“Dressing for 2″

August 3rd, 2010

The thing about being pregnant in the early days, is that sometimes your body looks just like the house you’ve always lived in, and sometimes you get a glimpse of the image you’ll carry in months to come.

Seems tricky, but it’s simple.

The ability to foresee that future is all in thanks to a big dinner.

(As you will see.)

(I was 10 weeks along in these photos, and I looked bigger than I did at 14-16 weeks.  Thank you, amazing fingerling potatoes!)

These were taken way back in June after Ant had taken me out to a nice birthday dinner.  We had been to our doctor that morning and seen the evidence of our new little life.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was delicious, and I had no idea, but my big sister was in town, waiting back at home for a super sneaky surprise visit.  It was a good night.

From time to time I am going to run a feature I’ll call “Dressing for 2.”

Dressing my growing belly was such an unexciting task during my first pregnancy.  I felt so limited in choices, always browsing through the maternity sections of stores I had never shopped in and leaving empty-handed and full of disappointment.

Truthfully, I am built like a 12 year old.  I am short and slight, light on the curves, and sometimes have a hard time shopping for clothes that give off a hint of my real age.  Regular shopping can sometimes be discouraging, and maternity shopping was horrendous.

This pregnancy, I am excited to dress the ever-expanding belly.  I learned to embrace the changes in my appearance when I was pregnant with Ella, and I’m looking forward to carrying that hefty baby belly in just a couple more months.  It’s going to be fun.

In “Dressing for 2″ I hope to detail non-maternity pieces that can grow with you as your belly grows.  I will outline where the pieces are from and hopefully you pregnant ladies out there can find a place for them in your ‘non’-maternity wardrobe.  Let’s have some fun!

Blouse:  Target (non-maternity)

Skirt/pencil dress:  American Apparel

Wedges:  Target

I felt really good in this outfit.  The shirt is a regular clothing piece, but I bought it after we found out we were pregnant because it has room for growth in the belly section.  It’s breezy and flowy and I had planned on pairing it with black leggings that I picked up in the same trip.  I love wearing this pencil dress as a high-waisted skirt, so I tucked in the shirt, and…instant dress!  (I am really loving the dresses that look like two pieces right now.)

I have two of these pencil dresses from American Apparel, and while pieces there can get pricey for looking so simple, these two skirts, I can truthfully say, have really paid off.  I’ve worn them as shirts, dresses, and skirts, and the ways to tie them are endless.  (There’s a tutorial on AA’s site if you’re interested.)  And the best part is, they are super stretchy and work wonders with an expanding belly!  They are pretty much my go-to staples when I want to feel a little dressier, so I am thrilled that I will be able to keep them in my wardrobe through this pregnancy.

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