Alright, here are the facts: I’m currently in my fifteenth week of pregnancy and as of last week, I hated the way that my jeans felt, and so I began the much anticipated (dreaded?) search for some cute maternity jeans. My mom had given me a check for $100 which she said was for “underwear”. Did I need $100 worth of underwear? Nein. Like hell am I going to wear giant underwear the way she did! But I didn’t tell her that, of course, because isn’t she awesome for thinking of this? I will share more thoughts on maternity underwear in another post…I think I have some great ideas, but of course, any ideas that other people have are valuable, oh so valuable.
So anyway, of I went to the mall with $100 bucks burning a hole in my pocket! What I wanted were a couple of tank tops to layer under non-maternity shirts and sweaters, a pair of jeans, a pair of pants (black) and maybe a dress. I know, all this for so little money seems impossible! I dream big.
My first stop was Target to look at the Liz Lange line. I checked out things on the rack, admiring a herringbone-patterned dress for $28 and a nice deep-v necked tie back tunic for about $15, but the tunic was still impossibly big, so I didn’t get it. The dress I can wait for clearance, if I can even use it, which maybe I can’t! How many times will I be attending a business lunch? Um, zero.
I made my way over to the sale rack and had a pleasant sensation as I thumbed through one cute number after another. I tried on some things to determine my size, and actually unlike Target’s regular lines, I LIKED the way the pants fit and looked. I scored a pair of black boot-cut pants (suitable for nicer occassions like church) for only $6.98, a couple of beige tank tops for $4 each and even a cute, button down gray dress with a tie “waist” (as if gestating women have waists!) for $20. The dress will be good for almost every dressier occasion and it has a cool 1940’s silhouette with cap sleeves–I can wear a sweater over it or even layer a patterned shirt under it and wear it with my Frye boots if I ever feel like looking cool. 
I then made my way over to THE MALL. First stop, Gap Kids (where they sell maternity. Personally, I don’t think that kids should be getting pregnant! They had the cutest stuff of course! I eyed the regular-priced racks for future ideas–loved a fall/winter wrap coat in grey with a hood that I pray will be on sale when it finally gets cold! I tried on some jeans, some tanks (theirs were ribbed and only $2.99 on sale!), a skirt and a few pairs of cargo pants. The cargo pants didn’t come in my size (too big) but I tried them on anyway. They looked like scrubs. The jeans (Long and Lean) did me no favors. Unlike my surprise at Target, they reinforced my feeling that Gap jeans look bad on me. In real life, I wear Seven for All Mankind “A” pockets–a fit and flare style that flatters my curvy figure. Or so I like to think! BUT the skirt, a deep brown with a tiny beige patterning with a “fitted” waist that gathers at the hips and flairs out, was so cute, and only $12. Score! I bought a tank top and made it out of the Gap for only $14. I’ll wear the skirt with the aforementioned Frye boots (until I get elephantitis of the ankle), tights, one of my beige tanks and a sweater or shirt for another funky outfit.
Finally, I went over to Mimi Maternity/Motherhood for the jeans. They sell IT!, Mavi, Hippie and their own line. I’d always said that when I became pregnant I would splurge on a pair of good, expensive jeans. I tried on all the “designer” jeans (retail $98), a pair of Mimi’s trends including wide-leg (retail $78) and a pair of Motherhood’s “Fit and Flare” (retail $38). The “designer” jeans (not really hotshot designers, but the best this store had to offer) were really cute. They fit in all the right places, and were not in the least constricting. You could try on the waist size that you normally wear and they had a corresponding maternity size. I like. Next I tried on Mimi’s wide-leg–cute, but if I’m spending $78, why not blow another $20 for the real deal? Finally I tried on the Motherhood fit and flare, and I couldn’t believe it. They looked just as good as the designers. No sagging, no diaper butt, perfect flared leg opening. They reminded me of my trusty 7’s only really cozy in the waist. I sat right down in the dressing room and had a think. I could save $60 by buying these instead of the designers. If I bought these, and I ended up (God forbid) gaining more weight than the chirpy salespeople said I would, I could feasably afford another pair later on…But I’d always said I’d go long when it came to jeans. But the money!
I bought the Motherhoods. I’ve worn them every day for 5 days now without a wash (I never wash my jeans unless they are soiled–a trick from the designer jean care world) and they aren’t sagging yet, and I’ve gotten two compliments on them from people who don’t know I’m preggers. Not bad!
So, let’s do the math!
2 Liz Lange clearance tanks: $8
1 Liz Lange black pant: $7
1 Liz Lange dress: $20
1 Gap skirt: $12
1 Gap tank: $3
1 Motherhood Jean: $38
TOTAL: $88
I’m excited, and I have a nice basic wardrobe for at least another month! Not that I’ll wait that long to spend my $12.
