maternity style: finding inspiration…is it out there?
now that i’m with bebe and the belly is ever-growing, i’ve been doing a lot of thinking about maternity fashion (or the lack there-of) and how i am personally going to navigate this (rather short but ever-changing and expanding!) period of my life and state of my body with my personal aesthetic, individuality and identity intact.
is such a thing possible? do i have to suffer through this time wearing hideous chintz muu-muus with gigantor bows or minging maternity trousers…or can i somehow make it work?
where can i even find inspiration for maternity style? is there any decent maternity wear even out there?? and, most importantly to me, is any of what that inspiration inspires accessible, attainable, and reasonably affordable?
so, i decided to go on a mission: quite recently, i began googling my fingers to the bone, and forced myself to wrack my pregnancy-addled mind. i started on a quest to look for and find about for maternity motivation via the rocking personal style of others who’ve been down a similar road, and have devoted myself to rooting out that which is awesome, sexy and cool to wear and to make, while simultaneously creating this little human.
over the next couple of posts (including this one), i’ll be exploring maternity style, with focus on finding inspiration, making maternity duds oneself, and seeing what’s available to-go out there (maternity-wise and otherwise) how it can all work together with some semblance of style. the aim? to ensure that i (and maybe you?) can remain lookin’ good/and be myself (ourselves?) even after getting knocked up.
(before i get started, this has to be said, lest someone pipe up and inundate me with links to the rich and/or famous: celebrities are NOT inspirational to me , while with child, or not. why? much of what they wear is out of the reach of the wallets of me and most, and most of the time their bodies (with child or not) are just as unattainable. let’s face it, most of us don’t have the body of nicole richie or most of her ilk, pregnancy or no. so what she and her super-famous sisterhood wears while in waiting is mostly irrelevant to me. beyond these few sentences, i refuse to even give the famous any more attention than they deserve. i find real women and what they can and do wear while their belly expands and contracts far more interesting.)
the first place that came to my mind as far as maternity style/mama style inspiration is that always amazing maverick of the street fashion website world, hel-looks, my favorite street fashion site, EVER EVER, and the fact that they feature folks like this, in all stages and ages of life, makes me love them even more.
to my knowledge, hel-looks is one of the only street fashion websites to occasionally feature stylish pregnant women, or women/couples with their young children. there are only a few in the hel-looks archives, but seeing just these few makes me yearn to see more!
the first photo is a recent addition to that site, and the later two are a bit older, of the same family, approximately one year apart. clearly, style IS the domain of parents, if they would like it to be.
seeing these few photos begs the question: where are all the stylish pregnant women and new moms/families on other street fashion sites? beyond hel-looks, do they exist? or are they considered invisibles and untouchables, left to the wayside for the young, svelte and childless (much like the stylish though disabled vasiliisa mentioned a while back)?
i have also seen a few of pregnant ladies post their photos to wardrobe_remix now and again, and for that i am very proud. but, again, i wish there were more!
generally though, i had a hard time finding much of anything else as far as maternity inspiration goes via google. tis a pity.
you know what though? feel free to correct me on the lack of maternity street style inspiration supposition; i’d absolutely LOVE to hear about more/other street fashion sites that feature stylish pregnant women, new mommas, or families. perhaps i wasn’t looking in the right places…your eagle eyes may have spotted something i hadn’t.
but the important point is this: i think seeing other real women going through the same thing and remaining themselves and stylish is really important, and could be really powerful. at least, it would be for me. for the third time, GIMMIE more!
i’ve also been thinking…do many women just plain drop out of the style stakes whilst pregnant? do they give up on it all, instead focusing on the baby instead (of course, a very worthy cause!), or do they sometimes give up because, despite the alleged claims of more offerings in maternity fashion of late, they just can’t find pieces and clothing that suits both their personal style, budget *and* their current form? do they give up out of frustration? really, can anyone blame them? i certainly can’t.
i can’t help but think the latter bit plays a large part…the whole maternity fashion world, from what i’ve been able to glean, is one of extremes: okay, so maybe there’s more stuff out there, but a lot of it remains expensive, especially for temporary wear. who can afford a closet full of that stuff? and sadly, the affordable options are limited in both quality and style. so, what to do?
while it’s okay for others, i just don’t want to sit back and just give in. who i am, how i put myself together, mother or otherwise, means a lot to me, and always has. i want to find a way to make maternity style work for me. and it is just that, how i hope to make it work, that’ll explore from here on out.
for those of you who’ve been (or are) pregnant, and survived with your personality and personal style intact, enlighten me, and the rest of us!
how did you manage? care to give the rest of us tips on how YOU made it work? where were your go-to spots for maternity fashion (actual maternity shops, or other sources you depended on)? chime in!
to kick this whole thing off, some antenatal style linkage:
-i’m obviously not alone with this desire to want to remain me whilst becoming a mama: ‘i still want to be me’ (from the guardian).
