I’ve always been super curious about this capsule wardrobe idea. But I never got around to trying it. Now that I’m pregnant, I thought it’d be a good opportunity. So I put together a list of some maternity wardrobe basics and figured out how to get them without breaking the bank.
I have avoided buying maternity clothes for as long as possible. My belly took a while to really pop out, so I’ve been getting by with lots of leggings and flowy tops. Most of my clothes are loose and flowy, so I had a lot to work with. I was even able to wear my jeans if I just used a hair tie to fasten the button.
That is, until about a week ago when I realized I was bumping my 6 month pregnant belly up against the sink as I was doing the dishes. I swear this thing came out of nowhere. And I have finally arrived at the “nothing fucking fits me” stage.
I knew I didn’t want to buy a bunch of maternity clothes that I wouldn’t ever wear again. So I’ve been stocking up on looser clothes that I knew I’d wear post-pregnancy. But these last three months are clearly going to need something a bit more legit.
So, I thought of the few things I’m going to need that I don’t have.
Protip: make sure to shop in neutrals so you can mix and match without looking like you’re wearing the same outfit for three months straight.
My 10 Maternity Wardrobe Basics
- Jeans
- Leggings
- Shorts
- Nice dress
- Casual dress
- Hoodie
- Shirts
- Underwear
- Bathing Suit
- Bras
Here is how I’ve managed to snag these maternity wardrobe basics without breaking the bank.
Target Clearnace Section
I refuse to buy anything full price. So I scoured the Target clearance section and found a Liz Lange maternity dress and a hoodie for next to nothing! I also bought this maternity bathing suit from Target, but it wasn’t on clearance. However, it has made it through this entire pregnancy and is still going strong! Same goes for my bras. I needed new bras verrrry early on in this pregnancy. I bought two pair of nursing bras from Target because they were the only ones that fit me and they are my favorite bras to date. Plus, I’ll still be using them post-baby. I feel better about buying non-sale items at Target becasue I use my RED card and get 5% off each purchase. Plus free shipping on any purchase. It’s a miracle card.
Poshmark
I got myself a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts and a pair of leggings (which I’m living in right now) on Poshmark. I caved and got a legit pair of maternity jeans from Motherhood that fit like a glove (the ones from Poshmark are little baggy, so I’m re-selling them here).
Truthfully, Poshmark has become my guilty pleasure and I’ve been finding myself making offers in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep and waking up to “congratulations, your offer was accepted” emails. But I’ve veered away from maternity clothes. I’m living for second-hand Lululemon right now.
Asos Maternity
When you can catch a sale on Asos, take advantage of it! I got this gorgeous dress for the holidays (since I’ll be super pregnant come December). And it was 50% off! Plus, it works post-partum as a nursing dress. It’s super comfy and soft. I love it. Asos is great for classic every-day staples and nicer occasion pieces. Plus, I’ve found I can always depend on their quality. I had to check the sizing chart a few times and take advantage of their free returns policy before I was able to nail down my size, but once I did it made shopping with them a breeze.
Amazon Prime
I found some “under the bump” undies on Amazon Prime along with these 2 maternity tanks. I also felt like being festive this season and got this Halloween shirt
Other Mommies
The ladies in my prenatal yoga class have been SO generous with their maternity clothes. A few of them have gotten bags from their friends and bring to class whatever they don’t want. I’ve rifled through some bags and bins of theirs and found some gems!
Honey
If you haven’t already installed the Honey widget to your toolbar, I don’t know what you’re doing with your life. It works with every website. Every. Website. I was never a big online shopper, but being pregnant has totally changed that. With Honey, before you check out your online cart you just press a button and it tries every eligible coupon code for you! I’ve saved so much money using this thing. Not just on maternity clothes, but on printing family photos, buying holiday gifts and shopping for neccesities on Amazon.
My plan is to make these few maternity wardrobe basics last through my third thrimester and beyond. Truthfully, I don’t know why all pants don’t come with a stretchy band that goes up to your chest. I’ve always hated jeans, so these maternity pants have been a revelation #nomorebuttons. I’ll keep you posted.
What maternity wardrobe basics saved you during the third trimester?