Written by contributor Maggie Whitley of Gussy Sews.
I have a dorky confession to make: I absolutely LOVE wearing a lot of color, and apparently orange is my go-to hue. I mean, I just can’t get enough…
But I haven’t always work this much color. I made a commitment to myself earlier this year that I’d incorporate more color into my wardrobe. At first it was hard. Adding colors in the form of a Gussy bag was easy — or with a fun statement ring or crocheted cowl — but my entire outfit, colorful? I gave myself a quick pep-talk and agreed to stay committed.
outfit details: orange striped top + yellow ring, c/o Francescas | gray wedges, Payless | skinny jeans, Motherhood Maternity | gray tank, Target
outfit details: headband, my shop | sweater + white flower ring, Forever 21 | striped dress | leggings | flip flops
outfit details: black/white striped top + skinny jeans, Motherhood Maternity | shoes, Payless | cowl, my shop | orange ring, thrift store
outfit details: polka dot sweater + gray tee, Target | skinny jeans, Motherhood Maternity | boots, Payless | headband, Lady Like
I did pretty well leading up to June, but when my husband + I found out we were expecting out first baby the end of the month I knew there could be a few roadblocks up ahead. For the first two trimesters I’ve been able to wear mostly non-maternity clothing. However, since I loooove a cute pair of skinny jeans I’ve recently had to convert to maternity skinnies as ummm, I can’t zip-up non-maternity pants any more –wink!
Wearing a lot of color as I approach my third trimester has been a tiny bit tricky, I’ll be honest. I have had a hard time finding tops to purchase that fit my new found colorful style, but I’ve kept my commitment to color by mixing maternity with non-maternity staples I already own. Items such as cotton/jersey dresses, cardigans or long tanks have helped with the transition. For example, I often pair a basic maternity cotton tee with my non-maternity orange polka dot cardigan. Simple, but so colorful.
And accessories, like I mentioned above, are super easy. Since I spend a lot of time during the day cutting fabric and packaging orders, it’s also been helpful for me to layer the clothes I wear. It’s easy for me to stay committed to color while my body continues to change when I can add in fun accessories.
My husband + I also recently moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles and it’s been surprisingly hard transitioning to the SoCal weather. For the past 27 years it’s been natural for me to wear a lot of cozy items this time of year, but now that the average temperature during the winter is 65 degrees that doesn’t quite work so well. Ha! So, layers it is — and colorful layers, too.
Pairing maternity with non-maternity clothing staples, adding fun accessories + layering often are my 3 lifesaver tips for continuing to add color during my pregnancy.
What is a style challenge you’ve been wanting to commit to? Have you been able to follow through, or is something holding you back?
