Inside: Are you expecting during the fall and winter season and need some help putting together a maternity capsule wardrobe? Look no further because this post will walk you through what a capsule wardrobe is, why you should participate in Project 333, plus get a look at the pieces I chose for my maternity capsule wardrobe for my third pregnancy!
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Did you know that you probably only wear about 20% of the clothes in your closet?
I didn’t believe it either, but that’s what California Closets told the WSJ. The article goes on to say that most of the clothes in our closets are impulse buys and we hang on to them out of regret. Another reason people hang on to clothes we don’t wear anymore is an emotional attachment.
As I am heading into the third trimester of my third pregnancy I decided that I didn’t want to have a closet full of maternity regrets. But I also knew that I needed to buy SOME maternity clothes because I didn’t have any from my previous pregnancies.
So I decided to play along with the Project 333 Challenge to help me curate a closet with only pieces that I would love to wear and would also carry me through the rest of the pregnancy and postpartum period.
If you’ve been reading along with my journey for a while, you probably remember me talking about my experience with Project 333 in the past. If you’re new, don’t worry, I’ll give you the details again. Essentially, it’s a challenge to dress with only 33 pieces of clothing for 3 months. You are curating a capsule wardrobe for the season!
Before we get into the meat of this post, I have a FREE Capsule Wardrobe Planner you can use to curate your own capsule wardrobe for pregnancy. Click the image below to complete the form and I’ll send you the short e-book right to your inbox.
In this post I’ll share:
- What is Project 333?
- What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
- Why you should dress with a capsule wardrobe – what are the benefits?
- My Fall/Winter Maternity Capsule Wardrobe
- What to consider when curating a maternity capsule wardrobe
- Where to find maternity clothes for your capsule wardrobe
- How to participate in Project 333 yourself, whether or not you’re pregnant
What is Project 333?
Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months. The challenge was created by Courtney Carver who writes over at Be More With Less.
Courtney first wrote about the challenge in 2010 which has now been accepted by thousands of people around the world. Just search the hashtag #Project333 on Instagram and you’ll see the involvement!
So you’re probably wondering, what are the rules?
Courtney really emphasizes that it’s more important to start dressing with less on your own terms than it is to follow the rules for the sake of following rules. But for those of you who are like me and need some guidelines, don’t worry, she has them!
Rules taken from Courtney’s site:
- When: Every three months (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!)
- What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes.
- What not: these items are not counted as part of the 33 items – wedding ring or another sentimental piece of jewelry that you never take off, underwear, sleep wear, in-home lounge wear, and workout clothing (but your workout clothes have to workout).
- How: Choose your 33 items, box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape, and put it out of sight.
- What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work, and play in for three months. Remember that this is not a project in suffering. If your clothes don’t fit or are in poor condition, replace them.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
Project 333 sounds great, but what is a capsule wardrobe? Are they the same thing?
Great questions!
According to the dictionary, a capsule wardrobe is:
a small collection of clothes that can be put together in different ways and includes everything you would normally need to wear.
So by participating in the Project 333 Challenge, you are essentially curating a seasonal capsule wardrobe! How great is that?
Why you should dress with a capsule wardrobe – what are the benefits?
So you’re still with me, which is awesome! Now you probably want to know, WHY you should dress with a capsule wardrobe. What are the benefits of dressing with only a set number of clothes?
I think there are benefits from dressing with a capsule wardrobe in general, which I’ll share below. Plus I think there are a few specific reasons capsule wardrobes are perfect for pregnancy. Keep reading to find out!
Benefits of a capsule wardrobe in general
- You’ll save money since you’re not spending money on clothes that don’t match the rest of your clothes.
- It’s super easy to get dressed in the morning because everything looks good together.
- You love everything in your closet so no more trying on a million shirts to find just the right one.
- Your clothes fit you…no more feeling bad about not fitting into something from 10 years ago since you said “goodbye” to those items.
- You’ll spend less time shopping since you’re more intentional with what you purchase and need fewer items.
Check out this post for even more benefits of dressing with less.
Benefits of a maternity capsule wardrobe
- Pregnancy is already a short period of your life.
- Your body changes quickly but can often wear clothes already in your closet for first trimester or two or longer (cardigans, pants (with the rubber band trick!)
>> Don’t forget to download your Free Capsule Wardrobe Planner!
My Fall/Winter Maternity Capsule Wardrobe
Here is an overall look at what I am including in my capsule wardrobe for my third trimester of pregnancy. For me, the season of my third trimester is fall/early winter and I live in a colder climate so most of my clothes are appropriate for that type of weather. If you will be pregnant in a warmer season or live in a warmer climate, your wardrobe will look a little different. Just apply these lessons to fit your needs!
Let’s talk about this!
I chose pretty neutral colors for my maternity tops so that they would mix and match with what I already have for cardigans, jackets and accessories.
This capsule is for fall and early winter so I included layers, a winter coat, hat and mittens, plus boots. My spring/summer wardrobe would look very different!
I am definitely not a fashion expert, but here are links to a few of the pieces that worked out for me, or something very similar. Keep in mind that some maternity clothes will fit like your regular size and others won’t, so there is a bit of trial and error when it comes to findings pieces that are both flattering and comfortable. Just take your time and don’t get discouraged! Your body is changing and it’s beautiful!
