My maternity capsule wardrobe…the second time around.

When I was pregnant with Bryce, I was so excited to “dress the bump” and buy.all.the.things. I oogled over maternity tops, bottoms, dresses-you name it. It wasn’t particularly cohesive, just a mix match of random pieces in various prints and colors…and the majority of it was dressier workwear since I was working full-time in a corporate environment. You can check out some of those outfits here.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t discovered minimalism (or the idea of a capsule wardrobe), and I SO wish I had. A capsule wardrobe during pregnancy is probably one of the best ways to give the concept a try in my opinion.

This pregnancy, however, I learned a few things since then and have streamlined my maternity wardrobe to reflect my current style and minimalist mindset/aspirations. While I didn’t want to go out and buy a ton (knowing I am already halfway done with the pregnancy), admittedly, a few pieces were worn out and had to be replaced. I also needed more casual items since I hardly ever dress up these days, with the exception of church or when I do go into the office for meetings.

So here’s what my maternity capsule wardrobe looks like the second time around:

Athletic wear // Since the majority of my days are spent hanging around with a toddler, I like to be comfortable so this has been my jam. Plus, I try to workout 4-5 times a week so it’s easy to work up a sweat when you are already dressed for the occasion. Some of my favorite pieces come from Gap Fit Maternity (like these leggings), Old Navy’s Maternity Activewear (lower price points), and Beyond Yoga (pricier, but the quality is great- love these). And although not maternity, I have been loving the headbands from The Be Brand. They hide a bad hair day and work great for keeping your hair out of your face while working out and momming.

A few of my favorite pieces: J. Crew sweater blazer | Old Navy button up | Pink Blush Maternity distressed cropped denim c/o | Sam Edelman booties | Target watch

Jeans + Dress Pants //  I’ve tried the under the belly and side panel bottoms in several brands, and I definitely prefer full panel pants. I had a few pairs of pants from last pregnancy, but the sizing wasn’t right and the cut wasn’t my style so I found this full panel distressed cropped maternity jean from Pink Blush Maternity that I love. It’s perfect to wear with ankle boots (I’m 5’5″ so I don’t have to roll them up, and they will be perfect for spring time with ballet flats or sandals.) I now own a couple pairs of denim and a single pair of skinny leg ponte dress pants that I love.

Layering Pieces // Chicago winters are no joke, so I’m all about adding layers to outfits, whether it’s my new favorite sweater blazer (non maternity), an open cardigan or my beloved cargo jacket. Plus, it allows me to get more use out of tanks and tees when I can throw a completer piece like this over it and still be seasonally appropriate.

Tops //  From sweaters to basic v-neck tees or a dressier blouse, I have a mixture of remixable pieces that are my go-to right now. I have these basic solid v-neck tees, and a couple non maternity button-ups that have been working well for me. The key is getting a size that won’t stretch too tightly over your chest or hips. I went a size up and they are working well, plus when my bump gets bigger, I can wear it un-buttoned with a tee underneath and bonus– perfect for nursing post baby too! While the basics are nice staples, I have a few items that I like to wear for things like girls night, date night, etc. like this tie back tee or this ruffle top. Pink Blush has a TON of great choices too!

Dresses //  I have quite the assortment of dresses from my first pregnancy when I was working full-time, so won’t be needing any more this time around! The majority are from Old Navy or Target. A basic black dress, t-shirt dress and maxi dress are the ones I reach for most now. You can check them out here.

Outerwear // Luckily, my pregnancies both cover the winter months so the maternity coat I bought from Old Navy a few years ago has been holding up well. I also added a couple vests to this mix, which will be perfect come spring when a bulky parka maternity coat will be too much. The Old Navy version I linked to comes in non maternity as well which I also have and they are SO warm! I grabbed the maternity one in black and wine when they were close to $10 each and am really glad I did.

Loungewear + Essentials // I have a fleece non maternity robe which is nice and cozy, but I also realized a lightweight robe was in order. (I remember those hormones- I’d feel extremely hot then cold during those middle of the night feedings.)  A fleece robe is great for winter, and the come spring time, this robe from Pink Blush will be perfect. I plan to pack this along in my hospital bag, as it will be perfect for nursing and I love the print. Pink Blush has TONS of  cute options! And I don’t consider underwear as part of a capsule, but as I grow (yes, just about everywhere it seems), the undies from Aerie are cute and fit really well…I just sized up one- makes a huge difference to have underwear that is comfortable and fits nicely!

What are your favorite items/brand for pregnancy?

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 Pieces from Pink Blush were provided to me in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own.  Thanks for supporting the brands that support the blog!