Maternity Clothes

I have wanted to write this post for a very long time now - from the very moment my "big pants" (the pants you wear during a certain time of the month) no longer fit.

Maternity clothes suck. There is just no way around it. Well, actually, there are and I have some tips.

First of all, maternity clothes are designed for women that are 5'5'' and taller. In some cases, women who are 6'0'' and taller. So, if you are a hobbit, like me, it will require you to do some hemming.

Also, at the beginning of pregnancy, you need just a little stretch to your pants and the horrid over-the-belly-band seems somewhat outrageous (and sometimes does not fit). However, your belly will grow and the tiny bit of elastic that once was comfy will now cut off all circulation.

So Tip #1 - Get the horrid over-the-belly-band type pants, skirts, or shorts. It will make the piece more versatile.

If you cannot stand the types of pants out there OR (like me) need pants to be a certain size due to height, you can take off the top band and sew in a belly band or similar fabric. My mom did this for a pair of shorts I bought a size larger than my normal size and they are super comfy. We got the idea from this blog post.

Now, I have the good fortune of having a baby in the fall, which means I had to purchase clothes for spring, summer, AND fall. Plus, I was still working so I had to wear a somewhat professional wardrobe. This was easy enough as what I mostly wore to work was pants, shirt, and cardigan or occasionally a dress. Of course, I had to prepare for a trip to Houston in the summer when the temperatures are WAY too hot for anyone, which meant purchasing more summer clothes.

While it may be fashionable to wear shorts and a cute top, unless you are in an air-conditioned environment, I would not recommended it. The shorts usually have a belly band which covers one of the warmest parts of your body and acts as insulation rather than a cooling device. The cute top, no matter how comfortable and breezy, will not provide relief.

Tip #2 - If you are pregnant in the summertime, BUY A LOT OF DRESSES! They are cool, comfy, and just one piece, so no need to fuss with other articles of clothing. If it gets a bit cool, it is easy to toss on a cardigan.

I did a bit of thinking and research before purchasing maternity clothes. My friend Emily said I could borrow some of her stuff (she's about the same height and build as I am) and I figured I would just purchase a few things from the consignment store.

Hahahaha - yeh right. I just made ANOTHER maternity wardrobe purchase yesterday! While The Lucky Shopping Manual is my guide for any purchase, maternity clothes present a whole new wardrobe problem. The Baby Bargains book does offer advice, but I find their list a little lacking. As you know I am always one for alternating fashion lists, so I examined both Lucky and Bargains for ideas.

Lucky Manual breaks down a wardrobe into:

T-Shirts

Tops

Dresses

Skirts

Jeans

Pants

Shoes

Under Garments

Outerwear

Baby Bargains breaks down a maternity wardrobe into:

Career Wear - pants (2), sweater (2), shirts (2), skirts (2), and dresses (2)

Casual Clothes - t-shirts (5) and shorts/pants (5)

Under Garments - maternity bras (2) and underwear if you don't wear bikini style (8)

Their tip: RENT formal wear and shop in the plus size section to save money

Hmmm...well, I tried shopping in plus size section and everything was WAY to wide in the shoulder, so that bit of advice didn't really work. Also, I found the Lucky Manual had way TOO many clothes for such a short period of one's life (9 months to a year, depending on how quick your body bounces back. We can't all be Heidi Klum).

Tip #3 - Here is my maternity wardrobe list (I do try to remember that one will have to wear these clothes for awhile AFTER the baby is born):

T-shirts: 7 - You need at least 2 white shirts; I wouldn't bother with black - not easy to clean after a baby throws up on it. You can at least bleach a white shirt.

Tank Tops: 5 - Especially if you are pregnant in the summer; these are also great under a cardigan. I was able to wear my regular tank tops in the first trimester, but by the second trimester it was no longer an option!

Tops: 3 - These are nice shirts that are not cotton jersey material. I had one that fit well the first trimester and then my breast grew way too large!

Cardigan: 2 - I bought two cotton cardigans a size larger than my normal size and it was really helpful when I wanted to button them up because they could accommodate my growth upstairs (during first trimester that was all that had really changed). I have just used my regular cardigans and they fit just fine!

Skirts: 2 - You need a jean skirt and another skirt. I am a big fan of the jean skirt because it can be dressed up or dressed down. Just like with pants, be sure to buy one with the over-the-belly-band - I initially bought one with just the elastic in the back and it hurt like a mofo by second trimester.

Dresses (dressy): 2 - I like to dress a little for church, so this was important to me. But, I also was able to use many of my old dresses second trimester because they had an empire waist (some required rubber-bands and safety pins, but I made it work!).

Dresses (casual): 5 - I was fortunate to have a few cotton dresses that had a high waist or elastic and I have been using those in addition to a few I purchased. I probably have seven dresses rotate through!

