Pregnancy is a great excuse for buying a whole new wardrobe, without having the guilt of justifying your purchases. However, it can be pretty easy to go overboard on your maternity clothing budget and have very little to show for it.
While it can be tempting to start buying and wearing every cute little maternity top, skirt and pants from the moment you begin to show, most of us don’t have the luxury of an unlimited budget for clothing.
Remember, you have a baby to buy for, as well! Before you make any frivolous maternity clothing purchases, make sure that you have the basics covered. With the right wardrobe base, you will make it through your pregnancy looking great.
Start With The Basics
As with any wardrobe, you need to start from the ground up. Maternity lingerie may not sound quite so sexy, but whether you like the look or not, by the end of your pregnancy, you will be glad to have the extra support.
Maternity Underwear - Maternity underwear might not be the cutest thing on the block, but it will help support your belly and will stretch along with you.
Supportive Bra - Most women outgrow their pre-pregnancy bras at an alarming rate. Make sure that you purchase a good, supportive bra to help keep you comfortable throughout your nine long months. If you plan to breastfeed, you can go ahead and purchase a nursing bra now, letting it serve double duty.
Loungewear - While your most comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms will certainly suit the purpose on a lazy day at home during early pregnancy, they may start to become constricting later on. Purchase a pair or two of cute pyjamas for at home and a pregnancy tracksuit for quick trips out.
Bottoms
Maternity pants have a bit of a bad reputation for being obvious uni-taskers. Things have changed in recent years and maternity bottoms can now take you from the early days of pregnancy to those days after delivery when you are trying to drop that baby weight.
Maternity Jeans - A good pair of maternity jeans is an absolute must for every pregnant woman. There are lots of different styles and colours available, so choose a pair that reminds you the most of your favourite pair of regular jeans.
Khakis - A comfortable pair of khakis can be dressed up or down and even worn to the office, if your company’s dress code allows. Choose a regular length or if the weather is warm, go with a cute Capri.
Trousers - Every woman knows that you cannot get through life without a good pair of trousers. Choose your favourite colour from black, brown or navy; which ever suits the rest of your wardrobe best.
Tops
Maternity tops make many women tremble with fashionista fear, but this is not necessary. Gone are the days of the gauzy, balloon-ish shirts and “Baby on Board” t-shirts. Today’s maternity tops are cute, fashionable and look good enough to leave in your wardrobe after the baby is born.
Stretchy Tees - Stretchy tees will take you from the days when your bump has barely started to show and still be comfortable enough to wear in the last days before birth. Just make sure that you actually purchase the maternity sizes or you run the risk of the length coming up short later on.
Cute Maternity Tops - The sky is the limit when it comes to cute tops. Most stores carry everything from comfortable tanks to layered sweater sets, so this is where you can let your personal style shine through. Again, even if a larger size in the regular clothing department seems to fit early on, it may not be long enough as your belly begins to grow.
Dressing Up
Being pregnant doesn’t mean that you won’t have any social events to attend for the next nine months. Make sure that you purchase at least one outfit for dressier occasions. A basic black dress or another solid colour that you prefer is the best bet. This will allow you to change your accessories and use the same outfit for several different outings.
Comfortable Shoes
As your pregnancy progresses, your stilettos will likely be retired to the back of the closet for a while. Finding the right pair of shoes is vital to your comfort and even your safety. Choose a pair that has good arch support and a low heel, assuring that your feet are comfy and you can keep your balance, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet. Do not be surprised if you need to go up in size, as many women’s feet swell and grow during pregnancy.
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