Marianne: This is the End.

Okay, true that I have a two-week-old baby (and thank you all SO MUCH for the sweet words on Hugo's little announcement post, I love you all to bits), but I figured after all these months I owed you guys one more example of Maternity Style. Plus, this is a great follow up to my maxi dress post. And so, here I am the day before I had a baby, at 38.5 weeks:

Now, perhaps the ombre effect on this Merona Kimono-Sleeve Maxi Dress makes me look like I've been wading through a marsh somewhere, but I loved the color and the neckline is perfect for breastfeeding. And let's face it, I was excited to wear something that wasn't maternity.

Good lord. That baby was ready to come out! 

dress: Merona Kimono-Sleeved Maxi Dress (another cute ombre maxi dress)

sandals: Dolce Vita Archer

bag: Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini (very similar teal bag for cheap!)

Marianne: Good Maxi Dress, Bad Maxi Dress

After bashing maxi skirts, I felt the need to defend maxi dresses. Because these fall from a higher point on my waist (instead of relying on clinging to my hips/butt to stay up, like maxi skirts), I think these are a lot more flattering in general. I could be kidding myself, but I think this one is pretty cute, even hugely pregnant:

But the maxi dress can go wrong too. I'm trying to find some dresses that will work for me right after I have the baby, and here is a secret: for a dress to work immediately post-partum, it should pretty much work while you are pregnant too. And so, I ordered two of these Target Mossimo V-Neck maxi dresses, in a pretty teal blue and a great coral orange. When I first wrote about them, I thought they looked comfortable and nursing friendly, but they don't work on me. They are cut really big on top and narrower in the hips, which is the opposite of what I need. They are also just a tad short, and too long waisted. Maybe good for someone, but not cut right for me at all. Oh well!

Mossimo® Womens V Neck Sleeveless Maxi - Assorted Colors

I'm still on the hunt for some easy, cheap dresses I can wear this summer while I'm home with the baby. When I returned this stuff to Target I bought this Liz Lange Maternity Maxi. AND IT IS SO GOOD. Hint: if you're tall and curvy, maternity maxis are awesome. Cut out the tag if it bothers you. I'll wear the hell out of this one.

Liz Lange® for Target® Maternity Sleeveless Maxi Dress - Black

I also picked up this shorter Liz Lange dress. Both are labeled nursing friendly and are great transitional pieces.

Liz Lange® for Target® Maternity  Pleated Front Nursing Friendly Knit Dress - Black

I'm also thinking about some straight up 70's-style caftans for around the house. I mean why the hell not?

Marianne: Good Stripes, Bad Stripes.

Y'all, maxi skirts sound like the best idea ever. Like basically wearing pajamas. BUT I GIVE UP. I have tried a million different skirts and they all look awful on me. I think the problem is that in order to stay up, maxi skirts have to cling to my butt/hip area, which is my problem area. And then they cover up my legs, which are relatively slender. It's just bad math. Case in point, I tried this Target Maternity Maxi Skirt:

Merona® Maternity Maxi Skirt - Assorted Colors

My thought was that it would be great for post-baby too. Throw on a t-shirt and I'd be relatively pulled together, but still comfortable. BUT IT WAS AWFUL ON ME. I meant to get a picture before I returned it, but I had technical difficulties. And before you blame the stripes for this one:

Stripes aren't to blame. Typically someone who is more bottom heavy like I am would be warned away from them, especially when pregnant, but I have actually lived in stripes for almost the entire time. The key is the cut. I have decent legs, so covering them up in a long striped maxi skirt is about the least flattering thing I can do. Ever.

So that's my maxi skirt rant. One more note on wearing horizontal stripes when you're curvy, to pull off stripes in general, I think you need to keep it short and fitted. Like this $18 Old Navy Maternity dress, or my #1 favorite Asos Maternity Breton Stripe Dress. Not pregnant? You can go a little looser with the cut. There are a million adorable options out there, like this adorable Olivia Moon dress, or a classic French dress like this one (on sale!).

Maxi skirts just don't work on me, period. They cling to my widest parts and cover my best parts. Maxi dresses still work if they are cut right, which is a subject for my next post. What do you think? Can you work the maxi skirt? They seem so comfortable and easy that I'm jealous of you if you can.

Marianne: New Accessories Always Fit.

Here's the thing. I am 36 weeks pregnant and running out of clothes that y'all haven't already seen a million times before. And after 9 months, I MISS SHOPPING. I miss shopping and new stuff and I'm so tired of maternity clothes and WHINE WHINE WHINE. But you know what always fits? Bags and shoes, y'all. Bags and shoes.

Sorry about the wrinkled dress, I couldn't see them.

Adrien found this Marc by Marc Jacobs straw and leather bag for such a deal I don't even want to tell you about it, because it will cause the rage. She sent it to me for my birthday and it's true love.

