help dress me for dh's graduation

[Ladybug]

Have you been to Belly Dance Maternity on North Damen? Not cheap, but amazing. I still shopped there online even after we moved from Chicago.

http://www.bellydancematernity.com/

[Deebs]

Okay, I'm officially jealous! Maybe you'll see someone famous there (when the Bulls were the "Dream Team" we saw a bunch of them, including Michael Jordan, there -twice - so exciting!). If you have a really great top, I'd say do pants, but otherwise, a dress.

[DCJenn]

I say go for the dress thing because you may have some kind of a meet and greet w/ the head honchos once you get to P.A., too.

Jenn

[MrsK]

I think a blouse and slacks will be fine provided that you style your hair, wear nice makeup and accessories. You're preggo. You'd be forgiven if you wore flip-flops. (Not that I dod not think the blouse and slacks wouldn't be perfectly nice.)

[Vishenka69]

I think any of those suggestions can be dressed up enough. Can you do heels or a wedge? When in doubt, go black, it always looks chic and a monochromatic outfit will make you seem taller.

[alison]

I think any of those suggestions can be dressed up enough. Can you do heels or a wedge? When in doubt, go black, it always looks chic and a monochromatic outfit will make you seem taller.

The restaurant has carpeted stairs, so I'd rather not wear heels. But hey, maybe this is the year to look for the elevator or change into heels when I get there! I don't want to roll an ankle or fall. My center of gravity has shifted.

I was hoping to get away with not having to buy very much maternity clothing, but I think Jenn is right; I'm likely going to have to meet some of dh's people when we get to California. I guess I should invest in a couple more things.

Annie, thanks for pointing me to that maternity shop on Damen. They have some really cute things. I may pick up some slacks there.

[alison]

I bought this today and brought it home to try on with some shoes. It's very long on me (it isn't in a maternity size), but the bust area fits me very well and is a flattering cut.

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog...ategory=Misses

The skirt part doesn't seem to be noticeably shorter in the front and longer in the back, but I'm wondering if I do keep it whether I should get it hemmed evenly all the way around (so that I can wear it post-baby), or if I should get it hemmed in a maternity cut sort of way where it's even all the way around during pregnancy...

Or maybe I need to stick to maternity clothes...?

[SuzySunshine]

I don't think you need to stick to maternity clothes, if it fits then keep it. I like it and I think clothes that can be worn as maternity and not are great.

I like it!

Does it need to be hemmed now or not? If you do need to hem it, maybe you can ask the seamstress if there is a way to make it easier to hem post-baby.

[NYCHoosier]

Very cute! Since it's a maxi (which is a great casual style) and you're not thrilled at the idea of wearing heels to this event anyway, get it hemmed for you in flats, but ask them to not cut too much fabric off in case you change your mind in the future and want to wear it with heels.

Have fun!

[alison]

Thank you for your replies!!

Nellie, it definitely needs to be hemmed. I'm all over the floor like this!

[alison]

I'd love to have shoes like these to wear to the event, but 1) I should wear flats and 2) they're expensive...

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3049161/...bo=6008488&P=1

I don't have any dressy sandals nor black flats... Any ideas? Any knock-offs of the above shoes...?!

[Vishenka69]

Remind me of your size and do you need them to be wide or is medium width ok? I think these would be too blah with that dress, like the dress btw.

[alison]

Remind me of your size and do you need them to be wide or is medium width ok? I think these would be too blah with that dress, like the dress btw.

I'm a 7-7.5, medium width is ok.

Go for it! Have a field day!