The Jeans
A great pair of maternity jeans, in which you feel comfortable and stylish, should really be a staple in your wardrobe during your pregnancy. No matter what color, wash, or style you choose, just remember that stretch is the key: look for jeans with anywhere from 1%-8% spandex in them so that they won’t become restrictive by the third trimester. To start, we wanted to find a jean that matches our chic dark denim favorites. We came up with the Super Stretch Jean selections from Motherhood ($24.98) -– you can choose the type of belly style you’d like, as well as options for a shorter length and plus sizes. The duo Maternity Front-Zip Bootcut Jeans, $27.99-$29.99 at JC Penney also provide a variety of length and size options, and come in two washes. We like that the 2” waistband is subtle, giving them less of a maternity jean vibe. For a novelty pair of jeans, try an usual color, like these Maternity Real-Waist Colored Jeans, $19.99 at Old Navy. They contain lycra and have an elasticized back waist for comfort.
The Dress
One word: stretch! Get used to dressing in knits during your pregnancy, as they will most likely provide the best way for your clothes to grow with your body. For dresses, you want to make sure they fit, yet aren’t too clingy. Trends in dresses this season are the color red, floral prints, and the perennial lbd. Translate this trend to maternity via the Printed Casual Dress, $19.98 at Motherhood. What we like about this is the crossover detailing, which brings the eye upward instead of drawing attention to the belly, and the higher waistline. For a more formal occasion, try Liz Lange for Target V-Neck Dress with Bow in Fuchsia, $39.99 at Target. It possesses a slight babydoll shape and once again, has a higher waistline and bow details that shifts the focus away from the belly. For your maternity lbd, we recommend this Short Sleeve Knit Dress, $68 by Mimi Maternity with its updated details of tiering and ruching. The ultimate in comfortable chic, try a sweater dress ($119, A Pea in the Pod). With this style, you know that it will give some stretch, while still wrapping itself around your body the perfect amount. Keep in mind that you may want to go for an acrylic versus wool sweater dress, as it will be easier to launder.
The Top
Since most likely you're only going to be buying a few key items, you’re going to want to make sure that they go the distance for you, as far as the style and the versatility is concerned. Let's start with a white shirt -– which can easily translate from work to play, dinner reservations and running errands on the weekend. The Notch-Neck Puff-Sleeve Top, $24.99 at JC Penney gives a nod to Boho chic, and has a free-flowing silhouette that will cover the top band of your maternity jeans, so that you don’t have a “Momma muffin top” issue. We recommend taking advantage of the popular tunic styles -- this longer length will serve you well as your tummy further fills out. Try this Belted Tunic, $19.99 at The Gap, and adjust the belt to give your belly more of a defined shape. Now that you’ve gotten your staple white shirt, don’t be afraid of a fun print -– being pregnant doesn’t mean you’re restricted to wearing only solid colors. Go for a fabulous floral or paisley, like this Roll-Up Sleeve Tunic, $39.99 at the Gap or the Apple Trees Button Babydoll, $49 at Momzee.
The Shoes
When picking shoes to wear throughout your pregnancy, keep in mind the extra pressure on your back, ankles, knees, and feet at this time, and how that may impact your shoe-purchasing decisions. In this stage in your life your feet may also grow, thus definitely try on shoes when you have the opportunity instead of relying on the size that you're used to wearing. Feet tend to swell, and are biggest in the afternoon, which means this would be the best time to try on your footwear. You don’t have to compromise your style during this time -- but modify it to fit your comfort needs. For example, go for flats, a lower heel or easily adjustable straps while still seeking out ample support, stability, and shock absorption from your footwear. This season metallics, patent leather, and feminine, canvas sneakers are big trends. Here are a few examples of shoes that perfectly fit the mold. We love the extra cushion and width of these Mossimo Phoebe Bauble Sandals in Gold, $19.99 at Target. Not only do they look great, but they also provide extra support not found in other flat, thong sandals. For a dressier shoe, we chose the Aerosoles "Semi Sweet" Ankle Strap Pump, $49.99 at Macy’s. We know that we’re getting comfort with this brand, and the adjustable ankle is perfect for a customized fit, not to mention the patent and red colors are on trend for the season. For a casual sneaker, we prefer the Converse One Star Skidgrip Slip-Ons in Red, $34.99 at Target. Not only are they absolutely adorable, but the act of bending over and tying on a sneaker can be avoided with these easy to slip on, easy to remove shoes. If you're looking to make more of an investment in your footwear, try a pair by Taryn Rose – the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Taryn Rose has created a line of footwear that both looks and feels fantastic, and has even designed her collection with pregnant women in mind (click here to read more). We particularly like the Taryn Rose Abella Wedges, $236.99 at Piperlime.com, and the Taryn by Taryn Rose Bark Leather Linen 'Lift' Peep Toe Flats, $122.99 at Bluefly.com.
The Bag
You're going to be toting around a lot of stuff for at least the next several years of your life, so why not pick a bag that you really like? Some women prefer a large bag instead of using a proper diaper bag, while others prefer the utility of the specialized diaper bag. We’ve found a mixture of both that will satisfy your urge for something chic yet functional. The bag should fit at least: 3 diapers, a change of baby clothes, hand sanitizer, formula, wipes, diaper cream, maybe a toy or two, plus all of your daily essentials. One of our favorite picks is this Merona Canvas Tote Diaper Bag in Red for $13.99 at Target. It definitely doesn’t look like a diaper bag, yet it possesses pockets for bottles, diapers, you name it! The Vera Bradley Windsor Navy Satchel, $51.60 may not have been created for baby essentials, however with it's five pockets and roomy, lightweight design, it's sure to be a good fit. Plus, we like the dark color of this print since dirt and various baby liquids are less likely to show stains. To follow along with the metallic trend, we found this Diaper Diva Silver Diaper Diva Bag for $55 at Frankey's, which is sure to make you look like a hot Mama (not to mention a prepared one as well). Lastly, we like the versatility and cool stripes of the Skip Hop Duo Double Diaper Bag, $80 at Giggle.com. The straps are made to fit both over your shoulder and over the stroller, with the bag being water-resistant and comes with a waterproof change pad.
Enjoy your new shape, and remember that with stylenotes, its never a challenge to find fashionable maternity gear on a budget. Enjoy preparing for the baby that’s on the way!
-- Julia DiNardo
Note: there may be a way to make the items mentioned above an even better bang for your buck -- remember to search stylenotes for special promotions and coupon codes that may be applied to your order.
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