14 Piece Winter Capsule Wardrobe for Maternity Clothing
Firstly if you are newly pregnant- congratulations! I’ve always been in awe of how a women’s body changes and adapts during those nine months. As a mum of two I have been lucky to have experienced all the trimesters and used a Maternity Capsule Wardrobe both times. It’s simply a small collection of clothing to see you through the trimesters when your clothing needs to accommodate a growing bump.
When should I buy Maternity?
It really depends on how quickly your body shape changes, you may be able to get away with continuing to wear some of your normal clothing through your first and second trimesters. Waistband and bra extenders are readily available if you want to go as long as you can. You may not need maternity at all and simply go up a size in standard collection. During both my pregnancies with my son and daughter, my belly ‘popped’ really early. I remember with my eldest going shopping straight after the 12 week scan because I just couldn’t bear squeezing into the tight waistbands of my normal clothes anymore! At the time I was working full time as a Solicitor so required smart office clothing. I therefore relied on rotating through smart black trousers and dresses worn with my normal suit jackets. With my second, I was working from home and so just needed smart-casual clothing that could be worn everyday. My children were born in September and November so my second and third trimesters were through the spring summer season, although hot it meant that I could rely more on summer dresses and didn’t need to invest in a winter coat, although was very tempted in the last couple of weeks with my second!
What do I need?
What you need in a maternity Capsule really depends on the season that you are pregnant in and how big your bump gets, as well as your lifestyle at the time. As your body grows you are likely to need to replace your bottoms first. Comfort is imperative. Fabrics that are soft and don’t have restrictive waistbands are key. Trousers and jeans are available in different waistband, either under or over the bump. Try a couple and see which you find most comfy. You may be able to get away with wearing your existing tops for a while longer, but just be weary of stretching them out of shape as you grow. You’ll also need to buy some maternity/nursing bras to accommodate your blossoming bust. If you hope to breastfeed you may wish to invest in some bras with clips to use all the way through pregnancy and postpartum. I also invested in a belly band from JojoMamanBebe during my second pregancy to give my bump some extra support.
You can find more outfit ideas on my Pinterest board here.
How much will I need to spend?
How much you need and spend on maternity wear is very individual. It depends on how your body changes and the brands that you choose to buy. I found it worth investing in better quality pieces meant they wore better as I was wearing them on such regular rotation. I borrowed a few pieces from my sister in law who had been pregnant the year before and created a Capsule Wardrobe for the rest so that I had a small amount of maternity specific pieces There is also a good resale market on eBay and Vinted if you want to pick up some new to you pieces or sell some once you have finished. Brands like Seraphine hold a good value.
Autumn/Winter Capsule
For this Capsule I chose:
Looser knits in a range of colours to offer variety.
Three pairs of jeans in different denim washes- light, indigo and black. All are either slim fitting or skinny.
One pair of black trousers for a smarter look.
Two easy to wear winter dresses.
A winter coat.
I would wear them with my usual footwear.
I’ve also included in a changing bag because there are so many more great options available now and you will use it a LOT during your first year with your newborn.
You can shop all the pieces above on my Moonsift board here. For
Your Maternity Capsule Wardrobe can be adjusted to suit your lifestyle and personal taste. There are no set rules, no minimum or maximum amount you need.
Want to discover more maternity and nursing brands? Download my Shopping Directory by following the link below.
