Hi friends! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve been quieter than usual there – for good reason. On January 1st I found out I’m pregnant! I spent the first couple months of the year on the couch, but now that I’m in the early stages of my second trimester, I’m feeling a lot more energetic.
And my pants are feeling a lot tighter, lol!
Among all the planning to welcome our little one, I’m also planning for my changing body. At 17 weeks pregnant, my pre-pregnancy jeans are officially a no-go. I’ve been getting away with leggings and sweatpants, but with spring now here, and knowing my third trimester will be through the summer, I’m planning my maternity wardrobe.
Over the past few years I’ve been focusing on slower fashion, curating a small wardrobe, and leaning on versatile pieces. This won’t change over the coming months! Here’s how I’m planning my wardrobe for my growing body, while maintaining a slow fashion approach to my clothing.
buying a couple maternity basics
I’m sure I could get away with not buying any maternity items at all, but there are a few I (think I) will be buying for simplicity and comfort over anything. One big reason is that I know a lot of maternity wear is nursing friendly, and I’ll still wear these pieces in the fourth trimester. Some items I know I’ll be purchasing are:
- 1 or 2 t-shirts or tank tops that are both maternity and nursing friendly
- a pair of jeans…maybe lol! I’ve already tried on maternity jeans just to see what they’re like, and don’t really love them. But we’ll see – I really miss my denim!
- 1 pair of casual/athletic pants. I’ve actually already bought these joggers and know I will wear them a ton on everyday walks, hikes, WFH, and while traveling.
- a bodycon dress, since this is not something I currently have in my wardrobe, and I’m excited for how one will hug my bump!
This is what I’ll start with, and then assess as I go throughout my pregnancy if I feel like I don’t actually need these items, or if I feel like I need anything else. Hopefully not, as I will be…
leaning on pre-pregnancy pieces
over-pieces
I love my blazers, over-sized button-up shirts, and denim jackets. And they’re all great to wear throughout pregnancy over some basic maternity tops! I’m lucky that I’ll be pregnant through the warmer months, so I don’t need to worry about zipping up a big winter coat.
flowy + stretchy dresses
I’ll be very pregnant throughout the summer months, and that means I’ll be able to wear all my summer dresses! Thankfully, they’re either super flowy and loose, or stretchy (I’m especially excited to wear these super soft + stretchy pieces from Encircled!) I’m sure most other clothing will irritate me anyway haha!
alex’s band t-shirts
I’m already borrowing Alex’s clothes more because they’re so comfy! He has the best collection of over-sized band shirts, which I’ll be wearing with my fave stretchy midi-skirt.
borrowing clothes
I’m very lucky that my mother-in-law and I have similar style and wear the same size. She’s already lent me a couple flowy dresses and stretchy bottoms that I can wear now and throughout my second trimester. Her generous wardrobe-sharing means I don’t need to buy a bunch of new clothing, and I’m still feeling pretty cute as my stomach begins growing!
searching secondhand
We have a couple events this spring and summer. The event-wear I have in my wardrobe is not pregnancy-friendly, so I’ll be searching for maternity dresses secondhand. The nice thing about the secondhand maternity wear market is that most items are in great condition as they’re lightly worn. I’ve already done some searches on Facebook Marketplace and feel confident I’ll be able to find something I like!
prioritizing items i can wear after pregnancy
Other than a couple maternity basics, if I buy anything else over the next months, I want to ensure I can wear it after pregnancy. I’m thinking: button-up shirts, flowy midi dresses, over-pieces, and anything stretchy. One piece I’ve already bought that I’m excited to wear during and post-pregnancy is a swimsuit from Youswim, which is one-size fits all and made to adapt to your “body’s natural state of flux.”
As my body changes, I want to make sure I’m honouring it with comfortable clothing and a slow fashion approach, while also maintaining my style. I’m excited to keep you updated on how I do!
Do you have any tips for adapting your wardrobe for pregnancy?
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