|
|
Post by BlahBlahGinger on Jul 19, 2017 9:36:22 GMT -6
Good morning, ladies. I hope I'm not out of line starting a thread as a noob, but I've been struggling with my clothes choices lately and thought a thread on it could be fun.
So far in this pregnancy I've been gravitating toward loose tops, paired with skinny jeans or pants (regular pants with a rubber band for a long time, but now I'm in maternity). However, now that my bump is more obvious, I'm starting to feel like this look is maybe not the most flattering?
I have an event this weekend that I will need to dress up for, and I'm torn between a stretchy dress that totally flaunts the bump, and a loose one that skims over it. I like how the stretchy dress makes it 100% obvious that I'm pregnant, not just getting chubby, but it's more fitted than anything I'd wear when not pregnant, so I'm hesitating. Also, my mom (who will be at the event), will totally clutch her pearls if I wear something that shows off the bump. She likes maternity clothes that conceal.
So, what's your maternity style? Are you flaunting the bump or still in concealing mode? Any good styling tips or maternity wear finds you'd like to share?
If anyone has any good leads on maternity wear that's not covered in prints and ruffles, I'm all ears! (Not knocking prints and ruffles, some women totally rock that look, it's just not me).
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by belle0720 on Jul 19, 2017 9:41:52 GMT -6
BlahBlahGinger I prefer more form fitting clothing. I feel like loose clothes make me look bigger overall and not so obvious that I'm pregnant. For work I'm a big fan of pairing a dress with a blazer/kimono/sweater. Pink Blush Maternity and Old Navy make up the majority of my Maternity wardrobe. It's also worked well for me just to size up in non-maternity clothes. They probably won't fit once I get closer to the end but will probably work well for a few weeks post partum too.
|
|
|
|
Post by BlahBlahGinger on Jul 19, 2017 10:05:26 GMT -6
belle0720 I will check out pink blush, thanks! A lot of my basics from last go around (3 years ago) are from Old Navy and Gap, and they've held up pretty well. Since this will be my last pregnancy, I was trying not to shop too much, but I think a few new cuter pieces might be worth the $ if they can boost my self esteem a little. This is probably crazy, but when I flaunt my bump I worry about people looking at me and expecting me to be due like next month. I'm really not even very big yet, but I feel like people have unrealistic ideas of what second trimester looks like. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by sarahandben108 on Jul 19, 2017 10:10:04 GMT -6
I say, if you can pull off the form fitting style, go for it! I'm too much of a pear to pull anything too tight off so I tend to be more flowy.
|
|
|
|
Post by officedronette on Jul 19, 2017 10:10:44 GMT -6
I'm also in the "flaunting" camp. For work, I tend to live in the Ingrid & Isabel tank dress with a blazer - some colors are on sale in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale but I've bought two full price with no regrets. I wear it at least weekly, so it's less than $4 a wear. Plus it's super comfortable. I also wear a lot of Seraphine - I have this top in fushia which is great both pregnant and post-partum/nursing, and this dress , plus a maternity wrap dress like this that I got on super discount at Century 21. For weekends, I'm in a lot of maxis or shirts/tanks and shorts. In addition to the Land's End Dress that I am obsessed with, pregnant or not (it happens to hit in a perfectly flattering bump spot. My last pregnancy I was a bit heavier and wore more tunics/blouses from Ann Taylor with suit pants (plus it was a different season entirely!) and I find form fitting dresses to be more comfortable and flattering. |
|
|
|
Post by officedronette on Jul 19, 2017 10:12:47 GMT -6
This is probably crazy, but when I flaunt my bump I worry about people looking at me and expecting me to be due like next month. I'm really not even very big yet, but I feel like people have unrealistic ideas of what second trimester looks like. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This is not crazy. This happens. If it will bother you, maybe skimming stuff is better? I have a lot of people tell me, wow, you look really far along for X weeks/months. These people have not seen a lot of pregnant people. I also find that the I&I dresses at least, I don't look like I'm getting a lot bigger week by week, but it the bump is just so obvious in that style, that it makes you look "more pregnant." Since I'm at the point where I prefer "more pregnant" to "just gained 20 lbs for funsies" I don't care as much. |
|
|
|
Post by veganontuesdays on Jul 19, 2017 10:13:39 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by belle0720 on Jul 19, 2017 10:14:01 GMT -6
BlahBlahGinger People definitely have unrealistic ideas about the variety of shapes and sizes of pregnant women (and just in general). I'm totally prepared to get those comments this time around. I started showing super early and I know I'm going to be huge with twins. My belly was already super big last time with just one! But as long as I feel comfortable in what I'm wearing I don't care what other people think. Not to say that a bunch of "you look like you're going to pop" comments when I'm only 6 months wouldn't bother me, but it's not going to change the way I decide to dress.
|
|
|
|
Post by BlahBlahGinger on Jul 19, 2017 10:28:32 GMT -6
officedronette the dress I'm considering for this weekend is actually a lace version of the Ingrid & Isabel tank dress! It's so cute (and comfy), so now I just need to get myself in the right mindset so I can enjoy wearing it. Thanks for the links, veganontuesdays! Are the motherhood t-shirts pretty thick, or do you feel like you need a camisole under? I will also work on being more zen about the unsolicited "you must be ready to pop!" type comments. Last time I developed a really good death glare for those people, but I seem to be less fierce this time around. Maybe leaving litigation has made me soft, lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by veganontuesdays on Jul 19, 2017 10:31:29 GMT -6
BlahBlahGinger I always wear a cami to smooth everything out. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by kensie5226 on Jul 19, 2017 12:02:10 GMT -6
Preganancy is one of the few times I prefer tighter fitting clothes. Normally I'm in the loose top/skinny pant camp b/c that is pretty flattering on my top heavy skinny leg figure. But, in pregnancy I've found it makes me look everything is growing, not just the belly. I do have some looser dresses and honestly I'll wear them, but they're not my faves. I'm also a big fan of maternity shapewear even under my dresses for a smoother look. Almost all my pants/shorts are fully panel b/c I think it looks better.
