How much and what kinds of maternity clothes do you really need/like having? - Page 2

[Kim]

I have:

- 1 pair of jeans (Gap bootcut.)

- 1 pair of stretch wool dress pants (Gap, again. Love the way my butt looks in these.)

- 1 denim skirt (Gap! From 10 years ago. Still cute with tights, boots.)

- Variety of pre-pregnancy t-shirts and sweaters, plus some hand-me-overs from friends.

This is my third pregnancy. I had passed along ALL my old maternity clothes to friends and my sister about 6 years ago. Well, the clothing that held up both in style and quality was GAP! My friends all wore them and loved them and now they are back to me to use and love again. I wouldn't say the same thing about my Target or Motherhood maternity clothing...

If you order online today from Gap, you can get 25% off your entire order. That makes their most expensive items which are usually in the the $70 range about $50. In my case, it's so worth it...these are the pieces I go to again and again and again.

[ibusymomto5]

Thank you for all the great ideas! I think I have a better idea of some specific and practical things to look for. Some jeans/pants, skirt, belly band, cardigans, tanks, and a few shirts that can mix and match. I love cardigans during pregnancy, one great thing about being pregnant in winter! My 19yodd is going shopping with me. She loves clothes and shopping and has great taste, so she's happy to help me. We have a Target, Old Navy, Motherhood, and Kohls all close together, so hopefully I'll have at least a little luck. Our Gap stores here don't carry maternity unfortunately. I'll also check out Craigslist and Ebay.

Thanks again! I'm excited about seeing what all's out there this time.

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by sewingsparklz

Hello! If you lived near me I'd let you come over and go through my boxes of maternity clothes! I have every size (except for XS, puh-leeze!), every season, and many different styles!

I guess you could think like a build-a-wardrobe-with-mix-n-match-basics thing, couldn't you? Jeans, neutral slacks, plain or striped tops, a cardigan, a skirt, with a few bright accessories - scarf, necklace, whatever. And since it's going to be winter - a sweater/long sleeved shirt or two, some legging's/tights, maybe a coat? Then you'd have all your basics, and if you get to splurge on anything else along the way (yay) you can make it a bright special piece, or make it mix-match with everything else.

Can I get a job doing this?? I love clothes!

Edit: You get a date night!?

That's sweet of you! It'd be fun to go through someone else's closet, lol.

Yeah, we get a date night pretty much whenever we want, usually once every week or two. One of the nice things about having older teens.

[Ola_]

So far I've got some maternity jeans and some stretchy yoga pants. Mine are full length and black and I think they don't look too bad worn with a nice top and a cardigan, or you can go casual with a t-shirt. Unless they get too tight, in which case you'd need much longer tops.

I've got a few tops and a couple of tank tops for layering under too-short tops (one white one black). The key for me is to get nice vibrant colours especially through the winter, and really any time of the year I find it cheers me up to have some bright colours.

[SumnerRain]

I am making due with stuff that is 2 sizes to big right now with the help of a belly band from Target to keep it up. I am a jeans and tshirt kind of girl, so that is what I have. Nothing but jeans and tshirts. Most pf my stuff is from Motherhood, but I did get a few things from Target & JC Penney and they are nice too. We are far from a motherhood, so I just waited for a good sale at JCP because Target's selection sucked.

[luckiest]

This is my first and it took me a while to figure out what worked for me. I LIVE in the under the belly maternity leggings from Old Navy. They're like $10 and I'm wearing them to death. For jeans I did splurge on the $70 skinny "jeggings" from Gap, and I've absolutely gotten my money's worth out of them. They have a panel in the back, not the front, so they actually have front pockets and a zipper and button. The panel has adjustable elastic so I've been able to let them out as I've gotten bigger. Only complaint is that the elastic sometimes gets twisted inside the panel, but it's not a big deal.

For tops, I've had the best luck at H&M. They carry a ton of these stretchy tunics that are plenty long to cover the belly, I just buy one size up from my pre-preg size. They are $10-12 each, I have probably five in different colors. Those tunics + leggings + boots = perfect fall maternity outfit. And there's at least some chance that I'll wear them post-pregnancy, since they don't have that tell-tale rouching along the sides. I fortunately have had no occasion to wear anything fancier, although my mom bought me an excellent maxi dress that could probably be dressed up for something. For my baby showers I wore aforementioned tunic, leggings, and heels.

[butterflies]

In past pregnancies I was a grad student or a WAHM and I was able to rely on hand-me-downs and thrift-store finds. This time I really wanted to look more professional. And I hate shopping! So I made one trip to Motherhood around 9-10 weeks (i got big fast!) and bought 5 v-neck t-shirts, 2 skirts and a pair of shorts. I love the Secret Fit belly panel on their skirts. When the cool weather hit in Sept, I broke down and bought a cardigan to wear over the tees and a long denim skirt. I have LOVED having just a few things that all look good and mix well together. I wear the same things over and over but I've gotten a lot of compliments. In fact, I am seriously thinking I need to overhaul my post-baby wardrobe in the same way. 5 outfits and nothing else in the closet-- it's so easy to get dressed in the morning!

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by butterflies

In past pregnancies I was a grad student or a WAHM and I was able to rely on hand-me-downs and thrift-store finds. This time I really wanted to look more professional. And I hate shopping! So I made one trip to Motherhood around 9-10 weeks (i got big fast!) and bought 5 v-neck t-shirts, 2 skirts and a pair of shorts. I love the Secret Fit belly panel on their skirts. When the cool weather hit in Sept, I broke down and bought a cardigan to wear over the tees and a long denim skirt. I have LOVED having just a few things that all look good and mix well together. I wear the same things over and over but I've gotten a lot of compliments. In fact, I am seriously thinking I need to overhaul my post-baby wardrobe in the same way. 5 outfits and nothing else in the closet-- it's so easy to get dressed in the morning!

