The Guide to Building a Cheap and Chic Maternity Wardrobe

So I can’t promise that you’re going to daintily sneeze and pop out the baby, nor can I promise that you’ll have the perfect retort every time someone remarks on your body and how you’re carrying.

Sure, it would be great if there was a preciseness to it and we could know exactly every change before hand, but we can’t. What we do know is that our belly is going to grow and that we’re going to love that child.

Just know your belly’s not going to be that big forever.

I’ve not made it a secret that I was thrilled to have a baby belly and loved every minute of walking around with it even on the days when it felt like it weight 45 pounds all by itself.

Since there’s so much physical change going on and you’ve got that interesting cocktail of hormones swirling around, you want to be as prepared as possible with the outfits you’re going to be wearing while that belly grows and grows.

So I CAN promise that these tips will help you smoothly transition into and out of your maternity wardrobe…

(Going into this pregnancy, by the way, I also gave away the biggest amount of clothes I’ve ever given in my life. I did that to sew a seed so that I would never be frustrated dressing my baby bump. I’m here to say, it worked!)

GAP Shirts and Statement Necklaces

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I am freshly into my 3rd trimester in this picture and wearing one of only 4 shirts that I bought that were actual “maternity” shirts.

I picked up this white shirt, a gray one and a coral one from GAP in order to have basic tees that I could dress up or down. In this pic I’m wearing a simple long striped tank underneath to jazz up the basic white. You can read about that ensemble here.

I paid less than $10 for all three and squeezed every last penny out of them. I wore them with all kinds of necklaces, different pants, under jackets, under sweaters, with skirts…you name it. These went so very far. And because I picked up two of them in neutral colors (gray and white) and a third one in a nice summer color (coral) the options were endless.

Jackets, statement necklaces and sweaters are all things you can keep buying at your original size and rock all throughout the pregnancy and beyond. Since I was biggest in the summer I stocked up mostly on statement necklaces, but when I was believing God for this baby, I stepped up my blazer game and was able to disguise the bump a little with them in the spring when it was still cool outside.

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 Elastic Waist Lines

The only maternity pants I bought were my jeans because being a freak about jeans an avid jean wearer, I knew that I would need at least two pairs to get me through and that’s just what I bought.

However, for business and church I knew I would need more than that, so I stocked up on pants with elastic waist bands. Pictured above are my elastic waist band patterned pants. These came in handy because they added visual interest to my outfit and allowed me more use out of those GAP maternity tops.

Pictured below is a great pair of black pants I got at GAP (from the non-maternity section). They’ve been great for business or dressier events. And because they’re so voluminous I can pair them with a tight fitting maternity top and it all works together. This striped top is the fourth of four tops I bought that are maternity. I picked this up at Motherhood on sale for $20.

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Dresses – Stretch, Midi, Maxi

So I realize not everyone will have the weather to wear a maxi dress when the bump is at its biggest, but while you can, buy them and wear them because they’re something that will work later on so you don’t have to buy them from the maternity section. I got several from Ross (like this one pictured) that were $12. And really you can throw a regular jacket over them and wear them a little into fall if you’d like.

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If you are going to buy a maternity dress, get one that you can do a lot with. Pictured below is the only maternity dress I bought (this one’s from Target) and I have worn the HECK out of it. Plus when I’m pregnant again, this pattern is a classic so I won’t mind pulling it back out.

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Midi length is so popular right now and is a great option for preggo’s because the bump makes the dress shorter, and with a dress at a midi length that’s not a problem.

When I found one I liked I bought others in the same shape but in a different pattern and wore them all different ways. I got these at H&M and have worn them every which way – most of which included a belt so I carved out that waistline and looked less like a big prego blob.

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Kimonos and Long Tees

It’s great that kimono’s are on trend right now because they’re going to help you jazz up a simple outfit. They helped me get miles more out of simple dresses and tops and also helped to streamline my shape which made me look less big and pregnant (I’ve got one on from Target with the striped dress above and a leopard one from TJMaxx in the picture directly above this).

