Here’s a fun email from our reader “Jennifer”:
I am from Utah and my friends and I always check your website out! I need help, really bad…. I am 8 weeks pregnant with my second and feel like I am starting to show a lot already! I don’t want to break the news until I am about 12 weeks either. I have a fun girlfriend get together coming up and don’t want to look pregnant yet, but want to look cute!! I would love some outfit ideas that won’t make me look more pregnant, but I could add to my maternity wardrobe, at least for the first few months. I am 5′4”, normally a size 2-4, would LOVE your help! Oh and if you do publish this post … could you change my name since all my friends read this? Don’t want them knowing quite yet
THANKS!!!
-”Jennifer” N.

Hi Jennifer!  Congratulations on the baby!  Very exciting.  I understand, though, that sometimes you’re just not ready to share the news with everyone.  Especially at the very beginning.  I’ve found a few looks for you that are stylish, comfortable, should be able to get you through the first half of the pregnancy at least, and will help you keep your fun secret.  I think the goal here is to keep things loose, and to distract the eye with things like ruffles.  The blue shirt with the ruffles down the front is fabulous.  I just bought this shirt in the two colors they have (at this very moment I’m wearing this shirt in the watermelon color) and I LOVE this shirt.  It’s your basic t-shirt, with a little something extra.  That something extra is going to help distract people from your growing tummy.  Plus, it’s so comfortable it’s almost wrong.  I would stay away from anything with an empire-ish type waist.  It can make even non-pregnant girls look like they’re expecting, so it’s definitely a no until you’re showing more and ready to share the news.  I like the idea of tunic-type tops (now is a great time to try the big checkered shirt trend!, and check out the tops from this post) and a scarf on top will help distract from that tummy area.  I love the ones from DownEast, they’re like a t-shirt material and come in 8 different colors.  Love them.  The jacket and sweater will get you months of wear since they aren’t tight or fitted, and will look great as we go into fall.  Lastly, check out the tiered ruffle top from Fossil.  Man, it would be perfect for you.  Any extra tummy fullness would just look like it’s part of the shirt, and you can wear it belted or not, just put it with a cardigan and you’re set.  Love it.

For bottoms, you’re still early enough in the pregnancy to get by with your favorite jeans and skirts.  But, if you don’t have one already from your first pregnancy, you NEE – HEE - HEED to get a Bella Band.  I wore mine to death during both of my pregnancies.  In the early stages it just keeps everything a little firmer and helps you feel more comfortable in your regular clothes (like a really comfortable girdle).  Later, when your regular jeans still fit but you can quite button them, use the Bella Band to hold up your unzipped jeans.  Then, when you’re in full on maternity pants, the Bella Band will be a lifesaver in keeping those darn elastic waist pants up.  I promise you’ll love it.
Have a great time with your girlfriends!  Nothing quite like being out with the girls, eh?
Love, Emily

blue ruffled shirt, purple high neck top, green scoopneck tee, purple tunic, checkered shirt, pink scarf, white scarf, yellow sweater, orange jacket, white and patterned tiered ruffle tanks

Related posts:

1. Have any online shopping success secrets?
2. What to wear: When you are pregnant.
3. Email from our reader Kristen S. ‘Nursing Wear’

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 am and is filed under Jeans, Maternity, Outfit, Tops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.