SUMMER TO FALL: MATERNITY CAPSULE WARDROBE
It’s important to remember that pregnancy and postpartum priorities shift, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your style for the sake of comfort. Sure there may be days where you just don’t care, however there are a lot of comfortable options that can easily take you through your pregnancy and into the postpartum recovery stage.
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When building a capsule wardrobe, you want to focus on getting back to the basics. The key is to simplify, or Marie Kondo your closet. Think about what items you wear the most, and build from there.
Are you a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl? Or do you need to focus on work attire? Whatever lifestyle you will be dressing for, don’t over complicate it and think you need to have ALL the things.
I am a strong believer in investing into your maternity wardrobe, because let’s be honest, you probably buy new clothes every season as it is. So stop using the excuse, “I will only wear this for a few months.” Choosing not to invest in your maternity attire basically means you’re not willing to dress yourself for a season as you normally would.
This doesn’t mean you have to completely replace everything you own! Remember, the key is to simplify. I recommend investing in a few basics and building off of that with your current wardrobe. Chances are you probably have items in your closet that you can still wear for a majority of your pregnancy.
BOTTOMS
So where do we start? Let’s talk bottoms. I always start to notice the discomfort of my tightening waistline before anything else during pregnancy. My number one recommendation is to find a pair or two of maternity jeans that you absolutely love.
For jeans, I prefer the over the belly band so that they stay up better and have more stretch to fit throughout your pregnancy. This also helps make sure your belly is covered as those shirts get a little smaller around your growing bump.
Sure you can opt for a belly band or hair-tie hack, but those will only help you temporarily. So just get the maternity jeans, girl. Your comfortable belly will thank you. Seriously though, who doesn’t love the feel of stretchy pants?
My top 3 maternity jeans are from Jessica Simpson, H&M, and Levi’s. I prefer the skinny style jean, but there are so many options out there now.
If you are living in a warmer climate like me, you might skip right to the maternity denim shorts. If that’s the case, I strongly recommend the side-panel shorts over the belly band. This summer has been SO hot, and I have been trying to keep everything off of my belly that I possibly can.
My favorite style has been the side-panel bermuda shorts from Target. They have all different lengths and styles, depending on your style preference.
Ok, now that you’ve got your denim covered it’s time for a little comfort. You guessed it, leggings. Leggings are the one item I can say I have worn through every stage and every season of pregnancy. This being my 4th, I can guarantee you won’t regret investing in ALL the leggings.
For wearable leggings I recommend the Motherhood Maternity brand with the stretchy belly band. They are thick enough you don’t have to worry about showing off your cute printed panties when you bend, but light enough they won’t make you sweaty. I also love the 2 pack from ASOS, but they are a little sheer, so be sure to pair them with a tunic or longer top.
SUMMER TRENDS
My two favorite summer trends that are perfect for your maternity wardrobe are leopard print midi-skirts and bike shorts (not paired together of course). I snagged these bike shorts on amazon and they fit perfectly under my bump, are SO soft, and they have pockets! If you get only one thing this summer, get these shorts. You will not regret it!
I’ve also been wearing my favorite leopard print skirt over my bump, but it was not originally maternity. You may be able to get away with wearing your regular midi-skirts if they have an elastic waistband. I found some cute options on SHEIN if you don’t mind a little extra what time for your order.
TOPS
Bottoms covered? Check! Now it’s time to add some cute tops to cover that growing bump as your current tees just don’t have enough stretch. If you have some loose fitted blouses or peplum tops, those will definitely get you by for the first trimester! After your bump begins to stretch your regular apparel a little too far, I recommend snagging a pack of fitted tees from H&M or Old Navy, and some loose blouses.
I was so excited with my first pregnancy, that I bought all the bump hugging tees, and no loose fitted tops for fear of feeling frumpy. Then the baby came and instant REGRET set in. I had no loose tops to fit over my postpartum belly, that I can tell you took months to not look pregnant in tight clothing. Buy the boho tops, you won’t regret it.
The good news about loose fitted tops, is there are so many on trend options, you can probably size-up in your regular oversized tees and boho blouses, without investing the extra dollar in the “maternity” blouse. The key is investing in good maternity cami’s so your belly is always covered. They sell some awesome ones at Target or you can order packs on ASOS.
For tanks, I have been wearing these oversized tanks from Amazon. I ordered up a size, but they were already perfectly oversized. I also live in loose fitting maternity tanks from ASOS. They come in a 2-pack and are super affordable. For tees, I love the H&M basic long tees (non maternity) and their mama tees, as well as the Motherhood ruched side tees, perfect for pairing with my favorite maternity overalls.
DRESSES
So we’ve covered tops and bottoms. The next wardrobe staple you NEED to add to your maternity wardrobe? Dresses! Again I recommend at least one bump hugging style, and one loose fitted style that you can wear postpartum as well.
My personal fave is a striped t-shirt dress, but a solid black or military green bump hugging style is perfect to dress down with some sneakers when you’re running errands, or throw on a blazer and some flats for work.
For a loose fitted style, you can opt for a loose maxi or babydoll or smock dress if you prefer a shorter length. I love my babydoll style frocks I recently purchased from SHEIN and my favorite maternity maxi’s are all from Target. If you do order from SHEIN, make sure to allow extra shipping time if you have a special occasion, as their orders do take a few weeks to ship.
ACCESSORIES
It’s time to accessorize. I’ve personally never needed to purchase maternity outerwear, so I would recommend pairing these outfits with your already existing wardrobe.
Throw on a kimono or cute jacket to complete your looks with your favorite sneakers or slides, because if you’re anything like me, you’re not rockin’ heels during this 2020 quarantine. You can also add your favorite summer hat to keep cool in the summer heat. Just don’t forget the sunscreen if you’re planning to be out in the sun!
Let’s keep in mind we are keeping things simple as we build your capsule maternity wardrobe. You want to be able to mix & match your pieces to build multiple outfits, which also helps in not buying too many unnecessary pieces to add to your simplified closet.
It’s never too soon to get familiar with your soon to be go-to accessory, your diaper bag. Grab a stylish backpack style that’s easy to carry throughout pregnancy and for when your tiny human arrives.
SUMMER TO FALL
The easiest way to take your wardrobe from summer to fall is adding in your favorite fall cardigans, cozy sweaters, and busting out your favorite joggers to lounge in. Adding in your favorite fall booties is another way to transition your wardbrobe from summer to fall. As always, I recommend keeping it simple.
Whatever stage of pregnancy you’re in, I hope this helps you feel and look your best! After four pregnancies these have been my tried and true go to wardrobe pieces.