-the pregnancy survival kit: maternity fashion victim: does having a baby mean you have to look like one? (from salon). love these two parts of the article, by writer christine pakkala:
“I left the store humbled and empty-handed. I had just learned The Secret Commandment of Pregnancy: Thou Shalt Not Look Sexy, Funky, Hip or Cool. After all, some designer figured, you’re pregnant. You’re big, bloated and bizarre. How can you be sexy?”
True, pregnancy and motherhood change us utterly, but it doesn’t necessarily take away our personal sense of style, our sense of what makes us beautiful or our desire to be desirable.
-a NEW flickr group focusing on maternity style: pregnancy style (formed by flickr user/wardrobe_remix member juicifer…go join!)
February 5 2008 | Posted in fashion musing, street fashion, this inspires me!, wardrobe_remix
February 5 2008 at 11:36 am
fabulousfrockChamberlin’s seems to be a hot spot for the hip and fertile: I see a lot of pregnant women who look cute. (if not as fab as you usually look…) they seem to just go really really basic and add cute jewelry, shoes and bags.
February 5 2008 at 11:51 am
AnnikaI mostly dressed badly when I was pregnant. Not by choice, but because the options were so limited (especially at my budget) and I was not yet sewing. I found a few good tops on sale at Babystyle (they have a basic long-sleeve tee that is really nice and comes in good colors, or at least did two years ago) and a couple of decent things at Gap and Old Navy. (Found the tee - it was this with a scoop neck. I love that grenadine color! It looks like the different “essential” tees have different color choices. I got mine on sale, 2 for under $20.) For me, accessorizing was key! I was given a pink pashmina when I was about four months along and it made me feel beautiful every time I wore it (even with sweats toward the end!). I also bought a gorgeous vintage swing coat that covered my belly and had a real mink collar, which made me feel pretty snazzy. So while my wardrobe was pretty uninspired, I found a few pieces that I loved. Next time, though, I am determined to dress better.
February 5 2008 at 12:07 pm
Carolinepreggers fashion is a bit on the depressing side, i’ve assessed at all of 13.5 wks. i’ve found some nice local boutiques in philly, and the owner of one was kind enough to warn me as I started perusing that maternity clothes have no hanger appeal. while I haven’t found any pregnancy clothes that are super hip, I’ve found some that fun and tolerable, altough none inexpensive. one sad note - i don’t think i’ve warning leggings since the early 90s, but they are quickly becoming a staple of my maternity wardrobe.
February 5 2008 at 12:50 pm
stacysewsBeing 30 weeks myself, I have refused to not be stylish this pregnancy! I’ve found a few outfits in local stores, but have resorted to making some of the garments myself. I tend to lean toward the ’show off that belly’ look (i.e. form fitting clothing) and trendy prints.
February 5 2008 at 1:21 pm
RoseI’m glad to see you addressing this topic! I’m 17 weeks into my second pregnancy. I didn’t do anything too exciting the first time around, but I was at my most bulgy in the winter that time, so low-rise pants and big sweaters pretty much did the trick. This time, like you, I’ll be big in the summer, so I’m not sure what I’ll do!
This woman looks very pretty, I think:
http://nymag.com/fashion/lookbook/30311/
February 5 2008 at 1:29 pm
Nancyyay tricia! you are providing something I wish I’d had for the last 8 months– inspiration to stay stylish while pregnant. I’ve done my best but I know I’d have done better with your encouragement. Some things that have helped me (I don’t normally buy from “disposable clothes” stores, but they have been my friends these past few months when I was too tired to spend hours sewing maternity clothes that might not fit in a week):
*Forever 21– seriously, tons of cute, empire waist, stretchy jersey items at rock bottom prices.
*Old Navy–their maternity pants are inexpensive, and come in surprisingly modern shapes and styles (I love my grey stovepipe “real waist” maternity pants from there). I felt better in their maternity jeans than in the crazy expensive designer ones from the fancy maternity store. The only maternity-specific clothing I’ve purchased other than a swimsuit is pants, because at a certain point regular pants just really don’t fit a pregnant body (at least not mine).
*Target–I find that their Merona brand, which is not maternity, is for some reason styled very well to fit my pregnant self. Their stretch jersey stuff goes on sale constantly and comes in surprisingly modern patterns.
