Who could forget when Princess Kate made her first post-baby appearance outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London, looking radiant in a blue and white polka-dot dress that paid homage to husband William’s late mother, Princess Diana? We should all look that put together in the moments after a child is born!
It’s no secret Kate had help from her glam squad, but with a little planning and an arsenal of tricks, you can look and feel just as great as Kate for your first family portrait at the hospital.And that’s what’s important: That you feel great. This advice we culled is less about vanity and more about you being you. “After giving birth, you can feel not normal, so things that can make you feel confident and a little chic make a huge difference,” says Shelley Suh, founder of the stylish maternity- and nursing-wear line Loyal Hana, and a mom of two. Ready to get ready for your close-up?
RELATED: Kate Middleton Stuns In Her Last Appearance Pre-Baby
What to Pack
Sure, you already checked everything off that list, but there are a few items worth adding to your overnight bag. To start, clothing that you feel comfortable and confident in. “I brought a pair of pretty pj’s and I got my own robe, which had openings with snaps for easy breastfeeding,” says Suh. You’ll also want to pack a few products that will help you feel clean (because you might not see a shower for at least 48 hours). “Facial and body wipes like Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes ($6; ulta.com) and Ban Total Refresh Cooling Cleansing Cloths ($4; drugstore.com) are a quick and easy way to feel human again,” says Kristin Booker, beauty and style expert and editor at Fashion.Style.Beauty. “Facial mists are also like a slice of heaven after feeling sweaty.” (She recommends Jurlique’s Rosewater Balancing Mist. $24; jurlique.com)
Something you can leave at home? The full makeup bag. “There’s no way you’ll really feel like putting on a full face of makeup,” says Booker. Instead, she recommends dropping a few multitaskers in your suitcase. “Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 ($39; sephora.com) gives you an instantly even, glowing complexion,” she says. “Use Nars The Multiple in Orgasm ($39; narscosmetics.com), a multitasking cream-to-powder stick that you can use on eyes, cheeks and lips for a beautiful flush of color for all skin tones.”
PHOTOS: The Best Foundations for Every Skin Tone
What If I Forget Something?!
It’s likely that your trip to the hospital will be a bit harried, so chances are, you’re going to leave something behind. Suh told us how she forgot her go-home outfit! (A family member helped remedy that.) But when in a beauty pinch, you can, well, pinch. “Pinching your cheeks can help them look rosy, and gently rubbing your toothbrush over your lips can help exfoliate and give them a slightly darker and plumped appearance,” says Booker. Toilet seat covers can absorb extra oil, and you can ask a nurse for some baby powder to sprinkle in your hair in place of dry shampoo, she adds.
And even if you forget everything, just remember this: “There is nothing more gorgeous and powerful than a woman who has just brought life into the world,” says Booker. “Any photo that captures those miraculous first moments with your new child will be amazing.”
PHOTOS: Kate Middleton’s Best Maternity Outfits