You can also view a complete roundup of my maternity looks here from my instagram. In order to shop the looks, just sign up at http://liketoknow.it with your email!
It’s my last installment of my Dressing The Bump series today- the third trimester! If you haven’t seen the previous posts for the first and second trimester make sure to check them out! I have to say, I had a lot of fun dressing my baby bump this time around. It was definitely a challenge at times! And the third trimester was the most challenging for me. I just got to this point in the pregnancy where my tummy was big and not many things were very flattering. But I did a little experimenting (which basically means I wore every kind of clothing that would fit my bump) and narrowed them all down to my very favorites items to wear during the third trimester.Dressing during your third trimester can get tricky, because there are so many pieces of clothing that just make you look ‘big’. And while it can be fun having a cute bump for an accessory, you don’t ever want to look bigger than you actually are, especially in your third trimester.
Here are my favorite things to wear during the third trimester of pregnancy:
LONG LOOSE TOPS
Loose tops can start to get really tricky this far along into your pregnancy. Its one of the clothing items that can definitely make you look bigger than you are if they aren’t the right kind of top. In the third trimester I shied away button up shirts, and oversized tees that were so great to wear in the first trimester. But there were certain kinds of long loose tops that worked with a bigger bump. Look for tops that are long and more narrow (wider tops end up looking extra boxy), and go with fabric that has a nice drape like a silk, poly blend, or chiffon. This top was my absolute favorite for these kinds of tops in the third trimester (I wore it in this post and this instagram). And it is an amazing top for after the baby too!
KIMONO DRESSES
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Normal maxi dresses got a little hard for me to wear in the third trimester. That side view of my bump and my booty just wasn’t my favorite. You can always tie a button-up around your waist under your tummy, or throw on a chambray top over a maxi dress to cover some of the curves. While this is a good alternative, I really fell in love with kimono dresses like this one in the third trimester. They fit tighter at the top, and loosen up at the bump, and are really flattering.
TRACK PANTS
By the third trimester, even my favorite maternity jeans in the whole world weren’t always quite as comfortable as I wanted. This is mostly due to the fact that it was in the middle of summer and about a thousand degrees outside. I started wearing thin track pants more often and they helped me through the last few pregnant months. I especially love these non-maternity pants from this post, and these black ones from this post.
RUCHED TOPS
Side ruching is your best friend in your third trimester! Ruching just means that the sides are stitched up with elastic, and it bunches up across your tummy, making room for your bump and flattering your bump as well. Oversized tees do not work at this point! You need something a little more fitted around the bump so you don’t look like a tent. I have this top (on sale now!) in a handful of colors and just rotated through them for the last few weeks (I sized up and got a medium and it lasted my whole pregnancy). I would also highly recommend this top. It’s more expensive than the one I just linked to, but it is fantastic quality and thick enough that it doesn’t require a tank top underneath. The black and white stripe that I wore in this post is super versatile and I wore it at least once a week my whole pregnancy.
RUCHED DRESSES
Again, I can’t stress enough how flattering ruching is for tops and dresses in your third trimester. The Isabella Oliver dresses are THE best. Hands down. I have this one (seen in this post) that is super soft and light weight and I love love love it! I also have this one (seen in this post) that is a slightly thicker fabric that I love. They are a bit pricey, so I say get one early on in your pregnancy and get a ton of wear out of it. (I got a size 4 in both of them and they worked just fine, but got a little tight at the end. I think a 6 would have been perfect)
STRETCHY PENCIL SKIRTS
Knit pencil skirts are easy to pull on and much more comfortable than jeans. Pair them with a fitten ruched top, or if you have an oversized top, make it work by knotting it at the bottom like I did here. I especially love this one and this one.
EXTRA NECESSITIES:
I linked to all of these in my Dressing the Bump post for the second trimester, but I’m linking again because good undergarments are crucial to having a stylish pregnancy! You need a really good long tank for layering over your bump, a comfortable bra to sleep in (because at this point in your pregnancy, your hoots are huge and they need a little support even during sleep), a great fitting supportivebra, and these Spanx that will SAVE YOUR LIFE! They smooth out any bumps ad firm up that booty.
I have been living in dresses lately, and all of my dresses with ruched sides are my very favorite to wear (like this dress and this dress). If you follow me on instagram, you can see how much I wear them! They fit comfortably over my bump and are the most flattering kind of dresses in the third trimester. Shift dresses just tend to make me look huge at this point, and don’t give very much definition to the curves of my body. Ruched dresses show off those curves, but don’t drown you in fabric, making you look like a walking tent.
