what to wear when you’re expecting

calivintage - what to wear when you're expecting

i know i’m backtracking a little bit on this one, but i am so excited to finally share this little project that i started working on shortly before edith was born. being pregnant for the second time around, i had a lot more confidence than my first. when i was pregnant with adam, i was a lot more insecure about losing my personal style (and my identity, for that matter), so i basically tried really hard to dress exactly the same as i did before i was pregnant. which totally works for the first several months of pregnancy, especially if you don’t tend to start showing until pretty late in the game. but once you hit that third trimester, things get rough, and it’s good to have a realistic game plan for how you want to dress. i mean, yeah, lots of sweatpants are involved, but if you’re like me, then you probably still want to look pulled together no matter how huge and uncomfortable you might be.

so while getting dressed this time around, i made note of what my “essential” maternity wardrobe looked like. the tried-and-true pieces that got me all the way through until 39 weeks. and yes, all of these looks were shot in that last week of pregnancy, so these were all outfits that worked when i was full term. because like i said, it’s really that third trimester (and even the fourth) where getting dressed is the biggest challenge and most likely to alter your usual sense of style. so here it is…

what to wear when you’re expecting

calivintage - what to wear when you're expecting
the jumpsuit

when i was pregnant the first time around, i was terribly afraid of wearing jumpsuits or overalls. in hindsight, i have absolutely no idea why. these days, i can’t seem to get enough of them. they look great on pretty much everyone, and i always seemed to get a lot of compliments when i wore the twilight jumpsuit from hatch collection. my only word of caution is that this might not be for you if you’re suffering from incontinence because it will take a bit of effort to get off in a bathroom emergency. otherwise, jumpsuits are a really nice alternative to just wearing dresses, and give you just as many styling options. bonus because the button-front means you can wear it while breastfeeding after baby is born, too. here, i’m wearing the hatch twighlight jumpsuit with a brookes boswell straw hat, and sandgrens clogs.

 

calivintage - what to wear when you're expecting
the jersey dress

this versatile storq maternity t-shirt dress is perfect because it is incredibly soft and stretchy, while also being thick and comfortable. you can wear it alone on a hot day, or paired with any number of different tops, jackets, and accessories during the spring, summer, and fall. i wore this to the hospital the day edith was born, and threw it back on for my first walk around the maternity ward. worn here paired with an elizabeth suzann linn tee, born sandals, clare v. handbag, and avenue boutique espanola hat.

 

calivintage - what to wear when you're expecting
maternity jeans

ok, i’m kinda cheating because these are vintage levis that i found at the thrift store and converted to maternity jeans using a belly band. i didn’t put together a diy for them, but a quick google search comes up with tons of tutorials. you basically cut off the top part of the pants and sew on some stretchy spandex. pants are the most challenging thing to wear during pregnancy (unless we’re talking sweatpants or leggings), so it was especially nice for me to be able to pull on a pair of jeans toward the end when all i wanted to do was feel normal. if you don’t want to diy a pair like i did, you can buy any pair of bootcut maternity jeans and just cut the hems to get a similar look. seen here wearing a vintage men’s button-up, vintage levi’s that i converted to maternity jeans, marais usa jardin heels, clare v handbag, and brookes boswell straw hat.

 

calivintage - what to wear when you're expecting

the caftan

or pretty much anything from maternity-wear brand fillyboo, including this dress. i often refer to the third trimester as the caftan phase. you’re gonna be feeling huge and uncomfortable, and there’s just something about wearing a cool, floaty dress while pregnant. i thought it was too cliche to dress-up like this during my first pregnancy, but now i don’t know how i ever managed! a huge pregnant belly is just screaming to be swathed in a luxurious caftan. it just feels so right. this one is especially awesome because it’s actually a duster. you can completely unbutton the front and throw it on over pretty much anything. above, wearing the fillyboo “bojangles” button-through maternity dusteravenue boutique espanola hat, and swedish hasbeens clog sandals.

