When I first found out that I was pregnant, like many mommies-to-be, I was hit with a flood of emotions. I was simultaneously both terrified and excited. Amidst the million other thoughts that donned on me during those first few weeks was the worry that I was going to have to build a new wardrobe essentially from scratch. And I was hit with the money worry. Babies are expensive! I didn’t even want to think about all of money I would spend on a pile of clothes that would only last me a year.

I’d hardly say that I perfected developing a maternity wardrobe, but along the way, I’ve picked up some tips for determining the essentials and also working with non-maternity items! Hopefully these tips will help you get started ahead of the game. So where do you begin? In your own closet, of course. Let’s build a maternity wardrobe!

Part 1: Assess Your Current Closet

The best place to start is to figure out what you already have! This will help you identify your style preferences, lifestyle, and items that will continue to work for you during pregnancy.

Identify items most worn or loved

This is a great way to pinpoint your style preferences and your lifestyle. What was in my pre-pregnancy closet? Lots of skirts, dresses, skinny cropped pants, and skinny jeans. I’d already learned that those flattered my body, fit my personal style, and fit my lifestyle. Be sure to consider your day-to-day dress code while sifting through your closet as well. Since I work in a corporate setting, most of my time is spent in business casual attire (hence all the dresses and skirts). I knew I’d need to shop for work appropriate dresses, tops, and cropped skinny pants to feel most like “me” over the coming months.

Set aside items that you can continue to wear

Even though it may feel like it, you really won’t be starting completely from scratch. Really give your closet a hard look for items that you can wear during pregnancy. Dresses with empire waists and a little stretch will likely last you your entire pregnancy! Blazers, denim jackets, and cardigans can be worn throughout as well. Have any stretchy maxi skirts? Keep them around!

Clean out what no longer works

One of the best things I did for myself was to empty my closet of things that didn’t fit anymore. That pencil skirt and dress collection is safely tucked away in a bin for post-pregnancy. Jeans were separated and button downs were removed. It’s hard to see what you can actually wear or pieces you might be missing when your closet is crammed with clothes that don’t fit. It may be a pain, but removing or separating your clothes will make getting dressed so much easier in the morning without the clutter! Throughout your pregnancy, things that still work will probably change, so don’t forget to continue the clean out process!

The takeaway: After assessing your current, pre-pregnancy closet, hopefully you identified your style and everyday clothing needs. You also identified the items that you will be able to keep in your closet and cleared out the clutter of what no longer fits.

Ready for more? Check out Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4!