non-maternity maternity clothes

sometimes maternity clothes are super cute, and sometimes they seemed to be designed to make you look even more beastly than you already feel.

i got pretty lucky, in that i was able to get a lot of maternity clothes from my sister and from shamu's cousin, so i bought very few clothes at all for ever-burgeoning baby monster.* i've found a few non-maternity items that i've been able to wear all the way up until now (39 weeks and 6 days!). this may have been easier for me to pull off because i have a high-riding baby who doesn't happen to stick out as much. and, i have to confess, it was fun for momma to buy something for herself once or twice and not feel like she is totally wasting money.

things that happened to work for me:

1. knit tops from anthropologie: most of these tops are cut A-line and/or have an empire waist, and are pretty long. so they're stretchy, comfortable, look nice and can cover up the belly for quite a while. (i had already owned some from the clearance rack before becoming preggers.)

2. ribbed tank tops from the gap: again, the length is key. when i'm lounging at home like a sweaty bloated whale (which is a lot, these days), i usually wearing one of these tank tops and shamu's boxer shorts.

3. tankini bathing suit: i found that several "maternity" bathing suits were essentially a large skirt-like tank on top, which is fine for going in the pool but too much material if you actually want to swim. i ended up getting a suit one size larger than one i would normally wear, which did a good job with coverage for both the boobs and the belly. (and i got it for $20 off the clearance rack at Target, sweet).

4. knit A-line skirts from American Apparel: i bought two of these a couple years ago. unfortunately i don't think they sell them any more, but the large stretchy waistband and A-line cut are the keys. good for hotter weather and easier to deal with you have a full bladder and you are making a mad dash to the toilet because you are about to sneeze.

5. stretchy knit dresses in a bigger size: baby doll, wrap, and even a black number from a store that i have never shopped in before (Martin + Osa) and i am absolutely sure that in a Large, was supposed to be low-cut and sexy for a 7-foot tall waifish eastern European model but also covers the belly quite comfortably.

*not the baby. I am the baby monster, yet another fantastic nickname cooked up by shamu.