Ask Mary Lou

Each month, Mary Lou answers (and we post!) a fashion question from one of our site visitors. If you have something you want to know to help pull together your wardrobe with style and confidence, ask away!

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For August, 2006:

Q: Any advice for buying maternity clothes on a budget?

A: As with many other types of shopping, adopting a less is more philosophy when you are creating a maternity wardrobe can save you money, time and personal angst.

Before you step foot in a store, look at your calendar for the next nine months. What do you wear on a day-to-day basis? If you are a stay-at-home mom with other children to tend to during your pregnancy, you’ll want to stock up on machine washable mix and match separates from the maternity departments of affordable places like the Gap, Old Navy, Target and Kohl’s. Selecting three tops for every bottom is a great rule to follow for casual dressing with kids.

If your maternity wardrobe needs to help you project confidence on the job, step it up a notch. If you work in a conservative business environment where suits are the norm, a great place to start is with 2-3 maternity suits in dark neutrals that can be dressed up and down with tops and accessories. Business casual dressing while pregnant is often as simple as slacks and skirts paired with twin sets and shirts cut specifically for a protruding belly. The three tops for every bottom rule mentioned above is a good starting point for maternity work wardrobes as well.

Mall maternity stores such as Pea in the Pod and Motherhood are good destinations for professional women. Shop the sales rack first and ask an associate to call you when full price items go on sale. Many of these retailers have stores at outlet malls so be sure to research this type of shopping, too.

If you are really on a tight budget, call around to a few consignment stores and see what they have in stock. A word of caution – you often get what you pay for. Dark neutral base pieces (i.e. pants, skirts and jackets) made of natural fabrics like cotton and stretch wool tend to be the most comfortable (and therefore wearable items) as your body goes through this major transformation. If you can find these items off price – go for it. If not, you are better off paying a little more and wearing the items as much as you can.

Don’t forget about special events and the occasional night out while you are pregnant. When in doubt, think black and select some great accessories to jazz things up and add a touch of signature style. Black is price neutral and can go a long way in making you feel slim, elegant and chic.

Finally, visiting the closet of a friend or relative who shares your style and figure and was recently pregnant herself is another great maternity wardrobe building strategy. For me, the best part of building my own maternity wardrobe has been sharing it with other moms-to-be!