 

and a few extras:

socks and low heels

you already know about my obsession with clogs. i find that they’re a really practical choice during pregnancy if you get them with a low heel. a very low 1-2″ heel helps to alleviate some of the lower back pain that you’ll experience from carrying all that weight in the front. i know it sounds counterproductive, but it actually helps to balance out the weight a little better.

cake maternity black rock candy bra

i am speaking for the very full-busted among us, so you can disregard this if you can fit into traditional a-d cup sizes. but as someone who typically wears a 32ddd and up to a 32i during pregnancy and nursing, i have had a lot of challenges when it comes to finding a bra that will fit and be comfortable. after the first trimester, it becomes incredibly painful for me to wear an underwire because it starts to put pressure on the top of my belly and restricts my airflow. this bra, while not as supportive as a traditional underwire, will help you to breathe a little better and actually comes in larger cup sizes. it will also come in handy right after the baby is born.

granny panties

much like a bra, this really does come down to personal preference, but don’t shy away from granny panties if that’s what is most comfortable for you! i found that super high rise granny panties and shorts were the most comfortable for me. regular underwear would roll down off my belly, so i’d be awkwardly pulling them up all day long.

belly bandit upsie belly

at some point in the second or third trimester, you will start to feel the pain of that heavy belly pulling you down. this simple back brace made a huge difference for me. i didn’t wear it all day long, but i definitely threw it on if i knew i was going to be on my feet for a long time.

maternity pillow

this might seem silly, but wait until you get into the third trimester. even if it seems pricey, the leachco snoogle was totally worth the 80 bucks. i didn’t get one when i was pregnant with adam, but i really wish that i had. in the third trimester, it becomes a painful undertaking to just turn from one side to the other. you will appreciate this pillow. trust me.

self care

i’m talking luxurious lotions, scrubs and face masks, bath soaks, scented candles, and massages. whatever your budget, i highly recommend you do anything you can to pamper yourself at least every now and then. there is no reason to suffer through pain when something as simple as a soak in the tub can help! when i was pregnant the first time around, i really didn’t take care of myself as well as i should have, and i think i suffered for it. i know not everyone can afford a spa day, but hopefully you can find some time to at least chill out and take care of yourself. you’re making a baby, you deserve it!!

 

want more maternity-wear ideas? click-through my maternity archive for a few more of the looks i’ve worn throughout my pregnancy.

maternity style: esby apparel $300 giveaway!

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you may remember a couple of weeks back, i shared a few images from the spring 2016 lookbook of austin-based designer esby apparel. well, today i am excited to announce that i’ve teamed up with the brand to offer you a chance to win $300 towards anything in their online shop! i’m particularly enamored with my new allison cropped jumpsuit, though i will admit that i’m more excited to wear it when i’m not 33 weeks pregnant! still, i love the fact that i’m able to wear it when most of the things in my closet don’t fit anymore! and i know that it’s going to get a ton of wear this spring and summer after baby is born. bonus points because you can wear it with the wrap in front or back, making it particularly appealing for those first few months of breastfeeding. but enough about me, let’s talk about esby! the brand was founded in 2014 by designer stephanie beard and is proudly made in the usa using high quality fabrics with an emphasis on comfort and wearability. this season features lots of beautiful linen and cotton dresses, jumpsuits, and separates that seamlessly fit into any wardrobe. you can enter the giveaway below!

win $300 to esby apparel!

wearing:
esby apparel allison cropped jumpsuit
vintage denim jacket
maguba barcelona clogs in brown nubuck on a natural wedge sole
clare vivier kenya bag
brookes boswell wakefield hat in panama

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maternity style: jumpsuit

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while it’s certainly been a lot easier getting dressed for this pregnancy, i gotta say, i feel like i may be losing steam now that i’m 29 weeks along. it’s the dreaded third trimester. my belly is growing, my clothes are getting more snug by the moment, and i’m just uncomfortable a lot of the time. i know it’s not like that for everyone, but pregnancy has never been particularly easy for me. this may be partially due to the fact that i make very large babies. when adam was born, everyone in the delivery gasped when they saw his size: 9lbs. 14oz. and 22.5″ long. no wonder i was so uncomfortable those last couple of months! anyway, it’s getting harder, but i’ve got my eye on the prize. i’ll be holding my baby in my hands in about 2 months, and that’s all that really matters.

and even though i’m starting to feel kinda crappy, i’m still making an effort to wear cute, comfortable clothes. i became obsessed with this rachel comey jumpsuit when it first came out a couple of seasons ago, and finally got my hands on it from a shop in the uk. turns out, the oversized fit is perfect to wear during pregnancy. and it will come in handy after the baby is born, too!

wearing:
rachel comey jumpsuit
maryam nassir zadeh roberta heels
clare vivier petit kenya bag
illesteva leonard sunglasses