*If you are a smaller person to start with– Maternity tops will likely be HUGE on you, which will feel awkward and frumpy. Unless you really need to, don’t buy them. Just get larger sizes of regular tops, making sure that they are cut long so that as your belly grows you won’t expose it unless you want to (I own exactly zero maternity-specific shirts/blouses, and I’m 36 weeks today and they all still fit).
*Layering is your friend, if it wasn’t already. Cardigans are awesome, long tanks allow you to wear your non-maternity sweaters even longer etc.
*If you are going to be pregnant and going to the beach at all, invest in a GOOD maternity bathing suit (if you are someone who is not comfortable with a regular bikini and an exposed belly, which I was not). There truly is a difference, and the ones from the cheaper maternity stores make you feel like an aged whale at the beach (plus have “briefs” for bottoms that are meant to pull up over your belly but cut in and feel terrible). My AWESOME pregnancy suit was from the Prego brand, had normal, cute bikini bottoms and a flattering and stylish tankini top, and cost something like $75, which to me is a lot for a temporary piece of beachware, but worth every penny.
Things I Wish I Had Gotten
*Long sleeved jersey dresses for right about now, when I’m huge and feel more comfortable in a dress and boots than any pair of pants, however forgiving the stretchy waistband
*Maternity tights/Capri leggings (as the above poster mentioned, I’ve not been into leggings since high school, but when you’re pregnant and it is cold, they are a great way to wear skirts and dresses, which are just more comfy later on than pants)
*A stylish maternity coat, or regular swing-coat that would still button all the way. I am so tired of my huge non-maternity rain jacket, which is the only thing that fits. Sigh.
Sorry to babble on, but I’ve been thinking about this stuff constantly for months and so glad you’re going to be leading the way for others!
February 5 2008 at 2:29 pm
JaimeOh man, when I was pregnant, clothing options sucked. It looks like they still sort of do but they were worse even a few years ago. Anyway, I wore my boyfriends 40″ waisted vintage levi’s for most of the pregnancy. I just wore them really low and that’s how they fit. In the last couple months I had maybe two pairs of pants that were black…I know, boring, but nothing fit and at the time I couldn’t sew.
As for tops, I could get away with wearing larger sizes for awhile but eventually I had to buy maternity shirts. I always got basic t-shirts though and then if it was cold, my arms could still wear my thrifted cardigans. I found a super cute black halter style tank top (cuter than it sounds) at Nordstroms (of all places, yes they have a tiny maternity area) that I wore with my vintage levi’s and beat up chuck taylors. Yeah, I guess in retrospect it was kinda boring but waaaaay better than some of those heinous maternity shirts.
If you can’t make or alter existing clothing, I would say that the maternity store ‘a pea in the pod’ had the best basic stuff. Yeah, they still have the ugly stuff but they are a lot better than most maternity outlets. Target seems to have some cheap basics.
Oh!
Have you read any Ariel Gore? She writes some really funny, truthful thoughts on parenting. She’s really different than the usual stuff you’re bound to see on pregnancy. Anyway, I highly recommend her pregancy and early childhood books.
February 5 2008 at 2:35 pm
marissafirst off, i want to say congrats!! : )
and getting right into it:
i found it soooo difficult, in terms of fashion, to look like myself while pregnant (feeling like myself was pretty much out of a question, hormones were up, down, and all over the place!).
i did find the bella band helpful, in that i could continue to wear most of my jeans til 5-6 months pregnant.
i had to give up all of my dresses, save for the occasional offering from old navy/gap, and tried to keep it fun with accessories. buying larger sizes at h+m saved me for a time, but i still felt lacking in the style department. i would have loved to find printed dresses (could the mumu make a classy comeback?) but that just didn’t happen. admittedly, i felt out of sorts throughout the entire pregnancy though: i couldn’t fit into my old clothes + “i’m going to be a mom!”= a bit of an identity crisis. my daughter is now six months old and i’m back to the size i was before my pregnancy & am slowly reclaiming my old threads, but it’s tough. my wardrobe is super simple since having her, i haven’t the time for putting together well-thought out ensembles!
February 5 2008 at 2:37 pm
CarolineThank Goodness you are looking at this! I am 28 weeks and huge (this is baby 3). Luckily I had some a line jersey dresses I was already wearing with leggings when I found out I was pregnant. Previous pregnancies I have worn mat trousers but to be honest I couldnt abide them this time - the mat wear might be right for some but to be honest I didnt want to look smart - casual before i was pregnant and I sure as hell dont want to now!
I live in leggings which are cheap and cheerfull
Tights are a non starter, the waistbands are just too tight
I will try and take some pics of what I do wear, I was a lot larger than you to begin with but i hope it will show you there is someone else out there who doesnt want to look like Mrs McFrumpy (even if at my size this isnt easy)!
