THRIFTY CONVERSIONS.

I feel it has been quite the personal accomplishment that I have survived 7.5 of my 9 months of pregnancy without succumbing to expensive department store traditional “maternity” clothes.

I posted on my Last Hurrah with my business, now the Last Hurrah before baby for personal events is the baby showers. Maybe it’s just self-inflicted, but I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to just look fabulously glowing at this juncture, as you put your baby on display for all to see.

For my first shower, it was going to be HOT and outdoors. So I went into my closet and modified a fab sleeveless dress I already owned:

Fellow Thrift Town blogger, Phoebe and I end up hanging out and doing events together quite often, and awhile back, she had me walk in a fab thrifted fashion show, wearing a flattering secondhand blue Guess dress:

Perfectly stretchy, it hung just right and it was a big hit on the runway.
(BTW, isn’t she ADORABLE?!) The dress was such a hit, in fact, that
she ended up gifting me the dress!

Fast forward to baby shower gorgeousness conundrum — I grabbed the blue dress and *hoped* it would be just stretchy enough. If I could squeeze myself into it, there were still some temporary modifications needed.

The shower was a breezy backyard brunch. So in order to fit the occasion (instead of a fashion forward formal event):

• ditch the heels - not a comfy option anyway right now!
• add strappy flat sandals
• take away the bling and dark contrasting add-ons,
• replace with casual neutral accessories: bold statement necklace & belt
• Finally: pin up the high thigh slit and use the 1.5 inch think belt to bring in the silhouette that no longer hangs correctly on it’s own with a big belly in the way.

(I had sandals on, but we were putting our feet in the pool…
Pictured: Me with my aunt, and my cousin who is also expecting!)
Now the whole look is accessible, event-appropriate, bold and comfortable.
Styling WIN.

Such a fun day with women I love.

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Kari Shipman is thrifty, eco-conscious, and knows the importance of supporting local charities. She has been our featured blogger since we started the blog in 2010, and has a serious passion for fashion. In addition to owning a Fashion Consulting Business, Juniper James, Kari is also the owner of her own boutique that carries all locally made clothing. Kari lives out her passions in Northern California with her wonderful husband Charles, and is expecting her first baby July 2014.