Like a fine wine

Baby is a delightful creature most of the time but today he was CHALLENGING. Now that he's in bed I'm catching up on some work (and procrastinating via blog) and we've cracked open a bottle of wine I carted back from the Barossa Valley in 2007.

I went there on a mini break with my best girlfriend, T. This is us.

I'd just bought that fur coat in an Adelaide op shop and wore it the entire trip. At the same time T bought an amazing 70s poly maxi dress with a print like the ABC test pattern and huge pointed sleeves. I was super jealous that she spotted it first. She lives in Canada now and a few years ago I got a random parcel from her in my letterbox. She sent me the dress.

This is me wearing it barefoot and pregnant. It was a good maternity dress. It's a good glass of wine.

Cheers to you T.

While I was away...

this happened

Pregnancy style (Week 28)

It's lovely, being pregnant in so many ways but also just so weird. I don't think I anticipated how weird it would be. There is so much going on in my body these days that I'm not a part of and I don't have a say in. It's not that we've ever been all that simpatico, my body and I. But now I'm being reminded of it every few minutes instead of now and then. I'm not running this show anymore.

Wearing: Black dress and Navy tights: Asos, Jacket: Gorman, Doily scarf: DIY, White loafers: Ebay

Pregnancy style (Weeks 26 & 27)

Week 26
Fur coat: thrifted, dress: Sussan (really old), boots: Wittner, belt: thrifted

Week 27
Coat: Asos Maternity, jumper: Witchery, Skirt: Bonds bumps (Big W), boots: Wittner

I'm not wearing nearly as many 'maternity' clothes as I thought I would. It could be down to bump size so far but really I don't think I appreciated how many normal clothes I'd still be able to buy and wear just by being more aware of style and cut. Anything waisted is obviously out but jumpers like the pale grey Witchery one above with a scooped hem and long back are perfect for draping over the bump. It works with lots of things but this particular style is one I've noticed popping up everywhere this winter.

The camel coat is one of only two maternity things I'm wearing in the above photos. I bought it for A$35 in the UK winter sales before I really had a bump to dress at all. To be honest, living somewhere where winter never really gets cold enough to need to fasten the buttons on thick coats means that the extra front room in this maternity coat is a little superfluous. But it is cosy, and was so cheap that I couldn't resist. I must say that Asos in general is one of the best places I've found for fun maternity gear at prices that don't make me gasp. The cheap chain stores here (Target, Kmart, BigW) do a good line in basic prego singlets and leggings but it pretty much stops there (or gets scary ugly).

Pregnancy style - Week 25

Is it terrible that I feel dissatisfied with the size of my bump? Other women at the same stage as me all seem to be huge whereas if I don't put my hand on my belly I think you can't even really tell I'm pregnant. Observe.

I know I'm wearing a loose dress in these photos but still. I was kind of hoping I'd be massive by now and can't stop comparing myself to women in magazines and hospital waiting rooms. For the sake of my vanity I want people to know I'm with child - not just fat. And awfully, I was kind of looking forward to using the bump as a fashion accessory. But it's not been as easy as I thought.

On the weekend I went to party where there were two other pregnant women about the same stage as me. Everyone looked at them and looked at me and said 'wow you must be having a small baby' and I found myself wanting to cry.

Is this why women wear t-shirts that say 'baby on board' or 'knocked up'? I've never appreciated that they might have a reason other than the general bogan love of slogan t-shirts.

Anyway, I'm wearing. (with hand back on belly)
Dress: Cue (years old), cardigan: Asos, clogs: schuh.co.uk, opaque tights: BigW

Bonds Newbies ad made me do it

How do you feel when you know you have been completely and utterly manipulated by an advertising campaign? Does it bother you? Or are you happy to be targeted with a product if you have need?

I’m sure expectant parents, and especially first time mothers like me - stuffed to bursting with hormones, rosy baby fantasies and empty nursery drawers, must be one of the easiest demographics to tug at… and to make cry. Which is what I literally and embarrassingly do a little bit every time I see this ad on TV.

And then this happened.

Retail explosion.

Pregnancy style (Week 24)

I've been trying to take weekly pictures featuring the bump as it slowly grows. I'm not sure what the end product of them will be. Some sort of PowerPoint presentation with a soundtrack I can force on unwilling family and polite guests perhaps?

Anyway, I thought I might start posting some of these weekly snapshots here too. They might not always be the most pulled together of looks but I know I'm interested in how other pregnant ladies are dressing themselves through what can be a challenging sartorial period.

Wearing: Pumpkin Patch dress, House of Holland tights, Wittner ballet flats, Witchery cardigan