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maternity style: elizabeth suzann

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things are moving along pretty swiftly over here! just last night, i found out that the baby will be born on april 26. i can’t believe that i’ll be holding my little girl in my arms in only two and a half months! it’s weird to know her exact birthday ahead of time, but i didn’t have the option to try for a vbac. even though it’s a little stressful knowing that i have to go through major surgery once again, i’m much more concerned about having a healthy baby. and on the bright side, at least we won’t have to deal with the stress of waking up the whole family in the middle of the night!

but for now, i’m focusing on these last several weeks, getting the house and nursery prepped, and dealing with this crazy southern california heat wave! just when i was getting used to cold weather clothes, things are heating up! but i still got a chance to wear these beautiful pieces by one of my favorite designers, elizabeth suzann. i’ve been following her since the very beginning and this dress is one of her classics that she’s had from the start. it’s a simple, versatile silk dress that is beautiful alone or layered up any number of different ways. on this particular day, i paired it with a cropped sweater from the fall collection. simple dresses and crop tops like this are such an easy formula these days. especially when they are thoughtfully handmade in the usa by such an awesome designer!

wearing:
elizabeth suzann arlo sweater
elizabeth suzann vera slip dress
vintage clogs
clyde wide brim pinch hat
market backpack from mur lifestyle

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maternity style: overalls

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this time around, i’m having a lot more fun getting dressed than when i was pregnant with adam. i think that having gone through the experience before, has given me a lot more confidence going forward. i’m generally less plagued with worries and fears, and i’m a lot less concerned about changing my style or losing my identity. the first time around, i really didn’t want to let go of my style, so i resisted making any changes. it wasn’t a huge deal, but in retrospect, i would have been a lot more comfortable if i had opted to wear pants or longer hemlines at least some of the time. in fact, i distinctly remember being horrified by the idea of wearing overalls, even though they are super cute to wear while pregnant! i picked these up at the rose bowl flea market a few weeks ago, and i love them. they won’t make it until the very end of my pregnancy, but i’ll definitely pull them out again post-partum. denim overalls are your best friend when you’ve got a baby and a toddler to look after. and they’re surprisingly resilient against baby puke and dirty toddler hands.

wearing:
three dots essential short sleeve crew tee
vintage overalls
apc trench coat
maryam nassir zadeh roberta heels
j.w. hulme legacy handbag
shinola runwell watch

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james fox co.

with baby due in april, we’re pretty much in the home stretch over here. i’m in the dreaded third trimester, which means it will feel like an eternity, but the reality is that i have less than three months to get ready! the nursery is moving along well, but i also need to make sure i pack my hospital bag for the big day. as with a lot of births, my last experience did not go as expected. one thing that was surprisingly hard was to be stuck in a hospital bed wearing two threadbare hospital gowns as doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, and family members came in an out of the room at all hours of the day and night. nurses would pull open my shirt and poke my boobs to see if i was engorged, the doctor would lift up my gown to check on my healing cesarean scar, a very sweet woman came in with a warm squirt bottle and accompanied me to the bathroom to make sure that i peed…. it’s a tough experience to be in a hospital, so it’s really nice to be able to feel as normal as possible while it’s all happening.

perhaps because so much of my expression of self comes from the clothes i choose to wear, i feel best wearing something of my own. i begged them to let me wear my own nightgown, but they told me i couldn’t because they wouldn’t be able to juggle the iv or rush me to the icu if something were to go wrong. i totally get it. but this time, i’m so happy to know about james fox co. hospital gowns! they currently have a beautiful purple ikat or this minimalist crema gown in hand woven cotton. and one nice perk? a portion of the proceeds go towards providing maama kits to help women in uganda to deliver their babies safely.

