maternity style Archives - Style&Minimalism

The Middle Months of Pregnancy

It was around month five or six that I really started to notice how much my body had begun to change. It was depressing to look in my wardrobe, at first, as I felt as though I had nothing to wear. The best thing I did was go through, try on and separate out the items that did still fit.

Months five and six were the toughest for me, in terms of how I felt about my body. Seeing my bump grow was amazing but I felt completely outside of my comfort zone when it came to the rest of my body. The lack of movement and the excessive sweet tooth I had in the early days had caught up with me and I felt bigger all over, bigger than I have ever been before. I ate healthily but was still not getting out as much as I would have liked to, due to a persisting lack of energy.

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my body, feeling that it’s never quite how I’d like it to be, regardless of what I do. In the second trimester I felt further from that ideal than ever before and it’s this lack of control that I found hardest to cope with. I got stricter with my diet, making sure I ate with nutrition in mind, rather than whatever I fancied in the moment. Everyone loves to tell you when you’re pregnant that “it’s okay, you’re eating for two” or that “you should eat whatever you like”; I don’t agree with this. I feel like this is the best time to focus on getting as many vitamins and minerals in your diet as you can, and eating as healthily as possible. At the end of the day, I’m growing a human being and I want to give them the best chance of being healthy and strong. That doesn’t mean I’ve not reached for the odd slice of cake and I’ve definitely started to like chocolate a lot more (only it’s got to be good quality and just two squares at a time, mind) but I’ve also got into the habit of having an apple most days and have found healthier alternatives to the sweet things, like homemade fruit and seed bars, and banana bread which I’ve made using coconut sugar.

**Twist & Tango** Naomi Sweater in Navy Blue* | **Great Plains** Summer Scribble Shirt Dress* | **PB 0110** AB 10 Shoulder Bag in Red* | **Air & Grace** Cherub Trainers in White* | **Otiumberg** Graduated Hoops in Gold | **88&Cloudless** Joy Mini-Star Necklace in Gold* | **Ace & Tate** Heather Sunglasses in Latte*

It was towards the end of the sixth month that I finally started to gain more energy. Eager to get back to normality, I quickly booked in meetings, shoots and press events; only I took on too much, too soon. A full day in town resulted in a full day of doing nothing but recovering the next day, sometimes for two days. I listened to my body and learnt to take things more slowly, On the up side, my skin has finally settled down and I have started to get the pregnancy glow everyone talks about.

Spring Essentials With A Baby Bump

It’s the time of year when denim jackets take centre stage in many of our wardrobes. This is no coincidence, it’s a piece of outerwear that’s incredibly versatile, as well as being lightweight. Plus, you can layer it under a coat on chillier days. The denim jacket is without question one of my spring wardrobe essentials. I particularly love this workman style one from Parka London, for me it has a bit more edge than a classic western cut and looks a bit smarter. I’ve had it since last Autumn and have been wearing it layered, up until now. It’s not been designed for maternity but unless it’s cold outside I’ve found it doesn’t really matter.

Good classic shirts have become even more essential to me since the start of my pregnancy. With so much stretch jersey on offer to pregnant women it can all start to feel a bit too casual. Don’t get me wrong, stretch jersey has been a life saver when it comes to comfort but finding ways to still feel like I’ve made an effort is important to me and maintaining my sanity. I’ve had this ME+EM soft blue chambray shirt since the beginning, and due to its masculine cut and loose comfortable fit it has been a staple over the last few months. It’s a UK size 12 (my standard size pre-pregnancy for tops) and is probably only just reaching its limit now, at 7 months pregnant.

**Parka London** Grace Denim Jacket* | **ME+EM** Soft Cotton Chambray Shirt in Light Blue* | **ME+EM** Crop Palazzo Pants in Black Jersey* | **PB 0110** AB 1 Tote in Natural Leather* | **Air & Grace** Cherub Sneakers in White Leather* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Otiumberg** Gold Graduated Hoops

ME+EM have been making these jersey cropped wide-leg trousers since I first discovered the brand several seasons ago, so I’m sure they’re one of their best-sellers. I can tell you that you won’t find a more comfortable pair, pregnant or not. And again, these are not designed specifically for pregnancy, they just happen to work really well when you are. They keep their shape well and after several washes are still nice and black.

