First off I have to thank Jessica for featuring me on her blog. Jessica and I often find ourselves speaking about fashion and trying to define our own individual style with words. I have thought about this for a couple of days since I knew I would be a feature and I have come to the conclusion that everyday we have to define our style. Maybe one day we will have a vintage look with a hint of boho and the next we feel classic yet effortless. Style is something that evolves over a period of time with influences from everything from nature to classic 1960's style icons. I always try to not judge people's fashion sense (well unless it is horrendous) because it is such an individual thing and really anything goes these days! So that being said, here I am 7 months pregnant with twins and still trying to maintain my own sense of style. I have grown so rapidly the last month so it feels like I have kind of rotated a few outfits with some variations each time I wear them. I guess that if I was to try and define my style from day to day it would be what Jessica refers to as effortless with a hint of boho (and a lot of the time I don't match), but that is me. I suppose I try to keep a modest neck line but I like to show a bit of leg when it permits.
So my advice to pregnant women about maintaining their sense of style during this time in life is just that, stay true to yourself! Do everything to feel beautiful and celebrate the changes that your body is going through. Don't hide under frumpy layers and hide your growing tummy instead embrace the changes and enjoy the journey. There is something very special about being pregnant (obviously), but I mean about the way you feel about yourself (maybe this is just me). I have never felt so healthy and beautiful and its all because I am sustaining lives inside of me. I once heard someone say that instead of wishing nine months away and complaining about pregnancy she would embrace this time and enjoy every moment that it brought. Now I understand that some women have a tough time during the 8-10 months of carrying babies, but you have to have the rain to enjoy the rainbow at the end of it right?
Ok back to fashion... I have a couple pieces of advice that I have found work for me and I hope they will work for you! First off... don't kid yourself. There are clothes in your closet and drawers that likely won't fit you for close to a year to a year and half after you enter your 2nd trimester (for me it was the middle of the 1st), so take the time and get them out of sight! Pack them up and put them aside for a year and when you feel that the time is right unpack them and its like Christmas! My whole thing was that I didn't want to feel depressed that I couldn't fit into certain favorite items so I just took them out of the whole picture, I mean its not like we were saying goodbye forever, it is just a temporary break from each other. Absence makes the heart grows fonder right!?! Secondly, if you are going to invest in maternity clothes you don't have to buy them from a maternity store! I know this is hard to grasp for some people, but it is true. I did have to buy a pair of jeans, but that is pretty much the only major purchase I made from a maternity store! I am not trying to say that maternity stores aren't valuable, but there ARE other options. Just be creative! I tried to buy clothes that I know I will wear after the babies arrive and that aren't super expensive. That was the thing about maternity stores, I found that for the prices vs. the amount of time you would actually wear the clothes it wasn't worth it. So my favorite places to find affordable "cross over" maternity clothes have been H&M and Joe Fresh from Superstore. I am a total dress girl, so I purchased dresses that I could wear now and after. H&M has a very small maternity section and I did buy a couple pieces from them, but again I can wear them afterwards. I am vertically challenged and have always been super intimidated by maxi dresses, but I broke down and tried one and I fell in love with it! So I bought another! Who can honestly argue with a floral, Little House on the Prairie maxi dress for $14.95? Honestly. I had to be honest with myself and realize that I am not going to be a size 8 for a LONG time, so I am going to try and embrace the changes now and not freak out afterwards when I haven't "slimmed" down. I guess I should inject here that I am frugal, cheap, thrifty what ever you want to call it... the only thing I don't mind putting money out for are of course shoes! And if I can find them for a deal I will! Believe me! I wouldn't say that I have a shoe fetish of any sorts (like some people I know... ahem... Jessica), I would say my heart belongs to scarfs. They are the BEST accessory and the best way to inject a bit of color and a funky pattern to an outfit that would otherwise blah. So my last piece of advice while to trying to maintain your sense of style during pregnancy is just to enjoy the changes happening as they happen. Don't "hate" your body during this time, embrace it. Enjoy this time when it is socially acceptable to have, for lack of a better term, a fat belly. I don't necessarily mean wear spandex dresses that are so tight you can't breathe, but wear pieces that are flattering in any occasion. Be true to yourself and stay positive about your ever changing body. I have heard so many mommies tell me they miss their tummy after the little babies enter the world... so take that and run with it.
Enjoy the journey!
xoxo
Jesse and Babies
The photo's to go along with this post are on Jessica's blog! Check them out!
www.jandtbrake.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment