The Coziest Postpartum Outfits

There’s a specific kind of postpartum funk that has nothing to do with depression and everything to do with living in the same stretched out leggings and breastfeeding tank tops for days on end.

I remember standing in my kitchen a month or so after having my baby, milk on my shirt, unbrushed hair pulled up in a messy bun thinking, “Why do I feel so off?” I was showering regularly enough. I was eating well. I was getting decent rest. I was getting outside when I could. But I still felt… blah.

It took a few days, but it finally hit me that I hadn’t put on real clothes since giving birth. I was still wearing my maternity clothing and every morning I’d just throw on whatever was within reach and somewhat comfortable.

It wasn’t that I needed jeans (I’m not insane!) or even felt the need to wear a “real outfit.” I certainly wasn’t trying to impress anyone and truthfully didn’t interact with that many people so early in my fourth trimester. Ultimately, I just didn’t feel at home in my body. Everything I wore felt like a placeholder. Temporary. Like I was still waiting to feel like myself again.

When you’re spending most of your day breastfeeding, rocking, pacing the house with a newborn on your shoulder, your clothes become your environment. They’re what you live in. If they’re tight, synthetic, stretched out, or just remnants of pregnancy, it subtly reinforces that in-between feeling. I needed to feel comfortable in my body as it was in that season. The softer belly. The fuller chest. The hips that shifted. The skin that felt different.

So I stopped reaching for the old maternity leggings and started choosing pieces that felt intentional but still easy and still very much comfortable. Thicker 100 percent cotton lounge pants. A soft cotton nursing tank that fit my nursing body instead of squeezing it. A linen button down I could throw over anything and instantly feel a little more pulled together.

Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated.

Just natural fabrics that breathed and moved with me.

There’s something about cotton, linen, and wool that feels different on postpartum skin. They don’t trap heat the way polyester does. They don’t cling when your hormones are still regulating and you’re sweating through everything. They don’t make you feel sticky by the end of the day. When your nervous system is already stretched thin, sensory comfort matters more than we think.

I also stopped trying to dress for a body I thought I “should” have. That mindset will steal your peace quickly. Instead, I started dressing the body I had. The one that just grew and delivered a baby and the one that was feeding that baby around the clock.

When I put on clothes that fit this version of me, I felt calmer, more settled, and definitely more at home in my own skin.

I found a handful of pieces that genuinely made me feel better, and I kept thinking, I should share these with my mom friends. Because almost every postpartum mom I know (or work with) with says some version of the same thing. “I don’t feel like myself.” And half the time, she’s still wearing the same two stretched out outfits on repeat.

So I’ve put together a simple list of my favorite postpartum staples that I personally reach for and recommend:

100 percent cotton lounge sets
Thicker cotton joggers or wide leg pants with a relaxed cotton tee or long sleeve. I personally didn’t want thin, clingy pants. I wanted the kind of pants could move with my body, that I could nurse in, go for a walk in, or even nap in. If you want a shorts set, this one is great.

Linen button downs
Oversized, soft linen shirts I can wear open over a nursing tank, buttoned up with loose linen pants (or shorts in the summer). Linen breathes, especially if you’re dealing with postpartum night sweats or hormone shifts.

Cotton nursing bras
Not the ones you bought in your second trimester. Re-measure. Your ribcage and cup size may have changed. A supportive, cotton nursing bra that doesn’t dig into your shoulders makes a bigger difference than you think.

Wool cardigans or wraps
A soft merino wool layer feels grounding and warm without overheating you, especially in colder climates. If you’re in a warmer area, this 100% cotton cardigan is a wonderful option.

High quality cotton underwear
After birth, especially if you had tearing or a C section, your skin deserves soft, breathable fabric. Synthetic underwear can irritate healing tissue. I tried MANY different brands of cotton underwear and these were (and still are my favorite), plus they’re organic.

100 percent wool socks

Warm feet matter postpartum. I do not care how mild your climate is, you want good socks! After birth your body is recalibrating, your hormones are shifting, and your circulation can feel off. A good pair of wool socks, keeps your feet warm (and help with body temp, too) without making you sweaty. I literally wear these every day.

I’ve created an Amazon list with a variety of these types of pieces so you can see specific examples of what I mean and not have to dig through pages of polyester pretending to be cotton. These are easy staples you can mix and match without overthinking it.

If you are in that postpartum funk where everything technically looks fine but you still feel off, start here. Open your drawer. Be honest about what actually fits and feels good. Invest in a few natural fiber pieces that support the body you have today. You do not need a whole new wardrobe. You just need to feel at home in your skin again. And sometimes that begins with the fabric touching it… at least it did for me!