Good luck with your mission I will be looking on closely!
Thanks,
Caroline x
February 5 2008 at 2:40 pm
CarolineOh and how the hell am I supposed to cope with a retro coctail party at my friends house with the title ‘Glamourous’ grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
February 5 2008 at 4:22 pm
MsBeanheadI decided to have more fun with my look while pregnant, so I started taking pix of my daily choices. Here my rockin’ momma: http://pics.livejournal.com/msbeanhead/pic/0004ty1z/g22
February 5 2008 at 4:28 pm
EJunfortunately i can’t really offer any help preggers street style fashion wise (though clearly there’s a gap in the market!) but i did see a couple of bits of clothing that made me think of you during a quick internet search..
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=42393&parent_category_rn=42391&productId=597721&langId=-1
and
http://www.cravematernity.co.uk/CraveMaternitySite/product/dresses/DRS310.htm
(in yellow, of course). having looked at my own wardrobe i realised that quite a bit of it would probably make suitable maternity clothing (huge 40s style coat, wrap dresses, loose-tum tops)… what does that say about me??
February 5 2008 at 6:27 pm
BettyMy sister had a baby last summer and swore by “bump bands” from Topshop - inexpensive stretchy cotton tubes to cover your tummy and allow you to get more wear out of your regular t-shirts/tops as they get too short to cover your bump. She had a couple of these (one black and one white, but they also came in grey and red) and they saw her right through her pregnancy and meant she didn’t spend a fortune on clothes she wouldn’t wear again and didn’t like anyway.
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=42398&parent_category_rn=42391&productId=447974&langId=-1
February 5 2008 at 7:09 pm
scaredy-catCan’t give you any tips but wanted to comment anyway (after reading the first few sentences of your post I thought of that first HEL-looks photo, but you’d already found it.
I’d love to look as beautiful and cool as she is if I’m ever pregnant!). I found your blog quite recently and have been reading through the archives. Thanks for writing a blog this colorful, positive and inspiring! I’m an avid reader now.
-Päivi, Helsinki
February 5 2008 at 7:20 pm
mlojapanese weekend looks to have some ok pieces, like this front wrap top:
http://www.japaneseweekend.com/epages/JW.storefront/47a8fc07062efd00271dc0a80a620625/Product/View/23-C346-062
a lot of convertible dresses, which i think is fascinating.
you should hold some type of maternity fashion sewing challenge with stretch fabrics, i think that would be cool!
February 5 2008 at 7:24 pm
mloalso, the stuff from maternal america doesn’t look too bad
February 5 2008 at 8:53 pm
meliI wore mostly non-maternity, although I did invest in a couple of pairs of nice preggo jeans.
I wore ruched waist cotton & jersey knit skirts tucked under the belly, lots of long, long tees from places like f21, and a ton of gigantic jewelry, stuff I could never pull off on my normal-sized body but which worked with the scale of my pregnant self. Also lots of tiny cropped jeckets, cardis, etc.
Very fun! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
February 5 2008 at 9:05 pm
SarahCongratulations on your impeding large belly. It really isn’t as bad as you think…IF you can sew. I made it through three pregnancies, three bra size changes, three so gigantic bellies that no store bought clothes fit, support hose for veins, etc. by making my own awesome dresses that fit me. Very close to the first picture in hel-looks you posted. I just made a week’s worth and washed them alot. I loved them so much that I made them into aprons apres bebes. There are some neat vintage patterns from the 70’s that would look smashing in today’s fabrics. Best wishes. It only gets fun from here. Just wait until you are nursing and trying to find clothes to wear that aren’t stained by breastmilk or baby throw up!
February 5 2008 at 9:09 pm
red_swirlOK, I’m lucky in that women in my local area, about my age and with a similar or at least a definite personal style are having kids. I certainly see many funky/stylish families, including goth families. Actually, the combination I find cutest to see is alternative-styled Dad carrying stylish kid. Do you know any style-filled suburbs of SF that are having a baby boom, could you go have a hot chocolate & sit at a cafe window?
When I pregnant, I had very, very little money, so I bought 3 tops & 1 trouser. True, I’m not as into style as you, but I reckon I still looked good (if repetitive, I washed a lot). I think I look good in dark colours, I used big, bold, bright jewellery. I loved the design of the tops, with vertical draw strings up the sides that you let out as you get bigger. Meant I could wear a close fitting top throughout the entire pregnancy, without flashing my belly at anyone (there was enough fabric to cover up & under, the strings pulled it tight).
