Day Twenty-Two

Oh dear, the gauchos have appeared. I tried to soften them with a light layer of black almost-skirt, and the result was very pregnant-me... and made me feel like a bit barbaric for some reason. But hey, I can glower if need be. In other news, this shirt is familiar. For maternity it's hard to find the balance between wearing something enough to justify buying it and wearing it too often. Aside from when I have morning sickness (during which time I curl up in the same place in the same clothes for weeks on end... only a very small exaggeration, hence the inspiration for the challenge of this blog), I usually subscribe to the quantity over quality mindset regarding clothes, so an item like this shirt might see the light of day three or four times a year (which equals out considering it cost $4 brand new). Since morning sickness does factor in, I have really only about five or six months to dress cutely during pregnancy.

Outfit was around $16 for the pants, skirt, shirt, and tank.

Day Twenty-One

Wow, there really must be something about purple and black making me feel like it must be time for the front and side shots. Supercomfy gray shirt, purple tee (a gift), and those good ol' converted skinny cords. $17ish.

Day Twenty

So sad that this shirt is already getting small for my belly, since although it is not maternity it is pretty much everything that a maternity shirt should be. With a full wardrobe of shirts like this in actual belly-covering proportions, a pregnant woman could feel gorgeously babyshaped rather than tented and draped every day. Layered over a tee and worn with my real maternity pants that are designer (thank you, Craigslist, and my kind inlaws for picking up and sending) and thus only a few inches too big rather than saggy baggy, $18ish.

Day Nineteen

I am a small person descended from small people (my feet look huge next to my mom's, which look huge next to her mom's), and while I won't pretend that doesn't have its benefits, it certainly does not make maternity shopping, well, much more than a laugh. Last I checked, the mainstream maternity brands' size charts indicate that their smallest sized jeans are four inches wider in the hips than what I need. I don't have "skinny" hips, I have small hip bones and a rear end that's so flat my tailbone sticks out makes sit ups hellish. So I can shop Old Navy, but not their maternity section. This top and scooter (aka skirt with attached shorts) are from the girls' section ($11ish). It seems horribly inappropriate, but I don't have a ton of options. No wonder people stop me on the street and sternly inform me that I'm WAY too young to be having kids. Although no, I don't usually wear pigtail braids and scooters in public. Or carry teddy bears. Really. Though I do have to say that scooters are pretty darn awesome and super practical for moms.

Day Eighteen

Did I already make my Moby Dick reference the last time I wore a white shirt while pregnant? I guess I just can't help myself. With a purple tee and knit skirt, $10ish. One time my husband said he thought I should wear white more often, so I scooped up a handful of pristine white shirts at a garage sale, but just couldn't get myself to wear them more than once or twice when not pregnant. But there's no reason for me to not look huge now. That's ok, I'm one of the few pregnant women who actually *likes* being told that her belly looks enormous. Go ahead and say I look uncomfortable and massive and ready to pop. I like a little confirmation. When I'm within a month of my due date, I actually get a little sad if I walk into a store and there isn't at least one person who looks terrified that my water just might break RIGHT THERE.

Day Seventeen

I am really not sure about this dress. It is actually maternity, so it technically should fit better than my other dresses, but it is large in the armholes but tugged up in the sides, as if my 20 week belly is already too big for it. But hey, at least the hemline is fairly even all around. I guess it must be proof that the morning sickness has worn off that until Easter morning I had been offhandedly assuming I'd wear my most Easter-y dress... which happens to be made of unforgiving linen and have a waistline that I most definitely do not. This worked layered over a v-neck tee though. $12ish total.

Day Sixteen

This shirt is not maternity technically, but it is roomy enough to accommodate triplets widthwise. Still, it's a cute print, and it's perfect for wearing on a day when the belly does NOT want any constriction whatsoever. For that reason, it's layered over one of my very few real maternity shirts, a brown turtleneck. For belts and this purpose, I've discovered I have more success in the kids' department. The selection is limited, but the prices can't be beat, and since for some reason most shirts don't come equipped with belt loops on the ribcage, it sure is nice to not be stuck with excess. The palazzo pants are one of my favorite non-maternity maternity finds of all time.... velour foldover waist. As comfy as sweats but with a bit more effort. They were way out of my price range, so there was much rejoicing on my part when they were clearanced out, although of course now I wish I had snagged a few more before they disappeared off the face of the earth. $28ish makes this one of my pricier outfits, but that's still below retail for the pants alone.