Pants: 3 - I bought a pair of khakis and a pair of capris; then I purchased some grey pin-stripe pants. So far this has worked out alright, but I like wearing pants to work, so if I had not borrowed some, I probably would have bought more!

Jeans: 1 - I was lucky enough to have a little Christmas money left over to purchase a pair from Old Navy. I bought the "short" cut and I still have to roll them up :| Oh well!

Comfy Clothes: 2 sets - I was astonished to find that it was necessary to have maternity lounge wear! But, honestly, there are days where you just feel like running around in your underwear (especially when it is 95 and there is no air-conditioning). I found a REALLY comfy pair of cotton jersey pants at H & M. I also owned two pairs of yoga/cheer shorts before I got pregnant. Those three items are pretty much what I wear all the time when I am at home. I also snagged my hubby's large yellow Elvis shirt (a present from my grandmother :|) and that is my go-to top.

Swimsuit: 1 - I was able to get away with my old suit for the first trimester, but I invested in a top (I had a large bikini bottom around for some reason...I think I got it in Vegas or something).

I have spent about $600 total. Now, I wish I had known what I was doing because I could have spent about $200 less than I did! So my final tip is a bunch of little tips rolled into one.

Tip #4 - If you are short (and I had to do it all over again), I would...

- Borrow as many clothes as you can from someone who is about the same size you are! This really helped in the second trimester and then I was able to return some when that friend got pregnant too!

- Don't invest in a belly band - they roll up and don't really do anything. I got lucky and was able to use it to make a pair of maternity shorts. Otherwise, I would not recommend this product.

- Wait on buying a maternity bra until it is ABSOLUTELY impossible to fit into your old bras (and that includes using bra extenders). And even then, consider purchasing a nursing bra because otherwise you will be investing in a similar product soon!

- Buy about two sizes up from your normal size! This is only if you are short - if you are taller, the plus sizes might work for you. However, when you are short, you tend to be more compact. For example, I am normally a size four or six (depending on the brand) so I bought items that were a size 8 or 10. I have a few things that are a size 12 and are a bit too big, but I did that because I don't know how much bigger I will get! Still, buying a few sizes up has helped and I was able to modify a dress so that it fit me correctly (I just shortened the shoulder straps). I can wear a medium or large and be as comfortable as when I was wearing an extra small or small size before I was pregnant. Also, look for pleating under the empire waist - that will be your best friend as your belly gets bigger (and it is how most maternity clothes are designed).

Whew! My final words of wisdom are WHERE TO SHOP! In order of greatness:

1. Consignment shops - I found LOTS of cute clothes for VERY reasonable prices. A few items looked like they had seen better days, but for the most part, all of the clothes were really nice. I paid $3 for a pair of shorts and $20 for a very nice dress.

2. Target - This is my go-to store for EVERYTHING. I purchased a majority of my maternity clothes here for a reasonable price - $25 for a comfy dress, $7 for a tank top. I also love the clearance section - I found a size 8 empire-waist dress (with pleating) for $5 which I was able to make a maternity dress.

3. Ross - One disturbing thing about the Ross maternity section is it seems geared towards teenagers. The sizes therefore run a bit small. I bought a t-shirt there that fit great first and second trimester, but is now TOO SMALL in the third trimester. Also, it is difficult to find over-the-belly-band pants there.

4. H & M - One of my favorite moments in Bridget Jones' Diary (I believe it is in the Edge of Reason) is when she goes to H&M to look for maternity clothes and finds they do not have a maternity line. But now they do! The maternity line is merely ok - like most stores, the maternity section is small and does not have a lot of size selection. However, most of my purchases there have been for regular clothes in sizes larger than my normal size! Plus the clothes are so pretty, it is worth the investment. If I get a job, I have my eye on a jacket I want to get from there that would be awesome.

5. Old Navy - I have bought my jeans, tanks, and tops here. The online store has more selection and it would be worth it to shop there for sales. Most maternity sections in the stores are small and depressing - the dresses are WAY too long for a hobbit such as myself. I also found it disturbing that they had a maternity shirt with a whale on it.

6. GAP - I have bought one item there with which I was pleased. I did try on a maternity dress there and found it was a glorified mumu. They are kind of expensive, so it might be worth it to check it out online for sales. They had one cute shirt that said "obviously no longer a secret".

7. Destination Maternity - DO NOT SHOP HERE unless it is for a maternity bra. I made the mistake of purchasing a number of items here and they don't hold up well - they shrink or fall apart. They are also WAY too expensive - unless you find items on sale. The Baby Bargains book also did not have nice things to say about them. Finding their clothes in consignment shops is alright though because the quality must have been good enough for it to make it to consignment! Plus they have t-shirts that read "good things come to those who mate." Uh - TMI!

I am done - for now :D