Creating a Sustainable Maternity Wardrobe.
One thing I wasn’t massively excited about when I became pregnant was shopping for a maternity wardrobe. I mean most maternity clothes are so frumpy, did I have to be a frumpy Mum already? And their so expensive!! Plus I had started to think more and more about slow fashion so how on earth was I going to do this all sustainably without spending a ton of money? Actually it turned out quiet easily.
The best way to create a sustainable maternity capsule wardrobe is to figure out what you already have in your wardrobe that will be suitable for pregnancy. This will help you see what else you can add second hand or sustainably to fill the gaps.
1. Shop your wardrobe.
I started off by shopping my own wardrobe. I’m a massive fan of a wardrobe sort out. Finding things I had forgotten I had or found a new love for after not wearing them for a few seasons. Actually this happens less now that my capsule wardrobe has developed more but it still happens.
I may have been lucky in this department as I do like floaty loose clothing rather than tight body con style clothing so much of my existing wardrobe I found could be worn throughout my pregnancy.
Section off a maternity section.
The next step once I found items I could wear for some or all of my pregnancy was to section off an area of my wardrobe just for maternity things. Some things like high waisted jeans I knew I would definitely not be wearing for a long time, plus any fitted work clothing that wouldn’t see the light of day for another 18 months when I returned to work, got completely packed away in a box and under the bed. The rest I moved to the back. I find this really helps me to see what I have to wear and keeps the stress levels of getting dressed to an absolute minimum. These clothes not fitting me during pregnancy was fine but I didn’t want a reminder every day that they still didn’t fit once I had given birth.
2. Make a capsule wardrobe.
Admittedly it’s taken me years for my now wardrobe to some what resemble a capsule wardrobe and it will probably forever be a working progress but it was at it’s best during pregnancy. A maternity capsule wardrobe I found was easier to create because your basically starting from scratch.
The basis of this start with the fore mentioned “shopping your own wardrobe.” Now you have a section of clothes at the front and center of wardrobe you can see what gaps are missing. Lay the clothes you have picked out on the bed or hanging somewhere in sight if necessary. This will help you envisage what you might need.
For example. Do you have lots of floaty tops? Would a pair of maternity jeans mean you can wear your tops more often and change them up for different outfits with the same pair of jeans. Maybe your more of a longer top or dress kind of person. So maternity tights or leggings is what you need to go with these? The more you look at what you’ve got the more you’ll realise what the FEW items of clothing you need to see you through pregnancy and beyond.
Remember to take your time.
3. Shirts are your friend.
When “shopping” your wardrobe to see what might fit you through pregnancy don’t discard anything that doesn’t completely fit. Mad I hear you say? Well maybe. I found my shirts to be my biggest assets during my first pregnancy and again now even though I can’t do them up. I wear basic tees underneath, which I would have done pre-pregnancy too, but I found they help expand your maternity wardrobe but making more outfits out of the same clothes you wear underneath. I mean I love my leopard print dress that currently fits perfectly over my bump but I do get bored of wearing it everyday and it is a little dressy. Add a shirt over it however and it becomes a whole new outfit. The same goes for adding them over leggings, jeans, lounge wear. Basically whatever fits you can be hidden under a shirt.
4. How to shop sustainably for your maternity clothes.
Wait to see how your body evolves.
I would start by seeing how your body evolves a little. Yes you want your maternity clothes to last you as long as possible but I would hold off buying anything at 12 weeks. I personally hold all the baby out-front and stay fairly the same on the rest of my body, give or take a dress size. It’s meant I can wear most of my own clothes as long as there was a loose space for my bump. Whereas I have any friends that had much smaller bumps but put weight on more evenly, meaning they upped their dress size and could still wear relatively fitted clothing over their bump. What I’m telling you is we are all different so just see what works for you as you grow.
Consider coming seasons.
With both of my pregnancies I have started to show in the winter months but managed to survive without buying anything for a bigger bump until the spring. That way I could buy outfits that would see me through spring and summer until I gave birth. Though now with number 2 I am a month or so behind my first pregnancy in terms of time of the year so waiting for my summer dresses I wore first time round is proving a little harder. Though as I write this we are currently in a Corona Virus lock down meaning I can live most of the time in lounge wear.
It is worth buying things you can layer in colder months and wear on their own in warmers one. For example I am currently wearing a lightweight jumpsuit, with leggings and a t-shirt underneath and a jumper over the top for warmth in these cold February days. This jump suit will then see me perfectly into spring right up until I give birth in June on it’s own of a light shirt/cardi over the top. Every outfit you pick for a capsule wardrobe is better if it can be versatile like this.
Make sure whatever you buy will see you through post partum too.
It is also important to me that any pieces I do buy are sustainable. Sustainable for the planet and for me too. Will what your buying be able to be worn with a changing body through pregnancy and post partem? If you breastfeed will it be breastfeeding friendly too? Beyond 9 jumpsuits are my favourite for this. Not only will they house your growing bump perfectly but they will look great with no bump at all, and are all breastfeeding friendly.
Note when I say breastfeeding friendly I do not mean it has to have an easy clip for getting your boobs out easily and discreetly. Yes these type of tops do you well at first when your getting to grips with feeding especially in public but actually I ended up wearing whatever I had and making it work for me. The only things I found I couldn’t wear were dresses with high neck lines. Everything else I basically just threw the baby under and made sure I had a cover/blanket/muslin with me to hide my boobs in public. The best breastfeeding's friendly tops were anything I could slide down my shoulder. Or wear I vest top underneath. That way I could lift my dress/top/jumper without showing my tummy and slide the strap down to get a boob out. This too stops your tummy getting cold in winter.
