maternity style

BUMPstyle Box

I will be the first to say that dressing your bump is NOT easy. Things that normally fit your body suddenly start to look awkward. Somedays wearing something oversized works well and then other days you feel like a beached whale. I now take at least 30 minutes trying on different outfits to see what will work that day. Thankfully my husband has been patient with me during my morning routine.

When looking at style and gossip magazines you see pregnant celebrities looking fabulous. Prior to my pregnancy I didn’t even realize how challenging it would be because all the maternity fashion I saw were the pristinely dressed models and actresses. Many of the celebrities we see photographed have personal stylists that find and choose their clothing for them. They help them determine what looks good and what just doesn’t make the cut. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have someone do that for us? With BUMPstyle box you can.

BUMPstyle box is a chic maternity boutique delivered to your door. You work with a personal stylist (Hannah) that hand picks 3-4 outfits just for you. You take about 10-15 minutes filling out a Style Profile. This helps your stylist better understand your size, style, budget, and lifestyle. Once you receive your box, you have 5 days to decide what you’ll purchase and what you’d like to send back. You’ll only be charged for the items you decide to keep. How amazing is this!! I had my bridal shower coming up right around the time I tried BUMPstyle, so I mentioned this was something I wanted them to focus on. I received multiple dresses and fell in love with one that was perfect for the event. I will post all about my bridal shower in another post and you will see what I had selected.

Here are a few of the items that were sent to me with my box.

Dress: BUMPstyle Leota //

Clutch: Michael Kors (old) (Similar here) //

Heels: Zara (old) (Similar here and here) //

Dress: BUMPstyle Seraphine (on sale %50) //

Belt: BUMPstyle Seraphine //

Heels: Jimmy Choo (old) (Similar here) //

Winter layers

The best part of dressing for winter is layering. You can add so much to your look by adding multiple layers. California winters do not allow us to wear chunky knits and thick coats so wearing a cool scarf, hat and pattern mixing can add the same effect.

Lately I have been all about a good hat. It can add so much personality to a casual outfit and is perfect for those days where your hair is just not cooperating. I love this Lack of Color fedora. It is so versatile, and if you are more adventurous than myself they come in multiple funky colors.

Pattern mixing has been in full effect this season. Things that you would have never paired together a few years ago are becoming trendy. Adding multiple patterns to a look is another way to add layers and volume to your outfit. This Scalpers scarf is a statement in itself with its bold colors and scull and cross bone pattern. Pairing it with my stripped shirt and Louis Vuitton bag tames it down. When I’m pattern mixing I try to have a basic pattern mixed with a bolder pattern. Having more than one loud pattern can be a little overwhelming for my taste. Some of the simple patterns I tend to use are stripes, leopard, and polka dots. These can all be paired with any other print.

Shirt: BCBG generation (Similar here and here maternity here) //

Jacket: Zara //

Hat: Lack of Color //

Scarf: Scalpers old (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: A pea in the Pod Maternity (Non-Maternity here) //

Boots: Sergio Rossi old (Similar here ) //

Winter Whites!!

Fashion rule number #1….no white after labour day!!! This fashion faux pas has been passed on from generation to generation and we have all grown up hearing this. These past couple of years white has become a major power player in the fashion world. It has been a featured color on multiple runways as the color of the season. No longer are we abiding by these rules, and I love it.

I think an all white look is so chic and powerful. Pairing white jeans with a textured sweater is a perfect winter look. Lately the weather in Los Angeles has been like summer so this outfit has a mix of the two seasons.

I was worried that white would be a color to avoid during my late stages of pregnancy. Once I found these Wendy Bellissimo skinny jeans from Motherhood maternity I realized that this did not have to be the case. I love the distressed knees and perfect fit. Maternity jeans are not what they used to be. They look and fit just like regular jeans without the waistband.

Jeans: Wendy Bellissimo Motherhood Maternity //

Sweater: Aritzia (Similar here) //

T-Shirt: A pea in the pod maternity (currently on sale) //

Shoes: Converse //

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban //

Purse: Goyard //

Working with what you already have!!

