Buying maternity clothes can quickly become expensive, especially if you\’re purchasing name brand tops and bottoms. Given that you\’ll eventually need (or want) nursing bras, maternity jeans, and a few empire-waist dresses, the more you can save, the better. With a little upfront planning, you can design a wardrobe that helps you to show off your best features without breaking your budget.

In this article, we\’ll offer several tips for stretching your dollar when shopping for maternity wear. You\’ll learn that there\’s no need to sacrifice style or comfort. With the following suggestions, you can build a pregnancy wardrobe that matches your personal sense of flair without the matching high price tags.

Borrow Shirts From Your Partner

After looking through your own closet for loose-fitting tops and bottoms, be sure to explore your partner\’s side. Chances are, he has more than a few shirts that he won\’t miss. He\’ll likely have a few Oxford-style shirts that are easy to wash, very comfortable, and provide a crisp, clean appearance. If you\’re wearing a t-shirt or stretchy top as a first layer, wear an unbuttoned Oxford as a second layer. It\’s a breezy, stylish look that won\’t get in the way of your growing stomach.

Ask Friends And Family Members For Old Clothes

Before rushing to the stores, ask friends and family members who have babies whether you can borrow their old maternity clothes. They\’ll likely be happy to lend them to you since doing so saves them the trouble of taking them to thrift shops, or giving them to goodwill. Moreover, you\’ll have the benefit of wearing quality tops, bottoms, and dresses for which you have paid nothing.

Buy Maternity Outfits To Mix And Match

If you\’re continuing to work during your pregnancy, you\’ll likely need a few professional-looking outfits. When buying them, think of ways to mix and match the individual items. For example, suppose you purchase an outfit that includes a jacket, pants, and blouse. Can you wear these items with those from other outfits? Build your wardrobe in a way that maximizes the number of ensembles you can create from the fewest possible items.

Also, if your friends worked during their pregnancies, ask whether you can borrow their maternity office attire. Their outfits may still be in great shape. Because your friends are unlikely to need them in the near future, they might be happy to lend them to you.

Treat Your Feet Right

This is not an area in which to cut corners; your mood is highly influenced by the comfort of your feet. As you enter your second and third trimesters, you\’ll notice that your shoes feel slightly tighter. In some cases, they may feel very tight. The reason is because your feet will have swollen due to fluid retention and looser joints.

Fortunately, comfortable shoes do not need to be expensive. The main points to remember are to buy a size that offers plenty of room for growth, and forgo heels. Flats will become increasingly important as your balance and coordination wane.

Purchase A High-Quality Outfit Meant To Turn Heads

Thus far, we have carefully and creatively built a maternity wardrobe that costs little, but offers plenty of style. Use some of the money you\’ve saved to purchase one evening outfit that is designed to catch the attention of passersby. You can wear it on dates with your partner, or while enjoying an evening out with friends. This outfit will give you confidence that may have diminished during the course of your pregnancy.

Spice Up Outfits With Accessories

A pair of simple, yet dazzling earrings can invigorate an entire ensemble. A well-chosen scarf can draw eyes while giving an old outfit new flavor. An elegant necklace worn to the office can provide needed zest to an otherwise unremarkable suit. Accessories are a valuable addition to any maternity wardrobe. Be creative, and try new matches to create exciting looks.

Building a closet full of fashionable, high-quality pregnancy clothes can be affordable. It takes creativity, a little help from friends, and the willingness to look beyond the designer brands in the major department stores.

Author Bio: Find quality Maternity Shirts from Emommie.com.

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