6 Flattering Holiday Looks for Your New Mom-Body (Models Are Real Moms!)

It’s the time for Christmas parties and class reunions, weddings and get-togethers, a time that most everyone looks forward to. If you’re a new mom, these gatherings are even more special because it gives you an excuse to go out (we need it badly) and share with your loved ones your new experiences — that’s IF you can find something decent to wear in your closet.

No, don't dismiss it as a minor concern — "Not having anything to wear" is most true among women who have just given birth. You want to dress up so you can go back to feeling good about yourself, but end up feeling down over the fact that nothing fits anymore.

Don’t fret! With the help of fashion stylist John Karunungan of Styledit Group (the experts behind the looks of movie and TV personalities Heart Evangelista, Iza Calzado and Angel Locsin), and hair and makeup artist Anne Castaño, SmartParenting.com.ph played fairy godmother to these three moms from our Smart Parenting Village Facebook group to help them find the best holiday looks for their new, magnificent physique.

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Corina Soliven Avena, 30 
Mom to an 8-month-old baby boy

Corina was a financial solutions specialist at a leading insurance firm before she got pregnant. Since she gave birth to her firstborn in March 2018, she’s been staying home to exclusively breastfeed her child while managing an online business. 

She says her problem area is her hips

Corina admits to feeling depressed before her baby turned two months, partly because of how different her body looked. “Nung dalaga ako, ma-hips ako and medyo big talaga yung thighs ko, pero sexy tingnan. Size small and X-small ako sa tops, and sa bottoms small or medium ako. Yung waist ko, dati nasa 25 or 26.”

She has lost a few inches around her waist “pero yung hips ko naiwan,” she says. When she attends special occasions, she says she opts for maxi dresses or black pants “para maitago yung dapat itago. Last week nag-attend kami ng wedding, and I wore the dress na ginamit ko nung 7 months pregnant ako. Nag- attempt ako tumingin ng mga dress na pang-formal occasions, pero ang hirap.”

John's tip: "Wearing darker colors helps camouflage the parts you want to hide."

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Kristine Anne Samala, 32
Mom to three kids aged 6 years old, 3 years old, and 4 months old

Kristine is a nurse by profession but gave up her practice when she gave birth to her first child. Besides having her hands full with three kids, she also does events styling for birthday parties on her free time.

Kristine says she feels bloated and it shows in her tummy

Having a naturally lean physique, Kristine has always managed to lose her postpartum weight in her first two pregnancies. However, now that she is breastfeeding her baby, she needs to constantly eat for nourishment. It is this habit, she says, which makes her look bloated. Her go-to getup? Leggings and a loose blouse.

“Wala akong mahanap na damit na isusuot. Last week, meron kaming in-attend-an na event. Dun sa suot kong dress, hindi ako makatayo kasi baka sabihin, maganda naman kaso ang laki ng tyan.” She also says she has tried ordering clothes online for an event they will be attending in January, “kaso hindi maisara yung zipper sa likod. So baka mag-girdle na lang ako. First time ko bumili online, hindi na ako uulit."

John's tip: "To fake a flatter tummy, try wearing vertical prints and clothes with ruched details."

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Laidee Camille Acacia Reyes, 31
Mom to a one-year-old boy

Camille is a nurse and a taekwondo black belter. When she married her husband who is a doctor of internal medicine, she left the city where she grew up in and became a housewife in her husband's hometown in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Camille dreams of raising her son in a provincial, traditional way. 

Camille shares she has gone from size L to 3XL

Camille says she has moments when she wishes she had her old body back. “Dati [ang size ko] large, ngayon 3XL. Sinusukat ko yung katawan ko, sabi ko, bakit ganito na? Ang laki ko, wala nang magkasya. I don't look good. Ang taba ko sa picture, kaya ayoko nang mag-selfie.” She also says she has avoided going out as a result. “Hindi na ko umaalis kasi wala na akong maisuot. Paulit-ulit lang lagi: leggings at T-shirt. I love dressing up pero wala nang magkasya sa akin.”

One thing Camille knows now is that the key to loving one’s body is acceptance. “I realized my body does one amazing thing: I produce milk for my son, nagpapa-breastfeed ako hanggang ngayon. And I I love my curves so much!”

John's tip: "If you're a little on the heavy side, try showing a little skin and flaunt something you're confident about. Covering up your body fully makes you look even chunkier."

* Images of the moms are unretouched.

** All the moms in this feature were chosen from submissions for a callout made through the Smart Parenting Village Facebook group. Join our community here.

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