How many times have you walked into your closet in the morning trying to decide what your outfit of the day will be and think “I have nothing to wear!!” I feel like this is the story of my life. I am constantly aimlessly staring at my hanging clothes thinking I need a new wardrobe because nothing is right and there is nothing for me to wear.

This is becoming worse now that majority of my clothes are either too tight or too short to cover the belly. I have a limited amount to work with, and it has forced me to get creative and think outside my comfort zone. It has also pushed me to look deeper in my closet and pull out those items that have been there for years and I have forgotten about. I have obviously bought maternity clothing….I think there are multiple items that are essential, especially jeans (as stated in my previous post). I also don’t want to splurge too much on an abundance of maternity items since I will hopefully get back to my pre-pregnancy shape in a few months. (This is my goal….lets see how that works!)

All items in this post are at least 2-4 years old, other than my sunglasses!! I tend to lean towards classic pieces rather than trendy ones. This works to my advantage because I can still wear them years later.

Take a peek into your closet and pull out a piece you haven’t worn in a few years. You may be surprised and a whole new look may come out of it without breaking your bank account.

Cardigan: Aritzia old (Similar here, here and here) //

Dress: Twin Set Simona Barbieri old (Similar here, here, here and here) //

Boots: Sergio Rossi old (Similar here and here) //

Clutch: L.A.M.B old (Similar here and here) //

Sunglasses: Karen Walker //

That perfect pair!!

Everyone has that one pair of jeans that are their favorite. They fit you perfectly and flatter all aspects of your figure. During my pregnancy I had quickly outgrown my perfect pair of jeans. I then started to wear some of the others in my closet and used elastic belly bands to help hold them up. This worked well early in my pregnancy but it quickly started becoming uncomfortable. I know many expectant mothers wear their regular jeans for as long as possible, but this was not the case for me. Possibly because I was gaining more weight than the average, or my belly was lower than others… but I rushed to purchase maternity jeans as soon as I hit my second trimester. I am so thankful I did because I was able to wear comfortable stylish pants all throughout my pregnancy.

When I found these Seraphine maternity grey jeans I was thrilled. There is something about grey jeans that I love so much. They are different than the usual blue and black, and go with everything. I had tried on other brands of grey jeans and was disappointed because they didn’t make me feel confident wearing them. When I tried on these, I knew they were going to be my “perfect pair” maternity jeans!!

Blazer: Massimo Dutti old (Similar here, here and here) //

Shirt: Vince old (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: Seraphine Maternity //

Flats: Tory Burch old (Similar here and here) //

Shirt: Zara old (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: Seraphine Maternity //

Sneakers: Converse //

Sunglasses: Ray-ban //

Sweater: Aritzia (Similar here) //

Shirt: A Pea in the Pod //

Jeans: Seraphine Maternity //

Flats: Tory Burch old (Similar here and here) //

All about the accessories

You wouldn’t think I was a California girl with all the black I wear. I can’t get enough of a sleek all black look. To add a little glam, I paired my outfit with bright red lips and intricate accessories.

I will gladly invest in classic items, but have a hard time spending a lot money on trendy or statement pieces. This is why when I found both my Bauble Bar earrings and Zara clutch I knew they were must haves. Both are very affordable but look pretty pricey. (At least I like to think so!!)

I love all the bead work on this clutch. It gives me an Alexander McQueen, or Judith Leiber vibe without the price tag that accompanies their purses.

Dress: Vince (Similar here and here) //

Earrings: Bauble Bar (Similar here and here) //

Clutch: Zara Spain (Similar here, here , here and here) //

Boots: Sergio Rossi old (Similar here and here) //

Jacket: Zara //

I can’t get enough of the sweater dress!! Pregnant or not, a sweater dress is so simple yet super chic. While I’m outgrowing the majority of my clothes, I turn to pieces such as this one. Knitwear stretches perfectly to fit over my changing figure. This dress can be worn all throughout my pregnancy and once I go back to my pre-pregnancy shape. I have been trying to purchase items that I will be able to use post-pregnancy as well.

Seraphine Maternity

I am now officially in the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy. Where has the time gone? Only 10 weeks left and so much to do!! I will write all about how pregnancy has been for me so far in an upcoming blog post. Today is all about Seraphine Maternity. Now that my belly is growing by the second, even my oversized shirts are starting to be fitted or even too small. Maternity clothing is becoming more of a necessity as the days pass.

