Capsule maternity wardrobe

[MotherDear]

OK, I'm up the duff and in roughly 6 weeks-ish from now (if last preg anything to go by) I will be out of my skinny jeans and needing a more forgiving wardrobe. Last time I made do with grotty maternity jeans and tent tops. This time, I want to look sleek and put together, but still be comfy and dressed practically for school run, shopping etc. I need things that go with other things, too, iyswim - a capsule wardrobe if you like. Also, need stuff that is spring-like rather than summery as frankly, I don't trust the weather in this country and don't want to waste a fortune on floaty dresses I'll never wear.

Btw - I'm 5'11, normally a size 12-14, good legs and bum, large-ish norks, slight bingo wing-age on the arms. I'm pale, blue eyes, long dark hair. I live in skinny jeans, slouchy boots / Uggs and smock top- type things at the moment, but really need to up my game.

Thanking you in advance, oh stylish ones!

I don't want to say you're being over-ambitious in trying to look better in pregnancy than you did before, but good on you for trying!

I suit browny-greeny-orangey muddy colours so based my pg wardrobe round those, which meant most things matched. I was lucky in that I live near a Next clearance shop so went in almost every week to rummage in their matwear section, so built up the wardrobe piece by piece rather than in one fell swoop.

Linen trous did me much better than jeans, but I made no claim to looking sleek or put together - I tried for 'effortlessly elegant' but probably came nearer 'sack of spuds'

I'm pg with dc no 3 and this time used those belly belt extender thingies on my ordinary jeans. But I needed to team them up with some belly bands to cover the undone zip. That meant I could just buy nice smock type tops from ordinary shops. It's only now at 37 weeks pg that I have to wear maternity tops all the time and I'm measuring biiiiiiiiig!

I'm a 12-14 depending on the shop.

I've also discovered New Look maternity this time round - far nicer that the dullness of Dotty P and v cheap.

And get some good bras - that's made all the difference with me - not maternity soft cup, but well fitted underwired ones from Bravissimo - best move I've made all preg!

Gap do maternity now, should fit the bill?

i have probably wasted my money judging by british summer but just bought this skirt

Must have

• 1 sleek black well fitted maternity trousers
• 1 citizen maternity jeans
• 1 stretch black pencil skirt

Add ballerina flat pumps and WELL FITTED TOPS NOT flowing smock tops.
Shift dresses + ballet pumps is a nice look.
TBH I'm 34 weeks and have only bought 2 or 3 maternity tops. All the rest is Tshirts/vests/jumpers one or 2 sizes up. Buy stretch material so you can wear again after birth.

Show a little cleavage if you want but keep it understated.

Topshop and H&M are great for good value fun pieces.
Isabella Oliver great for basics.