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This shirred maternity dress is a longstanding bestseller for Nordstrom and beyond — we’ve featured the sleeveless version before, but not the sleeved style. I like the flattering, body-conscious fit, all the color options (seven different colors!), and the fact that it’s machine washable. It’s $88, available in sizes XS-L. Ingrid & Isabel® Shirred Maternity Dress
Here’s a plus-size option.
Ann Taylor Flash Sale: Through tonight only, you can get an extra 70% off sale styles!
(L-all)
Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines.
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Cb says
I’ve started to idly looking at maternity clothes. This is lovely but really body conscious and I can’t imagine myself wearing it, even it my business casual job. Is there a happy medium between super fitted and mumu-like? Any recommendations?
I’m a dress-wearer so I think I can hold out on maternity clothes for awhile yet – 13 weeks today and no sign of a bump, but would like to feel comfortable in my clothes during pregnancy.
Pogo says
I think with bodycon styles you just need to add a blazer. Though I agree with the space-dye pattern on this dress it has much more of a casual vibe. But dark blue or black + blazer could be office appropriate imo.
My normal style tends toward skinny ponte trousers and flowy tops, so I’m planning to just continue that but with maternity ponte trousers. I also do a lot of blazer + dresses so will probably do that as well. We’ll see!
Marilla says
I did a lot of stretchy (but not bodycon) dresses during pregnancy – buying one size up got me through most of my pregnancy since I lost some weight in the first trimester and my little baby didn’t make the world’s biggest bump until much later on. In the last few months I added a maternity maxi skirt and some maternity tops.
RDC says
I felt similarly but was surprised to find that a body-con dress like this became my favorite towards the end — I felt like I looked enormous in other dresses and this + a blazer was really flattering and made me look more normal sized (IMO). Also it was super comfy.
empresria says
+1 on fitted clothes keeping you from looking more enormous. Early on, though, I avoided tight stuff because in loose stuff you couldn’t tell I was pregnant.
Anonymous says
I felt like you do at the beginning of my pregnancy, but became more comfortable with form-fitting clothes as time went on. I think you’ll find that a certain amount of “form-fitting” is inevitable as you get larger, so there’s no point in hiding it (or in you being uncomfortable). Embrace the bump – it’s the one time in life that it’s acceptable to not be sucking in your gut all the time! :)
rosie says
I find dresses like this comfortable, I think you might try one with a longer, open cardigan and see what you think. It’s also good because most of mine are short or 3/4 sleeve–seems more versatile to get me through the seasons I’ll be pregnant, plus I find I run a little warmer than pre-pregnancy, so nice to have the flexibility.
I’ll also add that at around 13w I didn’t find the blousier styles and empire waists of maternity closes very appealing or flattering (whereas the ruching is great for showing a smaller bump), but as I’ve gotten bigger, they look less shapeless and are comfortable but flattering. The shirtdress I got around 16w looked baggy then, but wearing it at 20w, I saw how it worked well. Have fun with it :)
CLMom says
I took a career-stretch job after maternity leave several months ago at a small firm. I’m struggling. The learning curve is steeper than I imagined, and my work product, while not terrible, is not where it should be. I’m starting to have nightmares about losing my job. But then the mental stress is negatively effecting my confidence in the skills I do have.
Any tips on how to help get out of this negative cycle? I’m hoping that year 2 will be easier than year 1 because I will have done everything once before. I really need to get some solid wins under my belt. I want to succeed so badly.
For reference, I have a 14 month old and I’m a 50% breadwinner.
anne-on says
Hugs, I took a new job when my son was 6 months old (and sick all the time and still not sleeping well) and it was hands down the hardest professional thing I’ve ever done. I felt like I was failing all the time. In reality, I was busting my butt, learning a lot, and growing my professional network. Year 2 was 100% improvement over year 1. Your bosses likely expect you to need 6-12 months to get up to speed. Try to spend a day (or even a few hours) listing out your priorities for the rest of the year, and then outline how you can get there – do you already have the knowledge to succeed? have you identified some courses or other actions you’re going to take to increase your learning? are there other people you can work more closely with to get some wins? I’d also schedule some time with your boss for a year-1 review and then go over your plan for this year to get their input/advice.
You’re doing great I’m sure – keep it up!
NewMomAnon says
So many hugs. The first 18 months after my daughter my daughter was born, I was sure that I would be fired at any minute. My work product was not good, often late, and I felt like such a frazzled mess.
BUT – by the time she was 2, I knew I was OK. I have no idea what happened to get me from “about to be fired” to “I’m valuable and necessary” but it’s been amazing. Here are a few things that have helped me stay in that space:
– bullet journaling – I know it’s trendy and annoying, but I use it to write down every thought, including work thoughts, and it’s been so helpful in staying organized and focused
– using a “parenting transition/life coach” benefit offered through work, and keeping my notes pinned prominently in my workspace
– mindfulness
– lists of everything, everywhere, all the time
– therapy
– talking through issues and concerns with mentors and supervisors, and really listening to their feedback instead of just looking for statements that confirm my fears
I can’t guarantee you’re OK, but I bet you are. Start looking for things that confirm your worth and value.
In House Lobbyist says
I do a modified bullet journal and it so great. And I don’t have to stress about remembering things since I have all those random thoughts and things written down in my book. I really like the book “Balance is a Crock Sleep is For the Weak” and also letting some things go. For example picking out my kids clothes is/was important to me for some reason but in the scheme of things the kids can usually do it or gasp so can my husband.
