We have a rule in design that you can't have 'fast, cheap and good'. You can have fast and cheap (but it probably won't be great quality), cheap and good (but that takes a long time to find) and fast and good (but it ain't gonna be cheap). So two out of the three is what we strive for. When dressing ourselves we all want comfortable, flattering and stylish, right? And unless you are an Olsen twin and can look sexy in a sack, it's really really hard to look/feel all of those things at the same time. So I generally go for 'comfortable and stylish' during the day and then 'flattering and stylish' at night (especially if I'm on a date with Brian). When pregnant I definitely throw in the towel on being all three, so I focus on being REALLY comfortable, kinda stylish and if I also can look cute and on the less troll-ish side, then WONDERFUL. This outfit is great for work and meetings with clients, and it's a go-to for me for a few different reasons. I'm carrying this pregnancy a lot lower and wider, which I find rather rude, but Miss 'low and wide' in there wants to roll that way and there ain't nothing I can do about it. Of course horizontal stripes around my hips are probably not helping the situation. But lets stop talking about my hips and talk about my outfit instead, kay? Here's why I like this outfit: The dress is knit and SUPER stretchy. It's not a maternity dress but it's giving me a lot of movement. I was 25 weeks here (I'm 30 now) and while the leather on the bottom keeps my hips/thighs reigned in, the stretch in the fabric allows the belly to properly bulge out.

The crop top is short enough that it shows off the belly, so that I look obviously pregnant and not just kinda like I've had a burrito...or four. I've been buying and wearing a lot of structured/fitted crop tops, layering them over longer shirts and dresses, which is proving to be a good move (I think).

This outfit is very comfortable (for not being pajamas or a muu muu) and is totally my style (a bit of color, a bit of pattern, kinda fun and professional enough that I can wear to meetings). As far as the flattering scale goes, it does the job just fine - I feel cute enough in this, whilst knowing that yes, I have other outfits that show off more curves (those outfits just tend not to be as comfortable or forgiving).

Of course that hat (for which I should be a paid spokesperson because I wear it EVERY SINGLE DAY) tweaks it up a notch in a good way and the necklace breaks up all the red (and pulls your eye away from other regions).

Again, none of those pieces are maternity and the red Suno top was a total splurge that I LOVE and I have actually bought it now in a pattern as well (on sale, thank goodness) - I wear them both with collared shirts underneath that is always a big hit. If anyone knows a good affordable version of that bad boy, leave in the comments. That dress is really forgiving and so easy to layer over because the jersey is so thin (and stripes go with everything).

Lastly camel or nude leather shoes make your legs look longer even though there is an ankle strap. I think I knew all of that (and you probably did, too) but when analyzing why I feel good in this outfit and why I always wear it I realized a few things about it that are consistent with how I dress in general and thought to point them out (hopefully y'all are interested).

That's me ... well, pregnant me, prioritizing 'comfortable', 'stylish' and then 'flattering' in that order - at least for work.

Now its your turn - how do you prioritize those three things? Or do you? Or, AM I CERTIFIABLY CRAZY???

*All photos by the lovely Stephanie Todaro.

Wanna see more maternity fashion posts? Check out my Muu Muu style, my 'play outfit' and 'the one where I hold a piano'. Also last time I was pregnant I wrote this 'Maternity Must-Haves' post which I need to update, but its still pretty relevant. Lastly if you want to watch the birth of Charlie (yes, you read that correctly) go HERE.

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