How to Organize Your Maternity Wardrobe

Feeling comfortable and being sharply dressed for work while your midsection expands faster than the federal budget can be quite a balancing act. Knowing what you have and what you'll need will ease the transition to soon-to-be-mandatory maternity duds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Arrange your closet so that the comfy elastic-waist pants and skirts, and dresses without defined waists are front and center.
2. Borrow from friends and family who share your sense of style (or your pregnancy timing). Maternity clothes are outgrown long before they're worn out, so passing things on makes everyone happy. Comb secondhand stores, consignment shops and garage sales for more deals.
3. Shop wisely and early, keeping the seasons ahead in mind. If you get pregnant in May, the winter clothes you'll need when you're in the last trimester will be on sale in spring.
4. Choose neutral tones or two or three complementary colors for your maternity clothing staples (pants, skirt, shorts, top). Vary your look with accessories.
5. Buy at least one pair of maternity jeans for everyday wear, and consider a pair of overalls too--the absence of a waistband is exquisitely comfortable. Splurge on one dressy outfit if you have an opportunity to hit the town. Shop MaternityMall.com for a number of maternity options.

Tips & Warnings

• Save money and closet space by leasing more expensive but infrequently worn clothing such as suits and formal wear.
• Add pieces slowly. You may go up a clothing size as your pregnancy progresses, especially if you're carrying twins.
• While you're pregnant, buy only one maternity bra at a time since your cup size changes so quickly. Remember that you'll be in one long after the baby's born (if you'll be nursing), so a well-fitting bra is well worth the cost. Be sure to check out the Bravado bra (bravado.com).