The Budget Fashionista

Quality, fashionable maternity clothing is big
business these days, but that doesn’t mean moms to be can’t look great and save money. Tips like borrowing clothes from friends, purchasing regular clothes in larger sizes, visiting local second-hand maternity shops or perusing sites like www.cravingstyle.comwww.momsmaternity.com, all can help you look fabulous for less.

Here’s the essentials if you�re expecting:

Bra Tanks. These are so versatile--wear them underneath a button-down shirt or all alone. Try (1) Liz Lange�s Maternity Shelf Bra Tanks in ebony and white ($11.99 each, www.target.com)

A Fabulous Dress. For a breezy summer style, check out (2) Old Navy�s white crochet-trimmed, elasticized empire waist dress. ($39.50; www.old navy.com) So comfortable, you�ll want to wear it every day or (3) Gap�s knit smocked dress in black ($49.50, www.gap.com)

A Pretty Skirt. (4) Motherhood.com�s pull-on knit uneven hem skirt is super easy to wear ($9.99, www.motherhood.com)

Great Denim Pieces. Old Navy�s indigo skirt ($26.50; www.oldnavy.com) will get lots of wear thanks to its simple style. Liz Lange has mid-belly jeans while Target’s other maternity line (In Due Time) has over-the-belly styles.

A Clever Every-day Tee. Want to tell the world you�ll soon have a son? (5) �Oh Boy� is one of the sayings on the tees available at www.2chix.com (Ts and tanks, from $38 to $42) Want to keep it simple? www.motherhood.com for (6) solid color short sleeve v-neck tees for $11.98