07 August 2015

Building a Maternity Wardrobe on a Budget




One // Two // Three // Four //  Five // Six


Hello there, expectant mamas!

This one is for you. I finally feel like i've got a handle on this whole maternity wardrobe thing, which can be completely overwhelming the first time you realize nothing in your closet fits.

This happened to me one morning before work and resulted in one helluva breakdown. As amazing as it is to watch that little bump grow into a not-so-little bump, it's also really stressful to realize that you can't run around naked for the next 20 weeks, so you're going to need some maternity clothes, and stat.

Maybe you're one lucky lady with a huge shopping budget and endless time to do said shopping, but unfortunately for me, that wasn't my case. We are diligently saving our pennies and paying off every little bit of debt we can before our little man gets here, and no matter how swoon-worthy I found some designer maternity-wear, it just wasn't practical for something I was only going to be able to wear for a few months. I'm all for splurgin' on the basics that will last you a long time, but maternity wear just isn't one of them.




SO, after 28 weeks of pregnancy and one giant growing baby (he is the size of a head of cauliflower this week in case you were wondering) i've come up with a few tips to help you build a super stylish, very practical, and awesomely affordable maternity wardrobe!

1) Start with your closet: Before you even begin shopping, start with what you have. Order yourself an under bed storage container and clean out everything that doesn't fit. Be ruthless! Sure, you may be able to get away with your skinny-jeans with a hairtie for now, but that won't last the next few weeks, and you will feel so much more organized if you just pack it away for your post-pregnancy waist. Plus, if you're like me, the sight of your pre-pregnancy jeans makes you cringe so I like to pretend they don't exist, at least not for the next few months. :)  I think you will be surprised to find how much of your wardrobe will still work for certain stages of pregnancy. I'm still happy in all of my maxi dresses (obsessed with this from PinkBlush!), and most of my loose v neck t-shirts still fit like a charm. These from Madewell are my favorite & they last forever!



2) Make a plan: This is the most important thing you can do before shopping. Think about your season, think about events you need to attend, and what will work for your personal style. Don't buy sweater dresses in February when your due date is in July. This seems obvious, but you really need to think about what is going to work for you over the next 9 months versus what will work today...this goes hand in hand with ....


4) Only buy multi-purpose pieces: This is my biggest shopping tip. Sure, that adorable pair of designer maternity jeans might make that pregnant tush look fantastic, but do you work at a corporate job where jeans are a no-go? For me, all of my dresses needed to be knee-length. This way, I could wear them to church on Sunday, running errands on Saturday, and with a blazer to work on Monday. I only bought ONE pair of maternity denim (these) because I can only wear it on weekends, and one pair was perfect for the one day a week I could actually wear them. V-neck t-shirts were a must because they paired perfectly with my favorite black skinnies and a blazer at work, but I could lose the blazer and add some sandals for date night with the hubsicle. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself this: can I make this work in 3 different outfits? If you can answer yes, it's a worthwhile purchase! If you can't, keep searching.


4) Beg Borrow and Steal: This one won't work for everyone, but it's worth mentioning. ASK AROUND! Ask your girlfriends if they have any maternity clothes they are no longer using and borrow/steal them! I had a friend at work who was giving away a ton of stuff, and some of it didn't fit quite right with my style/size, but so much of it did and it was the biggest blessing to receive some free clothing to style as I please! Don't be afraid of asking either, I love to get rid of visual clutter in my house, so i'm sure your girlfriends will be glad to get some extra closet space and help a sister in need!


5) Shop Consignment: You might be beginning to feel like i'm never going to tell you to go to the mall! I am a firm believer in exhausting all other resources before spending full-price! You may have an awesome baby consignment store in your area that is chalk-full of adorable maternity wear on a dime, but if not, I cannot shout the praises of ThredUp enough! I'm on my 4th pretty polka-dot box from them because the quality is just awesome for already-loved clothing. As fun as it can be to pop some tags at the thrift shop, ThredUp makes it so easy to browse sizing, brands, and different items from the comfort of your couch. I was super nervous to receive my first order because I didn't know if the quality would be there, but they package everything as pretty as can be, and everything was in perfect condition. Plus, they have a 100% free return policy, so that helps too! If you use code 40NP you will get 40% off your first order also...hooray! (P.s... as much as I love ThredUp, they have no idea who I am and certainly didn't pay me to shout their praises! I'm just really happy with my experience:)



6) Shop sales, and shop these stores: So, once you've completed steps 1-5, you may still be lacking some pieces that you really really really need. In which case I recommend you only shop sales, and shop at these stores: PinkBlush Maternity, Old Navy, Target, and H&M. I love PinkBlush for their dresses, Old Navy for their casual-wear, Target for casual dresses and basics (these tanks are a lifesaver) and H&M for workwear. (these full panel trousers feel like pajamas!) Just grabbing a few things from each of these stores will completely stock you up through pregnancy, and I promise you won't even come close to breaking the bank.


7) Say "no" to shopping sprees: This is a big one. Although it can be tempting to buy everything you think you might need in one fell swoop, I highly suggest you start with 2 or 3 outfits and go from there. You will definitely find that your bump today is not the same bump it will be tomorrow, so shop as you need to, not necessarily as you want to. Never forget our "3 outfit" rule when shopping. Your body will continue to change (a whole lot!) all the way through those sweet weeks after your little one arrives, save money by shopping as these changes happen, and you will never be disappointed with a purchase!



8) Take so many pictures along the way: This has nothing to do with your budget, but make sure you're taking pictures of your bump. I still have 88 days to go, and I feel like it has already gone so darn fast. Take lots of pictures, even if they're just for yourself, so you can remind yourself of what great style you have, and totally look back on your super great budgeted wardrobe for future pregnancies. Plus, then you can laugh at yourself when you were only 14 weeks and thought you had a bump: :)

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I hope this was so helpful for you gals! If you're interested, i'd love to throw together a post on my must-have basics for a maternity wardrobe, and I can assure you, they were so affordable! Let me know in the comments below if that's something you'd like to see.

In case you're just starting your Maternity wardrobe and need a few basics to get you started, these are all items in my closet or perfect basics to get you started, and they are all SUPER affordable!






If you're interested in anything else pregnancy related, you can read all about my pregnancy so far HERE! Thanks so much for reading, have an amazing weekend!

Until Next Time,
xo Kylie

9 comments:

  1. All the outfits are so cute! You're very stylish :)

    xo, mikéla / simplydavelyn.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, sweet friend! I'm starting to feel like the last few weeks of pregnancy I might just live in comfy clothes, I can't wait to be back to my normal size!

      xo!

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