• Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Wardrobe Capsules
    • What I Wore
    • How To Wear It
    • Casual Work Wear
    • Mom Style
    • Travel
    • Holidays
    • Trends To Try
    • Maternity Style
    • Thrifty Tips
    • Shopping
    • Beauty
  • Shop my outfits
  • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Making the Most of Your Non-Maternity Clothes

March 6, 2016 by Katie Haller

Since I’m currently on maternity leave and pretty much living in my comfortable clothes, my creativity for putting together cute outfits is on hold right now.  That’s why I decided to continue sharing some of my maternity looks.


As you know, I really enjoyed putting together maternity outfits during my pregnancy.  In an effort to save money, I decided early on that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes.  Nothing against maternity clothes, but they tend to be more expensive than normal clothes and you can only wear them for a very short time.  I was able to wear my normal non-maternity clothes right up until my little guy was born.  I really enjoyed the challenge of finding new ways to wear my normal clothes to keep up with my growing baby bump.  For me, the key was to find clothes that were stretchy and flowy.  Anything that could fit over my big belly.  

Here are some of my favorite non-maternity clothes that I was able to wear throughout my entire pregnancy. 
1st trimester original post/ 2nd trimester original post/ 3rd trimester
I bought this striped stretchy maxi dress at Target during my first trimester.  I knew it would stretch so I’d be able to wear it for a long time.  There really is no need to buy an actual “maternity” maxi dress, especially when you can buy a normal dress at a much cheaper price. Plus you’ll still be able to wear it after your baby arrives. 
1st-trimester original post/2nd-trimester original post/3rd-trimester original post
I bought this tunic tank top at Kohl’s on clearance in the junior department early in my pregnancy. It quickly became one of my favorite tops to wear with my growing baby bump.  I liked that it’s long and loose.  I wore it a lot with leggings and boots during the winter.  It doesn’t have a whole lot of stretch to it, so in my 9th month it was just a little too small, but I did wear it all the time while I still could.
1st-trimester original post/2nd-trimester original post/3rd-trimester original post
This loose-fitting tank top from Old Navy was another great top to wear while I was pregnant.  I bought it before my baby started to show and I wore it all the way into my 3rd trimester. 
1st-trimester original post/2nd-trimester original post/ 3rd trimester
This LC Lauren Conrad blouse from Kohl’s has been a favorite top of mine for a while.  I loved that I was able to wear it throughout my pregnancy.  Since it’s loose-fitting and flowy, it worked great as a maternity top.
Now that I’m no longer pregnant, I’m happy that I don’t have a bunch of maternity clothes that I can’t wear anymore.  Instead, I get to get back to wearing my normal clothes without my bump.

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailEssential Maternity Clothes: What to Buy And Avoid Buying While Pregnant Default ThumbnailHow to Build a Maternity Wardrobe on a Budget- What You Actually Need in Your Maternity Wardrobe Capsule Default ThumbnailWhat to Wear in Your Second Trimester

Filed in: Maternity Style, My Closet, Pregnancy • by Katie Haller • 4 Comments

Comments

  1. Unknown

    May 11, 2016 at 1:45 am

    What size tops did you buy to be able to fit in them pre, during, and post pregnancy?!

    Reply
  2. Katie Margaret

    May 14, 2016 at 3:15 am

    I normally wear a small, but during my pregnancy I just went one size up to a medium.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    July 6, 2016 at 8:35 am

    Maternity Dresses purchased from the sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use and a division of a large organizations and stores is in line or slightly higher with the cost of women's non-maternity apparel.

    Reply
  4. Unknown

    June 28, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    I love the dress from target

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Thrifty Wife Happy Life Profile picture

Hi I'm Katie! Welcome to my blog! I am on a mission to help women build a wardrobe that they love without spending a lot of money doing it. I believe that everyone has the right to feel good in their outfit, no matter what your budget is! I am excited to have you here!
About me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Follow me

Amazon favorites

Search

Archives

Disclosure

This blog contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link I earn a small commission.  For more information click HERE!  Thank you for your support!

Follow

@thriftywifehappylife

thriftywifehappylife

Affordable everyday petite (5’1) mom style
A mix of affordable retailers + thrifted fashion
👨‍✈️Wife + Mom of 2 💙💗
💌 katie@thriftywifehappyllfe.com

Showing up with confidence this Memorial Day—bec Showing up with confidence this Memorial Day—because a great outfit helps you feel your best for the moments that matter.