Any way, NO YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP ON YOURSELF / YOUR STYLE FOR PREGNANCY. No way. Please don’t start thinking like that, feeling happy and in control is important for you & for the baby, AND NO, DON”T GIVE UP ON YOUR STYLE EVEN WHEN SLEEP DEPRIVED, BREAST FEEDING, WHATEVER although you might have to modify some things for the sake of speed, but not the overall CONFIDENCE dressing stylishly gives you.
(Sorry for shouting, but confidence is so, so, so important for new parents and if style makes you feel good and confident, you need to maintain it).
February 5 2008 at 10:05 pm
madam0wlHi Tricia, of course I applaud you in your quest for maternity style, go forth and conquer. Here is a link to my set of wardrobe remixed maternity style. Far be it to say that set is the end all be all of fashionable maternity, but I’m proud I was able to make it through for the most part without caving to the tent-like big bowed pastel knits look that is marketed to ladies in waiting. My design professor remarked toward the end that she was impressed that my maternity wardrobe never repeated itself, seemingly endless. I think anyone can do that if they try, especially you! Best wishes!
February 6 2008 at 12:34 am
LisaI am 25 weeks now (this is my first child). Im a college student and I do not buy any maternity tops because mostly are not my style. I invested my money on long tee shirt, stretch shirt, and etc (make sure they are long or flow enough to give your tummy growing and you will be able to wear it after pregnancy). Ex: washed out jean with long tee shirt and throw in vest.. LOTS of fun jewerly. I have LOTS of maternity jeans (burlington coat factory is a good place to shop and cheap). I would reduce large size from thirft store or any store to my size and what style I want (ex: doll shirt, long tee, and etc.)
And congrats on your pregnancy. It is so much fun to learn things and etc.
February 6 2008 at 10:14 am
oliviafirst of all, congrats on the pregnancy! i’m so happy for you…it’s so amazing to have a little life growing in you. i’m 31 weeks at the moment with my first baby. i hate all the maternity clothing i see in the shops. i started panicking about it when i was much smaller and had NO idea how big i was going to actually get. oi! i really didn’t want to spend big bucks on things i’m only going to wear for a couple months. so i have bought a few things from h and m and gap that are a line, smocks or things that stretch, so i can wear them later. the only maternity things i have purchased was a pair or jeans, a couple of good bras and a dress from a thrift store. some my vintage dresses looked super cute with a bump (when i was smaller) and i wore some of them as long as i possibly could without bursting. anyway…i don’t feel like i have lost my style, i just feel like i have to be more creative. jewelery, cardigans and jackets, thin belts and sweater dresses that stretch and hug the bump are all great. being pregnant pregnant in the summer would be great if you are a sewer. you can make lovely sun dresses and the like. i’ve made a couple of loose fitting dresses out of some of my favorite vintage fabric and that has been a big help. plus with a belt, i can wear them after i have the baby. we were in copenhagen over the weekend and not only were there tons of beautiful, well behaved gorgeously dressed little babies and children, but moms seemed to carry on dressing with style and interest. it was very inspiring and calming to see them all being more chilled out than the english women i see on a daily basis. wearing comfy clothes at home and then putting more effort when i go out has been key the bigger i’ve gotten. look forward to reading more on this topic! i can’t wait to see the outfits you put together the next few months!
February 6 2008 at 1:15 pm
navaI almost gave up on clothes while pregnant. When I finally did ‘pop’ I alternated 4 shirts, 2 pairs of pants and 2 skirts for the rest of the pregnancy. I did have one awesome dress I wore occasionally, but since I didn’t think it would fit I didn’t wear it until I was almost at the end! My problem with maternity clothes is that the cute stuff hows a lot of skin. I didn’t, and don’t, feel like putting cleavage on display, and I have never liked cap sleeves. However, since we are planning on more kids I have some ideas I’m kicking round for cute clothes that suit MY style, and that will work through pregnancy/nursing/weight yo-yoing. Oh, and another roadblock for me was how I would suddenly outgrow my clothes, literally overnight, and then have nothing comfortable that wasn’t hideous to wear while shopping for new clothes. ugh. Next time I am buying ahead!
February 6 2008 at 4:44 pm
S.I had a couple of one piece catsuits. I could wear them alone or with longer button up sweaters over them. Also empire waist dresses. Never ever anything from a maternity line!
February 6 2008 at 6:33 pm
Lady SmaggleTrinny and Susanna have some good sections in their books about dressing well while pregnant. And why would you give? Just because you have a belly. Some people have bellies without being pregnant and they don’t give up. I would suggest embracing stretch. I here AA stretch skirts are good. Good luck! xxx
February 7 2008 at 11:01 am
laurayou’re right, i haven’t seen many beautiful maternity clothes either. most of them are only practical, but not pretty at all.
although i don’t often see well-dressed pregnant women or young families in the streets of leipzig, i once took a photo of a lady who was really stylish. it was one of the first photos i posted to http://www.tragflaeche-leipzig.de and you can still see it there. (:
i’m looking forward to your outfits!