|
|
|
|
Post by kensie5226 on Jul 19, 2017 12:03:36 GMT -6
Also if you're looking for inexpensive dresses I've had luck with Three Seasons on Amazon. I only have motherhood maternity pants, it's the only place I could find short lady sizes, and Old Navy Shorts and Shirts.
|
|
typo31
Silver
Posts: 287 Likes: 1,340 
|
Post by typo31 on Jul 19, 2017 12:35:33 GMT -6
Great timing with this post, as I just went out and did some shopping damage on my lunch break!
Now that I'm "out" at work I'm firmly in the "flaunt it" camp (give me that seat on the L, dammit!), but I've been perusing maternity clothes online and have had trouble pulling the trigger. I stopped into a Loft Outlet today and ended up buying a couple dresses and tops in a size or two up from my normal, which hug the bump and will get me through second tri. They are low quality as hell and will probably fall apart but they cost next to nothing so I don't care. I just don't want to tear up in front of my closet anymore!
I'm searching without any luck for a maternity bodysuit. I love wearing those under regular clothes for smoothing/cozy purposes. I may have to go with high-waist undies instead.
|
|
sizzleb
Gold
Posts: 506
Likes: 1,255
|
Post by sizzleb on Jul 19, 2017 12:42:32 GMT -6
+1 to feeling like I look better in form fitting clothing when pregnant. I am not a fan of pants, so have been living in maxi skirts with a slim fitting top most days. Although not form fitting, my LLR Carlys (belted above my belly) are definitely a go-to for me lately as well. I stay away from the crazy prints so the ones I have are work appropriate and comfy.
|
|
|
|
Post by BlahBlahGinger on Jul 19, 2017 12:51:20 GMT -6
kensie5226 I'm intrigued by this maternity shapewear you speak of. Any particular brand or style you recommend? I tried spanx once when not pregnant, but felt like I was being squeezed to death, and gave up on the idea altogether. Presumably maternity ones would be less crushing? If I could find something that smoothed out my slight belly button bump that would be awesome (it's not all the way out, but it shows through thin clothes a bit). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by belle0720 on Jul 19, 2017 14:01:38 GMT -6
typo31 I have a dress slip one that I bought from A Pea in the Pod when I was pregnant with my daughter. It's great under thin dresses!
|
|
|
|
Post by kensie5226 on Jul 20, 2017 7:45:26 GMT -6
BlahBlahGinger, I have to check them at home. I haven't pulled out the maternity ones yet. I've still been squeezing into my jockey shorts. They don't squeeze at all. Just smooth down and keep my legs from chafing.
|
|
|
|
Post by officedronette on Jul 20, 2017 8:39:23 GMT -6
My post never posted yesterday! BlahBlahGinger - Belevation petti pant. You can buy on Amazon. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
|
Waffle
Gold
Posts: 756 Likes: 2,998
|
Post by Waffle on Jul 20, 2017 8:49:09 GMT -6
+1 on form fitting stuff: I want to look pregnant, not heavy(ier).
I love the look of that Ingrid and Isabel dress.
My bump hasn't quite popped yet but I'm pre-emptively looking at maternity stuff online as summer sales are on.
As a FTM, I'll admit I'm a bit lost. I just ordered some shorts as we're going on holidays in September and I expect I won't fit in my normal ones by then but I don't know what else to get...
Would sizing up in a bikini work? Maternity options are rubbish and expensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by officedronette on Jul 20, 2017 9:58:25 GMT -6
Waffle, sizing up in a bikini may work. You also may only need to size up the top? Right now I'm working with a Land's End Tankini that I bought post-partum, and J. Crew bottoms from years and years ago (because I bought the Land's End tummy control bikinis, which you can imagine is not comfortable right now!). I also get a lot of Ts and tanks. I tend to wear a lot of cardigans in winter anyway, so I still wear my pre-pregnancy cardigans, but with pregnancy shirts underneath. I try to scour my favorite brands' (like I&I's) sales sections and email promos, and buy when things are on sale (so for example, I have a long-sleeved I&I dress for fall that I bought in May during their winter clearance). You don't really need much if you are ok with wearing the same thing every week. I also was heavier for awhile, so I'm finding my "fat clothes" work reasonably well for my pregnant body at this stage, so long as they have an elastic waist (or are dresses).
|
|
kim22
Amethyst
Posts: 5,258 Likes: 35,559
|
Post by kim22 on Jul 20, 2017 12:15:05 GMT -6
My first pregnancy was 10 years ago and all they had then was loose stuff. I got rid of most of it but found one bin of shorts and tanks from my most recent pregnancy in 2013. I ordered 18 items from Gap/old navy in the past few weeks for under $200, mostly shorts, tanks, and t-shirts, with a few long sleeved fall shirts. I'm a teacher so I'm off until September but I will need some work stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by kensie5226 on Jul 25, 2017 6:37:25 GMT -6
BlahBlahGinger, sorry it took my awhile to dig up the info for those shorts. They're called Belvation PettiPant and they're about 20 bucks each. They have a little bit of support, but they don't squeeze like spanx. They're very comfy and smooths me out for form fitting dresses.
|
|
|
|
Post by BlahBlahGinger on Jul 25, 2017 7:06:02 GMT -6
Thanks kensie5226! My event was Saturday and I ended up finding some Spanx maternity shapewear that worked well. Not at all suffocating like regular spanx can be! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
|