And these SHOES! Because I have the best friends ever, these were also a birthday gift. My girl Lili sent them to me and they are so comfortable and so much fun. The leather is super soft and floppy and they remind me of the kind of sandals you'd pick up on a summer trip to Spain that everyone would hate you for. Only $50, too.

Oof, would you look at that belly? I'm tired, y'all.

dress: Motherhood (maternity similar and super cute non-maternity polka dot dress for under $40!)
necklace: House of Harlow locket (another adorable locket on a long chain)
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hayley Straw Tote (another yellow Marc Jacobs tote and this yellow straw tote is under $50)
shoes: Zara Leopard Print Sandals (check out these blue sandals and I love these leopard sandals too)

Marianne: Shopping for AB (After Baby)

Suddenly I find myself 35 weeks pregnant, summer is right around the corner and I know what I'm facing: dressing myself for when after the baby comes. Because here is this thing: nothing you own already works for at least 3 months after you have a baby, if not longer (especially if you're nursing). The few things that fit won't be nursing friendly, and even if you haven't gained much weight your body is completely different. And that body is always changing, so the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money on clothing. Fun!

With my budget and nursing/postpartum needs in mind, this is my dream AB (After Baby) wardrobe for the summer.

I'm mostly all about dresses, but I'd like the option to throw on a lightweight button-down shirt and some loose shorts, for walks to the park.

Women's Lightweight Printed Shirts

Women's The Sweatheart Denim Shorts (5")

But dresses are really the answer. I love maxi dresses because they cover any swelling you might be dealing with (I don't swell when I'm pregnant but blow up like a balloon afterwards).

I love the henley neckline of this dress (perfect for nursing!) and the tomatoey color:

Henley maxi dress

This striped crossover dress is cut a little low, but I'd try layering it over a nursing tank:

Striped crossover dress

This jersey dress from Target looks like postpartum perfection, the kind of dress you'd want in every color. I'll definitely be buying this one.

Mossimo® Womens V Neck Sleeveless Maxi - Assorted Colors

Another great jersey maxi from Target, it would be so easy to slip those shoulder straps down to nurse, yet they are wide enough to wear a real bra under.

Mossimo® Women's Crossover V-neck Maxi Dress - Assorted Colors

I am super intrigued by this Target Multi Wrap convertible dress. On the one hand, it looks kind of complicated. But it could be awesome? Has anyone tried this?

Mossimo® Womens Multi Wrap Maxi Dress - Assorted Colors

In the non-maxi realm, I am quite taken with this Chambray Embroidered Pintuck Dress from the Gap. It looks like the perfect thing to wear when you are feeling soft and squishy and a bit fat.

Chambray embroidered pintuck dress

I've only just started window shopping for this next phase in my sartorial life, but I think this would be a great start. With coupon codes none of these dresses are much of an investment, and they would keep me from feeling completely schlumpy all summer. What do you think?

Marianne: Swedish Hasbeen Peep-Toe High Sandals

New shoes new shooooooes!Okay fine, I've had these since NOVEMBER, but this was the longest winter ever in history so I've only just been able to wear them. These are the Swedish Hasbeen Peep Toe High clog sandals (not the Super High, which are also cute but I don't think I could manage at this stage in my pregnancy).

I was nervous about these, because the leather is SUPER stiff and I was just sure they were going to shred up my feet until I broke them in. But they fit so perfectly (I'm wearing a 37.5, but I would say they run a bit narrow), that they don't rub at all. Somehow Swedish Hasbeen took a block of wood and super hard leather and made a shoe I can walk in all day.

Did I mention they are also just super freaking cute? I can't remember the last time I got this many compliments on a pair of shoes. This particular style seems to be sold out in red, but this style is pretty much the exact same. 

dress: Forever 21 (similar here and here)

sweater: The Original Inc (similar here and here)

bag: Clare Vivier Messenger in Navy (another less spendy navy messenger bag)

shoes: Swedish Hasbeen Peep Toe clog sandal (a similar Swedish Hasbeen style and another cute red sandal on sale!)

Marianne: Dolce Vita Isolde Thong Sandal Review

If this blog has done anything for me, it's taught me that what seems flattering in person can photograph really badly. Like this dress, for example. It's very comfortable and in person I think it's pretty cute, but in this picture I kind of look HUGELY PREGNANT. More than I actually am. I think.

