Four Must-Have Pieces In Your First Trimester Wardrobe

We have exciting news to share with you:

We have a baby on board at Calliope + Clio!

I can honestly say that I am almost as grateful for the end of those early months of pregnancy as I am for my special new arrival. Before I move onward and upward (or outward, as the case may be) I want to share with you a few of the essentials that got me through this wardrobe unfriendly life stage, as gracefully and comfortably as possible.

The glorious aesthetic attribute at this stage of pregnancy is, of course, the rapid growth of the girls (ouch!). Maternity and nursing bras will be your best friend in the year to come and being well equipped in this area is essential. The topic of maternity bras deserves an entire post unto itself (Read Nursing Bras 101).

Next comes the questionable nature of your new silhouette. Weight gain or expecting? It's unclear. For me, the feeling of being well 'tucked-in' was unbelievably comforting. The right underpinnings can save the day by giving you a sleek and smooth appearance despite the extra 'you'. Three of my go-to pieces in my own first trimesters (baby #1 and baby #2) were not maternity pieces at all. Keep in mind that your maternity investments are not only for nine months. Don't forget that fourth trimester!

1. The Perfect Smoothing Tank

In my opinion it's a must-have layer, prego or not. The perfect tank has a neckline that is concealed under most blouses. It has straps thick enough to cover bra straps. Finally, the fabric will have amazing stretch which holds it's shape (and yours) beautifully. If you plan to nurse, you will eventually need to invest in some great nursing tanks, but these pieces will transition you beautifully.

Babaton Bowie Tank.
Available here.

2. Comfortable and Supportive Legwear

The high-waist of Commando legwear is super-comfortable over your growing bump. The invisible edge means that you don't have to worry about the 'muffin-top' effect of conventional pantyhose. Again non-maternity, you may already own a couple pairs.

Commando Dig-Free Legwear.
Available at Coco's Closet Co.

3. The Shift Dress

You can't get more comfy than jersey. I love the feel of T By Alexander Wang. These classic t-shirt dresses are perfect trans-seasonal pieces; great with bare legs in the summer, then tights and a leather jacket in cooler weather. The short length and asymmetrical hemline draw the eye away from your blossoming bump to your beautiful legs.

T By Alexander Wang T-Shirt Dress.
Available at Farfetch.com.

4. Great Maternity Denim

Finally, I learned an invaluable lesson with my first: Great maternity denim is a must! Forget the DIY elastic band trick with the digging in and the slipping down. Who needs it!? The right maternity denim will hug you in all the right places and be forgiving in all the right places. Chances are you will be wearing them through to your fourth trimester. Totally worth the investment, I say! I picked up two pairs of J Brand Mama J's very early on. I love the underbelly fit, but there are a lot of options that go over-belly as well.