Pop of Colour

It’s funny how just one thing can make such a difference to your look. Adding a pop of colour can really give an outfit that extra oomph. I’ve never been that confident about wearing a red lip (although I’d love to). I always feel rather self-conscious about it smudging, wearing off, becoming uneven, bleeding; it’s all such a quandary for me. However, I’ve found other ways of adding a bit of colour, like this gorgeous little PB 0110 shoulder bag, I love the raspberry red, the first image shows the true colour, in the others the light makes it look a bit paler than it actually is. It’s quite a rich red that I think is rather timeless, along with the minimal design. As with all PB 0110 bags, the craftsmanship is just so beautiful. Size-wise this style (the AB 10) fits my mobile, keys, hand cream, lip balm and sunglasses all quite easily.

Subtly, I’ve co-ordinated my bag and blazer, there’s not just the fine red lines running through the check of the fabric but a red grosgrain ribbon side stripe that runs down each side, under the arm. I love this detail, it’s become quite a signature for ME+EM to include a stripe and it really works for me.

**ME+EM** Grosgrain Trim Checked Blazer* | **ME+EM** Raw Edge Silk Oversized Tee in Soft White* | **ME+EM** Crop Palazzo Pant in Black* | **PB 0110** AB 10 Shoulder Bag* | **Air & Grace** Cherub Trainers in White* | **Otiumberg** Graduated Hoops in Gold | **Merci Maman** Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | **Cate & Nelson** No. 165 Watch*

Holiday Style With A Bump

Before I went away to Kos I was in a bit of a pickle about what to pack. I keep all my summer holiday clothes in a trunk in the bedroom. After going through everything I realised that about 90% of the contents wasn’t going to work this time around. I have grown a little all over since being pregnant, not just on my tummy as I’d hoped and expected. As I’m sure you can understand this left me feeling a bit disappointed, nothing some well-considered retail-therapy couldn’t fix.

**Second Female** Frappo Kimono in Dusty Pink* | **The White Company** Seagrass Circular Basket Bag* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Castañer** Carina Espadrilles in Marsala

I usually spend my summer holidays in little cotton dresses, denim shorts or skirts, and bikinis. I decided to buy a pair of maternity denim shorts from Topshop (go for your pre-pregnancy size, if you do) but I ended up wearing them just once whilst I was away. I’ve become very self-conscious of my legs and I just didn’t feel that comfortable exposing that much of them. For a weekend away a month ago, I bought a Hunza G swimming costume from Net-a-Porter. It’s super stretchy and fits around my bump easily but after one swim I discovered it reveals my nipples after a few strokes. I don’t think anyone wants to be flashed by a pregnant woman so I went in search of some bikinis to take away instead. I found a great bikini from The White Company, the soft non-wired triangle style was the most comfortable to wear. I went up a size from my usual in the top and bottoms, and I found this worked well. I also wanted a couple of bikinis that were more supportive so I looked for brands that offered bikini tops in a cup size; Next offered the nicest designs.

**French Connection** Rhodes Poplin Relaxed Fit Shirt in White* | **SEP Jordan** Sinead Hijjab Shawl* | **Ace & Tate** Heather Sunglasses in Latte* | **Annabel Brocks** Bora Sun Hat in Truffle*

I lived in the three bikinis whilst I was away, they were perfect for sunbathing by our pool but for breakfast, lunch and walks along the beach I preferred to cover-up a little. Oversized shirt dresses, kaftans, and wraps worn with shirts (try French Connection) were ideal. I felt covered up but still comfortable and cool.

**Second Female** Tonga Silk Top in Black* | **Baukjen** Cecile Wrap Skirt* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Castañer** Carina Espadrilles in Black | **Rae Feather** Macramé Clutch in Natural*

In the evenings it felt good to dress up (in England I’d been living in trousers, shirts and jackets), I’d been dying to wear a dress for weeks. Wrap dresses and skirts from my usual brands, in a size up just about covered my bump. I know I’ll be able to make them work after I’ve had the baby so they don’t feel like a waste of money. A-line dresses in soft jersey worked really well too, I felt so comfortable in the Beaumont Organic dress I wore and again it’s a style that will work post-pregnancy. Natural fabrics always work best in the heat as they’re more breathable than synthetics, linen being one of my favourites. I wore a lovely linen dress from Great Plains one evening which was the shortest length I felt comfortable in.

