) feeling anxious when packing their bags.

That’s why Tu Clothing has launched a summer holiday edit with ambassador Ashley James, to offer post-partum outfit inspiration and help encourage women and new mums to feel empowered and dress with confidence this summer.

Ashley James, a longstanding champion of body positivity and confidence, has tapped into her personal experiences of postnatal dressing to offer a curated edit of products that are stylish yet functional for all summer occasions.

The TV presenter and DJ, who recently gave birth to her second child, hopes the edit of pieces from Tu’s new summer collection will help new mums reconnect with their confidence and embrace their bodies post-pregnancy, all without breaking the bank.

Tu brand ambassador Ashley James said: “The postpartum period is a beautiful time for new mums, but it can also be a bit daunting, and summertime in particular can be challenging. The hot weather is welcomed by most of us but speaking from my postpartum experience there are many considerations when holiday packing. From covering sections of your body that you feel insecure about, especially if you have had a c-section, to thinking of the practicalities of products when on holiday with children. We created this edit of summer pieces to help make holiday packing for mums easier, offering them practical clothing options that still make you look and feel great.”

Emma Benjafield, Director of Product at Sainsbury’s Clothing, said: “We know that new mums struggle with a lost sense of style during the summer months, so this latest edit from our ambassador Ashley James will provide customers with a little bit of affordable summer holiday outfit inspiration. We believe women and new mums should feel empowered to wear what they want, how they want and when they want, and we hope our summer collection helps them do just that. Fashion, after all, should be fun and make you feel great!”

To browse Ashley James’ summer edit visit Tu.co.uk. Womenswear starts from just £4 and children/babywear from £3.50. Tu’s extensive summer collection can also be found online at Tu.co.uk and in selected Sainsbury’s stores.