Ain't No Mom Jeans

Mom Street Style | Juliana's Pegged/Boyfriend Maternity Jeans

Are you old enough to remember tightening and rolling jeans?  When I read today’s Mom Street Style submission, it occurred to me that tighten and rolling was probably the brainchild of some frugal genius 80’s mom who was convinced the skinny jeans trend would soon be on its way out and right she was (for the 80’s at least!).  That mom was making it work, and so is ANMJ reader Juliana, who during those super-tricky postpartum weeks, repurposed her bootcut Motherhood Maternity jeans by pegging them to give a boyfriend jean effect.  She writes: 

I know you were still looking for mom style submissions last time I checked, so here's one of mine (MAMAS!  We are always looking for mom street style—please send your pics! – M).  (I'm the one behind the stroller; my sister is carrying my newborn daughter in the ERGO).  The jeans are bootcut maternity jeans from motherhood that I pegged (remember that from the late 1980s??) and rolled up to make into boyfriend jeans.  I bought them when pregnant in 2010.  The shirt is from Eddie Bauer, and the nursing cami is the full sling Gillian O'Malley from Target.  Mustard shoes are the Meghan Ruffled flats from Merona (Target).  They aren't available in that color any more, but are available in pewter, which I also have and like a lot.  

I've learned a lot of great styling tips from your blog since I discovered it earlier this spring, and I'm so thankful for the confidence I have to try new things, and tweak my style a bit!  I felt more confident during this last pregnancy than all my others, and I'm having an easier time styling myself postpartum too!  

- Juliana 

Well-played, Juliana!  Thank you for submitting your mom street style photo.

- M.

Mom Street Style - Maternity Chic That's Easy on the Eyes and the Budget!

Mamas, meet Melissa, one of the most adorable (thrice!) pregnant mamas I've ever seen (excuse the image quality, we just couldn't work out a better shot, but it would have been a travesty not to share Melissa's perfect, easy, affordable style).  She writes:

Hi ladies,
 
Honestly, I can't believe I'm submitting a picture of myself...but alas, here it is.  This was a super simple and inexpensive outfit...and after having 2 kiddos with my 3rd baby just 5 weeks away, I'm desperate to get through these last 5 weeks and still manage to look put together.  I wore this outfit this past weekend with my hubby for our monthly 'date night'.  I got a lot of compliments on it so I thought maybe another pregnant lady could use a pick me up!!
 
Poncho and boots- Tarjay (Target to some people :))
Jeggings- Old Navy maternity
Bag- Old Navy

 

I love your blog and I am so thankful I found it...keep on keepin on!!!

- Melissa

Melissa's rocking a number of ANMJ's favs for moms--skinny jeans, tall boots, and a belly/postpartum pooch/nursing-friendly poncho, topping it all off with understated, spot-on accessories.  I love how her copper/gold cuff bracelet ties into the zippers on her fab riding boots, and the tassel on her bag keys in on the fringe trend, lending a toned-down Boho vibe.

Seriously, Melissa, if you look that good pregnant, you should just keep on have babies.  Thanks for sharing your rad mama style!

- M.

Mom Street Style - Julia’s Non-Maternity Wear

After three pregnancies spanning several years and all four seasons, I don’t even want to start thinking about what I’ve spent on items that fit for roughly three months a go.  As a new-mom-to-be in 2007, I was a total rookie, but ANMJ reader Julia, who’s glowingly prego with her first, is taking a more pragmatic (and fabulous!) approach to her maternity wardrobe. . .

Maternity Wear that Makes Me a Teensy Bit Sad I'm Done With Belly Business

Well Mamas, I'm three weeks out from having the babe who changed my life forever.  Again.  Again again. And as I've surfed the internet for fab fashion over the last few lazy, sleepless weeks, I've found myself drifting back to the maternity section.  And then I realize, I will likely never have need of maternity gear again.  Um <sob>, ever.  Ev.er.  And while I'm thrilled to see my feet, and glad to be able to clear out a third of my closet, I can't help but feel a little wistful bidding adieu to my child bearing years and settling into my child rearing years. 

While a good half of what I wear while pregnant is not maternity wear, there's much to be said for the comfort of clothing specifically designed for pregnant moms-to-be--pants are a must and the extra length on tops helps keep the bump covered and cozy.  And given what a long way maternity wear has come in the last few years, I no longer (and a little too late) find the prospect of wearing maternity clothing so shockingly abhorrent. 

I love that colored denim, bodycon silhouettes and horizontal stripes have made their way so quickly into accessibly-priced collections.  Here are five hot mama maternity outfits my wanderings turned up over the last few weeks.  They make me wonder why I ever wasted a second worrying about the size of my bum whilst growing a human life and think hmmmm. . . I could do this again.  Maybe.

