Maternity t shirts paired with basic bottoms can get you through the long haul of pregnancy without breaking the piggy bank
Pregnancy can be a challenging time for women. Your belly expands, your feet spread and your clothes (unfortunately!) no longer fit. And while you count the days in anticipation of your brand new bundle of joy, you might also be wondering what happened to your former, fashionable self.
Shopping for maternity clothes can sometimes be daunting. So daunting that many pregnant moms might just throw in the towel and throw on hubby’s shirts. It doesn’t have to be so black or white. The key is to find fashionable maternity clothes that are comfortable, versatile and stylish, say 2 chix founders Amy Bright and Natasha Koudsi, whose hip maternity clothes have graced the famous bellies of Jamie Presley, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Brooke Shields, Melissa Joan Hart, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Since Bright is a mother of one and Koudsi is on her third pregnancy, the ‘chix’ know a thing or two about what to wear when a growing belly is your most prominent accessory. “I love to wear trim and comfy maternity t shirts with my favorite maternity clothes bottoms to create fun outfits I can wear for the length of my pregnancy,” explained Bright. “It’s expensive to have a baby, so try to save money where you can and invest in items that you can wear during and after pregnancy,” added Koudsi.
The key is to select a few great maternity basics that are made to g-r-o-w with your baby bump, and then shrink back down with you to your fabulous pre-pregnancy self. Maternity clothes that fit this bill will help you rock your pregnancy in style without breaking your little babe’s piggy bank.
For a casual look, try wearing simple, cotton maternity t shirts or tanks paired with jeans. Uber-stylish maternity jeans can be found from Paige Premium Denim, Chip & Pepper and Citizens for Humanity, but great styles can also be found for less at national maternity chains. Maternity t shirts are so easy to throw on and oh-so comfy, a necessity to provide for your pregnant self! To dress up the look, try sporting jeans with cropped swing jackets or sweaters over silky babydoll tops. Don’t forget to accessorize with a cool clutch and some funky earrings for instant preggo-chic!
Bright and Koudsi also recommend wearing leggings or support hose made with Lycra, to “hold everything in” and make your legs feel great all day. Look for the maternity line by Spanx featuring the “Mama Footless,” or just cut off the feet of maternity tights. These can look super-cute under a cotton or denim maternity skirt.
Skirts are another comfortable, yet fashionable must-have in maternity clothes. Look for styles that can be dressed up or down, and which you can wear the whole way through. “We have a great maternity skirt line called ‘The 40-Week Skirt’ that literally fits you throughout your entire pregnancy and after”, said Koudsi. “We designed it after being burned from our first pregnancies by maternity bottoms that only fit through the seventh month.” Additionally, many tops from 2 chix and other popular maternity t shirts designers are designed to be worn during and post pregnancy for added value.
What you wear under your maternity clothes can almost be as important as what you wear on top! For lingerie, avoid unattractive maternity and nursing bras and check out mainstream lines. Look for their wire-free styles, as it’s safer and more comfortable on your expanding body. The Ipex line bras by Victoria’s Secret are smooth and supportive without under-wire, and look great too!
The chix also advise buying shoes up to one size larger to accommodate expanding feet. Shoes by Seychelles are a favorite because they are extra comfortable, stylish and inexpensive. Cole Hahn also has a chic line made by Nike that is also very comfortable. For women who don’t want to be stuck in flats for months, podiatrist Dr. Carolyn Siegal advises pregnant women to wear wedge heels because they evenly distribute the weight and are more stable than thinner heels, such as stilettos. Just be careful to always be aware of your ever-evolving center of gravity!
Maternity clothes demystified…from top to toe. It’s easier than you thought. Just a few basics, some fun accessories and you’re ready to roll.
Now go treat yourself to that ice cream cone.
