Maternity Wardrobe Capsule should not be expensive. How to build a maternity wardrobe capsule with as many non maternity clothes as possible.
When I got pregnant with my first baby, I was so excited to start buying pregnancy clothes! I spent a whooping $180 on a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, a summer dress and 3 shirts.
I spent $180 for 6 items of pregnancy clothing only to wear them for 3 months of my entire life!!!
Then, I packed it up deep into my closet, ready for my next pregnancy.
I don’t know about you, but I am baffled at how much maternity wardrobes cost for the amount of time you get to wear them.
With my second pregnancy, I decided to build my own minimalist maternity wardrobe with mostly non maternity clothes combining pieces that I already had with pieces that I bought and will be able to wear through my postpartum and beyond.
In this post, I will share how to build a maternity wardrobe capsule.
If you make any purchases through the links that I genuinely recommend, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
How to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes
Historically, my style has always included pieces that are snug and show off my curves. So when I got pregnant it was hard to dress using my regular clothes during pregnancy. That is when I truly started using loose fitting outfits.
Maternity clothes items you already have in your wardrobe
This post is all about building a maternity wardrobe capsule with as many non maternity clothes as possible.
Instead of looking for typical maternity wardrobe on a budget, it’s better to look for non maternity clothes that you will be able to wear beyond your pregnancy journey and that way get a bang for your buck.
First, pull out everything that you have that is loose fitting and stretchy! Yes, even that crop top that is stretchy but is probably giving Peter Griffin vibes at the moment. 😀
Anything that is tight and snug, think linen tops and pants, you can tuck away in your closet for at least 5 months – assuming you are in month 5 – 6 of your pregnancy.
Staple items to consider
You probably have some non maternity classic clothing items that can be combined in dress down or dress up outfits. Think oversized button up shirts that you dress up with linen pants (pre pregnancy) or dress down with jean shorts and sneakers.
Another one of my favorites is stretchy pencil skirt, non maternity high waisted leggings, and pleated skirts.
Building Maternity Capsule Wardrobe
When building a capsule pregnancy wardrobe, or any capsule wardrobe for that matter, it’s important to think style, not fashion. What does that mean?
Fashion is a temporary trend, a craze that the fashion industry and social media advertisements force upon us to support economic stimulation. Fashion is neon clothing, tie dye sweats, and chain pants.
Style is a manner of behaving, looking and doing. It’s everlasting. Style is a classic pair of jeans, white shirt and a blazer – items that were worn in the 80s, 90’s, 2k’s and now. I am pretty sure I skipped a decade but you get the point.
Color Palettes
When thinking about diversifying one piece of clothing, take into consideration color combinations.
Neutral cream color goes well with white and navy blue. Those combinations can also go well with brown color or a pop of red.
Experiment with colors, pick a couple of color palette combinations and see what palette looks the best with your skin tone.
Diversifying an item
Before you buy an item of clothing you should think how many outfits you can create with that outfit.
One clothing item should create at least 3 different outfits for you.
The more combinations per one piece of clothing, the merrier. This maternity skirt from Amazon is a perfect piece that can be diversified during pregnancy.
If you live in an area where there are four different seasons (hello NYC and northern hemisphere),it’s encouraged to have items that are versatile and work well in transitioning seasons.
Accessories
Using accessories to your advantage is a must, especially in pregnancy. Because of our beautiful, growing bodies, pregnancy style looks can be limiting. That’s when putting a belt, different sunglasses or adding a hat can make a major difference.
Accessories in combination with hairstyle and makeup can make one piece of clothing look completely different. Use this wisely to your advantage.
Some accessory items I have been slightly obsessed with this pregnancy are these golden hoop earrings from Amazon that can be worn with a pearl or without a pearl.
Some pregnancy items to look out for
I hope so far you got plenty of inspiration to create your own cute summer maternity wardrobe.
However, you might be expecting a winter or a spring baby, and the question is if you should invest in certain maternity wardrobe staples that are designated for pregnant women.
One piece of pregnancy clothing that I highly suggest you consider investing in (especially if you are bumping pregnant through the winter and spring) is a pair of sheer maternity pantyhose. They will come in handy with skirts and dresses.
I have a love/hate relationship with my maternity jeans that I bought during my first pregnancy. I love them, because they do come in handy. I hate them because I won’t be wearing them after my pregnancy, and they also make my tummy super hot with that extra fabric that goes over the bump.
My advice for buying pregnancy clothes is – check with your friends, cousins or even local mommy Facebook Groups first if they have any hand me downs. If not, perhaps you can invest in good pregnancy jeans.
I’d like to hear what is your non pregnancy clothing item that is a staple in your maternity closet? Write in the comments below!
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