Are you newly pregnant and unsure where to start when it comes to developing a maternity wardrobe? Make sure you start with Building a Maternity Wardrobe Part 1, where you’ll asses your current lifestyle and personal style.

Now that you know your day-to-day lifestyle (business-oriented or more casual?), personal style preferences (skinny pant or dress devotee?), and have identified pieces in your closet that will make it for the long haul (blazers, jackets, empire waist dresses, etc.!), you’re ready to identify the holes in your wardrobe. What items are you missing?

Part 2: Figure out the Holes in your Wardrobe + Create a Plan

Figuring out the pieces you’re missing is going to be largely dependent on your own closet. Since I work in an office environment, I knew that I would need work appropriate pieces that fit my personal style. This included skinny pants for the office and versatile dresses. Being pregnant in the Summer also meant I’d need a couple pairs of shorts. Whatever pieces you identify as necessities, make sure that you stick to the basics!

Think about the BASICS 

I know that a plain black dress might not be the most exciting item to purchase for your wardrobe, but if you’re interested in keeping costs low and remixability high, it’s key that you purchase basic items. Think: dresses in solids or simple prints (like stripes, polka dots, etc.), tees, versatile jeans and pants.

Plan out your purchases (again err on the side of BASICS)

Making a list of your necessities will help prevent spur of the moment impulse buys. It will also help you visualize how items can be mixed and matched prior to having a closet full of clothes that don’t go together well. You may love printed pants, but having five pairs of printed pants and several printed tops won’t make getting dressed very easy in the mornings!

Sample shopping list

Still unsure of where to start? Here is a sampling from my maternity closet!

4-5 basic dresses

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Remixable bottoms

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

A mix of patterned and solid tops

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

And don’t forget to think about those non-maternity items currently in your closet! Blazers, denim jackets, cardigans, vests, kimonos, open button downs, belts, and other accessories are great ways to add personality to your wardrobe. If you are missing any of those items in your non-maternity wardrobe, it may be worth investing in them now. You’ll definitely get wear out of them later too!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

The takeaway: Hopefully you have a shopping list of your basic pieces to shop for (both maternity and non-maternity!) and have also considered how the items will mix and match together!

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