Last week, I tackled a soon-to-be/new-Mommy question
{Read HERE}.
This week I'm going to tackle a question frequently asked by pregnant friends. It's a question I think all newly pregnant women ask their previously pregnant friends, so I'm hoping my answer will be at least somewhat helpful!
Where did you buy maternity clothes?
7x7xMommy
Ohhhh, maternity clothes...I feel like women are either super excited about shopping for them or they're absolutely dreading the experience. For me personally, I was excited (I wouldn't say super, but I was definitely not dreading it)...I just saw it as an opportunity to expand my relatively pathetic wardrobe.
Let me put it this way...to this day, Travis still tells me my maternity wardrobe was better than my "normal" wardrobe (think: black yoga pants and a black North Face 90% of the time).
That being said, I must have done something right when I purchased my maternity clothes.
Here are my thoughts on the experience:
1. WAIT
Yes, even those of you who fall into the category of "super excited." I highly recommend waiting to go shopping for maternity clothes until you're at least 5 months along...either that, or wait until you're showing (which for some could be before or after the 5 month mark). You won't really know how your body will change until it actually changes...avoid the return line by being patient...and while you're working on your patience, invest in some Belly Bands...which brings me to my next tip...
2. Buy a Belly Band
What's a Belly Band? Well, it's a life (and a money) saver.
Back when I was about 27 weeks along, I wrote my Top 10 Tips for Pregnancy & (Impending) Parenthood and #1 on my list was a Belly Band. I said it before and I'll say it again, You’ll never know how amazing an elastic tube around your belly feels until you’ve purchased a Belly Band. I’d buy one or two of these right away because you never know when that magical day will arrive…that magical day being the one where you can no longer button your pants (or zip your zipper for that matter).
I found my Belly Band at Target, but I've seen them pretty much anywhere you can purchase Maternity clothes.
3. Plan Ahead
When the magical day I mentioned above actually arrives, I think it's about time to find some maternity clothes. And before you head out, I recommend taking some time to evaluate your day-to-day life. What will you really need? What's your dress code at work? What can you "make work" in your current wardrobe?
The reason I think this step is so crucial is because you're only pregnant for 40 weeks (give or take a few)...in the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time. You don't want to go spending a ton of money on items you're not going to use regularly (unless you have an unlimited budget, of course...but something tells me the majority of new moms don't have unlimited budgets!).
Another good question to ask yourself is: Are we planning on having more than one baby? I know not everyone knows the answer to this question, but for me personally, knowing that we plan on having more than one baby means my maternity clothes will resurface someday (they're currently in a bag in my closet waiting patiently for bump #2). Knowing that, I was able to justify purchasing a few "nicer" items for special occasions.
Planning ahead allowed me to go shopping without feeling overwhelmed and without making ridiculous purchases.
4. Save on Staples
Two stores where I found some essential wardrobe staples were Motherhood Maternity and Gap (mainly online for the latter). Motherhood Maternity was the first place I went shopping and it's where I purchased the majority of my layering tops, my skinny jeans (Heidi Klum's brand), my black leggings (comfiest things EVER when you're pregnant), and a few other staples. Their prices were right, their clothes fit me well, and they lasted throughout my entire pregnancy (oh, and I still wear them from time to time even though I no longer have a bump).
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| One of my Motherhood Maternity Outfits |
In my opinion, if you're looking to buy a variety of items without spending a lot, these are two great places to check out!
5. Spend on Special Occasions
Every once in a while, it's nice to treat yourself to something special.
Toward the end of my pregnancy, I got a little antsy...I was ready for Abigail to arrive, I was sick of wearing the same outfits over and over again, and I knew we had a Maternity Photo Shoot coming up. I HAD to find something new...
When I finally reached my breaking point (which you know isn't hard to do when you're pregnant), Travis basically forced me to go to Mom's The Word in San Francisco and I'm SO glad he did. We had the best experience...the sales associates were super nice and helpful, the clothes were comfy and fashionable, and we walked out of there with a few new outfits and an amazing dress for our photo shoot. The result?
And while the clothes at Mom's the Word were definitely more expensive than at the other stores, they were worth every single penny. They're high quality, they're classics, and they'll be ready to come out and play next time!
Bottom Line
When it's time to go shopping for maternity clothes, try to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience...it's definitely not your average shopping trip.
Find items that make you feel sexy, comfortable, and confident because that's how pregnant women should feel. Take your best friend, your Mom, your Husband, or just your bump...but be sure to take your patience because clothes will be fitting you in a way that they never have before. :) Happy shopping!!!
What Else?!?
Friends, Family & Followers...where did you find your favorite maternity clothes? Any tips or tricks you'd like to add or share?