However, they are seasonally appropriate for summer and that’s about it. So if your bump is growing well into the fall, add lots of open waterfall sweaters to your wardrobe as these will produce the same affect and allow you to spend more on something you’ll get use out of later on when you’re not pregnant.

Long t-shirts in bigger sizes helped me out greatly when it came to dressing down. In fact, honestly if I was going to panic about anything it would have been about what I was going to wear casually, but I found several great shirts from TJMaxx, Ross and Forever21 for less than $20 that weren’t maternity and fit over my bump. Then for just around the house or running errands, I went to AC Moore and picked up several $4 plain Gildan tees to wear with workout pants and sweats.

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All of these tips will help you feel more beautiful and less frustrated when you get dressed with your baby bump. Plus they’ll fill your closet with pieces you’ll be able to wear long after that little one comes out into the world!

Working on a little baby bump? See what I wore for that here!

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Pack Like a Pro

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t-shirt // patterned top // black dress //  white blazer // jean jacket // floral pumps // black flats // nike’s // dark skinnies // boyfriend jeans // patterned pants // pink piko top // blue top

Four and a half years ago I started a job that required some travel. In those 4 1/2 years I’ve been schooled on how to pack well.

Last week when packing for a business trip to Indianapolis, I thought it might be a challenge since I’m still learning how to dress with a baby bump. But by making and following these tried and true rules, everything I packed was precisely what I needed…

1. Check the freakin’ weather.

I am amazed by the number of people I go on trips with who don’t check the weather of the city they’re traveling to. You can’t assume they’re having the same weather you are, and it really makes a difference in your comfort level while there. I checked and saw that Indianapolis was going to be waaaay cooler than it was here, so I was sure to pack jackets and a sweater for night time activities. And boy did it pay off – between the cooler temps and the craaaazy wind it was freezing. Check the freakin’ weather.

2. Go through your itinerary to know what you’ll need.

On most trips (even vacation-centered one’s) you have an idea of what you’ll be doing. Business trips especially are pretty planned out. So go through each event and decide what it is you’ll need to wear. If you’re not sure what the level of dress will be, shoot for somewhere in the middle of dressy and casual. This means packing items like blazers and dark jeans. That combination goes well in almost any situation. Something that also goes well is a little black dress. Pack your most versatile LBD (like the one pictured) so that you can wear it with pumps at night, then change to flats and a jean jacket for some sight seeing.

3. Pack items that will pull double duty.

For my trip to Indianapolis I had to dress for a nice reception and meetings during the day. For this I packed one pair of heels (I wear a size 10 so my shoes take up a good bit of room). And sure, the safest bet is to go with your black pumps, but I decided to go with a little more flair and packed my patterned pumps. They really jazzed up my striped dress in the evening and added great personality to my black and white pants (like the ones pictured) for meetings during the day (plus they’re some of my most comfortable heels). All of the other shoes I packed were both nice looking and comfortable so I could easily switch them around to different outfits (and comfortably meander downtown).

4. Remember to pack for down time.

One thing I’ve been working on for the past couple of trips is packing for down time. Simple, casual outfits you can wear after hours that are comfortable and appropriate for public viewing really come in handy and are sometimes easily forgotten. A t-shirt like the one pictured (which ironically says, “Nothing to Wear”) is a great way to go. So is the snakeskin patterned shirt that can also pull double duty under the white blazer.

5. Stick with simple colors or patterns for easy mixing.

Notice the only animal print I have up there is in the black and white blouse from Express. Every other pattern is something different. This makes it so that everything can be easily mixed and matched. At a quick glance, I counted 11 outfits that could be made out of the items above. Keep this in mind when packing, and be sure to lay everything out on your bed before packing it. This will allow you to see the big picture and be certain that you can pull multiple outfits together.

Also, try everything on before you pack it away. I know this adds to your to-do list, but it’s better to know that everything fits and looks well while you can still change it instead of in the hotel room when you’re stuck with what you’ve brought.

I hope this helps you with all your spring/summer trips. Conveniently, everything pictured (except the Nike’s) can be found at West Town Mall!

If you need more packing advice, I’ve given plenty. Click here, here, here, here or here (oh and here).


