Today, I am thrilled to feature a post on ethical maternity fashion from my good friend Christie Barker! She is a Poshmark stylist, momma-to-be, and my go-to person for fashion advice. Check out her Poshmark closet and keep in touch with her on Insta!
When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to be extra conscious about choosing ethically made and secondhand fashion. I knew I would only be wearing these clothes for a short time. I wanted to create the least amount of waste possible and make more informed choices for what I was purchasing new.
I first went to some local thrift stores and only found one pair of maternity black work pants and not many maternity options in my size. So, I decided to buy secondhand online. I joined a buy/sell/trade group for maternity clothes on Facebook and got a beautiful dress to wear to a wedding and a few other events. That got me thinking about using the huge resource that is Poshmark.
I’ve been selling and buying on Poshmark for three and a half years. Poshmark is an amazing place to buy both new and used clothing, shoes, and accessories. I started to search through some of my favorite maternity brands and ended up getting some great deals on some key pieces.
This yellow floral cold shoulder top is by A Pea In the Pod, another popular maternity brand. I think this top is great for a night out. I also got a deal on this top, which normally retails for $88. I bought it for $15 plus shipping on Poshmark. The listing said it had been worn before, but it didn’t look like it!
This pink and blue floral midi dress is from ASOS Maternity. It is actually also a nursing dress with easy access for breastfeeding under the top layer. I love the print, and I love that you can wear it as a midi dress without people knowing otherwise! It was originally $58, and I got it for $12 plus shipping on Poshmark–a great deal! I wore this to my anniversary dinner and got lots of compliments!
I also looked to my favorite ethical boutique, The Flourish Market, for some easy and breezy dresses. I already owned a handful of their “The Everyday Maxi” dress (not pictured in this post) that were perfect for both when I had a smaller bump and now at 36 weeks since they are soft and stretchy. They will continue to be a go-to postpartum. This was huge for me, because I was looking for clothing that would be able to make the transition.
What I wanted later in my pregnancy was something more loose fitting for these hot NC summers. The “Nora” dress (pictured here) is perfect! I love the fit, pockets, and cute striped pattern. The best part is that The Flourish Market donates 5% of sales from this product to Help One Now’s Kairos Village in Peru, providing safe housing for young girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking. Pretty cool, all while looking stylish for the summer!
Y’all, I am so excited that Christie was able to find so many fashionable options for styling her baby bump! To make it even better, she was able to go light on the environment and her wallet by purchasing secondhand and was conscious about purchasing ethically made clothing when she did buy new.
Are you loving any of these pieces, or do you have other suggestions for ethical maternity fashion? We would love to hear in the comments!
xoxo Laura
P.S. – Use this link for 15% off your first online purchase from The Flourish Market. You’re welcome!