**The White Company Cotton** Stripe Beach Shirt Dress* | **The White Company** Pom-Pom Edge Bikini Top* | **The White Company** Pom-Pom Edge Bikini Briefs* | **The White Company** Seagrass Circular Basket Bag* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black*

This is the best time to invest in a good pair of espadrilles. Personally, I love Castañer and have a couple of their Carina wedge style. I bought a pair in Seville last year and another from Net-a-Porter this year. It’s not good for your back to wear heels when you’re pregnant but I’ve found these to be quite supportive. I wouldn’t suggest wearing them all day although I’ve survived a wedding in one pair. They’ll give you a some extra height in the evenings and help you feel a little more elegant.

**Beaumont Organic** Penny Dress in Black* | **Rae Feather** Macramé Clutch in Natural* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Hanishken** Raffia Slipper Shoes | **Merci Maman** Personalised Flat Bangle* | **Matthew Calvin** Thin Meteorite Ring in Gold*

Overall, I would suggest buying some good swimwear and loose fitting dresses in natural fabrics, that you feel good in (I found longer dresses more flattering). Don’t stress out and don’t spend too much money on things you might only wear a handful of times.

**Rae Feather** Cross Stitch Kaftan in Red* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **The White Company** Pom-Pom Edge Bikini Top* | **The White Company** Pom-Pom Edge Bikini Briefs*

Cooler Spring Nights

Spring isn’t always that warm in England, it gets brighter and the days get longer but warm sunny days don’t always equal warm evenings. When the cooler temperatures descend upon us I usually throw on a jumper, as I can feel the cold quite easily. When it comes to knitwear, there’s nothing quite like a cashmere jumper, super soft and effective at keeping out a chill, and if looked after correctly will last you many years. I’ve been wearing this 100% cashmere jumper from ME+EM whenever it’s chilly. It’s fairly lightweight (so ideal for this time of year) and the pale cream colour feels nice and fresh for spring. I’ve been investing in cream items quite a lot recently, as it’s such an easy colour to work with.

**ME+EM** Longline Cocoon Cashmere Jumper in Cream* | **ME+EM** Crop Palazzo Pant in Black* | **PB 0110** AB 52 Tote in Black* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Merci Maman** Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | **Cate & Nelson** No. 165 Watch* | **Littionary** 14k Tiny Gold Dot Stud | **Dinny Hall** Bijou Star Stud in Gold* | **Otiumberg** Small Gold Graduated Hoops

I’ve been living in these soft jersey cropped palazzo pants since I got pregnant. They’re not a maternity style but as they have a roll top waistband, similar to some maternity pieces I’ve tried on, they’ve been a valuable addition to my current wardrobe. They fitted me comfortably before I had a big bump, they’re still really comfortable now I do, and I know they’ll work for me after my bump has gone. They’re a regular size 10 which makes me feel good as not many of my clothes are at the moment and although size doesn’t matter it does help, mentally, when you feel like you’re just getting bigger and bigger.

Spring Style Staples with Baukjen

**Baukjen** Rhian Cargo Jacket in Khaki* | **Baukjen** Drue Cotton Shirt in White* | **Baukjen** Neath Jersey Pant in Black* | **PB 0110** AB 52 Shoulder Bag in Black Leather* | **Air & Grace** Cherub Sneakers in White Leather*

I’m eternally on the hunt for the best style staples, the building blocks to a good versatile wardrobe. I’ve teamed up with Baukjen to share a few of my favourites from their current collection. They’re an obvious choice for staples as they form a large part of their collections each season. They mix in some great on-trend pieces but always have a good selection of versatile essentials.

I’ve had an original French army field jacket for many years, bought in Camden one sunny day many moons ago. I love the style but it was never designed to by worn by a woman, it is wide across the shoulders and I’m never going to have the sort of biceps that will fill out the arms. I feel it’s finally time to retire it, now that I’ve found one that fits beautifully from Baukjen. My new (incredibly soft) cargo jacket is a classic “shacket” style, perfect for layering over shirts and t-shirts. It’s warm enough for this time of year and I’m sure will work well over a summer dress in a couple of months when it warms up properly.

The white shirt epitomises the concept of a style staple. This one from Baukjen has a Mandarin collar (otherwise know as a grandad collar) and a long straight masculine cut. It’s made from a lovely crisp white cotton that hold its shape well. I know I’ll be wearing it long after my pregnancy for that borrowed from the boys look.

