Clothes for moms-to-be can be expensive if you have to purchase many different items for only nine months of wear.
However, if you plan ahead, you can actually stretch your maternity wardrobe.
And that doesn't mean stretch as in "over your belly", but stretch as in "making it give you more for your money".
Plan your Colors Most people have certain colors which they really like to wear, and some they never buy.
The key in planning a great wardrobe is to plan the colors ahead of time.
Start with the bottoms first.
If you decide you will need one skirt and two pairs of pants, choose basic solid colors for these three items which you would be happy to coordinate with.
For instance, you could get a plain black skirt, then tan and navy pants.
Coordinate the Tops To complete your outfits, get tops that will match with the bottoms.
When at all possible, choose tops that will mix and match with at least two of the bottoms at the same time, thereby maximizing your clothing possibilities.
Measure Carefully If you are ordering your maternity clothing online, make sure you pay close attention to their sizing rules and measure yourself accordingly.
You want to make sure your clothes will fit you well to the end of your pregnancy and be comfortable throughout the time you are wearing them.
Think Ahead When you look at maternity clothing, consider also whether or not they would be useful to you for breastfeeding.
Would you be able to wear this when you're feeding your baby later on? Look at the way it's made and whether it would be practical for nursing.
Every time you plan carefully like this, you will find you are creating a wardrobe you can be proud to wear for the duration of the pregnancy, and possibly into the breastfeeding stages as well.