I created a pattern from this ruched maternity dress, because I can’t stop wearing it. I just so happened to have some navy and red fabric that I picked up in the fabric district a few weeks ago, and knew it would be perfect for the 4th of July! I found this dress online that is super similar to the dress that I made. I picked out some gold loafers to pair it with since I know I will be walking around a lot and wanted to keep comfy. Plus…the are gold loafers. How could I pass that up?! I will definitely be making more of these to last me the rest of this pregnancy.
Another good thing about ruched dresses, is that they are flattering whether you are pregnant or not! So I plan on wearing mine after the baby too. (see the tutorial at the bottom of this post)
Similar dresses and the rest of my outfit details here:
Come make one! I’ve included all the instructions for making this dress in the link below…
Materials:
2 yards of knit fabric
28″ of thin elastic (1/4″ works best)
Wonder Tape for the neckline (not necessary but makes things so much easier!
matching thread
Using an existing fitted dress as a pattern template, lay it on pattern paper or your fabric and trace and cut around each section to create your pattern pieces. For the length of the dress, you will want to make it pretty long. Mine went to my mid-calf before I added the elastic. Make sure you include a 1/2″ for seam allowance, and make the sleeves and dress length 1″ longer for the hem. Cutting out your pattern pieces on the fold will give you nice symmetrical pattern pieces.
Step 1:
With right sides together, stitch up the top shoulder seams.
Step 2:
Open up your two dress pieces and lay one of your sleeve pieces like the picture in step 2. Match up the center curve of the top of the sleeve with the shoulder seam and pin. Then pin evenly down either side and sew with 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat with second sleeve.
Step 3:
With your dress inside out, stitch up the sides of your dress from the bottom of your sleeves all the way down with 1/2″ seam allowance. Serge down the sides if you would like.
Step 4:
Cut your strip of elastic in half so that you have 2 pieces that measure about 14″ long. Mark on the sides of your dress 4″ down from your armpit and about 8″ up from the bottom of your dress (do this to both sides). Stretch the elastic as tight as it will go and pin it to your seam allowance at the top, bottom, and evenly down the side. It will bunch up when you let go. Stitch it to your seam allowance with a straight stitch, stretching the fabric and elastic as you sew. Once it is stitched in place, your fabric will scrunch up and create the ruching effect.
Step 5:
If you cut out a neckline lining, attach it to your neckline with r.s. together, and stitch around with a wide straight stitch. Flip your neckline lining inside your dress, and topstitch around your neckline to secure in place.
If you have Wonder Tape , now is the time to use it! I just discovered this tape for finishing necklines and I was so amazing and easy to work with! Simply attach the stick tape all around your neckline along the edge, stretching the tape a bit as your go to keep the neckline from becoming lose. Fold under 1/4″ twice and pin around your neckline. Your fabric will stick to the tape and make it easy to fold under twice. Top stitch around your neckline securing the folded fabric. This tape won’t gum up your needle as you sew, and will disappear after your wash it.
Hem your sleeves and bottom of your dress with 1″ seam allowance.
Hover over this image for clickable links to each piece I am wearing! You can also view a complete roundup of my maternity looks here. Also, make sure to check out the rest of my Dressing The Bump series for First Trimester and Third Trimester as well!
I am so excited to dive into all of the ins and outs of dressing during your second trimester of pregnancy in my Dressing the Bump Series. (You can view all of my picks for what to wear during your first trimester here) The other day someone said to me, “So you’re going to have the baby in what? Two and a half months?” There is no way. Right?? Oh my goodness, I am into my third trimester and I feel like this pregnancy is flying by right now. I did not feel like this with my first pregnancy. I don’t know if I am relieved and excited or nervous and not ready!
So the second trimester. That bump is definitely out there, and you no longer look like you just ate too big of a lunch. It’s most definitely a baby and that is what makes the second trimester my favorite stage of pregnancy to dress. That pouch now becomes an accessory you get to style! I spent a lot of time these past few weeks pouring through websites and in stores actually trying on clothing to pick my very favorite items. Some of these pieces I have worn during all three pregnancies, and some pieces are newly discovered this time around.
Here are my favorite things to wear during the second trimester of pregnancy:
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I put these first because they are absolutely my favorite thing to wear. They accentuate your bump and they look adorable. The key to fitted dresses are stretch and ruching on the sides (the bunching up on the sides of the dress, allowing enough fabric to stretch over your bump, like this dress and this dress have). If you are a little self conscious about something so fitted over your bum and thighs (I swear, my butt gets just as pregnant as my stomach), I would highly recommend these pregnancy spanx (I will reference them below too) They work wonders with dresses like these.