Jersey pants have taken over where my beloved jeans left off. It’s been sad to say goodbye to some of my favourite denim styles (they just do not work with a bump) but it’s not going to be for forever. I once thought stretchy waistbands were only for toddlers but I was wrong. Finding a comfortable pair of black trousers has been a game-changer. They’re versatile enough to wear for work or at the weekend, depending on how you style them. I’ve been wearing them with the waistband rolled down (under my bump) with a longer length top. They’re not maternity trousers but they’ve been working just as well. I would rather not spend money on maternity trousers if I can help it as I hate the idea of buying something for such a short period of my life.

None of the pieces I’ve picked out from Baukjen have been designed specifically for maternity, they’re just versatile pieces that work for all shapes and sizes, as a good style staple should.

The First 3 Months of Pregnancy

**Baukjen** Rhian Cargo Jacket* | **Great Plains** Take A Break Jersey T-Shirt* | **Levi’s** (Vintage) 501 Jeans | **Adidas Original** MI Gazelle Trainers in Black | **PB 0110** AB 52 Shoulder Bag in Black*

I’m sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed that things have quietened down here on my blog, as well as over on my Instagram. The reason for this is that I’m currently growing a little person. The bump is six and a half months along now. We’re both really excited but it’s mad to think about how different our lives will be in three and a half months. (My maths isn’t off btw, most pregnancies last 40 weeks!! Thanks Pandora for breaking that one to me.) For me there have already been some big changes, some expected, others not so much. For the time-being I’m going to share a little of what the first three months were like.

The only sign that something was going on with my body during the first month was that my boobs started to feel particularly tender. I wasn’t sick once (phew) and found out fairly early on that I was pregnant. I kept my head down and carried on pretty much as normal – minus the alcohol, rare meat, sushi, etc..

The second month I started to feel really, really tired around 2pm everyday. This is the time of day that I’d have usually had a coffee pre-pregnancy but I’ve decided to avoid coffee whilst pregnant as it has so much caffeine in and it’s recommended you reduce your intake. To compensate I got into a bad habit of picking up something sweet to keep me going.

Not drinking over Christmas was a big tip-off to friends and family but we weren’t prepared to tell anyone until we were past the 12 week mark. I experienced a lot of anxiety about losing the baby early on. There wasn’t a specific reason for this, I just found it disconcerting not being able feel or see anything that was going on. Apart from taking another pregnancy test there’s no confirmation from anyone until your 12 week scan that everything is as it should be. The worst thing was that some of my friends started asking me if I was pregnant and I hated being forced to lie to them. (If you suspect your friend is pregnant please wait for them to tell you, don’t ask.)

By the third month I felt huge (little did I know what was to come) and as though everyone could tell I was pregnant. I was even more tired than before and my IBS was going into overdrive with anything and everything I ate. I felt like a balloon long before I thought I should and my regular clothes stopped fitting me super early. This is one reason my personal style posts dried up, almost immediately. The other is that I had zero energy for the first few months. I’ve been incredibly lucky not to have been sick at all but the exhaustion meant that I barely left the house and when I did it knocked me for six. If you’re in a similar situation I would recommend Floridix, it’s an iron supplement that has definitely helped me, that and afternoon naps.

I’ve had to make quite a few adjustments. Initially, I found going into town quite stressful, especially since it was during rush hour. I now only go in once a week if necessary, and never during rush hour.

I’ve found Anneli Bush’s accounts of pregnancy and beyond really helpful, as well as Alex Stedman‘s (congratulations to both of them). Having a couple of people share their experiences a little ahead has kept me calm, as well as giving me some style tips. I didn’t want to change my style because of my pregnancy. It’s been a bit of challenge, especially given I live in jeans at least 50% of the time. Alex Eagle (currently in her second pregnancy) gave me some great advice. She suggested buying some large vintage men’s shirts (and getting them personalised by Hand & Lock, so they feel a bit special) and investing in a really good pair of leggings from Live The Process (now stocked at Alex Eagle Studio).

My first move was to convert a pair of vintage 501s, swapping the front pockets for big wide strips of elastic (as seen above). I also bought a few men’s long sleeve t-shirts in black and white. That covered the basics for a little while. Going for a size up in tops and dresses during the first few months has made it possible for me to stick with the brands I usually wear.