Maternity Clothes

I’ll admit it.  I hate maternity clothes.  I’ve been looking online for stuff I would actually wear and I’m coming to the conclusion more and more every day that I just hate maternity clothes!  They’re not my style.  They’re ugly and conservative.  At least the options are better than they were years ago, but I’m going to miss my Tripp pants.  I’m going to miss my yoga wear.  Most of all, I’m going to miss the kind of boho, hippie style I’ve been developing for myself as of late.  I’ve kind of departed from goth and have taken the step into something a little more relaxed.  I like my long, flowing skirts.  I like being able to pair them with camis and t-shirts.  I like the artsy slouchy berets.  While I’m not a fan of tunics, I like the idea of being able to just throw a long sweater on and call it good.  It’s kind of the identity I’m building for myself.  Even my choice in jeans seems to reflect to me something a little more aged.  It’s like I’m trying to fall back into the 60’s.  Not the go-go dancer, mod look thing.  I mean the peace, love, and happiness kind of sixties.  Free rights for women.  Bra burning…okay, maybe not.  I like my bras.  Still, I don’t feel like I should have to shave to be attractive.  If I choose to go a week or more without shaving, why should anyone care?  I’m even tempted to go back to Target and get Corde a couple more Woodstock shirts so she can be my hippie girl too!

Yet, maternity clothes don’t have that kind of identity.  There’s a lot of jeans and t-shirts or jeans and camis.  I remember being excited about maternity clothes with Aris because there were all these cute tunics and things that were very bohemian.  I thought it was wonderful!  I couldn’t wait to be able to afford more.  Now it’s different.  Looking into summer clothes I see all these camisols and cute shirts but they’ve got loud prints or too many ruffles.  I’d like something that’s loose and flowing over the belly to help keep the Texas heat off of me, but instead it all seems like stuff that suctions to the skin.  I understand it’s trendy to show off that baby bump now, but if I get a size that fits me, the bottom of my belly will be hanging out by the time I’m ready to pop!  I’m sorry, but I don’t enjoy having the bottom of my belly hanging out.  And the "secret fit belly" that’s now so big drives me nuts!  I used to love my "under the belly" styles.  They were so comfortable.  On top of that, it wasn’t another layer over my belly in the Texas heat.

I’m just horrified by my options this year.  I’m seriously considering investing in a bunch of empire waistline sun dresses with flaired skirts, if I can find any, to hold me over for the pregnancy.  I’m considering getting some more belly dance skirts to pair with maternity t-shirts to last as well.  I can consider them an investment.  While adding to my skirt collection would be expensive, I’d be able to wear the skirts to renn faires and belly dance events after the baby is born.  I’ve also thought about just doing skirts and cholis my entire pregnancy and just letting my belly hang out.  I mean, if it’s going to hang out, I might as well just let it hang out all the way, right?  Then I could at least preserve a bit of my own style while I’m pregnant!  I’d feel a little less like being pregnant means I lose some sense of myself!

Still, I have time before any decisions need to be made.  I can still squeeze into my clothes for the time being, with a bella band to hold my pants in place while unbuttoned.  I’ll have plenty of time to figure out what I want to do for maternity wear as my belly grows.  Who knows, maybe (though I doubt it) styles will change between now and when I NEED the clothes.  Maybe I’ll find something I like…

~*~Rave~*~