Something I never thought I would say 10-15 years ago-I cannot get enough of a good thrift find.

I had never thrifted or purchased used before my husband came along. If I ever needed something, I always felt the need to buy brand new whether it was clothing, shoes, or home decor. It was partly a germophobe thing and partly that I could never find pieces in adequate condition (read: major pit stains, smelled like cigarette smoke, had rips and tears or stains 😬). My husband has been thrifting his whole life (I have my father-in-law to thank for that) and has the best eye for the most promising bargains-and where to uncover them. Since we’ve been together, I can’t count how much money I’ve probably saved buying used rather than new. My knowledge of thrifting has expanded dramatically and now secondhand is one of my favorite things when shopping!

MATERNITY CLOTHES ARE EXPENSIVE

When it came to pregnancy, replacing my wardrobe was never one of my biggest thoughts. My mind automatically went to what we would need for the baby or the nursery, not myself. So when my bump started becoming more pronounced, my shirts began getting a bit tighter, and I needed to start shopping around for maternity clothes, to say I got sticker shock was an understatement!

Luckily, I was able to flip to the other side of the closet and steal some of the hubby’s t-shirts for most of my pregnancy 🙃 but certain occasions called for something nicer than an old marathon t-shirt. Amazon has always been my go-to but I found myself even getting disheartened there searching for what I was looking for in a price range I would be willing to pay on a shirt I would only wear for 3/4ths of the year. While I did eventually find some shirts in bulk on Amazon for a decent price (that also has the ruching on the side so I can still wear them post-maternity as well! 👍🏻), I ultimately found my best finds while thrifting.

A little handy thrifting tip when shopping for maternity-don’t focus on maternity-specific labels! All of our second-hand stores had such a slim selection of maternity clothes and more than half the time, they were all not in my size. Frustrated, I poked around in the everyday sections and found that if I chose tops in my normal size that had a lot of additional stretch or were longer and flowier, those fit around my bump just as well as any maternity-branded shirt would have. For the most part, this has worked well for me, even now that I’m in my third trimester and it feels like my belly is developing twice as fast!

THURSDAY THRIFTING: MATERNITY TRANSITION INTO SPRING

One of my plans with this little space is to share all of my thrift finds and the retail price versus what I paid to show how much you can save with a good bargain. It felt right to start with all my favorite maternity finds that work well as we transition from the cool winter months into spring!

*Please Note: All estimated retail prices are just that-estimated. I do my best to research the pieces I find and their original pricing but not all prices are guaranteed to be correct!

Maurice’s 24/7 Tan Tee with Black Polka Dots
Estimated Retail Price $24.00, I Paid $4.88

I love pairing this top with this loose jumpsuit (which is SOOOO cozy on a growing bump). Jumpsuit is $33.99 from Amazon and the slip-on shoes (which have also come in handy for my newly swelling feet 😅) are $19.99 from Target.

Time and Tru Green and White Stripe Shift Dress
Estimated Retail Price $24.99, I Paid $7.00

It’s starting to become noticeably warmer where I live and dresses will become a staple for me to let everything air out until baby boy arrives 😂. I own several dresses like this because they are so comfortable and I love that they aren’t constricting on warmer days. For the days that still start with a nip in the air, I grab this Old Navy denim jacket (also thrifted but a few years ago and if I recall correctly, I paid around $10.00) and pair it with some white sneakers to keep it simple (and comfy).

A New Day Black and White Stripe Shift Dress
Estimated Retail Price $20.00, I Paid $7.00

Another shift dress, but of course! And as with the dress before, I like to have something with sleeves available just in case of the weather. This army green Surplus Sanctuary Jacket (Estimated Retail Price $60.00, I Paid $10.00) fits the bill perfectly along with the same Target slip-on shoes!

Columbia Green Hoodie Dress
Estimated Retail Price $55.00, I Paid $10.37

I’m a sucker for a good hoodie. But turn it into a comfy dress? A match made in heaven! This is one of the perfect transitional pieces because it’s an excellent blend of both seasons. I love pairing these Time and Tru Wedge Booties with it (purchased at Walmart a couple of years ago for about $20.00)!

Old Navy Pink and White Stripe Top
Estimated Retail Price $17.00, I Paid $4.88

One thing I was on the hunt for at the beginning of my replacement wardrobe search was a good pair of maternity jeans. As stated above, all the second-hand stores around me had nada in that arena. I was just about to bite the bullet and buy new but after hitting up a few more stores within a few weeks, I finally did find a pair of Old Navy Straight Leg Maternity Jeans (Estimated Retail Price $44.99, I Paid about $13.00, I believe). I’m still a skinny jeans gal, but knowing I could begin swelling down the line, I decided to play it safe with a looser straight leg. Together with this adorable, flowy pink and white top and Target slip-ons, it’s the best errand running outfit.

Maurice’s 24/7 Mustard Yellow Floral Top
Estimated Retail Price $22.00, I Paid $4.88

I’m also a sucker for floral. You might find that if I’m not sporting a solid color, I’m wearing some sort of floral, polka dot, or striped pattern. I’m oddly lured to them 🤷‍♀️. I’ve been loving this mustard yellow color lately so this was a no-brainer purchase when I found it combing through the racks. Maternity overalls were also a must-have on my list and I used a gift card to purchase these cute Isabel Maternity Overalls from Target (Retail New Price $35.00). Matched with some comfy tennies, it’s another excellent weekend errand ensemble!

H&M Basics Yellow Sweater
Estimated Retail Price $27.00, I Paid $5.00

Yep, another yellow! Being blonde, I feel like yellow shouldn’t be one of my colors but I love this tone so much! 😂 Also using the gift card, I bought these Isabel Maternity Shorts from Target (Retail New Price $25.00) and paired them with this sweater and slip-ons. There’s something about a loose, long-sleeved top with shorts that screams spring and summer nights to me.

WHERE DO YOU LOVE TO FIND YOUR BARGAINS?

Have a love for thrifting like me? I’d love to see your great finds and how you style them! Comment below or tag me on Instagram, @helloblondemoments, to share the love!