February 8 2008 at 6:43 am
AmeliaI made it through a pregnancy without ever buying any maternity clothes. yuck. do what you do best tricia - thrift! dresses from stretch jersey, skirts with elastic waists (shirred waists are great), even used maternity wear but i wouldn’t bother with that. even now, 17 months after baby, whenever i go op shopping i find myself looking at things with a maternal eye - hmm, that would be good for if i were pregnant.
February 8 2008 at 5:19 pm
PaulaI went through my first pregnancy almost 3 years ago. It was a kind of surprise pregnancy and I was quite ambivalent about being pregnant at all. I also did not expect to *ahem* expand as much as I did and I spent a LOT of useless energy worrying about whether my body would ever contract. Looking back, at the time, I just did my best to shroud myself, which worked okay since I was pregnant through a Minnesota winter, working in a very conservative work environment (suits!). I tried non-maternity wear, but that really only worked on my top half (blazers and cardis left opened worked great). I used a belly band early on, but not toward the end at all and exclusively wore pants through most of the second half – there was no way I was showing off my ankles or wearing pantyhose at that point!
We’re trying for a second and this time around I am determined to revel in my womanliness(!), focus on the bits of my body I still like, and adopt a simple style that mimics my non-maternity style. Also, we’re moving to FL, and I’ll be a stay-at-home mom so most of my 1st maternity wardrobe will be useless (yay!). I have been picking up a few pieces here and there on sale – really focusing on pieces that can be used throughout the whole pregnancy and beyond because I was not among the fortunate few that could leave the hospital in my pre-pregnancy jeans (also I can wear them before I get pregnant, so no money wasted).
I prefer fitted tops so for me, buying non-maternity stretchy tanks and tees in tunic lengths work. I bought a denim knee-length skirt for like $7.50 from the Babystyle outlet – that paired with a top, some cute jewelry and sandals will work just swell.
I have decided that if I wouldn’t wear a print non-maternity, I will not succumb to it with a bump either (what is with all the printed maternity tops anyway??). And prints, for the most part, just aren’t my thing.
I have bought a few casual jersey dresses, because I love dresses, they are so easy, will help me stay cool and because I don’t have to wear pantyhose with them this time around.
This one
http://www.picklesandicecream.com/084201m.html
and this one
http://www.picklesandicecream.com/084177m.html
I picked up a couple of weeks ago when they had an additional % off on clearance. I also love this non-maternity dress from old navy - http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=15292&pid=562685 (in black, of course!) it’s stretchy and long so I think it would accommodate a bump quite nicely and it looks like it would be comfortable in hot weather and I like the braided detail. It can be dressed up or down, worn with a beater under or a cardi over.
I got some wide-legged twill pants and a pair of jeans at my old navy for like $7 each with a roll waist band. I think, for me, the wide legs help to balance out the ever expanding top half!
I did, however, splurge on some tops from Isabella Oliver – http://www.isabellaoliver.com when they had their big sale a few weeks ago. I think these pieces best suit my style, are very sexy and simple, and I can wear them now, once pregnant, and after. You could probably make one of their wrap tops pretty easily yourself though – hopefully the site can give you some ideas.
Some last thoughts – here is probably my biggest online pregnancy inspiration - http://mystylediary.stylehive.com/Default.aspx?user=misskatherinea She kept her pre-pregnancy style throughout, and either made or repurposed a lot of stuff. I love her!
Also, try the sale/clearance section of the on-line maternity boutiques or ebay – lots of high end maternity wear greatly discounted!
http://www.laurenkiyomi.com/xcg/home.php
http://www.bellydancematernity.com/
http://www.chiarakruza.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=7
http://www.unbuttonedmaternity.com/ecom/viewalldetails/53/57
http://www.figure8maternity.com/
Congratulations! And try, as I will, to rejoice and embrace your body – it’s performing a miracle right now.
February 9 2008 at 3:04 pm
JennCongratulations, Tricia. I just wanted to add my 2 cents regarding maternity “fashion.” I think that one of the biggest difficulties with being fashionable while pregant is that buying maternity clothing can be quite expensive and thrifting becomes harder. I think there are some awesome maternity clothes out there (okay, maybe not AWESOME, but quite nice) but it can be hard to spend the $$ on something that you will only wear for a short period of time. I have no advice on what to do - but I look forward to seeing what you choose!
