Style Lush

Reader help: Cute (and affordable) maternity clothes

By Manda

Welp, here we go again! I'm expecting our third baby this summer, and at 14 weeks pregnant I'm already starting to show. I can still fit into my regular jeans, although most of my shirts (with the exception of my long tank tops) are pulling in all the wrong places. I've gotten out my bin of maternity clothes and most of them are either worn out, the wrong season, or just plain out of style. Thankfully I got some new maternity clothes for Christmas, but I'm going to need to round things out as the months go on.

And so, this is where you come in, dear readers! Where are the best places to find cute maternity basics that I can wear the crap out of until July? My specifications are that they be cute, versatile, affordable and for heaven's sake comfortable. Also I'm a not a big fan of anything that gathers or ties under the bust (empire-waisted). EASY, huh?

Here are a few of the pieces I've found that I really like. All of them are from Old Navy.

Maternity Chevron-Striped Maxi Skirt

Maternity Side-Shirred Tunic

Maternity Long-Sleeve Scoop Neck Tee

Maternity Slub-Knit Tee

(And of course I had to throw in a new pair of shoes because, well, they'll be the only thing that fits for the next 6 months! And they're on sale!)

Where is your favorite place to shop for maternity clothes? Any tips for basics like jeans, tunics, and basics like t-shirts?

(Photos via OldNavy.com)

Toni Top Revisited

by Hillary

I proclaimed my love for the Toni Top here and I still maintain that it's the best nursing top on the market. Even cooler? It's now available as a tunic and a dress.

I own the tunic and I love it. It's stylish, comfortable, and has all the awesome features of the Toni Top (easy access for nursing, no fussy snaps or buttons, etc.) Just like the original top, the material is stretchy enough that it can be comfortably worn throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Snugabell wants to offer Style Lush readers a discount on their site, Amazon.com and Amazon.ca - just enter the code TONISAVE on a minimum $56 order for 15% off the Toni Top line through December 7, 2012.

{Photo credit: amazon.com}

Diaper Pod to the Rescue

By Leah

If you've heard me talk about baby and kid gear before, you know I'm a lo-fi gal. I'd rather not spend my money on stuff I'm just going to get rid of in a few months when my child has outgrown it, and I especially don't want to buy more things I'll inevitably have to haul all over kingdom come. Now that I have two kids, I swear that between the car seat and the stroller base and the diaper bag and the baby wrap and the big kid's backpack and my purse, I'm more pack mule than mother. It's bad enough I have to lug all that stuff between the house and the car several times a day; please don't make me carry all that crap on my person when I'm shopping or out to dinner too.

This is why I love my diaper pod. Down with gigantic overstuffed diaper bags full of everything you might need but usually don't.

That one's from JJ Cole and is an updated version of the one I bought four years ago and am still using for my second son. Inside is a matching changing pad (hooray for always having a clean surface) and room for a few diapers. We throw in a small container of wipes and a travel-sized baby powder, and boom, that's all you need for quick trip to the grocery store. I of course try to keep a spare onesie and anything else I might need in the car for dire situations, but otherwise I just clip the pod onto the strap of my purse and off I go. I guess if you use a stroller all the time, you could just throw your giant diaper bag in there, but for babywearers like me, the less stuff you have to carry that isn't the actual baby, the better.    

Also, I think these diaper pods are cute. I'm not saying you should use it as a casual clutch purse, I'm just saying you could.

How to clean your cruddy BOB Stroller

By Manda

One of my most essential pieces of Mom Equipment has bar none been my trusty BOB Duallie Revolution stroller. It's also one of the best gifts we've ever received ... my husband's generous parents gave it to us the Christmas after I gave birth to our second child and WOW. The thing changed my life! It is indeed large, but it folds down small enough to fit in the trunk of most cars we've tried (we have a large SUV and a pick-up truck so transport really hasn't been an issue), and it fits through a standard doorway with no problem! When we first got it we really only used it to cruise the streets of Disneyland, but soon I started running again and that blessed stroller has now been piled high with kids, toys and snacks and pushed all over our community (and through airports! And race expos! And! And!). Needless to say, it's taken a beating.

