Building a better postpartum/nursing wardrobe capsule

[wallawala]

Anybody else tired of looking like covermodel for motherhood maternity or a 15yro with stretched out T-shirt necklines??

I need some new clothes that work for my slowly deflating mummy tummy, and will function while out and about with a nursing infant. I'm also going back to work soon, and will need to invest in some new tops that don't look so tight on my new 34Fs. I'll be pumping there.

Ideally I'm looking for reasonably priced as hoping to lose another 20lbs over the next year, so these won't be investment pieces for me. I work in an upscale office building, so need professional (read: conservative) pieces for work.

I've enjoyed the You look fab blog (youlookfab.com) and the Ain't No Mom Jeans (aintnomomjeans.com) blogs for clothing ideas, but need more!! What are you wearing to work and around the town?? Where's your favorite finds from and what do you consider an essential piece for your spring wardrobe??

[luli13]

I'll be watching this thread too as I am a few weeks away from baby #2. I don't need a work/office wordrobe, mainly just casual but cute pieces. I did just get this dress
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50004&vid=1&pid=819722

that was recommended by a nice mama on here and I really like it. Love the stretchy material and I plan on wearing it with leggings or without. It will be great for nursing. I got it in raspberry and black.

I also got this one
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=819731

mostly to lounge around and wear on casual weekends with a cardy.

I really like these Boden shirts
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Tops-T-shirts/Short-Sleeved-Tops/WL646/Womens-Twist-Jersey-Top.html?NavGroupID=18

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Tops-T-shirts/3_4-Sleeved-Tops/WL645/Womens-Wrap-Jersey-Top.html?NavGroupID=18

but they are OOS in the size and color I want.

[BabyBearsMom]

For an office pumping wardrobe, I really liked wearing sweater sets. I know that isn't the hippest style in the world, but when I was pumping at my desk, I liked being able to pull up the camisole while I still had the sweater over my back. It just made me feel more comfortable.

[mskitty]

Early/mid and post maternity, I tend to follow the "wardrobe capsule" like what is described on you look fab. I have three pairs of black pants, a few black print tops, two black solid tops, a black cardigan sweater, multiple black print blazers, and a few solid colored cardigans to layer over the print tops. Most were acquired on clearance. Since I wear the same things all the time, I tend to splurge more on accessories to change up the look with a bold necklace or colorful scarf.
http://youlookfab.com/2011/03/24/building-a-professional-wardrobe-capsule-for-less/

My style trends more classic than trendy. I tend to wear casual blazers (Talbots & Coldwater Creek) or cardigan sweaters (Talbots or Lands End). Usually I can wear the blazers & cardigans after I'm back to my normal size, wearing them unbuttoned when I'm carrying extra weight. These are similar to the types of things I wear.
http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=SIZ&ItemID=1dd61e6&deptid=70656&dep=WOMEN&catid=80480&pcat=WOMEN&cat=tops&cattyp=RLE&NOffset=2&x5view=1&pcatid=70656&Ne=4294957900+23+8+3+596+1031+1545&pagesize=1&SO=0&N=4294936238&Nao=0&PSO=0&bcCat=3&CmCatId=70656|80480
http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=1e4cf32&deptid=70656&dep=WOMEN&catid=80480&pcat=WOMEN&cat=tops&cattyp=RLE&NOffset=2&x5view=1&pcatid=70656&Ne=4294957900+23+8+3+596+1031+1545&pagesize=1&SO=0&N=4294936238&Nao=0&PSO=0&bcCat=3&CmCatId=70656|80480
http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=1e4cd90&deptid=70656&dep=WOMEN&catid=80480&pcat=WOMEN&cat=tops&cattyp=RLE&NOffset=2&x5view=1&pcatid=70656&Ne=4294957900+23+8+3+596+1031+1545&pagesize=1&SO=0&N=4294936238&Nao=0&PSO=0&bcCat=3&CmCatId=70656|80480
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi28049&rootCategory=cat70010&catId=cat80002&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70010
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi28401&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80002&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi28028&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80006&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi27502&rootCategory=cat90030&catId=cat80008&sortKey=Default&section=Sale&conceptIdUnderSale=cat90030
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi28250&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80008&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/product-detail/57670/64108/jacquard-blazer.aspx?refLink=outlet-jackets.aspx&Skn=outlet
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/product-detail/59528/66099/shimmer-jacquard-jacket.aspx?colorid=999&refLink=outlet-jackets.aspx&Skn=outlet

For bottoms, I'm a big fan of Talbots poly bistretch pants. I have tons of them in my "regular" size. I have three pairs in one size up from my normal size that I wear for the 6+ months it takes me to get back into usual ones. They are all black. The ones without wool machine wash beautifully :)
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi28172&rootCategory=cat70010&catId=cat120053&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70010

mskitty

[jules9]

Hi,

I didn't have very many nursing tops with my first so I have gotten a couple more this time around. I scored some great deals on babysteals.com. They are not dressy but the lilac geisha top, mountain mama top with long sleeves and tshirt over it, and annee matthew raglan shirts are wonderful. I am due in a couple of months and can't wait to wear them!

HTH!