Welcome back! Holiday vacation is great, but it’s also very, very nice to get back to a daily routine, isn’t it? No? Wait until you actually have kids, you will change your tune quickly. It’s been lovely spending so much time with my children, but this morning one of my four year olds asked me whether I was ever going to go back to work. I told him I was leaving for the office shortly and that he was returning to school and he truly looked relieved. The feeling was, I must reluctantly admit, mutual. Wait until he realizes I am about to be home full-time for three months of maternity leave.
First things first–it is absolutely frigid here in Washington, DC today, but I was warmed by the receipt of the colorful and uplifting Isabella Oliver Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook this morning. Here are just a few photos to give you a small taste of what we all have to look forward to this spring.
James Jeans Twiggy Corduroy Maternity Legging
Now, back to reality and the fact that it is January 3rd and quite cold. I surveyed my maternity corduroys over the break and realized that I somehow did not own a single pair of cords with an over-the-bump waistband. At 32 weeks, I am officially beyond the point where under-the-bump trousers are an option, even with the assistance of a silicone-reinforced Bella Band. I placed a few orders and lo and behold, fell in love with the James Jeans Twiggy Maternity Corduroy Legging. I had somehow passed over these in the past, always opting for my trusty J Brand cords or Olian’s skinny cords. What a mistake! The James Jeans Twiggy Corduroy Maternity Legging is less of a legging than it is more of a very slim-fit cord. But it is still quite comfortable and forgiving. The corduroy itself is thin, so I do not suggest yanking on it too much, as I do fear it is prone to tearing. But with the full, over-the-bump, elastic waistband that the designers have cleverly included, yanking on your cords is not as necessary as you might imagine. The cords come in black and also in a nice blue-grey for USD $180 in James Jeans’ online maternity boutique.
I do suggest purchasing these cords one size up from your pre-pregnancy size if you are in your third trimester. As I was frequently reminded over the holidays when I tried to don clothing that I had purchased early on in my pregnancy, maternity designers who claim you can wear your pre-pregnancy trousers size straight through the third trimester are not always considering women who have given birth to several babies.
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Just a quick note to let you know that J Brand has expanded its maternity collection to include a maternity version of its popular straight-leg corduroys. The waistband it already uses for its maternity denim collection is the same–the elastic is built into the waistband on the sides, providing a very discreet, under-the bump fit. Because of the very subtle way that the elastic is incorporated into the waistband, J Brand’s maternity collection is a must-have for the postpartum weeks. J Brand’s straight leg corduroys are currently my favorite pants and I bought them in several colors and wear them just about every day. I know, how boring. But they are so comfortable and work well with boots or with flats. J Brand’s decision to make a maternity version of their stretch corduroys is great news.
I am happy to say that you all may finally put away/give away/burn your Juicy Couture maternity hoodies because I have discovered an equally priced, yet infinitely nicer substitute at Nuka Maternity. If there is justice in the world, pregnant women will no longer feel compelled to buy those brightly colored, slightly aggravating velour Juicy hoodies because they have no other options. Instead, they will all head straight to Nuka Maternity 
Also, be sure to peruse Nuka’s entire collection while you are on the site. I also like the Nuka Peasant Top, which is made from a cotton/jersey blend and is a comfortable option for the first or early second trimester when you aren’t yet at the stage where you really need an empire waist. The lantern sleeves are a great touch and this looks really nice with jeans or even your most casual maternity sweatpants. It is available 
But during my wonderful tour of “A New View Maternity” in New York City at the end of July, I was able to go through samples of Pure T’s Fall/Winter 2009 line. Without a doubt, the Short Sleeve Soft Cowl Turtleneck was one of the top 5 items I saw that day. Both my sister and I tried it on in this gorgeous “Sa-fire” color pictured at left and added it to our Fall 2009 must-have list. If sa-fire isn’t your first choice, the turtleneck is available in seven other colors, including the lipstick color pictured here and the more neutral black and vanilla colors. 
This top is made from very high-quality cotton and just feels very comfortable and cozy when you put it on. It is extra long, ensuring it will last through all three trimesters. The sleeves are sufficiently long enough to cover the upper arms and the neckline is quite flattering. I am not usually a lover of turtlenecks, but this one is quite loose-fitting.
The late summer sales continue and if you are going to splurge and add an “investment” piece to your maternity wardrobe, now is the time to do it. I can’t think of a better investment piece for a pregnant woman than a beautiful maternity trench coat. You can wear it buttoned and tied while you are still trying to camouflage your pregnancy or when you have only a cute little bump. Once you are quite obviously pregnant and the buttons are in mild danger of popping off, you can simply tie it above your bump. And you can wear it throughout those postpartum weeks when covering your physique with additional layers seems a very, very appealing idea.
Just one little footnote…the Rosie Pope sale also includes her luxurious White Silk/Cotton Maternity Trench, which is reduced from USD$675 to USD$350 
I’ve been trying to make sure the boys have a true New York experience this summer and I figured there was nothing more New York than a summer afternoon baseball game at Yankee stadium. 
I am not sure exactly what I was thinking taking three toddler boys to a baseball game. We had a good time and they seemed to enjoy themselves but I won’t be doing that again. It was absolutely mayhem. Here are a couple of photos of the boys taken during the few seconds when they were actually sitting still–they all got new hats, but the ice cream was clearly the highlight of the game. I never did manage to get a photo of all three of them together, because the three of them never once sat still long enough to take one.
I do get mildly excited when I locate a favorite clothing maternity item that is sold out in most places but inexplicably pops up in a small, online maternity boutique. I have this navy blue Ruffle Strap Maternity Camisole from Juicy Couture, but I haven’t seen it on sale anywhere in a while and therefore haven’t blogged about it. But, I just noticed it is still available 
It’s hard being postpartum in the summertime. I went bathing suit shopping late last week, which was truly horrifying, I am still not emotionally ready to blog about it. But I am currently giving thanks for long, cotton maxi dresses. Those last few stubborn pregnancy pounds are lingering, those varicose veins are not disappearing as quickly as I had hoped, and while I am still breastfeeding, none of my pre-pregnancy clothing fits past my neck anyway. While I was pregnant, I wrote about several maternity-friendly long cotton dresses I highly recommended 
It’s Splendid, so I don’t have to assure you this is an extraordinarily comfortable dress. And because it is Splendid, it also is not a bargain. At USD $210, this maternity dress is an investment. But I am living proof that you will get your money’s worth and wear it for months after you give birth (you’ll need a good tailor to straighten out the hem). I use it as a day dress, as a beach cover-up, and after a particularly grueling day with the boys, I have been know to sleep in it. But it’s also a very pretty dress, and I get compliments on the color all the time. Throw a cardigan over it and it will work for fall as well.