It spent the better part of the summer on our front porch (I've been training without my kids in tow this summer, and it's been a game-changer). My daughter is in preschool now and so when I run errands I usually just pop my son in our umbrella stroller and go. Because it was left outside and because we live in a humid climate, when I opened it up recently I noticed some mold and mildew on the fabric (also THERE WERE SPIDERS! And crumbs! And it was just generally gross!). I set upon Google looking for tips and tricks on how to clean my beloved BOB and here follows my cleaning adventure.

The first thing I did was put it in the back yard in a sunny spot and spray it down with a spray bottle loaded up with plain old white vinegar. I wanted to kill the mold but didn't want to bleach the fabric out with chlorine bleach ... and nothing happened. I sprayed the entire thing down to saturation, let it dry in the sun, and when it was dry the mold spots were still there (although? The vinegar did kill all the funky smells going on!). 

SO! I now had a dry, less-funky-yet-still-moldy-looking stroller. A random website recommended using a heavy laundry stain remover, and so when I was at the store I spotted the Oxiclean MaxForce Pre-Treater Gel Stick that Emily recommended and grabbed it along with a stiff-bristled scrub brush (this is the one. The contoured shape worked great in all the fabric folds). Then, with the kids digging in the sandbox, I spent the better part of an hour rubbing on stain remover and scrubbing the living daylights out of the stroller fabric. I could not believe how much "stuff" came off the thing (and could not help but remember all the spilled snacks and sippy cups the poor thing has endured). I rinsed with the garden hose, set it out in the sun, and the good news? I managed to get it MOSTLY clean! My husband couldn't believe how good it looks! I have plans to refresh our messy little Chicco umbrella stroller next!

(photo via REI.com)

I'd like to take one more crack at it before I'm satisfied as there is still a bit of mold staining, but overall I'm pleased. If this isn't your cup of tea and you have the capital, I found a service called Stroller Spa that will service and clean your stroller for you (looks pretty awesome!).

But mostly? I'd just recommend parking the sucker in the garage. Which is where my BOB will live from now on when off duty. Lesson learned!

Have you ever done a heavy cleaning on your stroller? What are your tips and tricks? And have you used bleach to get mold off stroller fabric with any success? Did it kill the mold? Did it ruin the fabric? 

Just Between Friends Sale

By Elisabeth

Have you guys heard of this sale? Is one going on in your area right now? If so, you should consider attending, to find the best in children's used/new clothes, toys, and maternity at true discount prices. Also, if you are interested in being a consignor and selling all of those things you would love to get rid of in your house, I would suggest investing further into this opportunity!

There are 3 "fall" sales going on in my area throughout August and September. I have been a consignor in one of them already and have put the rest of my unsold items in a second one that starts today through this weekend.

So far, I have earned $97.50. I had around 125 items and sold about 70. What's left is "for sale" as we speak.

Now, due to feeling overwhelmed with everyday life most days, I use a "tagger" to tag all of my items for me for a percentage of my earnings. She also drives them to each sale. I do nothing besides drop them off at her house. Do I really miss the extra percentage? A little, but I do not have the brain power it would take to do it all myself, or I just don't want to. I haven't decided quite yet what's the right answer.

Bottom line, I do not have an extra children's clothes in my house. All of my 17 month old's fall/winter clothes are gone. I am already putting aside outgrown summer clothes and unused toys for next Spring's sale. They will sit pretty in a box in my garage until March when I drop them off for another couple of sales. A complete and total win/win in my book!

{photo credit: jbfsale.com}

Maternity Dress Winner, Only $20

By A'Dell

A few weeks ago I was eyeing this dress (among other things) at Old Navy and while the rest of my order was a bust, this dress is pretty great.

It fits well for Old Navy, doesn't hit my legs at an awkward length, and (perhaps best of all) at $20 it's a really affordable maternity item. Pair that price point with one of the coupons that lands in my inbox three times a week and it's easily a $15 or less dress.

Available in four colors (coral, navy, this palm print, and basic black), I don't see this one hanging around for too long online since fall is on its way. For those of us in warmer climates where truly cold weather waits until January (or never) to show up, scooping up these summer maternity items can be verrrrry valuable once the stores have turned to fall but it's still 80-degrees outside.