February 11 2008 at 3:29 am
SpandexponyI was thinking of adding a “stylish pregnant woman of the week” feature to my blog, because seeing one is so inspiring, however, in my two weeks of looking for subjects to photograph myself, I never saw any.
Also, I live in the Midwest.
But, I think the thing is is that there is such an ingrained notion that pregnant is not sexy because, it roots back to the virgin worship of most major religions. But now that we, as a culture have advanced, how do we cast it off? The body of a woman fluctuates all the time anyway, and many women have a preoccupation with controlling it. Part of controlling it is dressing it. With pregnancy comes the utter inability to control what’s happening, and I think that’s when pregnancy-dressing malaise sets in.
I think the key to dressing stylishly while pregnant is to really be at one and at peace with what’s happening with your body. Love the miracle of what’s going on and be proud and excited! When I feel good about my body, I want to dress it better and vice versa. That said, small patterns, low necklines, and creative, linear layering seem to work well. I also suggest that you buy actual maternity pants when you need to, because women who just keep buying bigger sizes of regular jeans create a very sloppy flat-butted look by doing so. And, be sure to keep a steady supply of great accessories! Those go a really long way to keeping the expression of your personality through dress intact.
Good luck! I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
February 11 2008 at 3:19 pm
angelaI skimmed your comments…don’t know if I’m totally repeating what has already been said, but:
I felt more creative/adventurous/resourceful with my wardrobe while pregnant. I looked at dressing well and fun as a challenge. And, with baby #3, the last one, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. So I had a handful of basic pieces that I just wore over and over and made interesting and different with accessories, cropped sweaters and jackets, and fun shoes. Dresses were most comfortable–especially toward the third trimester–and I didn’t buy maternity ones, just stretchy dresses or empire waist ones. I also cropped cheap unmaternity tanks and stretch tees just under my bust for comfortable layering–because having all those fitted layers stretched across a tight, big belly is uncomfortable and hot in the summer.
Just like your other readers have written here–get your cheap basics at Target, Old Navy, and Forever 21. And don’t even step foot in Motherhood. Invest in a good pair of pants and/or jeans…but know that by the end of the pregnancy, any band around your lower belly is going to be super uncomfortable.
Anyway, what a sweet gesture to ask your readers what we think! Your talent will make you the envy of all pregnant women everywhere.
February 12 2008 at 12:56 am
super kawaii mamaOkay, here’s all the lesson I learnt after my first, very Unstylish pregnancy and applied with great success in my rockin’ second pregnancy. Bearing in mind that I’m from Australia and don’t have many of the same stores as the USA, I’ll speak in more generic terms.
Firstly, the ubiquitous ‘yoga’ pant. Made from super stretchy jersey and with the wide roll down band and flared leg. The have no elastic treaded in the waist so are much more comfortable. I bought them in my regular size (psychologically VERY helpful), and wore them right through till birth and after. These, I paired with a variety of jersey or knit dresses and was then able to wear a much more comfortable flat shoe and I usually found that a short dress called for a heel, ( and chasing after a 2 year old while pregnant is not forgiving.)
The dresses I found from a variety of sources, department stores, ebay and even stitched some up myself. They had a this in common - none were from maternity stores (which I found styled some very depressing blah items), they featured wrap or cross over fronts to allow for the ever expanding breasts, and all had great colour and prints. My favorite dress was a black and white skull print dress that when I took it into the change room at ‘ trendy little thing’ store, the Assistant grimaced at me taking it in and loved it when I walked out. It was super stretchy but the key was to look at things differently, This dress worked so well because I wore it backwards!
The other thing that worked incredibly well was belting underneath the belly. This gave me a much better silhouette and generally made the whole look sexier rather than tenty.
Jeans I didn’t do while pregnant because all the reasonably priced ones here still don’t look that cool, and really only last a couple of months as you grow. Those jeans that looked awesome also had an awesome price tag, so I just saw it as an opportunity to be more creative.
Underwear is (as many will tell you) KEY to feeling great. When investing in maternity bras thinking about the feeding you will need them for afterwards too. (This can be said of the tops you buy while pregnant also - easy access is a must - cross, wrap, V neck are all your friends). I believe the best bras on the market are by Elle MacPherson. Great colours and trim, super comfortable and if peeking out of the top of your clothes they look like a pretty cami. But most of all their functionality for feeding is the BEST!
Last but not least - and Trisha I don’t have to tell YOU this- ACCESSORIES! The quirkier the better. When your clothes have a limited vocabulary, let your accessories speak volumes.
Journey well.