Tops:
Maternity Side Ruched Tops: Short Sleeve | Long Sleeve | Tank Top
Non-maternity Flowy Tops: Short Sleeve
Non-maternity Layering Pieces: Cardigan 1 | Cardigan 2 | Chambray Top
Jackets: Olive Utility Jacket | Denim Jacket
Bottoms and Accessories:
No-maternity Skirt: Black and White
Maternity Denim: Black Skinny and Bootcut
Winter Gear: Coat | Hat | Mittens | Scarf | Boots
Shoes: Black Flats | Sperry Tennis Shoes | Chelsea Boots | Black Booties
Remember, this list is not a prescription for what to buy. I wanted to provide you with something to start from and then you can fill in with your style and clothing needs.
What to consider when curating a maternity capsule wardrobe
I made a few mistakes during my first pregnancy and ended up with a few regrets that I never actually wore. I spent good money on maternity clothes that just hung in my closet! So sad!
Here are a few things to think about when choosing your items for your maternity capsule wardrobe. I hope these tips are helpful!
Take Your Time
Don’t rush out and buy a bunch of maternity clothes as soon as you get pregnant or even as soon as you start to show. I made this mistake with my first pregnancy and ended up buying clothes that never fit me. I bought the size up thinking I was going to gain a ton of weight. While I did gain the recommended amount it was mostly in my belly! So the next size up was way too baggy and not flattering or comfortable.
Use what you already have in your closet
This is especially true during the first and second trimesters for most people. Most of my regular pants and jeans can be worn by using the rubber band trick I learned about. It’s genius!! This works well for my jeans that are not super high rise and are not skinny jeans. If you want to wear skinny jeans I would recommend investing in a pair of maternity skinny jeans.
I could also wear many of my regular tops through the first trimester and most of my second trimester. When I hit about week 25 I wanted something with a bit more coverage so I invested in a few maternity tops that I will be able to wear the rest of the pregnancy. Another option is to wear longer tank tops underneath regular tops to give you some extra length. I am still wearing these tops from Amazon since they are flowy and longer than some of my other tops.
This post is about fall and winter weather, but I wanted to note that shorts with elastic waists are great for summer since they will stretch with your growing belly! If you buy your regular size you can wear them after your baby comes too. Here is a pair that I purchased.
Layering is also really helpful during the transition of seasons when the weather is getting cooler. All of my cardigans and jackets are my regular clothes. They do sell maternity cardigans and jackets but I don’t really see the point in spending money on those things when your regular clothes will work!
Comfort is so key!
I prefer the side ruched tops since I think they flatter a pregnant belly and tend to grow with you as your belly grows. They also allow for layering with sweaters or jackets which is great depending on the season you’re pregnant and those wonderful hot flashes!
I also prefer the pants with a stretchy panel that covers my belly in the third trimester. Early on I feel like the full panel is way too big and hot and just gets in the way. So early on I usually try to wear my regular jeans using the runner band method mentioned above or maternity pants with a lower stretchy waist band.
Curate a wardrobe for your current lifestyle and season
Many of us are currently spending a lot more time around the home. My maternity wardrobe looks way different this time than it did during my first two pregnancies when I worked outside the home. Now I mostly spend my time around home and my clothing choices reflect that.
For more guidance on how to choose clothes for your current season I recommend this article.
Don’t forget about the Postpartum Period
The first time I was pregnant, I had no idea how long it would take for my belly to shrink back down to something close to my pre-pregnancy size. I ended up wearing some of my maternity clothes for a few weeks after bringing baby home and while I was recovering. During this time I wanted to have extra comfortable clothes that held my tummy in but were not digging into me either.
Where to shop for maternity clothes
Since pregnancy is such a short period of time in the grand scheme of things, I tried not to invest in a whole new wardrobe. With that being said, there are a few places that I found to sell great maternity staples that will last through more than one pregnancy and won’t break the bank either.
- Motherhood Maternity and Pea in The Pod – these are both popular maternity brands you can find at places like Amazon, Macy’s, and Kohls. Pea in the Pod is a little bit pricier, but you can usually find items on sale.
- Articles of Society – the black denim that I found to fit me the best was this brand, purchased from Macy’s.
- Target –
- Gap
- Thredup and eBay are great options for used clothes. The only thing is that returns are not as easy if they are possible at all. I did go this route for a few items that were in a brand I had tried before and knew what size to wear.
Another great option to save some money and an option that is more sustainable is to swap with friends! If you are not pregnant at the same time, see if you have a friend who is willing to let you borrow their clothes or even sell them to you. Unless you have babies super close together, the maternity clothes will likely be sitting in a box unused for a couple of years anyway!
How to participate in Project 333 yourself, whether or not you’re pregnant
Project 333 is a fantastic challenge to try, whether or not you’re expecting.
You can read the book, take the course or just read the blog posts here and on Be More With Less. You can start anytime, just please start!
Project 333 Book:
Project 333 course:
I completed this course earlier in the year and it’s a great resource if you need a little bit more hand-holding during this process. Courtney walks you through everything and provides guidance on how to make this challenge work for you. She won’t tell you what to buy since she’s not a fashion expert, but she will provide inspiration and support to help you curate your own collection.
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET when you sign up:
- Full access to the Dress with Less and Create a Capsule Wardrobe course
- 10 videos: 1.5 hours of content
- Helpful exercises and worksheets
- Access to the Project 333 Community
- Lifetime access to everything above
Looking for more Project 333 and Capsule Wardrobe Inspiration? You’ll Love these articles…
Simplify Your Wardrobe in 9 Steps
Project 333: Summer Capsule Wardrobe
Tons of Project 333 Posts From Be More With Less