But enough about that, let's talk about these shoes. Adrien and I both snagged a pair of these Dolce Vita Isolde Sandals (on major sale here!) from a now-defunct site that was having a 70% off flash sale. 70%! That's a lot of percents! They are very, very cute, but almost run too small. While they aren't the most comfortable sandals I own, they aren't terrible (though they shredded Adrien's feet, so be warned).

dress: Motherhood Maternity (similar here and non-maternity similar here)
shoes: Dolce Vita Isolde Sandal (another cute green t-strap sandal)
bag: Clare Vivier Messenger in Navy (a less pricey navy messenger)
necklace: Kate Spade Idiom Necklace in Hello Sunshine

Marianne: Rachel Comey Atsina Clogs Review

First things first, let's talk about these shoes. As you already know I love getting good deals off season. But man, let me tell you. It is SO HARD to buy awesome new sandals in the dead of winter and then have to wait until almost mid-April to get to wear them. So. Hard.

But wait I did, and this week I used one of my Heels Days (hey, when you are 32 weeks pregnant, you have to ration the wearing of the heels) to finally wear my new Rachel Comey Astina Clogs (mostly sold out because they are from last season, but these are really similar), which I got in a random flash sale for $75 (reduced from $435!!1!) in early February.

Y'all. These shoes are like walking on marshmallows. The footbed is so squishy and leather is so soft. And even though they have a huge wooden wedge, they aren't heavy. I think the wedge is hollow? These are the first Rachel Comey shoes I've ever worn and I have to say, the quality and comfort is unparalleled.

They skew a bit on the "kooky pottery teacher" side for me, which it turns out is my favorite style of shoe. And now I have to show you Lu's shoes because she made her dad take pictures of her as well and she's sitting right here ordering me to show you. So:

I think I have some major competition. Those would be the Saucony Jazz for kids. Highly recommended.

She's even mastered the "style blogger walking nowhere" pose. Oh dear.

shoes: Rachel Comey Atsina Clogs (similar here and less expensive similar here)
dress: H&M Mama (similar here and non-maternity here)
denim shirt: Gap (similar here and here)
bag: Su-Shi Old Skool Mini Satchel in Honey Brown (similar here and here)

Marianne: Maternity Shoppy.

I have been in denial. I really don't want to buy any more maternity clothes, but when I tried on all of my spring/summer options this weekend (most of them generously loaned or handed down), I realized that a lot of what I have either doesn't fit or is looking a bit long in the tooth. I have some work-related appearances to make and I need a few new tops to get me through the last couple of months of being pregnant. Help me please?

Let's start with Old Navy. What do we think about this chevron-stripe top?


This embroidered-yoke top from Old Navy is kind of summery and nice and the color is Superhero Blue, which makes me laugh because I am 30+ weeks pregnant and the opposite of a superhero. OR AM I?

Maternity Embroidered-Yoke Tops

I like the idea of this Old Navy maternity maxi skirt, but maybe I am getting ridiculous with the stripes at this point? Or maybe I would love this and wear it all summer after the baby comes.

Maternity Jersey Maxi Skirts

On to the Gap! I do not need more dresses but oh, I think the print on this A-Line Drape Front maternity dress is just so cute:

Drape front A-line dress

But anyway, tops, I need tops. I think Gap is kind of overpriced for what you get, but that said I would happily wear either of these pretty printed tops. Which do you like more, the tie-front tunic or the printed pintuck top?

Diamond tie-front tunic

Printed pintuck top

Moving on! Target? I never even look at Target any more, I find their stuff ill-fitting in general. After looking and looking I found exactly one top I kind of like, this Merona Lace-Sleeved deal:

Merona® Maternity Short-Sleeve Lace Top  - Assorted Colors

Eh. Whatever.

Last stop, Asos. I've had good luck there so far and I think they have the best prices for the quality. I may just have to buy this double scallop top:

ASOS Maternity Top With Double Scallop

I think I'd look ridiculous in this check print t-shirt, but the print is adorable, isn't it?

ASOS Maternity Exclusive T-shirt In Check

Bird prints are kind of done to death, and yet I like this graphic swallow print top:

ASOS Maternity Exclusive T-Shirt with Swallow Print

Lastly, I like the idea of lace sleeves. My arms are feeling meaty lately and this would give me the coverage I crave without making me roast come June:

ASOS Maternity Exclusive Top With Lace Sleeve

What do you guys think? I know maternity shopping is not really appealing to everyone, but help a girl out, would you?

Marianne: Spring, Kind Of.

It's finally, FINALLY Spring. I think. At least it is this week. Warm enough to expose my toes to the world. I had to get a pedicure because reaching my toes to paint them myself left me breathless and no thank you.

I bought this (non-maternity) The Addison Story (obnoxious brand name alert) maxi dress from anthropologie at the end of last summer and it's so comfortable. And obviously stretchy because...yeah:

Oof. Happy Monday, y'all.

dress: The Addison Story (similar here and for just $25 here)

cardigan: Forever 21 (nice similar here and on sale here)

belt: Amazon (similar on major sale here and under $4 here)

shoes: Ann Taylor (similar here and under $30 here)