See, that's the way I tend to be too. I have all these clothes and tend to wear my same few interchangeable favorites over and over. I have a long denim skirt that I got at Motherhood last time that I loved, but it's just too big. I see they still carry the same one, so I'm definitely going for a smaller size one of those.

[ibusymomto5]

Looks like I should add leggings to my list. It's the 80's all over again, lol.

[sewingsparklz]

Originally Posted by ibusymomto5

My 19yodd is going shopping with me. She loves clothes and shopping and has great taste, so she's happy to help me. We have a Target, Old Navy, Motherhood, and Kohls all close together, so hopefully I'll have at least a little luck. Our Gap stores here don't carry maternity unfortunately. I'll also check out Craigslist and Ebay.

Thanks again! I'm excited about seeing what all's out there this time.

Looks like you're set with all those stores! Sure would be fun to come along, especially with a teenage daughter!

(You know in my head I am still 19.)

[sewingsparklz]

Originally Posted by ibusymomto5

Looks like I should add leggings to my list. It's the 80's all over again, lol.

I did buy some leggings this year, but ONLY to go under my 3/4 length denim skirt and boots! I refuse to wear a tunic with leggings!!! Especially while pregnant! Doesn't this sound like a recipe for a big bottom and thighs to become the focal point to anybody else??!!

[starbyfar7]

Originally Posted by sewingsparklz

I did buy some leggings this year, but ONLY to go under my 3/4 length denim skirt and boots! I refuse to wear a tunic with leggings!!! Especially while pregnant! Doesn't this sound like a recipe for a big bottom and thighs to become the focal point to anybody else??!!

as someone with usually NO booty whatsoever.. this is one pregnancy symptom i actually like.. as does my partner lol. lets here it for the curves that us bony chicks finally get to experience!! leggings for the win!

[sewingsparklz]

Originally Posted by starbyfar7

as someone with usually NO booty whatsoever.. this is one pregnancy symptom i actually like.. as does my partner lol. lets here it for the curves that us bony chicks finally get to experience!! leggings for the win!

Ha ha ha ha! That's great! I am happy that when I'm pregnant I get boobs! And so is DH. I really am not a big girl. I've always been slender and have a small frame, but I just can't get into the silhouette that leggings and a tunic creates...Although I have seen it look pretty good on some people. You go right ahead and wear them!!!!

[midwestmeg]

woo-hoo! fun thread. this is my first winter pregnancy and my fourth baby so I've been shopping!! 1st time ever I've popped out and needed mat clothes by 15 weeks.

My FAVORITE jeans are Maternal America.

I wait for deals/sales from Pea in a Pod for tops and then also do some 'old slave.' That quality is just so ish, though, and I do need everything to hold up to lots of wear.

I've been looking everywhere for good winter pjs; finally found some nice gap ones. Wish I'd hit the 25% off sale!!

Motherhood is the worst, I agree.

My Elle Macphearson bras expand well... I'm still nursing so that adds a whole new dimension.

I feel like I have done a lot of looking/shopping and still don't have *that* much given that winter is cold in MN!

I have been buying regular Gap sweaters and leggings in a size up... and those crazy boyfriend shirts that go to my knees.

[ibusymomto5]

Thought I'd give an update of how our shopping trip went. We had such a fun day out. I got leggings(Old Navy under belly ones), Secret Belly Jeans from Motherhood(LOVE them), several cute tops, a pullover hoodie, a couple cardigans, a couple tanks, belly band, Victoria Secret low rise undies(loved those last time instead of maternity ones), super comfy winter boots, and a pair of cute flats that were on sale. It felt so good to buy all smalls and mediums! I think I'm set for awhile now, as everything mixes and matches nicely and should grow with me. I didn't realize how uncomfy my regular jeans were until trying on the maternity ones. And, oh my goodness are those leggings comfy! I'm definitely getting more of those, especially given the price of them! I think I'm one who can get by with wearing them with a big top, as I'm not big on the backside, or I can just put them under my denim skirt if I start blossoming too much, lol.

Now, I've just got the task of washing it all and reorganizing my drawers and closet. Getting started on that in a little bit.

Thank you all for all the great suggestions! It really helped me have a better idea of what to look for.

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by sewingsparklz

Looks like you're set with all those stores! Sure would be fun to come along, especially with a teenage daughter!

(You know in my head I am still 19.)

It was a blast. I don't get to spend as much time with oldest dd now that she's working full-time, and we both enjoyed it a lot. She loves to shop and has good taste and will tell me honestly if something does or doesn't look right on me. I still feel young in my mind too, lol!

Originally Posted by starbyfar7

as someone with usually NO booty whatsoever.. this is one pregnancy symptom i actually like.. as does my partner lol. lets here it for the curves that us bony chicks finally get to experience!! leggings for the win!

Originally Posted by sewingsparklz

Ha ha ha ha! That's great! I am happy that when I'm pregnant I get boobs! And so is DH. I really am not a big girl. I've always been slender and have a small frame, but I just can't get into the silhouette that leggings and a tunic creates...Although I have seen it look pretty good on some people. You go right ahead and wear them!!!!

These comments made me laugh. Yep, I'm one who kind of likes the added curvature in the hip area during pregnancy. My chest doesn't need any help, thanks very much. Usually I have a hard time fitting in small/med tops because of it. I'm so glad as I lost the weight before getting pregnant that some of it came off up there, so that now I can actually fit into tops that fit my petite frame better.