1. Jeans: Denim is a must-have and can be dressed up or down. With so many different cuts and styles available, every woman can find a great-fitting pair to flatter their body. Look for jeans in a stretch fabric that feels soft and worn so they’ll be comfortable, like these secret belly slim fit boot cut maternity jeans.

2. Black Tank: Whether you layer it under clothing or wear it alone, a seamless cami like this is essential. Of course other colors work too, but our must-have pick to perfectly accentuate your bump is black!

3. Black Stretch Pants: Full-length black pants go with everything and can be worn from your first weeks of pregnancy through your first months of mommyhood. Cropped would work well too.

Maternity Dresses

4. Maxi Dress: A long, flowy, yet stylish dress is perfect maternity wear. Strapless with an empire waist looks great on stylish pregnant mamas.

5. Black Dress: Just like in every woman’s regular wardrobe, there must be a black dress in every woman’s maternity wardrobe. It’s not called a staple for nothing! A black dress like this will take you anywhere, from a dinner date with your love to an evening out with friends.

6. Bras/Underwear: Your belly is not the only thing that grows during pregnancy! You’ll need a couple of new bras to accommodate your larger-than-usual breasts. As for underwear, loose is key. There’s no need to switch to granny panties if that’s not your style. Just buy your favorites in a size or two larger and let the waistband rest under your bump.

7. A Light-Weight Sweater: Something like this jersey-knit cardigan would be perfect. The soft lines and slim-fitting bodice create a flattering silhouette.

8. Tunic: While fitted across the upper body, a tunic provides plenty of room where women need it — across the middle, to accommodate growing bellies, and in the length, to cover expanding hips and bottoms. You can go long sleeved, short sleeved or sleeveless, casual or more dressed up like this one.

9. Classic Tee: A t-shirt goes with everything from skirts to shorts to leggings or jeans. Both crew and v-neck look great as long as there’s a bit of stretch in the material to grow with you.

10. Tailored Shirt: A men’s style button-down shirt looks super sexy on a pregnant woman. You can even borrow your husband’s for a relaxed and casual look or go for a more slim-fitted one at the top with a wider shape at the bottom for a more put together feel.

Accessories are essential to snazz up your outfits as well. Chunky necklaces, funky earrings, cute shoes and hip handbags are all great choices that can continue to be worn long after your baby is born and your maternity clothes are ancient history.

Then came FitFlops, the flip flop derivative from a different company, with a very do-able price tag. However, after trying them on, I was not convinced. I see women wearing them all the time and each person I questioned admits that although they are super comfy (which personally I didn’t feel), they don’t do a thing as far as fitness.

Enter Skechers Shape Ups, the newest of the bunch to claim cellulite reduction and perkier buns just by wearing them. The design makes sense and I can see how you have to work your muscles just to prevent yourself from toppling over. They are about $100 less costly than the MBTs, but will still dent your wallet a bit and I am worried that I’ll be wasting money on a very uncomfortable (and quite ugly) shoe.

Have you tried any of these shoes? What’s your opinion? Oh and Skechers or MBT, if you would like to send me a pair of sneaks so I can review them for real, send me a note and I’ll be happy to test them out!

Shoes

Baby & Kids Sale: Save up to 40% off select Old Navy styles.

Maternity Sale: Take 25% off Old Navy’s new styles for moms-to-be.

First and foremost, they felt that there was a major absence of cute and stylish boys clothes in the marketplace. They wanted to put together a unique, one of a kind line that would turn heads; something that they would love putting on their guys. They knew they had a hit when they would take their kids out to the malls and baby classes in their new creations and received compliments from everyone; even inquiries on where their shirts came from.

You must check out the original tie tee. It is adorable! All of their products are. They even have some girl clothes, but I must say the boy stuff is better…..which is unusual, right?!?

Buy one item and select the second item for $1, July 19-21 at FashionBug.com. No coupon required.

My boy is wearing this one right now:

We received a very cool gift recently. It is a huge framed picture for our wall handmade by a very talented artist. (click on thumbnail for larger view) We’ve hung it in the playroom and it looks amazing.

I guess they are called graphic portraits….and can be used for almost any application: t-shirts, art work, wallpaper, mouse pads, cards/stationary/business cards, etc.

You send in the photograph(s) of your choice and there is a set fee for creating the actual image. Then an additional charge depending on how you use it. You can do more than one photo per application too. For example, if you did four squares, each one could be a different person or pet if you prefer.   For more information contact gwegweiser at gmail dot com (written as a normal email address of course). Tell him you saw his picture of ‘Jax’ at Baby Talkers.

Enjoy 15% off on your entire purchase at childrensplace.com with code SMA47 thru 5/6.
(online only)

Save big on the season’s best styles! Select Spring merchandise $4.99 and under at childrensplace.com.
(just an FYI – they also have the $4.99 sale in stores)