Fall Floral

At 36 weeks and counting, I’m pretty much limited to maternity clothes these days, but wanted to share one of my favorite weekend outfits. I knew that finding and investing in a good pair of maternity jeans would serve me well and was beyond thrilled when I found my favorite jeans in a maternity version! The AG Jeans “Stilt” cigarette leg jean is one of my favorites because the cigarette leg is not quite as slim as most “skinny” jeans and even the extra stretchy maternity version steers clear of being too much like a “jegging”. This navy tunic top has been a perfect transitional piece from late summer to fall, and I can pair it with brown riding boots and scarf on chillier days.
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AG Stilt Jeans / A Pea in the Pod convertible sleeve blouse Olivia Palermo for Bauble Bar necklace

Maternity Work Wear Capsule Collection

While I am more than thankful that maternity work wear is not what it was when my mother was expecting me, I still struggled to find affordable options than felt polished enough for my office environment. Typically, tailored shift dresses and pencil skirts with silk blouses and high heels are de rigueur for my work week. Needless to say, these options phased themselves out by the middle of the second trimester. After scouring many websites, I ended up being a loyal fan of A Pea in the Pod as I found it was worth the extra investment for the tailored dresses and tops and familiar designers I was searching for.

maternity taylor floral shift

This Taylor elbow sleeve shift dress for A Pea in the Pod has been great to layer with a blazer and heels for the office or a sparkly necklace and strappy sandals for a night out. The non-maternity version is available at Nordstrom.maternity rachel zoe

This Rachel Zoe maternity shift was conservative enough for the office, especially when worn over tights, but the little bit of metallic thread in the tweed gave it just bit of a glam edge. It’s also super comfy!maternity-coco-dress-navy-1_large

Probably my favorite maternity dress purchase, this Madderson London dress packs tons of polish, is super soft yet structured, and is incredibly figure flattering. It’s no wonder than Kate Middleton has been a fan of the brand as well.

maternity belted tunic

A basic black and white belted tunic blouse has served me well. Playing with different jewelry options and scarves has allowed me to add a pop of color to change up the look.maternity embellished tank top

This swingy embellished tank has been a go-to with black pants and a blazer for business professional days, and has layered well under a cream cardigan or blazer with jeans for a versatile “off-duty” look. There is a side tie that can be tied in the front or back to more clearly define your bump.

maternity minnie pant

After trying on countless pairs of black maternity work pants that were all too short, the J. Crew maternity “minnie pant” (currently on sale) was my saving grace and is still serving me well. I purchased the tall size so that they hit at the ankle and are long enough for the office and can be paired with heels or flats.

What are your maternity wardrobe work wear must-haves?

Life Lately

Hi everyone,

I’ve been away from blogging for quite a while lately, much longer than I intended, as I’ve been swept up in my “busy season” at work and getting ready for baby! As things are settling down at the office and my due date is drawing near, I hope to get back to more regular updates. The end of summer absolutely flew by, and I was able enjoy wearing most of my normal clothes until well into my second trimester. Even now that I’m less than four weeks from my due date, I’ve been able to get by with a “capsule collection” of maternity clothes. My biggest struggle was finding tailored, professional looking work wear that I felt confident in. I’m working on a post of my maternity work wardrobe must-haves for those in a fairly conservative office environment.

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I still really haven’t had any weird cravings, but did indulge in a weekly salt bagel egg white sandwich from Bodo’s Bagels in Charlottesville, VA (a UVa staple!) for a few weeks during my second trimester. I’ve tried to keep up a gym routine as much as possible, but have mainly been using the elliptical machine since the fluid motion is the comfortable with the extra weight I’m carrying. Most weekends have been spent tackling home improvement projects that have always been on the list, but now have a deadline. Ted did a great job putting up crown molding in the baby’s room and kitchen and installing a “built-in” bookshelf in the basement. We’ve also been trying to clean out to make room for all of the new baby gear that we’ve acquired from friends and family. My Alexandria friends, that have become like family, threw an amazing baby shower a few weeks ago that I promise to share as well!

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Glad to be back at it and sharing with my online friends. Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Kristen