The Awkward Bump - Months 1-4

I'll admit it. I was going to walk away from this blog and never look back. I've been so frustrated with morning sickness. But lately I've been wanting to do things that involve getting dressed. Not like in my everyday stay-at-home mom kind of way, but the kind where I want to look good outside the house. Maybe remind my husband what a fox I am when I'm not throwing up or sleeping.

I do have a few tricks for this part of pregnancy where you're just kind of thick. If you're Gisele Bundchen and the world knows that your uterus is ripe with unborn Brady, well then, feel free to wear whatever the eff you want.  But for the rest of us in the first 4 months - whether from slowed digestion, bloat, or actual baby - that just look like we have a beer belly, these tips are for you.

1. Tank Dress + Topper + Long Necklace

Madewell dress//Jeffrey Campbell shoes//Anchor Blue hoodie//Forever 21 bed jacket//thrifted jewelry

 I haven't bought any maternity yet, but I know from my first two pregnancies that my MVP (Most Valuable Pregnancy) item was a tank-style dress. Even in the winter. Throw on a vest, cardigan, or bed jacket, add a long necklace. Rinse and repeat. At this stage the lines from the topper and the necklace create some confusion about what exactly is going on in your midsection. Potbelly or baby? Who knows! You've confused the viewer into seeing a slimmer silhouette.

2. Belt Under The Belly

thrifted dress//AE belt//Dr Scholls sandals//vintage earrings

 Sorry about the weird bunching. This does look cute in person, I promise. Look, here's Alessandra Ambrosio employing the same technique. Anyhoo, in this instance I'm camouflaging the bump with some blouson action. I also added some insanely large sequined earrings to bring the eye back up to my face. Although with the pregnancy-related eczema and rosacea flare-ups I should probably be getting people to look elsewhere. I'm pretty sure my boobs would work.

3. Belting Above The Belly

thrifted dress and belt//D&G sunglasses//Jeffrey Campbell shoes

Where the first two were more about creating different lines to flatter the body, this third tip is about making yourself look more pregnant. Belting above the bump will push you into "Is she or isn't she?" territory, which is infinitely better than "Hmmmm. . . that's an interesting body shape". Belt at the smallest part of your waist, right above the actual belly. Mine's up on my ribcage because I'm insanely short-waisted so I carry super high. It will be a different place on different mama's bodies.

I'm lucky enough to be enjoying a third so far healthy pregnancy, to the point where I can worry over things like clothing and what new rash is going to sprout up on my face - and I know that. But I also know that a changing body can be weird for anyone and I thought I'd pass along a few things that work for me when I have to look a little better than normal.