Second trimester wardrobe dilemma!

[Cottagecosy]

Hi everyone. I am hoping that you lovely ladies may be able to help me navigate my way through my pregnancy fashion dilemma!

I'm 13 weeks with my first. Size 10 top verging on 12 bottom. Not very booby although these are growing! I don't have a bump yet but definatley look podgy round the middle.

It feels too early for maternity wear but my normal wardrobe feels unflattering and my go to high wasted skinny jeans and work skirts are uncomfortable around my middle.

So.... I need some clothes to take me through to maternity gear but don't know where to begin! I need work clothes that hide a growing middle (work don't know) and casual clothes that make me feel good still.

What did you ladies do at this point? Did you buy maternity clothes or just change your usual style? how did you create a capsule wardrobe to carry you through without costing a fortune?

Any help welcome!!

Hi!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! So happy for you!

I felt uncomfortable from the first trimester with things on my belly too. I bought a couple of pairs of elasticated bottoms that were NOT maternity wear which were great. Wore them on my belly initially and then on my hips during the later stages. I still wear them now because they're sooo comfy! I would probably wait till later before investing in any maternity clothes since you're not showing yet. Instead of shirts, can you wear a top instead to work? Baggy tops and slim fit bottoms look smart and will totally hide the bump when it comes!

I also used to buy clothes that i could wear to work and wear casually too - therefore spending less but still not feeling like a lump with a bump!

Hope that helps!

M

With my first I didn't wear any maternity wear until 5+ months. I would only buy things as and when you need them as you have no idea where the weight will go and how much you will put on. I got by with 2 pairs of black mat trousers for work and 1 dress, then a pair of jeans for casual. I didn't have a big bump so wore my normal tops until the end.

Do you just have skirts for work? If you wear trousers, leave the button undone and loop a small hairband through the buttonhole then the other end over the button. Coupled with a loose fitting top you can carry on wearing your normal things for a while yet.

I would also look at buying some things which you could wear "normally" but that have a bit of "give". I've just stocked up on some empire waist summer dresses which look nice now but which will also accommodate a growing bump. Boden have quite a few.

I really loved over the bump trousers which I think you'll be able to wear longer than under the bump. Under the bump will fall down if you don't have a decent belly, whereas over the bump look good when you're at the early stages, but then they stretch as you get bigger. My work trousers were from Isabella Oliver and totally amazing - looked like normal nice fitting trousers. They are also great post birth until you get back into your old clothes.

I only bought maternity stuff for the last few (huge) weeks, otherwise just have a look for stretchy/floaty tops and dresses in a size bigger than you normally wear.

I think it looks nice to show off a bump, I remember wearing a lot of stretchy maxi dresses in summer first time I was pregnant.

That way you'll have stuff to wear after baby arrives (because you'll look about five months pregnant for a bit afterwards).

Thanks for your replies!

That's a great tip on the hairband and over the bump trousers chloechloe, I do wear trousers for work so I will remember that one for the coming weeks!

It is useful to hear that you have all managed to wear normal clothes for so long. It sounds like my best bet may be trousers and floaty tops as you have all suggested. I will leave the maternity shopping to further down the line- it will be winter then so what I need would be very different to now anyway.

I think I will invest in some leggings/ stretchy trousers for out of work as you said mumtobabyl- much kinder to my sensitive stomach! At least I will be able to keep wearing these post baby too.

Really appreciate all your advice!

Hi Cottagecosy,

I've found fairly lightweight a-line dresses really useful. I got mine cheapo from Primark. I have to be smart for work and so pair with tights and smart shoes or with cropped leggings and pumps for the weekend - I'm not a fan of my legs! I pair with a thin belt to bring the waist in a bit. I got a couple in a 14 (I'm usually a 12) and they are still working really well at 23 weeks.

Sherbert

Sherbetdibdab- love the name! That's exactly along the lines I was thinking. Unfortunately I don't have a primark near me but I think I will take a trip when the wardrobe options are dwindling

I wear dresses a lot of the time anyway, and have found a lot of my non-maternity jersey dresses still fit in third trimester. Other than that, maternity jeans and I bought a couple of non-maternity long tops from H&M in a size up to normal.

Most of my dresses are from FatFace, but they don't seem to have any in similar styles this year, but from ASOS this and this or this.

Place marking as I'm experiencing the same problem!

I'm13 + 3 with my first and have no real bump yet, just a big of a bloated belly! I'm normally a size 8/10 but haven't worn trousers in the past 4 weeks as they are just too tight and uncomfortable. My supply of dresses which are loose around my belly is limited to 3. I'm a way off maternity clothes and don't really want to buy a load of size 10/12 clothes to take me through to 'maternity stage' as I'm worried about not loosing the weight after baby is here (I've put on nearly 5kg already....)

Empire line dresses! Anything that hugs you under the boobs then flares out. My wardrobe is full of this style already as I'm the dreaded "apple shape" - 10ish top, slim hips and legs, big waist with a spare tyre! It's a flattering style for skimming a bloated belly, disguised my growing bump, and I can still wear the stretchier ones now at 26 weeks - bump fits in, although very noticeable now! I reckon I can get another couple of months out of my regular empire line dresses.

You're the same size and possibly a similar shape as me though I'm a definite pear and would never go near high waisted skinny jeans! At the pre-bump stage I mostly wore things a size bigger, and did jeans up with a hairband. That got me to about 19 weeks in my first pregnancy and 17 weeks this time around. Floaty or empire line tops are also good but if this is a radical change to your normal style everyone will guess you're pregnant anyway! A few comfortable under bump skirts later on will be a better investment than you think - I have a Gap denim maternity skirt that I reluctantly put away when DS was 8 months old. It was so comfy and has been a great joy to be pregnant again and get it back out!

