then & now: pre-pregnancy and pregnancy

Admittedly it's pretty hard to re-use the clothes that you already have in your wardrobe from your pre-pregnancy days, but it's not impossible. I love that these outfits have totally different feels but use the same pieces, a chambray shirt and a plaid button-up. Not buttoning up is a great way to still wear your button-ups and layer in a new and different way.

And while I'm definitely ready to get back to my pre-pregnancy clothes, it is fun to challenge myself on how I can wear what I already have. Right now as the temperatures rise, I'm really working with my looser fitting dresses and skirts and adding in maternity pieces where needed.

How do you make your wardrobe work for you?

then & now: the red sweater

Let's face it. Most of us are women who have to live within the constraints of our budgets. We don't have designers gifting us the newest fashions and we don't really have the bucks to dish out on such designs (except for the infrequent treat). Our closets are finite. Sure we add here and there, but for the most part our wardrobe and our style are developed from mixing and matching the pieces we own.

As bloggers, most of us want to give our readers new looks every day but there is something to be said for showing our readers how to integrate pieces into every season. I could show you a million outfits that I have featured on the blog using my chambray shirt, my military jacket or my favorite vests. But those are the pieces that are easy to wear with just about any outfit.

Usually when I buy staples like sweaters (and blazers) I steer toward neutrals. I mean why buy a red sweater? If I wear it often, people will notice. And is it really that versatile?

Well, actually it is. It is a refreshing pop of color in an otherwise dull winter look and it gives a statement skirt or dress that extra oomph for an unusually cool summer day.

What unexpected pieces do you have in your closet that can work now and later? I bet if you think about it, you will find a lot more variations of outfits that you may not have thought of otherwise.

Happy closet shopping my friends!