Sometimes you buy a house and then start renovating it and then are on a budget and have to stop buying clothes for a while. This seems more bearable given that it’s summer and I can get away with wearing the same maxi dress and my trusty Birkenstocks constantly and pretending I am bohemian chic when really I just am unshowered with messy hair. I’ve been really good about not doing any shopping, but, per usual, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is calling to me. Damn you Nordstrom! Here is what I’d be buying if not for my self imposed shopping freeze.

Vince coat

I “need” a new coat for fall/winter and I’m feeling this one. I like the drape, I like the length, and I like that it could be dressed up or down. Even though as dressed up as I am likely to get all winter will probably be a sweater dress or actual pants in lieu of leggings.

rag & bone ankle bootie

I think it’s time to upgrade my $30 super cheap looking “vegan” leather ankle booties. I may even opt for a camel or gray bootie. I’m trying to venture beyond black, into the exciting world of non-black neutrals. Baby steps. Color still kinda scares me.

Rebecca Minkoff satchel

I haven’t purchased a new bag in a couple years, and my most recent bag purchase entailed a faux leather (aka plastic) tote from Urban Outfitters that I use as a diaper bag #momglamour. A mom-ish but stylish bag would be a lovely fall purchase. Even though the bottom would no doubt soon be blanketed with stale Cheerio dust and other mysterious, vaguely disgusting substances. This Rebecca Minkoff tote could stash a fair amount of baby crap but also looks pretty cool and isn’t black. A winner!

As I sit here in a black maternity maxi dress I’ve worn like 100 times, I’m beginning to look forward to some new clothing options. Granted, for the first few months I will probably be garbed in a dirty sweatsuit, but my hope is that I can eventually reclaim some semblance of personal style post baby.

I’m envisioning simple pieces with a slight edge, mostly in black. Very similar to my pre pregnancy attire, but hopefully with a few higher quality items thrown in. God damn it I’m bringing a new life into this world, and I feel like I’ve earned a bit of a wardrobe upgrade.

Here are three pieces I’ve been eyeing, courtesy Nordstrom. Given their amazing selection and seamless ordering/return process, I’m expecting that most of my post pregnancy clothing purchases will be sourced accordingly, online, whilst wearing the aforementioned dirty sweatsuit.

1. Leather leggings

I have been dreaming of leather leggings for years. I’ve tried on a few when I can find them on sale, but they have all run really short, and I’m not into a cropped look when it comes to leather pants. Tall people problems. These lambskin beauties should actually be long enough and holy shit are they gorgeous. I love me some Helmut Lang for simple, modern, yet somewhat affordable (for designer) pieces. I fully intend to gift these leggings to myself once I can fit into regular clothes again, and I may never take them off (baby vom wipes right off leather, yes?).

2. High waisted denim

I tend to purchase all my denim at Nordstrom Rack, which is great for the discount, but the selection just isn’t as robust as at regular old Nordstrom, so I end up with lots of different pairs of jeans that work but that I don’t necessarily love. I need to get away from that: fewer pieces, but really kick ass ones. These jeans would be a start. I love a high waist. Man I miss my waist.

3. Leather baseball cap

Expectations for my new mother hair situation are not high. I think this hat would be a badass way to keep that shit under wraps. Maybe not to be worn in conjunction with the leather leggings though…On that note, I can’t wait to embarrass my daughter in all my leather gear. It’s going to be awesome.

Getting dressed while pregnant kind of threw me at first. I didn’t look pregnant for a few months, but stuff wasn’t fitting right and some of my go to pieces just weren’t working. But now that I’ve hit month 7 of pregnancy, I think i’ve figured out how to clothe myself somewhat stylishly, affordably and effortlessly (real talk: pregnancy clothing needs to be comfortable and easy to wear). These general rules have helped me build a preggo wardrobe that works for me and helps me continue to feel like myself despite my newly acquired girth.

Dark Colors
I’m biased; I almost always wore mostly black pre womb occupation. Maybe it’s just my dark and evil soul. But, dark colors are inarguably more flattering, especially when you feeling kind of lumpy (sup, cankles).

Slim Cuts
I am a fan of close fitting silhouettes in pregnancy. They show off the bump and make the rest of you look slim in comparison (especially if you wear a dark color). I haven’t much liked drapey things I’ve tried; they make me feel like a walking circus tent/like I am trying to smuggle illicit things under my clothes.

Don’t Fear a Heel
If you rocked them before and feel confident you won’t topple over, I say keep wearing your heels. They may make you feel sexier which can be really self-esteem boosting while preggo. Just go for something with a built in platform, or a wedge, if you want to stay (relatively) comfortable.

Maxi Dresses
I’ve been able to continue wearing normal sized maxi dresses for quite a long time during my pregnancy. These are a great way to go if you want to buy things you’ll still be able to wear after you’ve popped out your kid.

Accessories Galore
Sometimes (most of the time really) all I want to wear is something stretchy, soft and black. This gettup can look surprisingly fashionable with some help from accessories. A bunch of bangles piled on is a great way to go: lots of impact and it doesn’t matter if your fingers are bloated (goodbye, rings). A bold, collar style necklace or haphazard pile of a few chains also works well. If you like hats, which I definitely do, a Panama style hat is great for summer or you can go against the season like me and rock a black felt number with a wide brim.

Embrace a Minimalist Wardrobe
I’ve found it really freeing to rely on a few staples I love during pregnancy-I’m no longer overwhelmed by an overflowing wardrobe. It’s a major time and money saver and really, most people won’t notice that you’ve worn that dress like five times. The minimalist wardrobe approach has been so helpful that post pregnancy, I’m going to commit to more of a capsule wardrobe and will try harder to buy fewer, but nicer, pieces I absolutely love and will get a lot of wear out of.

Where to Shop
Here is where I’ve had success finding non-dumpy maternity garb (I’ve mostly stuck to online shopping):

ASOS: On trend and affordable. Can be somewhat hit or miss in terms of fit and quality but returns are easy. Good for special occasion wear.
Target: Affordable staples (t shirts, tanks, leggings), and workout wear.
Pea in the Pod/Motherhood Maternity: Good to go in person and grab a pair or two of designer maternity denim. I think high quality maternity jeans are worth the splurge. I bought some Joe’s skinny jeans that I love. People also rave about J Brand. Paige and 7 are other widely available brands.

Do you have any hot tips on what to wear during pregnancy, and where to find it? Leave it in the comments, I’d love to hear!