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Moms- SKIP the maternity clothes.

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I wouldn’t say that I am a fashionista, atleast not in the sense that I have to have the best, the brightest, and the newest pair of shoes or dress on the market the second its available. I do, however, like to look good, feel good, and wear something that doesn’t look like it fell out of the 1800s or the 1970s.

Unfortunately when you become pregnant, fashion is the last thing that is generally on your mind but in a lot of ways, it should be first. It’s a simple fact that if you look good, you FEEL great and since this pregnancy has been just short of pure misery, Ill take whatever happiness I can find and wherever I can find it.

Now I have shared quite a few pictures of myself during this pregnancy; it was a promise to myself that I would have more than one shot pregnant since I only had a total of 2 with Charlotte the entire 9 months. And I have heard a lot of “I love your dress” and “Where did you get that outfit” on facebook, twitter, and my blog. I have also heard it in person, which is ultra flattering.

Last week a woman told me I looked beautiful while I was walking around at Target.

A girl doesn’t really tire from hearing that; even from complete strangers.

So I am going to let you in on a little secret…SKIP the maternity clothes. In the beginning with the rush of being pregnant and growing out of the size 3’s (and crying myself to sleep over it), I got all panicky and ran to all the maternity places. I admit I bought dresses, shorts, tanks, and even maternity leggings- you know, the ones w/ the stomach pouch? While they mainly fit “ok”, overall my frump level went way up and my sex appeal, way down. Maternity clothes are made baggy….and let’s be realistic here, I want people to realize I am PG, not just sitting at the computer eating ho-hos all day. Ill embrace the stomach, thankyouverymuch.

I also want to feel sexy. Not that sexy is a goal while pregnant, clearly the sexy was there BEFORE the pregnancy, which resulted in the pregnancy, but sexy is still a great feeling in general.

I decided then and there to redo my clothing tactic.

I would only buy clothing with no waistlines, that were just regular, every day, any person clothes. I found that I could still wear my regular size, which in this case is S and in some brands an XS, and just show off the bump for what it was. The beauty in the entire process is that the clothing will STILL be usable when the pregnancy is over, so the guilt is far less in purchasing now then wasting a ton of money on something Ill wear a month as maternity and never see again.

Now I know what you may be thinking….”my pregnant butt would never fit in normal clothes“. Well, you are wrong. My A’s went to a D, my size 20 something waistline is hovering at a percentage I wont even disclose to my closest friends, and my hips have undoubtedly moved. Again.

The brands I found that have worked the best for me are the following:

Less Expensive (Find at Kohls, Dillards, Target, etc)

  • Soprano
  • Lapis
  • LaPagee
  • Mudd
  • My Michelle ( I like the dresses that come w/ the elastic belts)
  • IzByer
  • Mon Amie

More Expensive, but Oh so much nicer! Find at department stores and discount shopping like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx

  • MaxStudio* (these are the two best lines I have found)
  • Max Azira*
  • Calvin Klein
  • Cynthia Rowley
  • Mercer & Madison

Now my little webcam fashion show isnt that great, but none of the clothing here is maternity and represents my growing March till Now Belly. The most expensive dress in the pictures is $24.99  and the least is $16.99:

See!

Save your maternity wardrobe and just find classic, no waistline pieces that will continue to make you look beautiful…during, and after, baby.

~Trisha

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Comments

  2. Marie Parker says

    You look fabulous! I also love the confidence! I am in my 21 weeks, and I usually buy clothes online. I think I might try the shops listed above. Thanks!

  3. Keonté says

    No doubt I’d wear most of those dresses NOW. I love dresses. And to echo what others are saying, you look gorgeous pregnant. Definitely glowing!!

  4. Anna says

    You look brilliant! Such cute outfits! I agree that the best way to go is waistless (and so it is that there are tons of waisted dresses this season, where I am). My friend and I have been doing the exact same thing. It’s now become a game to see what we can make work with the bump that is from a ‘normal store’. Have to say that you’ve got some goodies there!

  7. Lara N. says

    Wow! You look fantastic in these pics!
    For maternity wear, I just went to the ‘X’ sizes at Kmart – I was pregnant with twins and went from 128 lbs to 184, (delivered at 39 weeks), and the final 3 months were on bedrest, so I didn’t get out much. By the end, the only fashion accessory I could have wished for was a wheelbarrow to cart my bump around 🙂 I even had dreams of that at night!

    And now I’ve got these HUGE clothes in my closet that could fit two of me now 🙂 So I’m definitely liking your point about having your clothes still fit afterwards 🙂

  9. Henrietta says

    Wow! you really look so pretty in those dresses! I love all the different styles you found to grow with you! I see several there that I want for very NOT pregnant self!

