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Non-maternity maternity

I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on my clothes these days, and many people are shocked when I tell them they are maternity.

Gone are the days when maternity clothes are basically tents which you set up camp in, shapeless billows of fabric that make you look 10 times fatter than you actually are. They are more form-fitting, stretchy, shirred, accentuating your curves and your bump rather than obliterating them.

I love, love, love that I can still look hip and stylish while getting large beyond reason. You know, cute pregnant (as opposed to mother ship pregnant). And quite frankly, I think we deserve it, having to go through the sacrifices of pregnancy and losing our former bodies, even if temporarily.

During my first pregnancy, I really wanted to put together a wardrobe that could carry me through the nine months and beyond, through work and weekend. I also figured that if I’m going to spend money on maternity clothes, I would buy them early on to get the most mileage out of them. I also banked on the fact that it takes awhile to get back into fighting shape (at least for those of us without personal trainers, private chefs and nutritionists), and I would be wearing them for much longer than the 9 months.

In general, maternity clothes are more expensive, so buying a wardrobe can be potentially costly. Here are my tips for putting together a fabulous pregnancy look without forcing your child to secure a sumo wrestling full academic scholarship in order to attend college.

• Look for clothes that can be worn even when you’re no longer pregnant. I found clothes that were, by way of fabric and or design, totally wearable after the baby was ejected. In fact, I got compliments when I’ve worn these stretchy dresses and skirts, despite not being pregnant. This makes them less of a temporary splurge and more of a long-term investment.
• Buy non-maternity clothes. If you’re lucky enough to be in a fashion season that features empire-waist tops and dresses like this one, you have got it made. (See photo.) This season, I’ve found tons of cute, high-waisted tops that are non-maternity and totally wearable this pregnancy and beyond. But, don’t just buy larger clothes overall- they won’t fit right and just look frumpy.
• Stock up on casual staples and basics at places like Old Navy maternity. Old Navy’s maternity line aims to be hip, but like all of their clothing, economical. I’ve picked up basic cargo pants and shorts and cute tops there. (note: these items aren’t exactly high-quality so be forewarned)
• Include a few “splurge” items- higher-priced but well-designed and ultra-flattering pieces that can make you look and feel like a gorgeous pregnant goddess. Catch sales at high-end designer sites like Isabella Oliver or Nordstrom maternity.
• Borrow from stylish once-pregnant friends.
• Investing in fewer, higher-quality maternity clothes that can be worn over a long time- multiple pregnancies and inter-pregnancy periods makes sense.

Some favorite sites for finding maternity gems: Old Navy Maternity, Gap Maternity, Nordstrom Maternity, Isabella Oliver, Babystyle. Ann Taylor Loft also has come out with a maternity line that is worth checking out. And don’t forget Liz Lange’s Target line where you can find some cheap basics and occasionally, a cute addition to your pregnant goddess wardrobe.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.