5. How to shop second hand for maternity clothes.
This includes asking friends who are a similar size and have previously been pregnant. When I mentioned on my Instagram stories that I was waiting for my Spring/Summer maternity clothes a friend instantly message back to ask if I would like to borrow some of her winter pregnancy clothes. Which is perfect!! I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought to ask her before.
If you don’t have a any friends that can pass on/lend you clothes, head to eBay. Like with your friends so many will buy maternity clothes and wear them for a few months max, even if that is through multiple pregnancies. Meaning there is a lot of clothing in great condition out there waiting for you too find.
Make sure you become familiar with the filters on eBay. Type in maternity clothes and thousands of results will come back at you. Filter the condition to secondhand to get rid of all the cheap imported clothes being sold, filter in your size and even brands you like. If you find a particular brand you like save it as a search. eBay will then notify you if something comes up. Obviously Beyond 9 in one of my saved searches.
Don’t afraid to change your style during pregnancy.
It’s also okay to think outside the box when it comes to your normal style during pregnancy. I am not a body con person. I like light floaty styles. Though I am petite I don’t like anything clinging to the little bulges I have and I certainly don’t like having to wear invisible underwear. This all changes during pregnancy (apart from the invisible underwear of course). I love showing off my bump and love wearing stretchy body con dresses. In fact this type of clothing became my favourite, is easy to buy secondhand, just go up a size or two to fit your bump in, and if your buy it second hand it doesn’t matter too much if your bump stretches it and it becomes unwearable after pregnancy. Not my usual mantra I know but this did work for me.
WHat size clothing to do for?
Now you need to think about sizes to wear. When I buy normal clothes for pregnancy I usual go up 2 or 3 sizes. Trying on is hard when shopping sustainably as so much of it is online, but don’t be afraid to send back or sell it on (if secondhand) if its not right.
With maternity clothes remember the manufacturers will factor in you growing a little. For this reason they will advice to buy your regular size, though in my experience I still like to go up one size just for a little extra comfort.
6. Finding Sustainable maternity brands.
Frugi.
Frugi score high in the sustainability league table. They’ve been a favourite of mine for kids clothes for a long time, though I must admit I’m not a massive fan personally of their adult ranges. However if your looking for great leggings on budget and ethically made, or harem trousers to be totally comfy over that bump they are a great place to head.
Beyond Nine.
Mentioned before Beyond Nine are a real favourite of mine because they do really un-frumpy, totally not Mum clothes that are super versatile. You’ll be wearing them for years and years after your babies are no longer babies. They are yes a little more expensive, these as more investment pieces. And yes I asked for a jumpsuit for Christmas so it was totally justified.
OlliElla.
Known for its beautiful child’s play and Pinterest worthy baskets did you know Olliella do the prettiest, comfiest organic clothing too. All designed to look beautiful with or without a bump. Also breastfeeding friendly too but like Beyond Nine designed to see you pregnancy, post partum and years after too. I’ve gone for the mid length dress because I can’t resist a floaty summer dress to live in from April to October.
They have also just released a underwear range that it great for trimester one, two and post partum/breastfeeding.
7. Shopping for maternity basics.
Shopping for basics sustainably can be hard especially when pregnant. When I was first pregnant I was still shopping at some fast fashion stores so simply brought some basic tees and vest tops a few sizes bigger to stretch over my bump. These were the totally stetched and un wearable after I had given birth but they were cheap so it didn’t matter to much. This is obviously not the mind set I stick with now.
Going into my second pregnancy I really wanted to avoid fast fashion but found that most sustainable brands are more expensive. This is something I do not mind paying for when it comes to invest pieces but when it’s for a simple t-shirt I go through relatively quickly and knew I would stretch I was struggling parting with the money. Even debating just having to except needs must and head to the high street. If this is something you need to do that is just fine, however I have now discovered a brand I’m really happy with for basics. Boody Eco Wear clothing.
I found Boody to be high in the sustainability scores and reasonably priced. I’m usually a UK size 8-10 so for pregnancy ordered tops and leggings in a large (size 12-14). I worried these would be far to big, or the leggings would be too baggy on the legs but because of the stretchy material they fit perfectly, not looking big, no baggy areas but also room for my bump to grow. I feel confident they will fit postpartum too. Though we shall see if the material stretches back once the bump goes down. I again feel confident it will do this better than my previous tops, but even if they don’t I will keep them for wearing under other tops for the explained feeding reasons.
As for the leggings, they currently stretch over my bump, as it gets bigger I shall roll them down under bump. They are nice and snug on my bottom so no problems with them falling down, which again is a problem I’ve had with cheaper materials. After birth they will be nice and snug again over my retracting bump which is important as that jelly like belly in the first couple of weeks post partum often feels like it might fall out on the floor. Nice snug, comfortable clothing helps you feel supported. Unless you want to look into belly wrapping.
Other ethical basics brands
How’s your maternity wardrobe coming together? I hope you love it as much as I’m beginning to love mine. I’m so pleased it’s not just for a few months. This love affair shall carry on.
Hannah xx
