Maternity Style
I finally feeling like I am flying through this pregnancy after an exhausting first + (most of) my second trimester and had a second while prepping for vaca to pull together the select pieces I’ve purchased to stay semi-dressed. 99% are not maternity; I strive to buy pieces that I know I can also wear post-partum and beyond. For those that aren’t pregnant, this also serves as a nice round-up of pieces that are NOT cropped or short! Just as valuable in my book these days as an old millennial ha.
I prioritized sharing today as many of the items are part of Banana Republic’s 40% off sale. I will share more detail below, but general rule of thumb for BR + their oversized items is to order down one size if you aren’t expecting and order your normal size to accommodate a bump (I got an L in everything and have plenty of room for the bump).
Leave any questions/sizing asks in the comments and I will get right back to you!
These button downs are nice and long (and oversized) - I will wear them with my bump now, front-tucked post-partum, and over swim suits in the longer term. I have the chambray and the poplin stripe; both are 40% off right now!
Also included in the sale are some great non-wool (I can’t stand wool) blazers. My go-to polished maternity look is one of these Target tees, a good blazer, and jeans. Can’t go wrong. I looove this linen stripe and this sunny yellow double-breasted option! You can order your true size and just wear them unbuttoned for now!
If you have been around here for a bit you know I buy all of my sweaters for the year around this time as I prefer cotton for year-round wear and bring in linen for the warmer months. I grabbed both of these oversized cotton stripes; noting the half-zip will be a bit short but still super cute over ribbed dresses and the above button-downs. This cream cotton number is a great, affordable option for my trusty Babaa and this cardigan will last you forever pregnant or not. The side slits on this linen sweater will accommodate a bump and a good front tuck; I bought in black for versatile wear and so I can dress it up and down (linen adds a little polish IMO).
Last pick from the sale is this sunny trench coat (also comes in a gorgeous navy) that will work well for a bump with it’s casual belted closure and blousy oversized fit but will also work beautifully postpartum or not pregnant!
In terms of basics, I live in these non-ruched maternity tees from Target (I ordered up one size from my regular size this twin bump is and will be massive) and bike shorts. JCrew just changed the fabric of my faves so I will try these maternity Old Navy ones next. I bought this slip for under $13 to wear under all of my white dresses, sooo happy to find one that isn’t tight!! My mom bought me these bamboo underwear last year for my bday and they are my FAVORITE - they’ve grown with me this pregnancy and I just ordered another 4-pack. In terms of jeans, I stick with these cheap ones from Target as maternity jeans are the one thing I know for sure I will only wear for a few months. Are they great? No. Are the pricey ones great? No. They do the trick. I have this skinny style (skinny jeans are still a must with all of these oversized tops IMO) and this lighter distressed wash to style with tees and blazers. Lastly these cream shorts in my regular size have worked great under-bump (I think you could go down a size if you are in-between and not pregnant) and I LIVE this in what I call the “ELS Sweatshirt” as I bought it due to my i-friend Emily’s deep passion lol. Even with the bump I sized down to an M; it’s fit me the entire pregnancy so far but I might order another in an L for the later days while it’s on sale. This classic knit tee-shirt dress has a flattering neckline and bump-friendly midi-fit (aka you can also bend down what a novelty!). I got it in black and had to size up to an XL for the bump. Other random find - this Free People Mock-Neck in an XL readily fits the bump (you are probably fine in your normal size if you aren’t carrying twins) and looks great with leggings and sneaks! I just ordered these socks to try and up my Birkenstock mom-game but the jury is out if I am cool enough to pull them off.
Speaking of shoes, I got a new pair of the greatest under-$50 foam Birkenstocks of all time (I’m a 10.5-11 and the 41 in these and all other open-toed styles from them is perfect) in white and will wear them until they wear out. My Big Buckle Birkenstocks are a few years young and will wear them to death as well. I don’t like to own too many shoes so I do tend to invest here; I highly recommend these Freda Salvador woven mules that add a little texture and special detail to any outfit and are forgiving to swollen pregnant feet. Similarly I love a good pool slide especially to minimize the look of swollen ankles in flat sandals - I pre-ordered these beauties from Freda Salvador before they sell out. I also invested in these dove gray square-toed flats… the Paul Green brand is new to me but apparently has a secret cult following due to their INCREDIBLE comfort and supportive insoles. Trust me that they are heaven. I took at a 10.5 in these. Lastly these Tory Burch Good Luck Trainers are the most flattering “dad shoes” I’ve found, I am waiting on an upcoming TB sale to purchase and needed the full size 11.
I learned last time that traditional diaper bags stress me out, sooo many pockets and crevices it’s impossible to find anything. I’m weighing options like the Isabel Marant Yanky Tote or one of these Loeffler Randall options as a simpler solve that I can test drive pre-baby.
A few resort-friendly options; I ordered 135123513 bikinis and this exact bottom and this top were supportive and well-fitting under-bump (with no love handle squish) for a growing bump. I ordered my normal L but I think they run big, I’d probably go with the M in both if I wasn’t pregnant. These Rag & Bone Classic Wayfarer sunnies are juuuuust the right size between medium and oversized and scratched my itch for a grey frame and lens. I’d call them more of a cat eye than a wayfarer but definitely seem like they’d be universally flattering.
