In 2011, I became pregnant with my first child. I had little to no money on new maternity clothes. I struggled to feel beautiful, hell, I struggled to find anything that would fit. As a result, I spent the majority of my pregnancy in basketball shorts and oversized T-Shirts (I was an athlete so I always had plenty of those). I told myself the next time around I would be prepared and comfortable in my own skin. Well, fast forward to 2018 and here I am, 9 months pregnant, and still not prepared. However, over the last few years I’ve developed a knack for improvising. I learned how to find fashion pretty much anywhere. I also learned how to make new outfits out of old garments in my closet to avoid the feeling of “never having anything to wear”. Here are some of the tips I’ve learned along the way:
Oversized clothes can be fashionable- Once my bump began to grow, I started shopping for clothes that I could grow in to, but also could wear after pregnancy. Over-sized denim shirts, that can be worn as dresses are my favorite garments right now. And even better they can be used after pregnancy! They pair great with a LBD (little black dress) or any fitted color dress for that matter.
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ARiFWuNMlJketpEBZFq7u49KJ8M4G-Erb2-ee5pJXqowoFDob_J9VPQ/
I was able to save money by using most of my clothes I already had in the closet when I became pregnant. Below, are pictures of me wearing the same shirt, the first is from last winter in 2017 before I even became pregnant and the other one was taken this week at 37 weeks pregnant! (excuse my face in the second picture, I clearly have an attitude these days but I promise I’m excited…..)
Dress the bump when your in a slump!- I think the biggest mistake I made during my first pregnancy was never feeling beautiful. I also felt I should hide my bump rather than embracing the beauty of pregnancy. So whenever you get a chance, show up and show ouuutttt! When I had to go somewhere, I ditched the maternity dresses and chose to wear “sexy fits” from the plus size sections. After all, it’s going to take a while for me to get back down to my original weight and these outfits will come in handy if me and the fiancé decide to step out again for date night post pregnancy.
Keep it fun!- A pregnant woman can and should wear what she wants, as long as she’s comfortable and happy. Creating a new life is hard work and should be rewarded daily! Have fun with your outfits, and wear things that bring a smile to your face. Don’t shy away from patterns, colors, or certain fitted garments. I try my best to stay away from maternity clothes because I feel they have a tendency to box women in with the same style clothing. (I hate the jeans with the band! I’m sorry if that offends anyone, but I’d rather shop for oversized boyfriend jeans before I wear those.)
I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted after baby arrives and show how I still wear all the clothes I wore throughout my pregnancy. Wish me luck;)
Jackets designed by Lauren Webb of Laurstin, email for more info!
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