How to Feel Good Now: Style During Transition

Waiting for the Right Time to Dress How You Want?

When I mention to people that I am a style coach, so often I am met with, “I’d love to work with you when….”

I’ve lost weight. The kids are older. Life is less hectic. I feel more like myself again….

This way of thinking is so common and completely normal, it’s a form of self-protection, wanting to feel ‘ready’ (not to mention the idea of prioritising our needs now, first even…? Oof, that’s a complicated one)

However, it can also leave us feeling very stuck, dissatisfied and disconnected with ourselves.

Waiting doesn’t make the discomfort go away; it just leaves you standing in front of a wardrobe full of clothes that don’t work for your current life or body.

And that can feel really deflating.

Life Is Full of Transitions

Bodies change, lifestyles shift - it’s all part of being human, and women certainly go through many transitions in their lifetime, whether that be due to body changes, becoming a Mum, changing career, starting a business, starting the menopause, or simply growing (emotionally…!)

Here’s the thing, style doesn’t need to be put on hold for some future version of you. It should support you through the now, the person you are becoming or have transitioned into. Your wardrobe can support you through these transitions, rather than holding you in a version of yourself that no longer fits.

The Emotional Weight of Clothes That Don’t Fit

Holding onto clothes that don’t feel good can be demoralising and quietly chip away at self-esteem.

There are lots of reasons why clothes no longer feel like they used to; weight gain is a common factor, but it can also be weight loss, illness, body shape changes due to pregnancy / age, or simply an emotional transition whereby the clothes no longer feel like you - and often, it is a multiple of these factors combined.

Sometimes, it’s just about honouring who you are now, not wishing for a past or future version of yourself. So many women delay investing in themselves and their style until they feel “worthy” again, without realising that dressing in a way that feels good can actually help to reconnect you with yourself and evolve into this new version of you.

Tips : Try a “Wear Now” Rail

Pick out items that fit and feel good right now. Hang them where you can see them and use these items for building your outfits to make dressing each morning less stressful. After each outfit, rate how it felt (1–10) in terms of comfort and confidence. Patterns will emerge that help you refine your evolving wardrobe.

It Doesn’t Mean Starting from Scratch

Often, there is a panic that comes with accepting these changes, not just from an emotional standpoint but a practical one too.

“I can’t afford to buy a whole new wardrobe!”
”I hate shopping, it is just going to make me feel worse…”
”I don’t want to buy things that won’t work for me in a few months time”

But hey, you don’t need to go wild buying a brand-new wardrobe; starting with a few tweaks (styling, tailoring, upcycling, letting go of some of the guilt clothes) can shift how you feel.

This is where sustainable styling shines; making the most of what you have while updating mindfully.

Tip : Borrow or swap pieces (or shop preloved!)

When in a transitional phase, try a clothes swap with friends or rent/borrow pieces. It’s a gentle way to honour your shifting style without the commitment. If this doesn’t feel accessible, shopping preloved is an inexpensive way to get some confidence boosting pieces; and don’t forget items can be resold or recirculated responsibly too!

You deserve to feel stylish right now

Take a moment to reflect on how it would feel to leave the house feeling good… great even.

Picture yourself walking into a social event, the office, the supermarket, feeling more confident and present - wouldn’t that feel better?

Can you sense that lighter version of yourself? The one who has let go of the stress and guilt?

Dressing for yourself, and how you deserve to feel is not frivolous or shallow - it is a form of self-care.

If you’re fed up of waiting to feel good in your clothes - you’re not alone. My Style Reset Call is the perfect place to start, it’s a gentle, no-pressure way to get clarity.

We’ll talk about what’s changed, what’s working, and where to go next - so you can stop waiting and start dressing with confidence again!