Maternity Fashion
Hello there! In case you haven’t noticed, Tuesdays have officially become baby days. Next week I’ll be sharing a recap of how things are going (excited!) but you’ll get a preview of some bump photos this week because I’m talking pregnancy fashion. I don’t consider myself a fashion blogger by any stretch of the imagination but I love clothes and looking good, so occasionally I’ll throw in some fashion here and there, like when I talked about Stitch Fix. I do call myself a fitness and lifestyle blogger after all. So today’s topic is Maternity Fashion! I’ve been using the bump as an excuse to buy a whole new wardrobe. Ok, in reality, I can hardly fit into any of my clothes so no excuse needed. Here’s the rundown on what’s been working for me and some tips on how to save $$ (see the bolded words).
Invest in Some Good Pants
This is a big one for maternity fashion! My pants were the first thing to go. Waist bands started getting too tight and one day I felt like my skinny jeans were cutting off my circulation so I started looking for pants almost right away. I 100% believe that investing in a few good pairs is so much better than getting a bunch of crappy pairs. For instance, these shorts on got on A Pea in the Pod were a little on the pricey side but after trying on about 4 pairs of shorts from Old Navy and nearly having a “mom-jean” meltdown, I decided it was worth the extra cash to get them because I am going to be wearing them all.summer.long. They have a belly band that goes up to your ribs for comfort.
The great thing about A Pea in the Pod is that they often have sales, which is how I got a second pair of black jean shorts in the same style for about half price. So sign up for those annoying emails and stay on the lookout. Plus, they sent me a discount coupon in the mail after I signed up!
My favorite pair of pants I’ve bought so far are these jeans from J Brand. I wore J Brand skinny jeans pre-pregnancy and absolutely love them. The maternity jeans have a stretchy waist band and I honestly think they look pretty awesome. Plus they are made of softer denim, which is perfect for my itchy skin. I love these jeans so much I’m thinking of wearing them post-pregnancy and I don’t just mean that until-I-get-my-body-back phase. What could be better than stretchy jeans when you have a big meal? These are pricey but I got them for an awesome discount on Gilt. Gilt constantly has maternity stuff on sale so be on the lookout for that!
Old Navy wasn’t a total fail for maternity fashion. I did find these white shorts there and they are perfect for a lightweight, airy look this summer. I think they were like $20? Great deal!
Another great place for cheaper pants is Motherhood Maternity. Their prices are very reasonable and they have a lot of sales. My favorite brand they carry is Jessica Simpson Maternity. Her clothes are pretty awesome! I got these skinny jeans and a pair of white jeans, both of which have gotten a ton of use!
Dresses are Your Friend
Dresses are not only perfect for summer but flowy styles can help hide the bump until you are ready to tell people. I was lucky enough to win a gift card to Pink Blush Maternity on Holly’s blog and I was stoked to find that not only do they have super cute dresses but their prices are so good! I ended up getting two items because they were both on sale.
The dress and the skirt are made from the same fabric and they are so super soft and comfortable. Love at first try on.
One of my favorite favorite clothing stores for maternity wear is Rosie Pope. Have you ever seen the Bravo TV Show Pregnant in Heels? Yep, that’s her! Her shop in NYC is die to for and it is actually very close to my apartment. Unfortunately her clothes are a little on the pricey side but I managed to get a bunch of things at a huge discount from Gilt, like this dress.
She also has sales periodically. This particular dress was a little on the pricey end (over $100) but it is so soft and can really be worn maternity or not. I am thinking of wearing it to my baby shower. Love, love, love.
She also has some great dresses for special occasions so if you need to head to a wedding or other fancy engagement, check her out.
Another favorite of mine is Seraphine. This place is not cheap either but their dresses are so flattering and are perfect for maternity, non-maternity and even nursing.
I saw that Kate Middleton wore this dress for her first official photos with baby George and I had to have it. I wear it at least once a week to work.
So then I thought it would be a great idea to get a ¾ sleeve version. They both offer a ton of room depending on the size of the bump. They are very soft and are perfect for work.
This dress also acts as a nursing dress and it is just so comfortable. I love Seraphine’s stuff so my trick is to sign up for their emails and buy one or two things to see if I can then get a discount on my next purchase.
Shirts- Take ’em or Leave ’em
This is one place to really save money in my opinion. A lot of my tops still fit me if they are stretchy or flowy so I only picked up a few things to supplement what I already had including this white t-shirt from Old Navy, which was $10 and I wear all the time.
I got a white tank top from Old Navy and two t-shirts (one blue and one black) because they were all about $10 and so versatile.
All of my Old Navy shirts are from their maternity fashion line but I’ve found you don’t even need to shop maternity to get some great quality stuff. I got these Splendid t-shirts on sale from ShopBop. They are just regular, loose-fitting t-shirts and they are so perfect for the bump. They are so soft and comfortable. I basically lived in these shirts my first trimester when my skin was so so itchy.
Readers, what is your go-to store for fashion (maternity fashion or otherwise)? Do you mainly shop online or in-stores? How do you save money on clothes?