Maternity Style: 5 Tips for Dressing Your Baby Bump {First Trimester Edition}

‘They’ say it’s pretty easy to hide your pregnancy during the first trimester but if you’re anything like me, you might’ve been super bloated with difficulty buttoning your pants. I’m not ashamed. It is what it is. If you are looking for some ideas as to what to wear during your first trimester, here are a few options and things to keep in mind.

1. Consider the season that you’re first trimester is in. You’ll have a much easier time hiding any growth, whether it be baby or bloat, in the cooler months since you’ll be able to wear scarves, jackets, and other loose fitting yet figure flattering items.

2. This particular suggestion may work for some of you which is why I’m mentioning this, but it didn’t work for me. Those belly bands. Girl, no. Even if my pant couldn’t buckle, I simply cannot wear this belly band and leave my zipper unzipped for the world to see. The one I got was from Target and It didn’t do a great job of holding everything up and together. I’ve tried both sizes and even the smallest wasn’t small enough to do the job. Another option is the hair tie through the button look trick, as seen below.

As Seen On Pinterest

3. Wear loose but flattering tops. If you’re going through your first trimester in the warmer months, throw on a maxi dress (those will come in handy later on). If you’re going through your first trimester in the cooler months, throw on a tunic and some leggings.

4. This tip is sort of a continuation from #3. Leggings. In the cool months, leggings will be your BFF. It doesn’t hug to tightly and it has stretch to accommodate your growing parts. In the cooler months, you can easily throw on some leggings + a tunic, leggings + a dress, leggings + and an oversized sweater; do you get the picture?

5. Maxi dresses. Mid-length dresses. Dresses. These can pretty much work year round. In the warmer months, throw on a maxi dress and you’re good to go. In the cooler months, throw on your maxi dress with…..leggings. Yep, you got it! You can wear dresses with boots and leggings. Add your jacket and a scarf and not only will you be warm and cozy, but you’ll be comfortable to.

For many women, the first trimester can come with much tiredness, nausea, and other really fun stuff so be gentle with yourself and make the process of getting dressed simple. Trust me, it’ll be a lot more fun when you’re really showing!

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TJ Maxx.com…?

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TJ Maxx is one of my favorite stores because I can get a shirt, a pair of shoes, and new shower curtains in the same place. I frequent TJ Maxx, not because I’m always buying something, but they have a quick turnover on their merchandise so I like to take a looky-loo pretty regularly.

Well, if you’re blissfully unaware like me, you probably didn’t know that TJ Maxx now has an online store! I know, I know. Finally! This is the one time those extremely annoying YouTube commercials was actually helpful.

Their online store has womenswear, menswear, handbags, jewelry, home goods, and shoes. I don’t see that they sell children’s clothing but while perusing the site, I noticed that they even have some wedding attire and special occasion dresses.

I just wanted to help spread the word.

Chattanooga Fashion Week (Photo Heavy)

 

 

This year, Chattanooga Fashion Week took place in the Lindsay Street Hall, a beautiful building with over 100 years of history as a church that was renovated into a multipurpose venue.

The featured designs for Friday night’s event were:

XEN SWIM, SOUTHERN GRACE, MONARCH, BOB FRANKLIN APPAREL, BRANDON PIERRE, DESIRAE DANIELLE, SIENNA & BELLINI

Sienna & Bellini was actually a collection of pieces from Valentina Pou and Thali Gottesman, co-designers from Atlanta, that will be available in their new store in Hamilton Place Mall which is set to open in late October.

 

 

 

The featured designs for the Grand Finale Event were:

SHERIE L. NEVETT, ANNA VICTORIA, BRANDON PIERRE, NCHOLE FEROCE, CSERRI, JENI D DESIGNS, SHATTERED STITCH, ISSA SOROGO, SIENNA & BELLINI

 

One of the lines (Brandon Pierre) was a fusion between West African and American culture. I went backstage to get a sneak peak at them and the pieces were very well made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, no CFW would be complete without a #selfie.

Sweet 28

My birthday recently passed on August 14th. Now that i’m in the 28th year of my life, I’ve been re-evaluating a lot of things. I’ve thinking about my life, goals, relationships, and truly living into my passions.

One of the things that I strive to do is live unapologetically. The truth is, we will all make mistakes. We will all do or have done things that we are not proud of. But I’m finding that it is way more important to not live a life that is a continual apology, but to live a life of continual forgiveness of myself and others. The older I get, the more I begin to realize the importance of building fences with gates instead of walls.

I’m letting go of the things that I can’t change. I’m letting go of the things that I don’t have control over. I am loving, believing in, affirming, and investing in myself. I am living the truth of my life, my experiences, and my beliefs in every present moment. These are things that I am choosing to do because they are life-giving to me. I am able to disagree, with love and respect. I am practicing living a life of authority and vulnerability.

And I love these shoes. I digress. These are all things I’ve pondered, wrestled with, and decided to live out. I’m excited for what this 28th year is unveiling. A few of my other goals consist of sharing quite a bit more and allowing much more space to create in being the artist and creative that has always been. Sweet 28.