I’m loving these comfy, festive, and practical outfits from @maurices! Which one is your favorite?? #ad 

🛍️ Comment SHOP and I will send you the shopping links to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5dN4l

#discovermaurices #memorialdaystyle #everydayconfidence #feelgoodfashion #reallifestyle
What I wore then vs. What I wore now! Does anyon What I wore then vs. What I wore now! 

Does anyone else still have a gingham button-down shirt still hanging in their closet? 👕 I still love this style! The easiest way to update this look is to switch out your jeans for a different silhouette. 

🛍️Comment UPDATE and I will send you the shopping link to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5dL7z

#whatiworethenvsnow #outfitideas #updatingmillenialoutfits #styletips #affordablefashion #styleover40 #millennialstyle
I believe that what you wear under clothes can mak I believe that what you wear under clothes can make or break your outfit. This is why I am sharing my favorite, most comfortable undergarments! 

🛍️Comment LINK and I will send you the shopping link to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5dB8f

#whattowear #styleover40 #momstyles #momstyleblogger #momshelpingmoms #amazonfinds #straplessbra
Cruise theme night outfits 🛳️ Planning outfi Cruise theme night outfits 🛳️

Planning outfits for a cruises cruise can be so much fun and I can’t resist a good theme night! Each cruise is different, but these were the theme nights from my 3-night Royal Caribbean last year. 

Make sure you check your itinerary to see if your cruise has any theme nights planned! 

🛍️Comment THEME NIGHT and I will send you the shopping link to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5dzC7

#cruiseoutfit #themenightoutfits #cruisewear #resortwear #amazondresses #amazonfinds #affordablefashion #outfitideas #styletips
What I wore this week as a 40-year old mom of 2! What I wore this week as a 40-year old mom of 2! 

Happy Mother’s Day!! 💕 Today I am truly embracing this day and remembering how much I always wanted to be a mom! 

I recently came across a journal entry I wrote 10 years ago on Mother’s Day—right after my second miscarriage. I wrote that I was ready to be a mom, but I was so scared and worried about our future. I didn’t know when and if it would actually happen. 

One month later, I was pregnant with my son.

And now here I am, ten years later—tired, busy, deeply grateful, and fully embracing this season I once wanted so so bad! 

To every mom today—in the waiting, in the chaos, or missing the days that flew by—I see you. We are all in this together! 💕

And if you are looking for some mom outfit inspiration then comment OUTFITS and I will send you the shopping links to all my daily outfits from the week!! 🛍️

#mothersday #momoutfits #momstyle #momoutfitideas #outfitideas #dailyoutfits #realoutfits #wiwtw #styleover40
What I wore then vs. What I wore now! I’m upda What I wore then vs. What I wore now! 

I’m updating this outfit I styled back in 2014. I have always loved this outfit combination, so I pulled some clothes from my current wardrobe to recreate the look for 2025! 

🛍️Comment LINK and I will send you the shopping details to the updated look! 🔗https://liketk.it/5de55

#outfitideas #updatingmillenialoutfits #whatiworethenvsnow #workwearoutfit #widelegjeans #chambrayshirt #navyblazer #chicstyle
What I would wear to work if I was still teaching! What I would wear to work if I was still teaching!! 👩‍🏫🍎📚

I’ve been sharing teacher-friendly workwear over the last few weeks here on Instagram. So in honor of #teacherappreciationweek I’m rounding up 4 weeks on the blog today! 

🛍️ Comment TEACHER and I will send you the link to my blog post and the shopping link to this post!! 

🔗https://thriftywifehappyllfe.com/2025/05/what-i-would-wear-4-weeks-of-spring-teacher-outfits/

#teacheroutfits #teacherstyle #workwearoutfits #workwearideas #affordablefashion #styletips
Looking for a cute versatile top for spring and su Looking for a cute versatile top for spring and summer? This $16 striped sweater vest from @walmart is perfect! 

🛍️Comment VEST and I will send you the shopping links to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5d6b3

#walmartstyle #walmartfashion #budgetfashion #howtowearit #6waystostyle #outfitideasforyou
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Thrifty Wife Happy Life