Being pregnant has opened my eyes to the lack of fashionable maternity wear that is easily accessible. I have found especially in Brisbane that majority of the good quality boutique maternity stores are on the North side AND your major shopping centres don’t even have one single maternity store. While there are some great boutiques around and fabulous online stores, some of the items are quite basic and can often hint on ‘mumsy’. Maternity fashion has however come along way as I often hear comments from my mother’s friends that back in the day when they were pregnant all they could wear were tent dresses that ‘hung’ over the bump.

While we are blessed to have some fabulous maternity designers, which the majority of our boutique maternity stores supply, the prices can really break the bank – especially if it is your first pregnancy and you have a nursery and baby gear to think about purchasing. I can say that I have spent approximately $2000 on a maternity wardrobe including new underwear, bras and size 10 shoes due to swelling in my feet.

Who said pregnancy was all about the glow – and looking and feeling fabulous?? At the moment at 33 weeks pregnant I’m the size of a tank and I have a depreciating bank balance as each month it feels like there is something I need to purchase as I no longer fit into the maternity clothes I purchased at 12 weeks.

So what can you do to prepare your wardrobe for pregnancy? Here is what I have learned and found to be great investments so you can learn from a fashionista like me and keep your bank account intact! This article will be written in two stages. Stage one – every day maternity wear and Stage two jeans, sleepwear & intimates and shoes!

Firstly, be prepared to purchase items as you go along your pregnancy because if it’s your first, like mine is, you have no idea how far or where your body will expand . Secondly, maternity fashion is the way to go – not always the case for some girls as they can wear the next size up and still shop at their normal clothing stores. I, however, needed maternity clothes as I found them more comfortable and accommodating for my growing bump.

Glow Mama at The Grange and Mama’s Home at Windsor are fabulous boutiques for fashionable up to the minute maternity ware. While the items are pricey, they stock most of your fashionable brands like Soon, Ripe Maternity and Szabo. Szabo and Ripe would have to be my picks as I have lived in my Szabo Cargo pants in black and khaki and my Ripe maternity tights have been a godsend for the cooler months.

For basics like ¾ and long sleeve t-shirts that are rouched to the side to accommodate your belly, Kmart and Big W have a great range and fab prices too. Don’t cross them off your list of shops to visit as the great thing with basics is that you can dress them up with vests, scarves and accessories like layered necklaces that are in right now.

If you want to avoid the designer price tag but still want to invest in some designer maternity wear, I can’t recommend enough the online store Bump Baby and Beyond. I spent approximately $150 at this store online and got five items – three Ripe long sleeve shirts and two Ripe maternity dresses. Unbelievable prices and fabulous service as I got my order within three days of ordering. My picks from this website are the Ripe Potion Maternity top in Grape or Charcoal RRP $79.95 down to $29.95. These tops are perfect colours for winter 2010 AND have the shoulder detailing that is in fashion right NOW. The Ripe Fantasy Maternity dress also at $29.95 is a great investment for winter worn with black tights, boots and a trench coat.

If you find that you are having issues in putting pregnancy outfits together, give me a call as I would love to help you. Shopping for maternity clothes can be fun, but it also can be draining as you work out what you are going to need to tide you through your pregnancy. There is nothing worse than getting out of bed and not having anything to wear because you don’t fit into anything OR you haven’t purchased enough clothes to put outfits together to last you a week or two weeks at a time.