  10. HilLesha says

    I love your style! And, I agree with you. I never wore maternity clothes with my first child and still was able to be fashionable. 🙂

  11. Karen says

    Those are all really cute, and they look good on you. I especially love the black one in the next to the last row, shown from the back. That is SEXY!

  12. Rachel Ramey says

    Yup! I even found a few at Wal-Mart. The fact that empire waists/babydoll tops are widely available really helps.

    You have a much better sense of style than I do, though. You look fabulous!

  13. Firefly says

    Beautiful dresses 🙂 You look fabulous as always! I never wore maternity, never could find anything that wasn’t looking ridiculous on me LOL

  14. Vicki says

    Awesome pictures and makes so much sense to skip the maternity clothes. My four kids range in age from 20-28 and when we look back at pictures my daughters have to be thinking.. wow are we going to do things different!! Back then we wore ‘maternity clothes’ and for the most part.. they weren’t pretty haha! All the best to you.. one beautiful mama!

  16. Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says

    LOVE your style during this pregnancy. As soon as my broken body decides to get with it and help me get pregs again, I will be following your adorable style, whether it be summer or winter, LOL! I am determined!

  17. Christy says

    OMG that baby has grown since I last saw pg pics of you!! Love, love, love the outfits. You look fabulous – we all know this post was just to fish for more compliments, heehee. Seriously though – great advice and I love that you modeled them to show how great they work and look. Cute belly!! 🙂

  18. Jen says

    Amen – as I sit here in my Banana Republic baby doll top. I have a couple preggo tees and preggo shorts – but everything else regular! Love it!

  19. Mommy Blog Expert says

    I love your ideas! I am done getting pregnant as I have triplets plus one more but wish I’d known your advice back in the day when I was preg. BTW you look so beautiful pregnant in all the outfits on this post!

  24. Kelly says

    You rock the baby belly. Really – you look great! I’m so frumpy and boring when I’m pregnant. Wait a minute – I’m boring when I’m not pregnant too – you’d be appalled.

  26. Yasmine says

    We are on the same page!!!! I still shop in the junior department- no preggo stores for me!!
    Last pregnancy I wore maternity clothes- I didn’t know better (I look at them now and cringe)
    This time around I have yet to wear any maternity because pretty much everything I bought prior to getting pregnant works as “maternity”- before during and after. I look for empire waist and flowy tops- or the stretchy but fitted tops. which are all over. I have a few button up longer tops that I used to wear the belt on my waist before pregnancy and now I tie the belt under the bust.
    I love your wardrobe- do you mind sharing 🙂

  28. Lorie Shewbridge says

    You definitely look beautiful in every single one of these dresses.
    You look better pregnant than I do not being pregnant, I am SO jealous. =)
    Stumbled this post… =)

  30. Marianna says

    You look amazing Trisha! I really could have used this advice before I had my 4 boys. Not only did I go out and buy lots of frumpy maternity clothes, mostly from Kohl’s and Target, but I also got tons of hand me downs that were just so damn awful.

  31. Brandy says

    You def rock it well Trisha and a positive light to anyone else pregnant lol. I spent my 1st pregnancy in sweat pants and pj bottoms … not very flattering lol. When we get pregnant again I plan to do it differently and like you take more than 1 or 2 photos.

  32. Candace says

    That black one is just stunning I love the back on it! You could be wearing a plastic bag and you would still be cute though 🙂

  33. Beth says

    Look at you rockin’ that belly! Those dresses are great. Dresses are way more practical when pregnant. I wish I would have realized that during my three pregnancies!

  34. Kelly W says

    This is great advise. These pieces will also be great for the transition stage after the baby is born, where maternity clothes no longer fit but you are not quite back into your normal clothes (that was the hardest time for me). Thanks for sharing and as always you look awesome!!!

  35. Wendy H. says

    An empire-waist dress was my best through my pregnancy!

    …and you look gorgeous. 😉

  36. Leah - Diaries of a Domestic Goddess says

    To bad you weren’t pregnant 5 years ago when I was having my daughter. I would have totally followed these rules. I spent and insane amount of money on clothes that made me look bigger than I really was…all the way around.

    You look beautiful 🙂

  37. Lola Aparicio says

    TRisha you are beautiful! I loooooove those dresses!!! You look great and your pregnancy looks amazing!!! Good luck
    Lola

    • Trisha-admin says

      Nope…not at all! Its not like I buy tight mini dresses…think more curtains when you stand behind something. It just fluctuates the flow, but generally not the length. In the maxi dresses (the long ones) I find myself even tying them up in a knot on the side to use them shorter as well.

  39. Tanya @ Mommy Goggles says

    You are one rockin’ mama! With my last pregnancy, I wore everything but maternity. Well, I had SOME maternity, but instead of wearing the baggy big clothes, I showed that belly in regular tops.