I had recently come across Seraphine Maternity online and was so excited. To all the moms or pregnant readers, you know that finding good maternity clothing is not that easy. Prior to my pregnancy I could walk into a store and always find something I love….not a talent my husband appreciates. When it comes to dressing my bump it has definitely been more of a challenge. I think I try on 10 outfits a day before I find a look that makes me feel confident. Finding those staple maternity pieces have been my lifesaver. Some of the most fashionable celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Kate Middleton have been seen wearing Seraphine Maternity.

This season I have been all about the poncho or cape…so I couldn’t help but gravitate towards this beauty. I love the cut and grey trim detail. The front zipper and buckle make it versatile. Its that perfect piece to throw over any outfit, or wear it as the main attraction as I did here.

I paired the poncho with dainty jewelry, distressed denim and Valentino rockstuds. I’m always a firm believer that less is more.

Poncho: Seraphine Maternity currently on sale //

Jeans: Genetic denim //

Shoes: Valentino Rockstuds //

Home for the Holidays!!

After spending just a few days in Barcelona my husband and I went home to Toronto to celebrate the holidays. We were looking forward to a winter wonderland and to our surprise the weather was quite mild and no snow. Living in sunny LA this was kind of disappointing. We made the best of it and took a road trip to Niagara Falls. It had been years since I visited the falls and I forgot how breathtaking they really are. My photos don’t do them justice.

Located on the Niagara River and draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet. One of the 3 falls (Horseshoe falls) is the most powerful waterfall in North America. It’s such a beautiful sight.

After visiting the falls we went straight to Niagara on the Lake for lunch. Such a beautiful little town with great boutiques. It’s definitely a must visit if you are there.

Jacket: Zara //

Sweater: Rag & Bone (old) (Similar here, here and here) //

Hat: Lack of Colors //

Jewels: Rabat //

Barcelona for the day!!

This holiday season my husband and I decided to visit both of our families. I am quickly approaching the point where traveling is off limits so it was time to make the most of it and share our pregnancy with our loved ones. Family is so important and it really meant the world to us being able have them witness this little miracle growing inside. Our first stop was Barcelona. I love this city. The food, atmosphere, architecture and shopping are always on point. I may be slightly biased though since this magical city is where my husband and I got married over 2 years ago.

We only had 4 days and it was jam packed with family lunches and dinners. I wish we had more time, but I know we will be back soon enough.

I kept my look comfortable for our hectic day running around the city. As mentioned in a previous post…I am such a fan of the poncho. It’s an ideal layering piece and works perfectly during pregnancy. I love mixing maternity and non-maternity items.

I have noticed that when I go shopping I’m automatically drawn to items that are pregnancy friendly. I no longer stop to admire crop tops, skirts, jumpsuits etc… I tend to veer towards the flowing dress or oversized sweater. I guess I’m figuring out how to dress for my changing figure even on a subconscious level.

Don’t get me wrong….I can’t wait for the days when I can go back to endless fashion possibilities!! In the meantime, I’m exploring different ways to wear similar items while keeping my daily looks exciting!!

Poncho: Massimo Dutti (old) (Similar here, here and here) //

Shirt: Rosie pope (Non-Maternity here and here) //

Jeans: Genetic Denim – A pea in the pod (Non-maternity here and here)//

Boots: Yves Saint Laurent (More affordable here, here and here) //

A year in review: 2014

Happy New Years to you all!!

This is the time to reflect on the past year and look forward to new beginnings. This year has been such an exciting one for me. Of course there were ups and downs but thankfully we are ending on a high note. It has been a year since I discovered fashion blogs and started my fashion instagram account. I finally had the courage to start this blog a few months ago and it has been such a fun and rewarding experience. I am so thankful to all of you that are following along with my journey.

The biggest news this year for my family is that my husband and I are expecting our first child. We are so thrilled to welcome our little baby girl March 2015. Pregnancy has been a whirlwind of emotions for me. I am just starting my third trimester and can’t believe how quickly time is flying by. There will be many exciting changes for us in 2015