5 Maternity Outfits That Make Me a Tiny Bit Sad I'm Done With Belly Business by dynamama featuring topshop maternity

Time flies too fast, Mamas!  If only having sweet babes actually slowed it down.

- M.

DIY Maternity Denim Fix - or - Do It Yourself Maternity Jeans

It's shocking, I know, but these Seven for All Mankind maternity jeans have lasted me through three pregnancies PLUS loan outs, but not solely on their own steam.  In their original form, these babies were the brain child of some fabulously well-intentioned designer who had clearly never been pregnant, and were purchased by someone who had never been pregnant.  They started out in 2007 with one of those kooky, ill-conceived half panels, made out of dark blue cotton jersey that clung to everything, with a thick elastic band that cut into my bulging belly, creating a bizarre new type of waistline in the third trimester of my first pregnancy.

I was tempted to toss them whilst knocked up with numero dos, but they're the perfect kick-around, well-worn classic that's always a comfortable Sunday go-to, so I decided to work with them instead.  While I do have a sewing machine and am pretty handy, I didn't want to work with a combination of thick fabric like denim plus a super-stretchy panel fabric--seemed too tricky and too tedious--so I took them to my fav tailor and told him my plan.

  First, I purchased a belly band in my size from A Pea in the Pod in nude (I was only able to find black and  white in more budget-conscious versions, like Target's BeBand).  Err on the side of a tighter fit to make sure it's really going to hold up your pants!  The benefit of using a belly band instead of sewing up a piece of stretchy fabric is that a belly band is a tube made out of one contiguous piece of fabric, so no extra seams to irritate prego skin or interfere with otherwise smooth lines, and it's already about the right length to cover your tummy all nine months.  Then, I measured the front and back rises of some well-fitting full panel maternity jeans and let my guy run with it.  The result, $45 later ($25 for the band and $20 for alterations), is one of the best-fitting, most comfortable pairs of maternity jeans--or any jeans, really--that I own.  Voila!

For a truly adventurous and capable DIY-er, I'd go the distance and buy a pair of deep-discounted premium jeans in a size or two up from your normal someplace like Nordstrom Rack, hack off the waistband and stitch it on up--at $200 a pop, premium maternity denim hurts, Mamas, as we all know!

- M.

Oh, and hey!  Please don't forget to take a sec to vote for Ain't No Mom Jeans for Parents.com's Best Mom Fashion Blog award--we'd love it!  Just click the pic : ) xoxox

Maternity Jean Rundown - Which Styles Are Best For You? (Psst...We Have a Favorite)

I have amassed an embarrassingly large amount of maternity jeans.  This large pile is partly due to crazy-good finds at a certain second hand maternity store (Childish Things in Boulder for you local gals), incessant Gap coupons for 40% off, serendipitously finding an old pair of maternity jeans from my first pregnancy, and borrowing from M.

The biggest difference I've noticed between my two pregnancies....which were only 2-3 years apart, BTW...is the amount of maternity jean styles available.  While pregnant with Raines, I was searching (and searching and searching) for under-the-belly jeans.  But the second time?  It's not just under-the-belly vs. panels, it's under-the-belly styles with hidden panels, no panels, side panels, back panels.  You want an actual panel?  There's a vast assortment of demi-panels and high panels with enough fabric and color choices to make my head swim.

(wearing: On S - Isabella Oliver skinny maternity jeans c/o Isabella Oliver and Isabella Oliver ruched cami....On R - Penguin striped pants, Smart Wool socks, Converse sneaks)

Want more good news?  Gap Maternity has been on fire - leading the way with a ton of panel/no panel choices that are both flattering and affordable.  But if designer denim is your thing (YUP -  it's mine!!)...as one would expect, the big name designers have also learned a few tricks in the last couple of years.  There's currently lots to love about maternity denim.

So which style of maternity jean is right for you?  After trying what feels like every style of maternity jean on the planet, there's a clear favorite (and M agrees!).  But since everyone is different - and each pregnancy is different - you'll want to take our favorite with a grain of salt.  

Below is a list of all of the styles I've tested.  This is by no means an exhaustive list of all maternity jeans on the market.  It's just an overview of the various types, along with my notes as a frustrated (and huge) second-time mum.

ps.  Never fear - I'm not actually pregnant again.  These pics are from my second pregnancy.  Little Pax will be 1 in Nov.  Sob!  

pps.  The pics are small (there's a ton) but all are clickable, if you want to see them in more detail.