So up until this point, I’ve avoided both maternity clothes and, around these parts, maternity talk (feel free to X out today and come back again tomorrow if you’re not in the mood for that sort of thing) but the day has come where I finally go ahead and buy those pieces sitting in my online shopping cart.

Since this is my second (and most-likely last) go around with this, I don’t want to spend a bunch of money on clothes I’m only going to wear for a couple months. I also don’t want to look sloppy and sad for the next few months either so I’ve decided to invest in a handful of simple, quality pieces that will last me through the next few months without looking like a giant mushroom.

My biggest tip would be to keep the color pallet simple when buying these kind of items (the word maternity is like Voldemort for me – I prefer “the condition that shall not be named”) and work color in through accessories – jewelry, scarves, shoes, bags – and layering – blazers, cardigans, jackets. That way you can keep the bold, fun pieces for long past your due date (and sell the maternity gear on eBay or share the love with other soon-to-be mamas).

I’ve already added a couple of these items to my closet (thank you J.Crew for making a maternity Minnie pant) and I’ll be looking to slowly add a few more in over the next couple weeks (keeping an eye out for sales).

If you’re on the hunt for gear that actually fits, my favorite sites are ASOS (so.much.stuff), Gap (for basics), LOFT, Shopbop (for dresses) and eBay (jeans are expensive – find a pair in like new condition for WAY cheap). Oh and the reason there are 10 items, it’s because this whole 9 month thing is a sham. 40 weeks feels way longer than just 9 months.