I bought a lot of maternity clothes  – in fact, I’ve got two weeks to go, and I still have quite a few things that I have yet to wear. I was so worried about building a maternity wardrobe for work that I ended up buying stuff that I’ve only worn once. Some clothes didn’t fit over multiple trimesters, other things were too much of a “statement piece” to wear repeatedly, and some stuff just didn’t work out.

In my building, our dress code is business casual. I can wear regular jeans on Fridays, and trouser jeans other days if I dress them up with accessories and shoes. Here are the fundamentals of my business casual work wardrobe. I’d focus my budget on these things if I was to re-build my maternity wardrobe from scratch.

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  • Maternity Tank Tops: I wear a maternity tank top almost every day – I wish I owned more than three (black, white, and navy). They’re great for layering under other low-cut tops and with open cardigans. You can probably get away with regular tanks for the first and second trimester, but you’ll really want the longer length in third trimester.
  • Side-Ruched Tees: Side-ruched tees are another basic that I wear ALL the time. Even though temperatures are down into the 40s, when I want to layer clothes, pregnancy makes me too hot for a long sleeve base layer, so short sleeves are a must. I have found that side-ruched tees are the most flattering – the tighter bottom helps maternity pants look less awkward and a snug fit below my belly highlights the bump rather than enlarging it.
  • Boyfriend Cardigans: Cardigans are fantastic because you can buy non-maternity versions (so much easier to find on sale) and wear them unbuttoned with a tank or tee underneath. When you’re no longer pregnant, they’re still a working part of your wardrobe. I probably have ten or fifteen cardigans I can wear in my third trimester, most of which were part of my pre-maternity wardrobe. Boyfriend styles work well because the longer length covers my butt, which I’m totally self-conscious about as I’ve expanded.
  • Scarves: I probably own twenty different scarves – lightweight ones for the summer, and heavier ones for the winter. Some are solids (I wear a red one all the time), and some are patterns. Scarves work great when you’re pregnant because they can help cover up a low neckline or increasing cleavage and they add lots of variety to your wardrobe without a lot of expense. You can continue to wear them after the baby, too, so they’re useful well beyond nine months. My go to outfit is usually a tank top, open cardigan, and scarf.
  • Ultimate Panel Pants: Gap’s ultimate panel pants are by far the most comfortable ones I own. I have two pairs – trouser jeans and black dress pants, both of which I wear every week. I love this panel because it was versatile for my whole pregnancy – it’s lower and thinner in the front, and  higher in the back. All maternity pants fall down a little bit – this panel is way easier to slyly hike back up in front of 30 kids compared to a full panel.
  • Denim Skirt: A denim skirt, paired with boots or ballet flats, was a staple of my non-maternity wardrobe, so it makes sense that I’d wear one to death while pregnant. It’s an easy basic and an alternative to pants that can be paired with almost everything I own. I own this specific one from Old Navy, and granted, the fit is a bit strange, but once I pull a long shirt over the top, it’s fine.
  • Leggings: Leggings are an obvious pregnancy staple, but I had to include them because you can’t have a maternity wardrobe without a pair. I’ve been wearing them to work under empire waist dresses that I owned pre-pregnancy – the dresses are a little short now for me to feel comfortable wearing just tights, so this is a good way to stretch out my wardrobe. I can’t wear leggings as pants to work, but I totally do that around the house.
  • Ballet Flats: Ballet flats, especially from Target, are cheap enough to buy in a bigger size if your feet swell. Most of the time, they’re also more comfortable than heels.

I mentioned that there are things I bought that I haven’t worn, or have only worn once. Here’s what I’d skip if I were to do it again:

  • Woven maternity shirts. I have a few that I really like, but because they’re not stretchy, they didn’t expand with my belly. Skip button-ups in favor of knit shirts with spandex.
  • Patterned shirts. I have some maternity shirts with fun, bright patterns. Although I love how I feel in them, they aren’t very versatile; I can’t wear it multiple times in a month because I feel like I’m repeating the same exact outfit. More subtle patterns or solids are easier to change up with cardigans, scarves and jewelry.
  • Dresses. Dresses are sooo comfortable during pregnancy, and it makes it really easy to put an outfit together in the morning when you only need one piece, but unless it’s super basic (think black knit or stretch denim), it’s hard to get a lot of wear out of them. Many of the maternity dresses I own have busy prints, and it’s hard to blend them into a weekly rotation without it being obvious that I’m wearing the same thing over and over.
  • Boots. Your calves and ankles are going to grow. Don’t waste money on boots in the first trimester that probably won’t fit by the third.

What maternity items get the most wear in your wardrobe? What would you skip buying if you had to do it over again?

Maternity Style part 4 of 9

1. Maternity Clothing Stores by Guides
2. Affordable Stylish Maternity To Get You Through Fall by Brandy @ Heart & Habit
3. 5 Summer Non-Maternity, Maternity Items by Brandy @ Heart & Habit
4. Maternity Work Wardrobe: What's Worth It by Mrs. Tricycle
5. DIY Maternity: Adding An Empire Waist by Mrs. Tricycle
6. The Awkward Bump: Dressing My Spare Tire by Mrs. Tricycle
7. Favorite Maternity Clothes by Mrs. Hopscotch
8. Maternity Must-Haves by mrs. tictactoe
9. Maternity Clothing Essentials by Guides