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I dreaded these so much in my first pregnancy that I didn’t buy any. I bought a few pairs in my second pregnancy, but was still reluctant so I bought cheap pairs that I didn’t love. And because I didn’t love them, I would buy another cheap pair. In the end I spent about the same amount on 4 or 5 cheap pairs of poorly fitting maternity jeans, when what I should have done was just invest in one well-made pair. This time around, I invested in these AG jeans and I love them. I wear them about 4 times a week. They stay up and they are a great fit. (I want to get the same exact pair of these non maternity after the baby too!). Also, don’t be afraid to start wearing them early on. I bought mine 2 sizes larger than my pre-pregnancy size, and started wearing them at the end of my first trimester.
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Cant stop won’t stop with maxi dresses. They are great when not pregnant and amazing when pregnant. If the dress is more of a loose caftan, try belting right above your bump (like I did here and here). It will keep you from feeling like a tent, and accentuate your bump.
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Let’s face it. If you are pregnant during any point of a summer, you are going to need a bathing suit. While wearing a bathing suit when pregnant isn’t my most favorite thing to do, the right one can make all the difference. I have this one and this one and would highly recommend them!
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I wrote a whole post about my favorite ways to stay healthy and active during pregnancy here. Don’t risk stretching out your nice expensive workout pants trying to fit into them during your whole pregnancy.These pants are my very very favorite. I can’t even describe how soft they are. They are about as much as my Lululemon non maternity workout pants, and I love them just as much. I will probably wear them after the baby too. And invest in a good sports bra! Your old ones won’t fit those growing hoots at this point. I would recommend one that zips in the front like this one that making nursing so much easier after the baby comes. I got mine when I was nursing Cash and I still love it!
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For the second trimester I started to drift away from loose flowy tops. I wore them like crazy in the first trimester, but now that the bump has made an appearance, a big top can now just make you look….bigger. I have this top in a few different colors and it isn’t even maternity (and currently on sale!). It is ruched on the sides and is great for accentuating the bump.
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These can be a little tricky with a growing bump. I mentioned earlier that loose tops with a bump can make you look even bigger than you are, and the same is true with shift dresses. So look for ones with a great drape that hang really nicely like this one. They will still be loose and comfortable, but form a little more to your curves, which will help keep you from looking like you are wearing a potato sack.
EXTRA NECESSITIES:
I have a separate love affair for each of these items. To me, these are must haves for the second trimester. A good bra is crucial! I have this one and its great. You are going to need a lot of support for your girls and a bra that fits correctly makes a world of difference. I talked about prego Spanx earlier in this post and cross-my-heart-hope-to-die, they are a lifesaver on Sundays.
If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out my Dressing The Bump Series
Also, make sure to check out the rest of my Dressing The Bump series.
Today I’m bringing you another round of Bump Style Breakdown with the darling Anna from In Honor of Design and Jessica from Little Baby Garvin. This week we are each taking on a bit of a scary trend…especially when trying to dress a bump. All white. I love love love the look of all white. But some people shy away from it fearing that it might make them look bigger than they really are. Here are a few tips for pulling off an all white look, while still flattering your bump. And if you are wanting to know how to pull off and all white look with kids…I can’t really help you. I either wear all white when I am kidless on a date, or on days where I’m not running around with them at the park.
1- Break it up: Whether it’s a white top and white pants, or a long white dress, adding a neutral denim jacket or chambray top tied around the waist is a subtle way to accentuate your bump and make an all white look seem less fussy.
2- Variations: Don’t think that your whites have to match exactly. In fact, a crisp white paired with an ivory is actually more visually appealing. And a bone/off white bag or sandals will also add interest to an all white look.
3- Play with texture: If you are going with a pair of white distressed jeans, try adding lace to the top instead of plain cotton. Or grab a laser cut bag to add visual interest, even if the colors are all monochromatic.
Shop my full look below. And if you haven’t seen the previous Bump Style Breakdowns, you can check them out here and here!
I joined in on a little maternity styling series last week with Anna from In Honor Of Design and Jessica from Little Baby Garvin called Bump Style Breakdown. This week we are sharing out favorite sporty maternity styles. I kept my look simple, but still feminine. This Isabella Oliver dress might look dressy, but it is so comfy! It is soft and isn’t too constricting. But to keep it from looking dressy, I did a few things to make it sporty. Here are a few tips I always use when pulling off a sporty look:
Keep It Flat: Most days I don’t wear heels. They quickest way to dress down your look is to add some flats (like I did here) or cute sneakers. But keep them pretty minimal. Save your actual running shoes for your morning runs.
Layer: I tied a chambray top around this dress as if to say “I might get cold later, so I’m just going to wrap this top around my waist just in case” but what you are really doing is hiding a little of that baby weight, and giving your dress a casual look.
