The Six Pieces You Need for Your Maternity Wardrobe and Nothing's Over $30

I don't like to pay money for maternity clothes, so these shorts and top are from Old Navy

When I was pregnant the first time, I felt overwhelmed by maternity clothes shopping.  I thought I'd need a whole new wardrobe.  My first maternity shopping experience was at Destination Maternity and I was shocked at how expensive stuff was in general for crappy quality, cuts and colors.  I don't hesitate for a moment to spend money on clothing that I'm really in love with, but not for maternity clothes that I'm going to wear for a year max. 

Here are my six maternity clothing essentials for someone who's going to be big mostly during warmer months.  I don't think I've ever paid over $30 for anything that was specifically maternity.

Gotta love the sexy maternity panels

• Secret Fit leggings from Destination Maternity.  I got these in black, navy and charcoal when I was pregnant with my first and I'm wearing the same ones again this second time around.  The fabric could be thicker, but I live in them still.  I wore them for six to eight months after I gave birth the first time, so it wasn't something that I just wore for a couple of months.  Pants and leggings are really the main thing you need to get "maternity" stuff for, in my opinion. 

• Non-maternity tops and skirts from places like American Apparel, Forever 21, H&M, Top Shop and Old Navy.  Besides pants and tank tops, I didn't find the need to hunt down (and pay a premium for) maternity tops.  American Apparel, for instance, doesn't label any of their stuff "maternity," but if you keyword search maternity, you get a bunch of results.  I comfortably wear their pencil skirts and their U-neck dress, among many of their other items, while pregnant.

A non-maternity top (actually, I think it's a dress) from Top Shop is my favorite "maternity" shirt

This signature shirt from Equipment in size Large has served me well at 25 weeks.  It's not "maternity"

 

Another non-maternity shirt I love for maternity.  Photo credit: 23-month old Greyson

• Maternity tank tops.  I like that maternity tanks are usually a lot longer (aka butt-covering) and have the shirring on the sides.  The ones I'm wearing now (see below) are from Old Navy, which I bought in black, white and blue/white striped for $13 each.  These tanks don't have the cutest cut, but they work for the gym and as a layer under cardigans.

• Workout shorts.  I like these a lot!  (see above) You can wear them rolled up or down.  I'll probably even wear these after pregnancy.  Got them in black and light gray.

• A pair of jeans or pants you can wear with everything.  I wanted white jeans for this spring/summer, but I couldn't justify spending $200 on maternity jeans.  I found some jeans on sale at Old Navy for $20.  You sort of get what you pay for with these.  They're a bit thin, the elastic cover of the maternity panel ripped almost right away and the panel also folds in half and I have to keep flipping it back up.  I'm not eager to try Old Navy pants again, but I think it's a safer bet to go with their pants styles that cover the whole belly or go under the belly rather than the demi-panel.  I find the over the belly styles the most comfortable, but it can get hot in the summer, too.

• A pair of shorts you can dress up a little bit.  Pants and leggings get hot, sometimes your pregnant legs stick together when wearing skirts and you can't always wear workout shorts.  These shorts are a little on the mom shorts side, but when you wear a longer top, you don't see the mom-ness of the shorts, which is around the top of the shorts.