The sustainable girl's guide to maternity wear

I was 9 months postpartum, trying to button up my favorite handmade skirt once again. I did this at least once a month, if not more. This was one of those pieces that screamed at me, and every month I’d try it on to see if my belly had gotten small enough that I could wear it again.

 “I feel like my clothes are judging me.” I told my Mom. This resonated with her.

She is 57, with four grown children, and still hasn’t escaped the judgment of her own wardrobe after pregnancy. 

The fashion industry preys on women's insecurities.

If we feel bad about our bodies, they will sell us another dress, skirt, or top promising this will be the one to make you love your body. 

If the clothes can’t adjust to our body, we will try to adjust our bodies to fit the clothes. 

As a designer and tailor, I decided I was done playing the game of the fashion industry. 

This is how I would recommend building a maternity wardrobe, you won’t want to run away from postpartum 

When you first see those two lines and your pregnancy test, clothing is not what's on your brain.

As the months go on, you’ll start to realize that you’re getting less and less comfortable in your wardrobe.

This is typically when we go to the Target maternity section to buy some basics that will be the staples for the next 9 months of your life. 

Let’s be honest, the maternity selection is not great.

If you limit yourself to this section of the store, I can guarantee you will hate your wardrobe. 

And we want to build something that feels like you, is functional for motherhood, and helps keep us from the overconsumption of clothing in our modern world.

Let's not settle for clothing we hate, because we just need something to wear.

Let's be intentional and really think through our purchases.  

If you want to save your time, money, and sanity I recommend this strategy. 

A few realities before we get started

With your first pregnancy, you will not need maternity clothing until you are about 4-5 months pregnant. 

Postpartum, there will be a few months in there, where you are too small for your maternity jeans, and too big for your pre-pregnancy jeans. 

Your body will be in constant change, and if you have more than one kid, you can expect the postpartum periods to take longer and longer to “bounce back” 

3 STEPS TO BUILDING YOUR DREAM WARDROBE FOR MOTHERHOOD 

1. ) Really consider and be honest about your lifestyle 

Before buying anything, ask yourself these questions and write down your answers.

• Do I plan to breastfeed my baby?

• What do I like to wear on a daily basis?

• Have you considered a budget for you wardrobe?

2.) Consider comfort as a highest priority 

As moms, we are overstimulated by children touching us, loud noises, and constantly needing to care for others.

Clothing can add to discomfort, so here's a few things to think about before you buy a garment.  

• Most women overheat during pregnancy and postpartum, synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon ect.) are going to make you sweatier and feel hotter. 

• Everything you own should be nap level comfy. When you're pregnant and so exhausted you need a car nap on your lunch break, or when you wake up to a screaming baby and don’t have time to shimmy into leggings, you will thank me. 

Try to avoid fabrics that cling to the skin and are prone to static. Again overstimulation, not here for it

If you plan to breastfeed, will you be comfortable with how the clothing exposes you? Yes, you can wear a dress with an elastic neckline, but will you be comfortable pulling your entire bodice off to nurse? Think through the realities of how the dress can function while nursing. Everyone is different here, and not every baby with nurse well under a cover.  

3.) Think long term

• If you plan to breastfeed, think about if that maternity dress you want is nursing accessible. You’d be surprised how many maternity dresses are NOT nursing friendly. 

• Will you really want to wear that body con dress once your baby belly is gone? Now that I’m postpartum, I personally do not like tight clothes. Postpartum tummies are not bad, and you by no means need to hide them, if you feel confident in that. Most women I know, don’t love having a dress or top show off their soft or bloated belly. 

• Are you sacrificing your personal style, because you're settling for maternity clothes for this season? The best way to hate your wardrobe is to ignore how you used to dress, and just buy the first thing you see because you just need something.

Is the material high quality, will it last? Maternity clothing is made incredibly cheaply because it's expected that you only need to wear it a short time. If you plan to have multiple kids, this won’t work. If you care about sustainability and don’t want to throw out clothes, this ain’t gonna work. Try to find well made clothing. 

Does the piece function? Does it have pockets? Does it adjust to changing sizes? Does it fit well? 

 

I hope this helps you in making wise purchases in this season of motherhood. I believe how we dress, makes a difference in how we feel and act. It's worth investing in yourself, to feel your best as you care for your babies.

Get a curated list of suggestions for your maternity wardrobe!