Top It Off: Another quick way to keep your look sporty is not to fuss too much with your hair. A low pony, messy top knot, or a simple baseball hat are perfect ways to dress down your look. And it takes a lot less time than curing and styling.
Make sure to check out what Anna and Jessica are wearing today in their sporty maternity looks! (and if you missed it, you can see last week’s look here)
Today I have teamed up with adorable prego mommas Anna from In Honor Of Design and Jessica from Little Baby Garvin to show you three ways to rock distressed denim with a baby bump.
I have been on the hunt for a good pair of distressed denim since I found out I was pregnant. I love this trend and I didn’t want to have to sacrifice this great trend once I made the jump into maternity jeans. Maternity jeans can be…a little difficult. Some are uncomfortable, some slip down, and some are just plain unflattering. But I’m happy to report that I found the perfect pair! My favorite distressed denim maternity jeans are these AG jeans from A Pea In The Pod. I tried them on when I hosted the Rachel Zoe event last weekend and fell in love. I was talking to a rep from A Pea In The Pod at the event and she told me they buy normal designer jeans and just cut out the zipper/button to insert their amazing belly panel. It is a stretchy nude nylon that pulls up and over the tummy. I was a little hesitant about a band going all the way over my stomach. That make me claustrophobic just to think about, but this one is so thin, I honestly don’t even notice it throughout the day. Plus, I think it’s the secret to keeping those jeans in place. I have other maternity jeans that have a stretchy band that is only a few inches, but they slide down and I am constantly pulling them up all day.Needless to say these babies will get some good use out of the next few months (let’s be honest, they will still be making appearances after the baby is here too!) And don’t forget to check out two more distressed denim styling options with Anna and Jessica!
How gorgeous is this floral dress! It isn’t maternity, but I love the look of it over a baby bump. The floral print and the mini pleating are such beautiful details. I paired it with this denim jacket to dress it down just hair.
With this being my third pregnancy, I have gotten a pretty good feel as to the changes that my body makes as I progress during pregnancy. Dressing your baby bump can be so much fun, but it can also be a little bit awkward…especially during the beginning stages of your pregnancy when it just looks like you had a big dinner. With this pregnancy, my tummy popped at about 8 weeks, much sooner than it did with my previous pregnancies. But I was trying to hide it because I wanted to wait until 13 weeks to tell people. Don’t ask me why. Maybe because I wanted to get past the scary first trimester and actually see my baby in an ultrasound, but maybe because the longer you wait to tell people, the shorter your pregnancy seems. Either way, the pieces I selected for your first trimester are perfect for hiding a bump if you aren’t quite ready to tell people, or for hiding the semi bump slash big lunch slash what are these new love handles doing here.
I’ll start off by saying that as far as pants go, I still wear my normal pants. By the end of the first trimester they are a bit tight, but I can still get away with them by looping an elastic through the button hole and fastening it around the button. It’s the easiest trick in the book.
I have divided my favorite essentials into 6 categories. These are pieces that I wore literally everyday of my first trimester.
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My criteria for tops is that they must be well made (ie: wont shrink and be too short/boxy after one wash), and cute enough that I will want to wear them after I am done with my pregnancy. I am singing the hallelujah chorus that loose tops are all the rage right now. They are perfect for the first trimester. Especially tops that have a tupil hem (dip down slightly in the front/back) And if you get any one item from this post, get these tops (I have 3). They are $12 and fantastic. I got mine in a large. (I would normally get a small/med, but the large last through washes and stay oversized)
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THE best. And such a necessity. When I get pregnant, my butt gets pregnant too. No matter how many squats I do. Having something long and lightweight to throw on top of a shirt or dress hides all that extra stuff, and adds interest to your outfit! I am constantly drawn to maternity looks with long kimonos or cardigans. Fantastic and flattering. I have this one and this one.
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It’s no secret that I love me some maxi’s. I design them and sell maxi skirts in my shop for crying out loud! Maxi dresses and skirts are every pregnant woman’s dream. They are comfy, pretty, and pregnant women glow in them. It’s a proven fact. These will last you your entire pregnancy, but specifically for the first trimester, they are a welcome change from those pants getting a bit snug.
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Bless these dresses. They are masters at hiding a growing bump. They are so on trend right now and so perfect for the first trimester.
BLAZERS
Definitely a sister to the cardigans/kimonos, but I gave these their own category. Blazers really dress up a look if you have a hot date, or girls night out to go to. But the blazers I picked are specifically for the first trimester because they are longer than normal. Shorter blazers aren’t going to cover what you don’t really want shown. I have this one, this one, and this one and I love them to pieces.
Also, make sure to check out the rest of my Dressing The Bump series.
