While I was browsing Target the other day, I was reminded why I don't bother with actual maternity clothes. I'm no fashion blogger, but I know when something isn't cute.
Case in point:
Drapey ugliness.
There's nothing more unflattering to a pregnant woman's body than something that makes her look even bigger than she is/feels.
Throughout my two pregnancies, I have learned that less is truly more.
Body hugging=body slimming.
When I was first pregnant with B I went out and bought all of the obligatory (and expensive) maternity clothes that I thought I needed. For the most part they ended up being frumpy, unflattering and uncomfortable...not to mention severly lacking any style whatsoever.
The only piece of maternity clothing that may be necessary depending on your job and time of year you are pregnant are some maternity jeans. I've never found any that are that stylish, so I decided to skip the pants all together this time around
(besides the pair I already own)
and stick to leggings and tights for keeping my legs warm.
So far so good.
These are the things I think about when I'm buying clothes for an expanding belly:
-all must be made of mostly cotton
(preferably with some spandex/lycra to make it stretchy and to hold it's shape).
-3 things I consider:
breathable? Crazy hormones means you never know if you'll be hot or cold.
machine washable? A limited wardrobe means that stuff gets washed a lot, not just because there is less to choose from but because food gets on your giant belly all the time.
comfort? The most important factor when you're already uncomfortable.
Cotton it is.
These are the items I am currently living in:
(I have multiple colors in each of these things so I don't feel so limited in my choices...
mixing and matching and layering is where it's at when you are with child.)
super long cotton tanks:
cotton dresses that can play the roll of shirts once you are bigger:
cardigans:
(since closing a jacket over a giant belly isn't an option
unless you want to spend a fortune on a maternity coat)
simple tees :
leggings:
(these are my absolute fave. Expensive, but worth every penny since I wear leggings every day.)
These are a great, and more affordable alternative...
tights:
flat shoes that you can slip on:
(once you get a belly it's next to impossible to tie your shoes, if you can even fit into them)
(these ones are great because I can always loosen the ties if my feet happen to swell towards the end.)
Since you guys have seen my wardrobe this time around, I thought I would post some pictures of my essentials when I was pregnant with B since it was the complete opposite time of year.
It was pretty much the same clothing-wise, just with much less of it since it was the hottest summer ever.
cotton shirt and skirt:
tunic top:
(Good to know: American Apparel has great stuff for pregnancy!)
( I'm actually wearing this shirt in my latest belly photo here.)
I lived in
this versatile dress last time, doing the straps differently allowed me to feel like I had some variation in my wardrobe even when I didn't:
and once again, cotton tank tops:
(this picture was taken when I was 8 days overdue, 1 day before Bennett's birthday!)
Another great thing about buying non-maternity clothing is that you can still wear all of the items afterwards...even for subsequent pregnancies!
(especially if you stick to cotton basics while you are pregnant)
Say "no" to frumpiness ladies!
I don't know how she did it, but I don't look awkward for once!
Also, if you want to get into the holiday spirit, check out Emily Henderson's
(Design Star winner and host of the super rad Secrets from a Stylist) ginormus
holiday gift guide.
I have only made it halfway through, but it's amazing and awesome and huge.
I'm getting last minute things ready for
Lauren's shower this weekend and Chris and I have a super fun date night at
OMSI planned tonight!
Happy Friday!
So I guess you guys wanted to see more of us in our
80's attire.
Unfortunately, I didn't even think to take a shot of my whole outfit.
(I'm not a fashion blogger. Cut me some slack!)
This is the best picture I have of us and (most of) our outfits.
There you have it.
Happy Weekend Friends!
Kind of a random post
but fun nonetheless.
Last time I was at Trader Joe's I picked up this:
it's pretty much amazing.
(only to be made better by keeping it in the fridge so when you take a bite, the chocolate crunches!)
We are going to the beach this weekend, so we decided Bennett
needed some flops. We found some baby Havianas at
Zappos, but weren't sure what size to order so we ordered two sizes, knowing that they have free shipping both ways (yay!).
We ordered one pair on Saturday and one pair on Sunday. On Monday I got an email saying both orders were upgraded to next-day air(I think they might do this with every order though)!
The flops arrived Tuesday afternoon and the return of the pair that didn't fit couldn't have been easier.
Can I just say how awesome Zappos is and I will totally be buying more shoes from them!
His feet are pretty wide (and fat) but thanks to the strap in the back they stay on pretty well.
He likes to take them off (and acts like it was an accident) so we still need to practice walking around in them.
Also,
Lauren posted her pretty picture from
Elle's Global Street Style yesterday.
I have one too!
(I'm #703 in the Portland section)
I wasn't planning on posting it. I'm not sure why but I always feel really awkward when I get my picture taken, but I just wanted to post it to prove how amazing
Lisa Warninger is. I'm awkward and certainly not the most stylish person I know BY FAR (I don't own anything vintage. gasp!)
I'm just dorky me and Lisa made me look non-awkward!
Yay!
Oh and last night we went to our friend's baby gender reveal party.
It was super cute.
Apparently all the cool kids are throwing them these days.
We found out at the same time they did, by biting into cupcakes to see if our filling was pink or blue.
It was BLUE!
Congrats Marvins!
:)
I'm off to start packing for the beach...
Happy Weekend!
I don't really have a huge need for a bathing suit these days, however the suit I've worn for the last few years doesn't fit anymore and B will be starting
swim lessons again next month(I get in the pool with him). I have been on the search for a modest, but still cute bathing suit without spending a buttload.
Kind of difficult.
Sidenote:
I know the go-to shop for teenage girls is Forever 21, so it's pretty sad when
this is the closet thing they have to a one-piece and things like
this are sold out.
If I ever have girls, they will know that modest is hottest!
Here are some cute suits I found on my search:
via
I actually got the last one and love it so much! I ordered it from
here because it was so much cheaper than Modcloth had it for. It's the same cute suit (if you can excuse the cheesy website and bad product photos!) if you decide to order it, get the next size up and it will be perfect!
Remember these earrings that I mentioned a few times on my wishlists a while back?
Well, my awesome husband knew I couldn't stop thinking about them and surprised me with them back in January and I haven't taken them off since!
Best. Earrings. Ever.
I pretty much love everything from Upper Metal Class.
If you love their stuff as much as I do, right now is a perfect time to buy...
A portion of every purchase from now until March 31st will be donated to the American Red Cross for
the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. How awesome is that?!
They also just added a few super cute "I love Japan" bracelets from which
100% of the procedes will be donated directly to the Animal Refuge Kansai:Tohoku-Pacific Quake Animals (read more
here).
What a perfect gift for an animal lover!
I love how delicate everything is even though it's made from metal.
I can't handle the loveliness!
Visit their Etsy shop
here.
( I kind of love the star necklace and I want another pair of earrings,
so I definitely will be placing an order before the 31st!)
I hadn't either until I saw their lovely dresses on
Bliss last week. Lee is an Australian designer who's dresses are exactly what I always want to find but never can...simple designs, quality construction and fabrics. The
dresses certainly aren't cheap ($200-$500) though they are currently trying to get rid of their summer stock
(it's currently the end of Australia's summer) so most of them are under $100 until they are gone!
These are the ones I am loving...
audrey dress:
becky slip:
katie dress:
isabel dress:
mia shirtdress:
peta tunic:
stella dress:
I seriously want each and everyone of them...I can't think of a more perfect summer wardrobe.
So light and airy!
