"One of the biggest style transitions I made when I got pregnant was ditching my heels. I taught myself to navigate life in heels at a young age. But when pregnant and a bit off balance, wearing my favorite shoes didn’t seem worth the risk of falling. I only had a few comfortable dressy flats to my name: a worn-out pair of ballet flats and some old sneakers. So, I was stumped on how to still feel like myself when getting dressed while being realistic about my new lifestyle.
Spoiler alert: I spent the majority of my pregnancy wearing the same pair of sneakers. I worked from home my entire pregnancy, but this new lifestyle was an adjustment. I often spent my pre-pregnancy work days visiting my high fashion clients’ offices where everyone wore heels. My days involved playing with diamonds, reviewing new collections, or being on set for photoshoots. You could call my pregnancy a reverse Cinderella experience.
Once baby arrived, I wanted to feel like myself more than ever. But this felt difficult when so many of my clothes and accessories from my former life no longer suited me. I had a very traumatic birth experience, and I needed things to feel as easy as possible while I recovered. The last thing I wanted was to be worrying about blisters or tripping in heels while carrying my adorably roll-y 99th-percentile baby. I also wanted to free up some major brain space by making it easier to get dressed before heading out the door. I’m a big believer in not shopping for a specific occasion. Instead, I like having a capsule wardrobe that I can rely on no matter what my day throws my way.
The end goal was to find a few pairs of comfortable dressy flats that looked just as good as they felt. This way, I could navigate mom life in a way that works for me and my closet. Here’s what I found.
Satin Flats
There are a ton of cute sneakers on the market these days, but they just aren’t for me. I like a slightly dressier shoe, especially for events like weddings, which are already starting to find their way onto my postpartum social calendar. Prada’s satin mules have been trending for a while now. But as a new mom (or ever), spending over $1,000 on shoes wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I turned to these much more reasonably priced satin mules from Jack Erwin. The light blue hue of the flats is very versatile (picture how denim goes with everything), and they couldn’t be more comfortable while still feeling dressy enough for formal events. I felt a bit like Cinderella when I slipped them on for the first time. Fellow moms know this is no easy feat in the early postpartum days. Consider me obsessed with satin flats now.
Ballet Flats
From classic light pink pairs topped with a bow to modern mesh styles, there is no shortage of ways for you to make the ballet flat trend work for your personal style. I wore J.Crew ballet flats religiously during college. Now, I am planning a mall trip for me and baby so I can try on some of their new versions. I have my heart set on this super expensive-looking croc-embossed pair. I’m definitely kicking myself for donating all of my old pairs when they weren’t as trendy. That just goes to show that investing in classic shoes is worth it.
Slide Sandals
Another reason I’m less eager to wear sneakers than ever before is that I recently discovered tying shoes while holding a baby is not all that easy. When it comes time to go on a quick walk or to run to the grocery store, I find it a lot easier to slide on a pair of sandals while holding my little one. Anything that makes getting out of the door easier is a win in my book. There are some very diverse sandal styles on the market right now. So, it shouldn’t be hard to find the perfect fit this summer. Personally, I’m a fan of any leather sandals that master the quiet luxury look at a much lower price tag.
Fisherman Sandals
Want a sandal that you don’t have to worry about slipping off when running around at the park? I’ll be the first to admit it took time for the fisherman sandal trend to grow on me. But as a new mom, I really get it now. I love how secure this style is. You can choose between a timeless leather pair or a fun jelly pair that you would have flipped over as a kid.
Loafers
Loafers are a classic for a reason. Another pair of comfortable yet dressy flats I relied on heavily during my pregnancy and postpartum are these timeless Jack Erwin chocolate-hued loafers. I love that I can style them with socks for extra comfort and warmth in chillier months. But I can also wear them in warmer seasons. Once you break in a good pair of leather loafers, they are as comfortable as tennis shoes but feel so much more polished.
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Jacqueline DeMarco, Contributing Writer
Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer based in Southern California who graduated from the University of California Irvine with a degree in Literary Journalism. She has written on a wide range of topics including finance, travel, and wellness for publications such as The Everygirl, Coveteur, Girlboss, and Apartment Therapy. When not whipping up articles, she works with consumer brands like Gorjana, Voluspa, Underclub, The Well, and St. John to help tell their brand stories.