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outfit: only child

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it’s been a minute since i’ve shared an outfit post, and partly because it has been extremely hard to find the motivation now that i’m just about 6 months pregnant! my wardrobe has been really simple, and most days i don’t feel much like myself, which isn’t exactly inspiring when it comes to mustering up the courage to pose for pictures. but i definitely made the exception for this beautiful silk dress by oakland-based designer only child. the one-size-fits-most style has been very accommodating to my growing waistline, and is the perfect base for layering on any number of different accessories. so if i want, i can totally get away with wearing it every day of the week, just swapping out for a different bag, a new pair of shoes, a swipe of lipstick, or an easy updo. it’s such a no-brainer that it really helps me to get on with my day, even when i’m not feeling 100 percent.

i also love that the brand is completely hand-made in small batches by self-taught designer haley tucker. you can tell that she really takes the time to come up with thoughtful designs, and that each piece has been made with a focus on solid craftsmanship. i also love that i know exactly where my money is going when i make a purchase from a small, local designer such as this.

wearing:
dora silk blend dress courtesy of only child
vintage wool scarf
clare vivier messenger tote
clyde angora pinch hat
martiniano glove slipper

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hatch collection pre-spring 2016

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as you guys all know, i’m just about six months pregnant now, and maternity clothes are pretty much necessity at this point. or at least clothes that are comfortable and versatile enough to be worn with this growing belly of mine. and if there’s one company who’s got maternity figured out, it’s hatch collection. they know how to make clothes that will work conveniently before, during, and after pregnancy without screaming maternity-wear. no ruched side seams or high belts. just simple, comfortable clothes that can be mixed and matched with your current wardrobe and that will last long after your belly is gone.

during my first pregnancy, i was kind of adamant that i didn’t need maternity-specific clothes. but this time around, i totally accept that no matter what i buy for my pregnancy, it’s not like i’m going to continue wearing it for years down the line. it’s more about finding a few really versatile essentials that will be comfortable to wear, and help you to feel good during an otherwise pretty challenging nine months of your life! and don’t forget that sneaky fourth trimester! bonus if you keep wearing it beyond a year, which is exactly what’s so nice about hatch.

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maternity style: holiday comforts with zappos

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hard to believe it, but i’m already more than halfway through my pregnancy! it’s not my first time celebrating the holiday season while pregnant, but if there’s one thing i’ve learned from the past, it’s that you gotta dress comfortably! but of course, i still want to look nice for the few holiday parties and new years celebrations that i will be attending, glass of sparkling cider in hand. so this year, i partnered with zappos to shop my holiday looks using the style room. it’s basically a one-stop shop for all of your holiday outfit needs, and everything is listed in tidy categories based on your personal style preferences. for this simple holiday look, i went for a mix of classic and contemporary. but since my belly is just starting to emerge, i was a little bit unsure of what size to order. the nice thing is that they have free two-day shipping and free returns, so when the first dress turned out to be the wrong size, i was able to quickly make an exchange with plenty of time before christmas and new year’s.

now, i know this outfit isn’t your traditional holiday outfit, but i’m not exactly going to be hitting up the club. my christmas eve will be spent with family, most likely unwrapping a present or two and stuffing my face with tamales. christmas day is also a pretty casual affair around here, and new year’s eve will be similar. i’ve invited a few people over for the celebration, but we’ll probably be turning in a little early with a nearly two-year-old in tow. but that’s alright with me! there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays, and i’m totally ok with going super low-key this year.

wearing:
vince camuto turtleneck sweater dress courtesy of zappos
sam edelman petty boots courtesy of zappos
vintage jacket
clyde mohair pinch hat
clinique lip pop in cola pop

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maternity style: baby on the way

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that’s right, we’re going in for round number two! today i am exactly 17 weeks along with my second little dude or dudette. i don’t really have much to share other than one of my typical outfit posts. at this stage in the pregnancy, i basically just look like i ate a really big burrito, though i’m sure that will change any day now. yesterday i discovered that i can no longer button my largest pair of jeans, so i’m scrambling to pull together my maternity wardrobe! it’s actually a funny coincidence that i even have this dress. kinwolfe reached out to me a few months ago and asked if i’d like to try one of their maternity nursing dresses since i’m still breastfeeding adam. little did i know that only a few weeks later, i would find out that i was pregnant! needless to say, it was a lifesaver to have it hanging in my closet when i started to burst out of all my normal clothes.

and this time around, when it comes to getting dressed, i’m a lot more focused on comfort and practicality than when i was pregnant with adam. now i kinda feel like this seasoned veteran, and in a way, it’s fun to be able to have this whole arsenal of learnings from the last time around. it’s really helped me to feel much more calm and positive about the whole process. and i am so excited to see what this next little human being is going to be like!

wearing:
silk radiant maternity/nursing dress courtesy of kinwolfe
benah for karen walker handbag
hatch cashmere socks
swedish hasbeens pearl high

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