My Pregnancy Wardrobe Essentials

Shortly after I found out I was pregnant, my mind wandered to maternity clothes.  What brands to buy?  What stores sell them?  When will I need to start wearing them?  How much money am I going to have to spend?  How am I going to look professional?  Now that I’m approaching 30 weeks, I pretty much have the answers as to what works for me.  I also definitely have some pieces that I consider essentials.

• What brands to buy?  I’ve had the best luck with Gap Maternity, Old Navy Maternity and a few pieces from the Liz Lange line at Target.  Gap often runs 40% off sales, and if you’re fortunate to have a Gap maternity close by, there are often some killer steals there.  Gap sizing is true to size.   Old Navy has been pretty essential too- though I’ve returned numerous sundresses because they run way big.  Everything else is pretty much true to size, though some of their tops can be too big.
• What stores sell them?  I have to say, I am not impressed with Pea in the Pod, Destination Maternity and the like.  Pea in the Pod is SO expensive- more than what I would pay for an article of clothing at Banana Republic, which is just unsat in my book.  Department stores like Macys typically have some sort of Destination Maternity but quite frankly, I was not impressed with their clothes.  They were more expensive than Old Navy and were of the same quality.  The only downside to Old Navy/Gap is that you have to order a lot of the stuff online.  I have a Banana card so I get free shipping with every order, so it was only a pain if I had to send something back (which I’ve done a few times).  Target is a great place for sundresses.  I’m not the hugest fan of the Liz Lange t-shirts, as they pill very easily.
• When will I need to start wearing them?  I had a bump (read: bloat) as early as 12 weeks (arguably even earlier than that!)  I purchased my first maternity t-shirt around nine weeks and I was so excited!  I didn’t really need to start wearing maternity clothes until 14 or 15 weeks- I rotated a few tops in.  I think I wore a normal sized suit (when I had to) up to 16 weeks, but after that it was no dice.  Some women can wait until later- I would say I was exclusively in maternity clothes by 17 weeks.  I’m sure some of my non-maternity tops could have fit, but I didn’t want to stretch them.
• How much money am I going to have to spend?  Even though I was fairly reasonable with my shopping (I didn’t purchase uber expensive items, stuck to Old Navy/Gap/Target) I still spent close to one thousand.  Dollars. Ow.  Just typing that seems insane.  But, if you think about it, you are essentially building a wardrobe from scratch!  I have two pairs of jeans, a pair of capris, a few pairs of shorts, a black skirt, two pairs of black work pants, a navy pair of work pants, four cardigans, a bathing suit, numerous layering tanks, t-shirts and work appropriate skirts, and around six or seven sundresses.  It adds up!
• How can I look professional?  Before getting pregnant I wore a suit to work pretty much every day.  I soon learned that yeah, there aren’t really any maternity suits out there.  Early on in the pregnancy I was able to get away with wearing one of my more “forgiving” suits.  I had to attend and present at a conference when I was 19 weeks along and there was no way I was fitting into a suit.  The cardigan instantly became my new suit jacket.  I wore it over a dress I purchased at Target while presenting and with black pants and a nice top.  Sure, it may not be as polished as a suit but it worked.

My Maternity Clothing Essentials

1.  Dresses.  Oh sundresses, how I love thee.  Seriously, they are so comfortable and require zero effort.  Throw on a cardigan and you are good to go!

This is a black (cotton- cotton is the way to go for comfort!) dress that I found severely discounted at the Gap.  It has gotten me through more than a few conferences!

This green dress is part of the Liz Lange line at Target.  I wore this during a presentation and no one looked at me funny.  Sidenote- look how small my bump was!!

This dress is also from Liz Lange at Target.  It was my first maternity purchase, along with a t-shirt.  I love it and I’ve been able to wear it the entire pregnancy thus far.

2. Cardigans.  Cardigans are essential. I found a few on sale at the Gap but my favorite is:

This cardigan from Old Navy.  Unbuttoned it doesn’t look like you are swimming in fabric, and buttoned up it covers the bumps!  Cardis are essential- you can look professional and, due to random bouts of being wicked hot and then freezing, it allows you to dress comfortably.

3.  Tank tops- both for layering and for wearing.

This is one of my favorite tanks, which I purchased from Old Navy (see link above).   Given the heat this summer, tanks are essential.  I also own many tanks like this one:
because if I don’t wear them with some of the dresses I have, I would probably get arrested for indecent exposure of the girls.  The layering tanks provide a nice way to wear something that would otherwise be considered too low cut due to the growth of certain body parts

4.  Black pants.  This is how I used to look before a presentation.

And this is how I look now (well, a few weeks ago). 

These black pants from back have been professional wardrobe lifesavers.  I wore them multiple times a week- they are so comfortable and cozy, AND they are machine washable.  I can’t say that about my Banana Republic pants!

Some women are hit or miss on the full panel on pants.  There are three types of panels- low panel, which sits under the belly (these are okay), mid panel (I personally hate) and full panel.  I thought I would hate full panel but surprisingly, I love full panel pants!  The cover the bump and are actually quite comfortable- they don’t dig at all.

5.  Flats.  Flats are seriously my best friend.  I wore heels to a conference when I was 19 weeks and, after being on my feet all day, severely paid the consequences.  I felt like an old woman by the evening and had to go home, prop my feet up and get a cold cloth.  After that I ruled heels out until after Baby A is here.

Flats still look good with crop pants, right?

6.  Jeans.  These Gap jeans (full panel sexy boot) are seriously amazing.  They are so comfortable and flattering- even moreso than my non-maternity jeans!

They have the full panel.  I wear them all.the.time.  The sizing is true to size.  I can’t say enough about these jeans.  BUY THEM!

7.  Shorts.  Back in April I ordered two pairs of shorts on a whim from Old Navy. I’m so happy I did, because they are incredibly comfortable and no longer available online.

They sit low under the bump, which is good- full panel when it’s wicked hot out can sometimes been annoying.  Bare bump alert:

8.  Gap tees.  I have tees from a few places and I have to say, the Gap tees are my favorite.  The stretch to accommodate the bump and don’t leave you swimming in fabric. 
9.  Comfortable yoga/pajama pants. 

I purchased two pairs of these yoga pants from old navy online after reading fantastic reviews about them.  I have to say, the reviews were spot on!  I live in these pants at night.

And my last maternity clothing essential item-

10.  Lululemon Cool Racerback Tank. 

This is a pre-maternity workout tank and I was able to wear it comfortably well into my 27th week of pregnancy.   I probably still can but I haven’t tried it on since I haven’t been running.  Talk about going the distance!

So, those are my maternity clothing essentials.  To my pregnant friends- did I miss anything? 

Take care, friends!

Katie