Preparing For Fall, Maternity Style

By Tara

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year, fashion-wise. Jeans, boots, tights, cute jackets and sweaters...I LOVE pulling out my fall wardrobe at the end of the summer.

This year, though, those favorite things of mine won't see the light of day, thanks to my increasing girth and December due date, so I'm going to have to modify things just a bit. Luckily, there is no shortage of cute maternity items out there, just begging me to spend my money on them, and I have a new fall uniform in mind.

Convertible Sleeve Tie Detail Maternity Dress - This dress is super comfortable, and after wearing the heck out of it through the last few months of my pregnancy, I absolutely plan to keep using it through that post baby period, when regular clothes still just don't cut it. Besides being loose and comfortable, the buttons on top make it nursing friendly, too.

{photo credit: Motherhood.com}

ASSETS by Sara Blakely maternity leggings - The added bonus of the dress above? I don't have to try to get away with leggings as pants, because no matter how comfortable that might be, it's just not a good look for me, pregnant or not. I can just wear my leggings as leggings, and get on with my day.

{photo credit: Target.com}

And I have these boots, in Black, from DSW, I can vouch for that fact that they're very comfortable, with just enough of a lift that I feel somewhat normal in height, while still being able to maintain my balance.

 

(photo from: DSW)

And now, if I could just get the weather to cool down enough to justify actually wearing my leggings and boots, I'd be all set...

Maternity Resort Wear

By A'Dell

I'm going to be five months pregnant with my third kid when I visit Maui this September, and I want some new, tropical-y duds for the trip. Summer items are already being phased out, so if you're on the hunt for summery, maternity items? Now's the time to hit the stores.

I found a lot at Old Navy, but sadly, not much of it was marked down (yet!). I'll keep an eye on it. Wouldn't this make a dreamy beach-week wardrobe, though? Perhaps I'll get one of their ubiquitous 30% off coupons in my email soon.

Floral Tie-Back Jersery Dress, $30

Ruched-Twist Empire Dress, $25

Braided-Yoke Jersey Tank, $12.50

Twist-Front Tankini Top, $14.99

 

 

Toni Top: The Greatest Maternity / Nursing Top

by Hillary

I ordered a Toni Top on a whim after falling in love with my PumpEase hands-free pumping bra (they're both made by Snugabell.) I bought it after my son was born but I could see myself wearing it while pregnant too. The material is soft and stretchy and the top really could not be more comfortable. 

My favourite part of the design is the crossover bust detail. It's flattering but also functional; the two fabric crossover pieces can be pulled over and under your breast, enabling you to nurse while preserving your modesty (this has become extremely useful now that my son is old enough to be a distracted nurser. I don't have to worry about accidentally flashing anyone if he pulls off suddenly. The fabric slips down and my dignity is maintained.) It's also simple. There are no buttons or snaps to contend with; you just have to move the fabric out of the way and you're good to go. 

Snugabell is a Canadian company (I found that out when they put out a call for a local breastfeeding mama to model their product - these photos are of me and my son) and their product is made right here in Canada. 

Through July 5th, enter code TONI3Q10 to receive a 10% discount at amazon.com.

{Photo credits: snugabell.com and amazon.com}

My Maternity Wardrobe Necessity

By Tara

I really have the most TERRIBLE timing when it comes to having children, as I am now two-for-two on being exceptionally pregnant during the hottest months of the Atlanta summer. In fact, I'd say it's almost impressive, this talent of mine, if I weren't so busy fanning myself at the mere thought of the heat and humidity ahead of me.

But because I'm probably not going to be allowed to spend the entire pregnancy in my air conditioned happy place, I've been on the hunt for a suitable pregnancy t-shirt. For some reason, ruched tops have a tendancy to make my chest run into my stomach, creating one larger-than-necessary lump that I'd like to avoid if possible, and yet finding something in a maternity style that isn't ruched is much harder than it needs to be.

Thank goodness for Target and their $9.99 Liz Lange tees.

I have this shirt in black, red, purple, orange, and gray, and I've pretty much worn one every day since I started showing. I love the length, I love the fabric, and I love that there are corresponding tank tops in the same material for all of my layering needs.

Now, if they only came with their very own built-in mister, they'd be the greatest t-shirts ever made. Who wants to get on that for me, huh?

(Photo from: Target.com)