Shopping My Closet

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Get More Money Out of Your Sequins

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Let’s save ourselves some money this New Year’s Eve and recycle some of that Christmas attire!

So this sparkly dress is from Ross. I bought it for less than $20. But it’s sleeveless, so I don’t want to always wear it by itself. I also like sparkly skirts. So by adding a few layers on top – I’ve re purposed it into just that!

I started with a tight black tank because the dress has a cowl neck and that volume needs to be hidden. Then I added a black collared shirt. I liked doing this just because it gave the neckline a little more interest and it helps hide the bumpiness on top.

Finally, I layered on a simple gray long sleeve top. I like the gray because it’s different and I feel like it adds more depth to the outfit rather than just doing more black.

There was one time when I stuffed the bottom half of this dress down into a skirt and just let the top part show. But that was just a one time thing and I think using it as a skirt is way better.

Think about re-purposing something you own this New Year’s Eve!

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Packing for a Summer Getaway

Don’t let the text in this picture fool you. If you’re packing for any getaway, these pieces (which are now probably all on sale) will build the perfect vacay wardrobe…

what to pack

Whether you’re packing up for a quick jaunt to the beach, or scooting your lawn chair into the sun on your back patio, this week is a great time to shop for some fresh pieces. Good thing West Town Mall has such a great selection!

American Eagle bathing suit: The stripe placement on the bottoms will help your hips look narrow (yay!)

Gap shirt dress: Pick one up to wear over tights, with wedges, or let it pull double duty and wear it as a bathing suit coverup.

Garage t-shirt: Takes up very little room in your suitcase, and really comes in handy.

Forever21 beaded necklace, maxi dress and hat: I love love the coral color of this necklace. I can think of at least 5 ways to wear that dress (it’s less than $15), and that hat would really come in handy on days you don’t want to do your hair (so…everyday).

Dillard’s wedges and infinity scarf: These Lucky Brand wedges are by far THE MOST COMFORTABLE wedges I have ever put on my feet. Don’t go one step this spring without trying a pair. Seriously. And what’s better for cool nights then a light scarf with this adorable print? (“Nothing” is the correct answer).

The Limited “Love” necklace: Having a great long necklace is a great way to pack another accessory without taking up more room.

Bath and Body Works lip balm: Essential only if you plan on using your lips while on vacation.

J. Crew shorts: Cool, in every sense of the word.

Charlotte Russe cross body bag: I love this for the pattern, but also because you can tuck the chain in at night and use it as a clutch.

Sunglass Hut Tory Burch shades: Yes. Please.

Express sandals: Looks like comfort and versatility finally met and formed an adorable friendship in the form of this sandal.

Aeropostale sweater: If you don’t pack a light sweater, you’re going to think back to this blog and think how right I was to suggest it and how you really should have listened.

If you plan on getting all gussied up on vacation, pack this uh-mazing dress.

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Fun With Pants

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Cute, comfortable and cheap are three words that don’t often exist in the same sentence.

But they’re all chilling together when it comes to describing these $7 pants I picked up from the Target clearance rack. Which is lesson one in this blog: always take time to skim the clearance rack because you never know what gems are waiting (just be sure you try it on before leaving the store, especially if the return policy is tricky with things on super sale).

I love these tuxedo pants because they’ve got that awesome stripe down the side, giving them an edge over just boring black pants (which I admittedly own too many of).

I secretly love these because they’re really really comfortable. They’re soft and flexible and have an elastic waste band making them perfect to sit in all day long. Which in turn makes them perfect pants for the office.

This whole outfit – the blazer with the t-shirt and fun pants – it’s what I would want to wear on a magazine cover because it perfectly embodies my style. Easy going, cool, playful. This could be my uniform, people.

What would your uniform be? If you’re trying to discover your style – the language you want to speak to the world – think about the one piece (or pieces) that you would wear on a magazine cover. Or what you’d wear to meet an old friend that hasn’t seen you (or your Facebook) in years. What would you wear to represent you?

Think about it, then build pieces around that one you love. From there you can grow an entire closet! But while you’re searching for all of that, shop the Target clearance rack and keep an eye out for easy cotton pants like these. They’re so comfortable!

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