Home Control Panel News / Articles AdministrationDetails

News / Articles

How to Use Clothing to Foster Connection

Style Savvy
HOW TO USE CLOTHING TO FOSTER CONNECTION

By: Christine Tusher | June 3, 2025

As a new mom, so much of your world changes—your routines, your relationships, your identity. Amidst the joyful chaos of feeding schedules, sleep deprivation, and baby giggles, it’s easy to feel like your personal style has taken a backseat. But what if getting dressed could do more than just get you out the door? What if your clothes could become a tool to foster connection—with your family, your partner, your community, and even yourself?

Clothing is more than fabric—it’s a nonverbal language. And as a new mom navigating your evolving identity, it can be a powerful way to create emotional bonds, communicate values, and even rediscover intimacy. Let’s explore how.

1. Clothing as a Symbol of Shared Identity

Many new moms find deep joy in dressing in tandem with their children. Whether it’s a matching pajama moment on a cozy Sunday morning or coordinating outfits for family photos, wearing similar clothing can be a sweet, subtle way to express unity.
This doesn’t mean wearing identical clothes every day. Instead, think about choosing pieces that echo one another in color, mood, or texture. If your baby is in a buttery-soft knit romper, maybe you wear a similarly cozy knit cardigan. These little echoes can feel grounding during the early postpartum period, reminding you that you're part of something bigger than yourself—a family.

For many families, clothing also helps communicate shared values. A parent who prioritizes sustainability might dress themselves and their child in organic cotton, or support local artisans by wearing handmade pieces. These choices signal what matters to you as a family, quietly reinforcing your identity and allowing others to connect with those values.

Dressing intentionally in this way can also help you feel more like yourself again. It’s easy to feel lost in motherhood—but shared style moments can be a soft way back to your own identity, reframed in the context of your growing family.

2. Clothing as a Keeper of Memories

We all have pieces that hold meaning: a robe you wore every morning during maternity leave, the soft T-shirt from your baby’s first week home, or even the dress you wore when you found out you were pregnant. These garments carry emotional weight because they were with you during transformative moments. They become touchstones.

Clothing can be used intentionally to build and hold memories. One beautiful way to do this is by creating ritual outfits for special occasions—matching holiday sweaters, birthday dresses, or even a "first day of spring" outfit. Over time, these become part of your family story, tied to a shared emotional calendar.

Even small sentimental details matter. Wearing your partner’s sweater on a walk with your baby, slipping on your mother's locket with a nursing blouse, or wrapping yourself in the same scarf each time you rock your baby to sleep—these are gestures of continuity. They connect generations, relationships, and life stages. As a new mom, clothing can become a tactile way to preserve meaning and sentiment in the everyday moments that might otherwise blur together.

Don’t be afraid to keep and repurpose meaningful items either. A well-loved baby blanket can become a scarf for you. A favorite onesie might be sewn into a quilt. These acts of care and creativity deepen the emotional resonance of what we wear and remind us of the tenderness embedded in our clothing choices.

3. Clothing as Nonverbal Communication

When you're too tired to find the right words—or too busy chasing a toddler to send a thoughtful text—your clothing can do the talking.
Getting dressed each day, even simply, sends a message to the world and to yourself: I’m here. I’m showing up. I matter. For new moms especially, this can be a small but radical act of self-care and self-expression.

Clothing can also bridge emotional distance in relationships. For example, wearing something you know your partner loves—a specific color, texture, or piece they’ve complimented—can reignite intimacy in subtle, meaningful ways. When you're in the trenches of early parenting, these small gestures go a long way toward feeling seen and connected.

In community settings—playgroups, preschool drop-offs, pediatrician visits—your clothing can be an unspoken invitation. A soft cardigan and minimal jewelry might signal approachability. A quirky pin or graphic tee might spark conversation. Clothing helps you find your people, without saying a word.

Connection is what new motherhood is all about—connecting to your baby, your new role, your partner, and your community. And while it may seem like just one more thing to think about, clothing can actually make this easier. It can affirm your identity, build emotional memory, and create moments of intimacy and understanding in the most unexpected ways.

So, the next time you’re choosing what to wear—whether it’s a fresh tee or a cozy robe—consider how that garment might carry more than just comfort. It might be a thread tying you to someone else, stitching together a story of love, memory, and belonging.

Christine Tusher is a personal stylist and the founder of Christine Elise Style. She empowers women to rediscover their personal style and infuse their wardrobe with excitement and ease. Christine offers color analysis, closet audits, and personal shopping both remotely and in person to Bay Area clients. You can learn more about her at christineelisestyle.com