Preggo Style – Day 5

It’s finally here, the very last day of Preggo Style! Don’t cry, people, because we’re going out with a bang. For this last look, we wanted to find something that would be perfect for a fancy night out, an anniversary dinner (ahem, husband…it’s in a few weeks, just a friendly reminder), holiday party or any other gathering that demands fancy shoes and red lipstick. As Katie very eloquently puts it, this Outfit = Night on the Town, Ooo La La, Like Whoa. Totally.

From Katie, My Fashion Guru: The black dress. A must for any wardrobe whether you are 5 years old, pregnant or live in a cave. A woman simply cannot go 9 months without one. Things come up, holiday parties occur and tis the season is right around the corner. This dress was perfect, to say the least. The empire waist and A-line drape flatter Megan’s figure while showing off just-the-right-amount of skin. The neckline isn’t too intrusive but keeps the look sexy. I loved the satin ribbon that cinched the empire waist; blending different fabrics makes the look more dimensional, which I love.

From Megan: This dress was a hand-me-down from a former pregnant friend who thought I may be able to put it to good use. And all I can say is thank you to the zillionth power, because I love this dress! Along with everything Katie mentioned above, which makes the dress look so great, it is mind-blowingly comfortable. The fabric is smooth and stretchy (it’s a rayon/spandex mix), not at all itchy or restrictive, and is wonderful for those months when you really are fabric sensetive. The empire waist hits at just the right point above the belly and the top half is a perfect fit. I tend to find maternity items to either be way to much fabric on top or not nearly enough, so it’s rare to find one that covers up your goods, but also keeps you feeling sexy and pretty. The dress is Motherhood Maternity, and you can find a similar one on their website from the new Heidi Klum line. I find Motherhood to be hit or miss, but this dress is a total score.

From Katie: I’ve sometimes struggled with the “what do I do now?” when wearing dressier garments out because a) they are usually sleeveless and b) it is usually below 40 degrees at night in the cooler months. So, finding what to wear that adds to the outfit is sometimes a head scratcher. The most obvious choice would be a wrap of some sort, but I think that is too easy and sometimes covers up your look without being a positive addition to it. To create a cohesive look that will flatter both the outfit and my body, I will usually look for a jacket. Did I mention I love jackets? Suit jackets are great because they are often tailored with princess seams on the bust and sides to make a more fitted look and they go along with the menswear looks that are so popular right now. This jacket, which Megan already owned, was perfect. The shorter body of the jacket hit her just right on the waist and I loved the peaked lapel, which helped dress up the look. If you can, look for a suit jacket that’s bit oversized for your evening looks. I loved this look by Stella McCartney (I realize this isn’t preggo-wear, but, visualize with me and I think the fit would work well with pregnant body types).

From Megan: Once we had decided on the dress, we scoured my closet looking for something to top off the look. This suit jacket by Old Navy was stuck in the back and I have no idea why I pulled it out. I think I’ve worn it twice ever, but Katie knew just what to do with it. I was skeptical at first, but now I know I must just listen to my fashion guru, because she was totally right. I bow down to your fashion wisdom, Katie.

From Katie: What’s a better way to punch up an outfit’s energy than with a splash of color? You can do this with one element or several. I tend to do one and then have the other be a metallic – for example a metallic shoe with a bright colorful clutch or vice versa. I love the peep toe of Megan’s shoes, especially in the Fall – it just gives us girls an excuse to keep up those pedi’s! Another option for today’s looks could be a bootie, which might not be for some but I happen to love. Check out this blue Valentino bootie from 2009! The necklace added a fun geometric element to the soft, feminine look, and you know me by now – I love to mix it up. With Megan’s bright lip – which I wish I could pull off, but alas, never have been able to – we wanted her coiffe to be simple, so the fabric clip worked to add another splash of color that tied lip color and accessories color together.

From Megan: The accessories for this outfit had to be simple, but also make a statement. Being pregnant you already feel like everyone is staring at you, especially when you’re in more formal attire, so I wanted to play up the details with nice pops of color. I knew I wanted to do the purple shoes and clutch, both purchased at Nordstrom last year. The clutch is a random off brand (found in the sale bin for $15 WTF, right?!) and the shoes are Guess. They were a big purchase for a black tie wedding I attended last year, and they have worked out great ever since, as I’ve ended up getting quite a bit of wear out of them. You could pick any color, but purple was so hot last Fall, I ended up with these. I think a red, blue or yellow would be awesome (and unexpected too)! The necklace is from Express, as are the earrings, and they were both gifts from my sister. The hair clip is from J Crew, but I’m a huge fan of Etsy when it comes to hair accessories, because you can find such amazing and unique pieces for a great price.

All in all, this outfit cost me zero dollars in new pieces. The jacket, shoes and purse were all purchased by me way before Taco John was even an idea in my brain, and the gorgeous dress was recycled from a generous friend. Another instance of saving my booty some money, which I can now spend on insane nursery decorations, yay!

Annnnnddddd that’s all folks! I can’t believe Preggo Style week is over. Our goal was to show you don’t have to buy a ton of new, expensive maternity gear to still be a sylin’ mama.

From Miss Katie: I’d like to thank Megan for allowing me to rummage in her closet for a day while we watched the Breakfast Club, eating way too many jelly beans in the process. It was so much fun to be a part of this project and I am making her promise me that we will do a Winter edition. (pretty pretty please with sugar on top!) I’ve missed being able to dress people and this was a welcome refresher! I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Love ya Megs!

And From Me (Megan): I have to say thankyouthankyouthankyou to Katie for giving up a Sunday to come help me destroy my closet in the name of fashion. I was a little worried before we started, but I was so surprised at how many great combos we came up with, we could have done two weeks of Preggo Style! Who knows, a Winter edition could be on the way…..and thanks to everyone who indulged us in this weird idea. You guys are the best!