Trousers or skirts with folded yoga style waistbands are great - this style of waistband rather than these actual trousers

Belly/ bump bands can make your existing trousers easier to wear. They are wide tubes of stretchy jersey

You can buy waistband extenders which will give you a bit of extra room for a while. And you can get ones with a fabric flap if the zip is a challenge like these

Layers are good. Avoid anything clingy or too empire line/smock like unless you want people to be wondering! Jackets, big scarves, peplum tops etc can all mask a bump for a while.

I'm 19 weeks and only just getting a bump, instead of a 'she's-eaten-a-big-dinner' gut. My dad says it looks like a beer belly, it wobbles and I'm not on board with it yet!

I went with new look for some leggings and a few tops, thinking it's easy to return them if they don't fit. Jeans: I've been doing the bobble trick since I was about 12 weeks and only bought maternity jeans a couple of weeks ago. Layering has been helpful.

And my main issue has been underwear. I'm going this week to buy some maternity bras and seamless short/knickers because in the last couple of weeks my hips have gone wide, and my tits have exploded. Not having comfortable underwear has made me feel like shit, because nothing on top feels right then.

Cos brilliant for bump hiding stylish Scandi clothes. H and m and jojo mama Bebe for tops. Maternity jeans and jeggiings a god send. Top shop and eBay on the jeans and Primark have some non maternity jeggiings which cover the bump and come in fantastic colours. Just go up a size.

FraterculaArctica and carrot (sorry don't know how to do bold!) Your absolutely right- empire line was what I was thinking (for long lasting use) but... When I told a neighbour I was pregnant this week she said she wasn't suprised and thought I looked pregnant when she saw me last!! I was wearing an empire line dress!

Went shopping and got some normal tapered black work trousers with an elasticated waistband from DP's (very comfy) and have just gone for a couple of floaty tops for now.

Empathising with the bloated belly admarks although mine has gone down a bit this week and wearing things around my waste is a bit less uncomfortable! Hopefully the same happens for you too soon.

Thanks for those suggestions helanatroy.. I am off to google now 😊

I try to wear my more stretchy dresses. It was great last time I was pregnant as it was a warm summer but really struggling this time because of the weather. I've used hairbands and bump bands to secure trousers but at almost 20 weeks during my second pregnancy I'm too big for normal clothes and in maternity wear. I've bought a lot off ebay but need more. I also seem to live in the same 2 pairs of trousers and 2 or 3 tops. I'm actually quite fed up with my lack of choice this time!

I was very podgy from day one due to IVF but a size 8-10 so I found either usual clothes on the bottom with a belly belt (essentially elastic insert) worked well or yoga pants as they are stylish for work but very forgiving around the middle. I worse normal tips to start with but sized up.

32 weeks here and still not bought any maternity clothes. In my mind I keep telling myself that we don't have money to waste and to buy clothes I'll only get a few months wear from goes against that.
I've been managing fine with what I have although lots of tops have been sent to the back of the wardrobe as they've ridden too high. I've a pair of sainsburys jeggings that have an elasticated waist so are super comfy, I'm wearing a lot of dresses with leggings/tights underneath, and so far my size 10 skinny jeans are still doing up providing I wear them under the bump. I've discovered clothes at the back of my wardrobe that I forgot I'd had! Lots of button up floaty blouses are working really well too.

We just need the sun to make an appearance as I've lots of lovely summer clothes that would be perfect.

It's almost like I've made it my personal mission not to but maternity wear, yesterday my grandmother (80+ years) commented that I was looking 'tidy' in a linen shirt and chino style trousers, and I'll take that as a compliment as she comes from an era that didn't wear bump enhancing skin tight clothes, if anything you tried to hide it.

Just have a really good sort through your wardrobe and you'll be suprised at things you can still wear, get creative with layering and pull out things you weren't so keen on 6 months ago... you may find that your changing body shape makes those items much more flattering!

Hi OP. I'm 21 weeks and held off buying maternity clothes until I was about 18 weeks. Until recently I had been doing the hairband-trouser button loop trick which worked well although I now have some maternity trousers from work (uniform) - incredibly unsexy but like heaven to wear. Tops wise I am still pretty much managing in my normal ones as long as they aren't too clingy. But trousers are the issue - anything across the middle gets so uncomfy. I have a non-maternity cotton stretchy tube skirt (knee length) that works well for smart and would probably be ok for work? I wear it under my bump.
Like others have said trousers with an elasticated waistband are amazing, I got some maternity harem pants style trousers from h&m for £15 the other week (black and white) which I put on everyday when I get home from work as they are like wearing PJS. They don't really look like maternity wear and think they could be dressed up smart for work.
How long are you not telling your work for? I only have a small bump but still haven't had anyone ask me if I am pregnant - it's amazing how un-observant people can be!

I have started to tell work moggysinger but not everyone knows and because of the job I do (without outing myself) I want to try and hide it from the 'customer' for a bit longer if I can. Obviously there will come a point when that isn't possible. Since I started this post I have been able to tolerate my stretchey jersey skirts around my middle again which expands the options a little.
My bump seems to come and go. Some days, and particularly after I have eaten, I have a definite bump. Other days I just look like I have eaten a few too many pies haha

I have to confess- I'm in pj's at home. Definatley not looking glamorous at the mo!

I'm impressed at your resourcefulness prettyflowers! I am going to dig around a bit but unfortunately I don't have a v big wardrobe to start with and generally have always been more of the fitted top/ loose bottoms style.