Maternity Clothes 101: Blouses and Tops
My husband and I during our recent Christmas Photo Shoot for our family!
This is a sequel to the Maternity Clothes 101: Skirts and More post.
I'm writing this post as my tummy is blossoming with our fifth baby inside me-and since I'm at my third trimester I'm almost at full bud! :) So I know full well the joys and trials of maternity tops.
For my pregnancies, maternity tops are essential. I know some ladies say they can get away with just buying larger size woman's tops but I can never do that. I carry my babies low and all in the front, so a typical maternity top works well for me.
I hear ladies say all the time that it is hard for them to find modest maternity tops. While I admit there are immodest tops galore out there, I actually like some of my maternity tops better than my regular tops! I don't pay a lot for maternity tops - in fact I don't think I have ever bought a maternity top full price. Here are my secrets for tops.
Buy used!
When you are pregnant thrift stores, garage sales, and children's consignment sales can be your best friend. In today's society where many families have two children and then are done-women practically give away their maternity clothes at garage sales. I have found very nice tops for just .50 each at garage sales.
In order of cost, it is cheapest to shop first at garage sales, then thrift stores, then consignment sales.
But in order of ease of shopping, and an almost sure guarantee of finding something, it is easiest to shop first at children's consignment sales, then thrift stores, and then garage sales. :)
So it really depends on how much time you have to spend looking for clothes. I have also seen lots of clothes listed on Craigslist, but generally they are sold in bundles and you might not like everything you get so I have never done this for myself. But it's another option.
Most of the clothes in my closet are Motherhood brand. They are classic and seem to last a long time. Depending on the style of shirt I think Motherhood does run small, so keep that in mind. I've worn a size large in Motherhood so it will be modest, and I generally always wear a size small!
Here are some of my favorite tops that are available online right now. I think they are flattering and feminine looking.
I like blouses that have a defined waist on them since I carry so low.
The only way I would wear this would be with a white knit top under it-long sleeve or short depending on the season. This would be really cute and modest!
My sister gave me two brand new sweaters she found on clearance at Kohls to wear for this pregnancy. They are warm and cute!
I love this top! Paired with a black layering shell for modesty, and a black skirt it would look so adorable.
Don't forget about just solid t-shirts. I wear long sleeve knit tops around the house with my denim ruffle skirt a lot. They are comfortable and warm for everyday.
I find that most maternity tops are cut really low, so this pregnancy it has been a huge blessing to discover the modest layering shells. I wear these almost every day! It has been the perfect solution to my previous problems of finding an adorable shirt but it just would be really low cut. Finding an actual maternity camisole that is cut high is almost impossible, so these work great.
Finally, don't forget that clothes do start to look outdated over time. If you start out buying used clothes for your pregnancies and are on your fifth baby, chances are some of those clothes are going to look really old, ragged and outdated by now. I went through my clothes this pregnancy and got rid of a sack full of clothes that were long needing to be retired. :)
Shopping for maternity clothes can be fun and stressful at the same time! I'd love to hear where you find your clothes, and if you actually buy maternity clothes or not.
(Quick! Check out the special that was so popular at Black Friday on Vision Forum! You can get some amazing deals with buy 2 get one free, $5 flat rate shipping, and a free $50 gift certificate to Blue Behemoth with a $95+ order!)
Labels: Modesty, Pregnancy, The Modest Mom
posted by Caroline @ The Modest Mom @ 8:40 AM
10 Comments
10 Comments:
Great tips.
I've also found some great maternity items at a great price on Ebay.
I just picked up a cute top at Goodwill this week - in the plus-size section. Rare find though. I have a group of 4-5 girlfriends with similar tastes and we pass around our maternity clothes to whoever is pregnant at the time. If a piece "dies" we generally try to replace it for the next recipient. Works for us :)
Thanks so much for these tips! I haven't really ever gotten any maternity clothes - I just kinda make my normal clothes work... Most maternity clothes that I find doesn't fit me, everything is really big. I have 2 maternity tops that fit but they are size petite small and that's really hard to find - it's a very uncommon size. I'd love ideas on finding small maternity clothes.
I have the opposite problem. I can't find maternity clothing with a large enough girth and that don't have a neckline that runs all the way to my stomach. :D Maybe I'll have to give those modesty shells a try. Will they work even during pregnancy? Do they cover over the tummy or ride up above it?
The modesty shells work great during pregnancy because they come just below your bust, leaving plenty of room for your tummy to grow!
Great photo!
For my first pregnancy (over last winter) I was given all my tops from either my mom or grandma-in-law. I was able to make it through with 4 long sleeved crew-necked tees and 3 sweaters, plus I was able to wear my sweatshirts all the way through. I found that the tees worked great under the sweaters to keep them modest. This time around I'm going to need to find some summer shirts and blouses. Hopefully this time I'll be able to find something in our local consignment shops. All I was able to find in them last year were extra larges, and I'm still small even when near delivery! (Yes, our first 2 are going to be really close together!)
I love your picture! You two look great! My oldest is 11, my youngest is 4 months. I have never had a hard time finding modest maternity tops, but modest maternity skirts and dresses are so much harder to find now. I've been so blessed by my mom in the past few years she has sewn several skirts/dresses for me!
I'll have to check out Ebay. In my experience, most thrift stores don't notice the difference between maternity and regular clothes (except for pants), so you really have to dig for them- something my two little ones don't have much patience for :(.
~Abby
Wonderful tips, Caroline. Love the Consignment site.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home