February 13 2008 at 12:41 pm
maggiiunfortunately I had my children back in the days when they dressed us like WE were the babies….lots of pink and baby blue shapeless tents with HUGE bows( although I suppose NOW it would have a bit of a ‘vintage” feel to it..LOL)
when I had my third I was over it all and chose to make my own clothes…I made colorful T-shirts..with colorful patterned legging type pants that could all mix and match…I LOVED it…it was a little out there as leggings were only beginning to come into the style and no one was wearing bright patterned ones…
When I had my 4th…it was at the height of the whole athletic clothes as fashion look…..bikeshorts and capri’s with big t-shirts style…so I just bought tons of them in ‘normal’ sizes and bought a bunch of men’s t-shirts…
one fun thing about being pregnant these days is that it seems like there’s an anything goes attitude about fashion so you can really get away with just about anything….so many of the styles today are loose and billowy…. also showing off a baby bump in tighter knits tops is also fashionable these days so you really seem to have a lot of options IMO…without even having to buy ‘maternity”…and at least ‘maternity’ HAS improved somewhat compared to back in “MY” day…LOL
February 15 2008 at 9:00 am
EricaNot sure how I missed this post, as I am asking myself the same questions lately (as I know you know)…I was nicely suprised myself to see beautiful Renata on hel-looks and found her inspiring. I thrift for most of my clothing, but thrifting for maternity clothing is a new level of challenging, and what you find is, well, what you find. Contrary to advice I was given, I’m not buying whatever I can find simply because it’s maternity wear; maybe it’s just my pride! So I just keep looking and looking when I have time.
I think it’s possible to keep your personal style while pregnant, but certain aspects of one’s style might have to take a backseat for practical reasons, for example high waists if you like them, or slick, high heels. I have a nice selection of belts that I won’t bother with these days for the most part, but I’ve also got a few that can adapt nicely to my new figure.
Adjusting to a new figure takes time, as I’m learning, and by extension learning what looks flattering on a round belly takes trial and error. Good luck with this, I completely understand where you’re coming from!
March 11 2008 at 10:20 am
EmyHey Tricia. Congratulations! I just went through my second pregnancy and so I know what you mean about fashion. It looks like you got a lot of comments (too many to read through) so sorry if I repeat some ideas. I think I dressed pretty much the way I always dress. Drawstring and elastic waist skirts were the best. Maternity pants all suck. They either have to be pulled up every 5 seconds or are so tight, they squeeze you to death. I was able to wear regular jeans for most of my pregnancy. There’s nothing wrong with leaving your pants unbuttoned (and unzipped) as long as its covered by a long shirt. Dresses were great. One piece is always easy (no matching involved.) Smaller, tighter shirts make your belly look smaller, while loose shirts makes you appear huge.
I was given a ton of maternity clothes, plus I thrifted a ton as well. A lot were pretty funky, but with a few snips here and there, I turned them into normal looking clothes. I changed a pair of maternity pants into a skirt. Sleeves got shortened, collars removed, appliques added. You name it.
I would buy a few basic pieces. For me it was tank tops for layering under regular shirts. Good bras are also a must. And when you’re feeling your worst nothing beats nice hair, makeup and a pretty necklace. It’s possible to still look nice. It just takes more effort, but it’s worth it.
I’m not sure of your size, but if you’re of a similar size (medium), I can send you some stuff if you want. Just email me. It will take a few weeks because I’m in between moving, so just let me know.
March 11 2008 at 8:53 pm
mjllonger t-shirts that will cover your belly when it starts protruding are great, even if they show your pregnancy visibly. altho hey, you`re pregnant & some people long for that, so why not show it off & be proud?
i thrifted a lot of those longer skirts with gartered tops. they can be pulled higher when you lose the weight, & belted up to look like cute dresses [that`s my aesthetic, though. i like skirt/dress-2-in-1 kind of combos].
anything that can be wrapped is good, as long as the tie is long enough to tie around.
& empire stuff is great. maternity at its prettiest.
those trapeze dresses that are so big now are great too, b/c they`re roomy & when the room suddenly begins to feel super duper hot at random, having a roomier dress is much more comfortable. also, sometimes garterized things and things that go right up next to the skin of your tummy might be itchy, so it`s better to have something that isn`t always stuck next to your skin.
when in doubt, men`s clothes - their cardigans, their vests, their button-downs - are an easy go.
& go nuts on accessories, b/c they`ll always fit, unless you bloat up so badly you can`t even put a necklace on.
[just a comment - whatever you decide to wear, make sure that it`s easy to go to the washroom in. it sucks when you wear some really great skirt or whatever, but it`s so long that you can`t easily go to the washroom in it.]
hope this helped.