Day Fifteen

More front and side, more purple and black. Hm. These smocked skirts are possibly even more comfy than the knit ones, and I had the foresight to snag a half dozen in this and other styles when they were going out of season (ok, I guess that should be a confession, but I love it when things I like go out of style, because then they all go on clearance, and I having no shame continue to happily wear them while everyone else knowledgeably shuns them). Unfortunately, I have no interest in ironing, so these don't look so hot when I do wear them. Maybe I'll get around to ironing them at least once before they get packed back up with the maternity clothes. With my long socks again, $16ish.

Day Fourteen

Not the best picture of me, but Jack just cracks me up. Like yesterday's shirt, this pink top was a stereotypical female purchase.... not something I'd normally wear, but so cheap! It's hard to pass up a brand new shirt marked down to $2. I generally love drapey necks, but this one is a bit much even for me and makes me feel like I'm constantly slouching (oh wait, I pretty much am *sigh*). But layered over a yellow tee, it was the perfect companion for my new yellow and pink necklaces purchased to go with my maternity wardrobe (which features much more feminine colors than my regular wardrobe). Worn with one of my four exact same except for color knit skirts, $11ish.

Day Thirteen

Time to see how the same outfit works front and side with this belly. I'll admit I'm completely naive when it comes to matching the same color. What shades of purple go with other shades of purple? I have no idea about this shirt and scarf combo, but the shirt needed a little definition, and a scarf is way comfier than a belt. This shirt and tank are both way too long for my short-waisted self normally, but they are great to me when I'm rapidly expanding. With my sliced-open jeggings, $14ish.

Day Twelve

This black dress with blue polka dots is one of my favorite shopping finds of all time, but although it is empire waist, it probably won't fit this belly for long. That's the limitations of non-stretchy clothing. But right now it's great over a comfy tee shirt and thigh high chevron socks. $17ish.

Day Eleven

Not sure what possessed me to wear this to a wedding, but anyway. Dress, blouse, and tights, $22ish. I think in an ideal world, all tights would be both thigh high and toeless for maximum comfort.

Day Ten

Empire waists! And knit skirts! Now if only all these cute empire waist tops weren't so low cut I felt the need to layer, this would be the ultimate comfort outfit. $12ish.

Day Nine

This outfit was planned around a beautiful new necklace that was a gift from some incredibly creative and thoughtful friends. Perfect for attending a ladies' tea!

Thrifted dress and scarf, navy turtleneck and thigh highs (a different pair, haha), $15ish.

Day Eight

I had a nostalgic moment and dug up the shirt I wore for Jack's ultrasound. It has stars all over it, and I love it, but it really only looks good on me when I'm pregnant. Shirt, purple knit skirt, thigh high stockings, $13ish.

Day Seven

Thrifted dress, socks, and armwarmers made from socks, $15ish. Er, and yes I was on the phone.... getting lazy about these pictures.

Day Six

The second trimester is the perfect time for all those beautiful shirts that are generally way too long on me. :) New shirt, smocked waist skirt, and jeggings (with a slit cut down from the waist to accommodate the growing child), roughly $16 total. Less than the price of one paperback and one transit ticket to the city to get the book signed by the author. ;)

Day Five

Hand-me-down dress with shirt and socks, about $13. I'm not sure if there is a way to make this dress not look like a giant tent when I get to the third trimester, but at least there would be plenty of room in the belly if it weren't for the fact that my short-waisted belly tends to pop over my ribs, alas.

Day Four

Oh dear, maybe this challenge should include changing my child's outfits as well.

Turtleneck, stripey shirt, and black skinny cords were all purchased new, totaling about $26. I have four pairs of these cords in various colors, but this pair I did add a stretchy waist band to so they are extra comfy for maternity. I am kind of tempted to do that to all of my pants for regular non-pregnancy wear. O:

Day Three

Trying to ... outfiterize? my new necklace again.... blue giraffe tee and smocked waist skirt, both purchased new, $6ish total. That's the sticker off the tangerine on my child's forehead.

Day Two

Back to my more traditional colors, kind of. Stretchy black and gray sleeveless top over black lettuce edged tee with comfy purple knit skirt. Purchased new from various sales, $14ish.

My child cracks me up.

Day One

You can't tell from my expression, but I was excited to have a new necklace to plan an outfit around. The shirt was thrifted; it's not maternity but might as well be, since I don't generally wear empire waist otherwise. Olive green cargo skinnies and french blue ruffled tank courtesy of the local discount store. $11ish total, which is less than half the price of the necklace, which was half off. Confusing enough? ;)