Wednesday, February 10, 2016

An Ode to the Friend Who Lent Me Some Stylish Maternity Clothes (For A Change)

I don't like to spend money on anything, generally speaking, and so it stands to reason that I'd continue on my cheapskate ways when it comes to maternity clothes.

I'd always thought, "I don't want to spend a lot on maternity clothes because you only wear them for such a short time." But had I realized that wearing them for 6 months or so of pregnancy, plus 6-12 months afterward, times 6 for all 6 of my full-term pregnancies... and actually, I've probably worn my maternity clothes more than I've worn my regular clothes over the last decade.

Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

Anyway, that's how I ended up with a pitifully small maternity wardrobe. I store it all (summer and winter stuff) in one of those enormous diaper boxes from Costco, if it gives you any idea.

The day I brought that box up from the basement, my heart sank. I pulled the tired old clothes out and hung them up in my closet and thought sadly, "That's it, Self. That's all you're going to be wearing for the next year."

Not only is it small, it's painfully outdated. Most of my maternity clothes date back to my first pregnancy in 2004. They weren't as bad as the shapeless maternity tents that my mother and her friends had to wear, but... close.

This was before the invention of that wonderful stretchy lycra material that pulls up nice and snug over your belly, so I still have (some) maternity pants with the ugliest, bunchiest drawstring waist you will ever see.

An Ode to the Friend Who Lent Me Some Stylish Maternity Clothes -- I just about barfed when I got out my tired old maternity clothes and surveyed them in all their frumpy glory. Then my friend stepped in to save the day. {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Wearing these, I feel as attractive as Danny DeVito when he played the Penguin in Batman Returns. Which is not very.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Katy graciously allowed me to rifle through her stash of maternity clothes and borrow whatever fit.

Not only did she double the size of my maternity wardrobe, she has the most wonderfully stylish stuff. So goodbye, bunchy waistbands! It's the back of the closet for you.

Just take a look at some of these:

I wore this to church the other week. The cardigan and shoes are mine (and believe me, becoming the owner of a pair of stylish ballet flats was a shocking development in itself,) but the skirt and shirt are Katy's.

An Ode to the Friend Who Lent Me Some Stylish Maternity Clothes -- I just about barfed when I got out my tired old maternity clothes and surveyed them in all their frumpy glory. Then my friend stepped in to save the day. {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Bonus: my toddler sat still on my lap during the entire service saying "Ball!" and pointing out all the little beads on the front of the shirt.

I'm still not entirely sure horizontal stripes are the right decision for someone the size and shape of a small planet, but I think this sweater is awesome:

An Ode to the Friend Who Lent Me Some Stylish Maternity Clothes -- I just about barfed when I got out my tired old maternity clothes and surveyed them in all their frumpy glory. Then my friend stepped in to save the day. {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Favorite feature: Does not scream "I was purchased over a decade ago!"

I've always been scared to purchase one of these baggy-sleeved garments in what I call "a flying squirrel cut" (which I just Googled and it's actually called a Dolman sleeve.) But I know they're all over the place right now and guess what? I love this sweater.

An Ode to the Friend Who Lent Me Some Stylish Maternity Clothes -- I just about barfed when I got out my tired old maternity clothes and surveyed them in all their frumpy glory. Then my friend stepped in to save the day. {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Flying squirrels, unite!
Those are just a few of the wonderful things in the magical box Katy lent to me. I haven't even worn my old stuff because I'm loving hers so much.

I realize I'm sort of starting to sound like the plot of Single White Female, so I think I'll just end it here by saying: thanks, Katy. From the bottom of my rapidly expanding belly.

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That striped sweater is adorable!!!

Michelle said...

Truly though, why do the majority of maternity shirts these days have horizontal stripes? I waltzed/waddled into my OB's office at 9 months pregnant wearing a dirt cheap Old Navy maternity shirt with black horizontal stripes. She took one look at me and said I could've picked something a little more flattering with that huge belly of mine. I dared her to find something that isn't striped. And after that long diatribe, I found your blog from Rachel and I love it. You're rocking those maternity clothes.

PurpleSlob said...

Jenny, you're jazzy!! Love all your new clothes! And the flats! God bless Katy!

Jenny Evans said...

Wow, I can't believe your OB not only went to medical school, but to fashion school, too! What a go-getter.

Rachel said...

Awesome on the new clothes! Borrowing clothes for this season is a really good strategy, particularly if you borrow them from people with great style. :) Mom pretty much wore all the same maternity clothes for the first 6 of us, but then baby sister was 5 years + one international move after the last one, and there were no more stashed maternity clothes. We loved finding Mom new clothes and it's true, she was way more stylish with the last one than with any of us!

Peggy said...

You need to go shopping for yourself. It took me almost three decades to figure out that I am a much happier person when my clothes make me feel good about myself. you have my permission to go buy something new.

Queen Mom Jen said...

Cute! I happily boxed up and delivered all my maternity to DI this year. There were a few cute pieces, but I was done with the whole lot!

Kristin said...

Girl. When you find a friend that's your size and is willing to loan you her adorable clothes - and *especially* specialty items like maternity clothes - you hang on to that friend and never let go. I'm fortunate to have one too, so I get ya! You're rocking the belly - so cute, I just spread out all over and it didn't look in anything.

Thanks for stopping by my blog - I can't wait to read more on yours! :)

Maddy@writingbubble said...

You look fab in all of these! And you rock your pregnancy bump too! xx

Jenny Evans said...

Marie Kondo would be proud!

Unknown said...

HAHAHA - your comments are hilarious - I especially like the comparison of the dolman sleeve to a flying squirrel. And I agree, the striped sweater looks great!

Unknown said...

Cute outfits! I had a friend who also lent me clothes (mostly work clothes) for the duration of my first pregnancy. Such a life saver! She even had the in-between suit sizes, for early pregnancy. I bet she saved me a grand - as if I ever would have spent that much! Enjoy the updated looks! :)

Tiffany {A Touch of Grace} said...

I felt the same way when I brought out my maternity wardrobe this time around. Luckily the hubs let me get some new pieces. Plus I'm pregnant in the opposite season from my first so it was a must.
Thanks for sharing at the Shine Blog Hop!