NewMomAnon says
Don’t be fooled by the Pinterest “bullet journal” craziness. A bullet journal is whatever you make of it; mine is a bunch of dated lists, organized with an index so I can quickly find the list I want. Sometimes I do some creative or emotional journaling too, but most of my bullet journal is grocery lists, packing lists, to-do lists, lists of marketing projects or prospects I need to call/e-mail, lists of thoughts regarding kid development or discipline, mind-mapping on a difficult work topic (in, you got it, list form).
Mine is ugly as anything, but so functional. I used to use a straight edge to at least draw straight lines, but I’ve thrown in the towel – it’s functional, not pretty.
Allie says
No advice, just commiseration. I’m in the same boat – three months into a new, intense and demanding job that I very much want to succeed at with a 17-month old and a 3.5 year old. At times, I feel like I’m struggling and failing in pretty much every area of my life. Doesn’t work every time but when I recognize myself going down this mental road, I try to remember that I am usually my harshest critic and all feedback received so far has been either positive, encouraging or recognition that I’m still in the midst of a learning curve. Recently I’ve started trying to end the day by thinking of 3 things at work and home that I’m grateful for, and have found that it’s helped reset my thinking.
empresria says
In addition to three things we are grateful for, my husband and I do three things that went well and why they went well. It is really nice to be reminded that it is not all bad – even on the bad day.
Anonymous says
Ladies: I did this 1.5 years ago. It was scary. I still suffer from imposter syndrome but things are a million times better now that I realize I can’t be that bad at this if I’ve gotten through 1.5 years without dying. It helped to remember that I like a challenge and I don’t get better without a challenge — and if it wasn’t the case, I would have taken an easier route in my career. Also, my kids are each 1.5 years older, and that much better at sleeping, playing independently (when not trying to kill each other), etc., which makes a difference. You can do this!
Anononymous says
The first six months of any job are total $#!&. Then the second six months are just hard. The third six months are okay. And then you start figuring out how to reorganize and make the job easier / better and about then someone throws new responsibilities at you or your boss quits or you get an incompetent coworker. Sounds normal.
anne-on says
Just a vent. I had what I thought was pneumonia which didn’t go away after a first course of antibiotics. 12 days later, second doctor diagnoses it as bronchitis, new meds, plus heavy duty cough meds. Of course my son is also coughing, and my husband is just getting over something. Winter has barely started and I am SO over it.
NewMomAnon says
Ooo! I’m right there with you! I’m on prescription #3 and it doesn’t seem to be making a difference. I’ve used all the ibuprofen in my house and I’m on round 3 of mass Kleenex purchases. At this point, I’m thanking my lucky stars that kiddo didn’t get it as bad as I did, because she would have ended up in the hospital.
Also – my house is a disaster, I am in “heat and eat” cooking mode but running out of “heat and eat” options, and I haven’t done a full day of work in more than a week. And I’m still so tired…..
Solidarity. This too shall pass, right?
Anon says
I had this dress in black. It was a major staple and not too body con.
School Age says
For those of you with school aged kids, how did you prepare your child for school? First grade cut off date in our state is September 1 and our daughter was born 5 days after. If we put her through private preschool and private kindergarten she can get into first grade early if she is ready. Our baby is shy of 6 months so I may be overthinking, but we plan on moving in a different suburb and need to budget for good private/public schools.
Areas with good public school are obviously more expensive and we will not benefit until she starts elementary school because she will not get into the public kindergarten (due to cut the off date). Any advantages on starting elementary school early? Or waiting? Any books/web sites I should be reading? I know that each child is different but I want to make sure she has options if she is ready to start school.
Thanks!
Anon says
I would 100% wait. My daughter is the youngest in her class even though she’s two months ahead of the cut off date. She’s only in kindergarten and she finds it hard that all her friends are starting to turn 6 and she just turned 5 a few months ago. I WISH she could have started/been one of the oldest in her class.
Your daughter may only be 5 days past the cut off date, but if you tried to start her early, she could end up like my daughter end 2+ months younger than friends and 6 months younger than the majority of the class.
mascot says
We did a full day daycare (that had a preschool component) and then pre-kindergarten. We did private preK since public preK is lottery only. We’ve continued at that private school. With the caveats that every kid is different and I have a boy, I’d caution you not to be too eager to start school early. We made the kindergarten cut-off by weeks so he was the youngest in his class. He’d done fine in preK so he progressed. Kindergarten started and it became pretty obvious that he wasn’t where he needed to be emotionally/maturity wise. Academically and physically, he was holding his own. So we made the decision to have him repeat kindergarten and it was the right one. He would have probably been fine either way, but giving him some extra time to mature has really helped. His teachers are doing a good job switching up the material from year to year so he’s not complaining that he’s bored either. As far as articles go, you’ll see a lot of material about redshirting and how it’s bad. I (obviously) disagree that it’s all negative. Schools are more intense at younger levels these days. You can’t force developmental readiness and developmental readiness doesn’t always track exactly with age. So just keep an open mind. You may also want to see if there are schools that have a transition prek/kindergarten program that is made for kids on the younger side.
empresria says
My son was born just before Sept 1 and we are planning to hold him when he’s older. From everything I have read, holding kids is a huge benefit: they’re bigger, more mature, and more capable, especially in early years. I worry a little about him being the first to drive in his class, but it seems worth it so he doesn’t struggle in school and can make sports teams.
School Age says
Thanks for the replies. This gives me a different perspective. My first thought when I started researching the cut off dates was that I don’t want her to “waste” a whole school year. But then, what if she is not ready? Based on what you are saying I should not be too pushy about starting school early. Great tip about repeating kindergarten.
mascot says
As a further point for consideration, try to find programs where you would be happy with her spending an extra year. We love the kindergarten teachers we have so we were happy to spend an extra year with them. But, if we had really loved our preschool, we might have considered doing an extra year there instead. We were advised that having kids do their extra year early (before 1st or 2nd grade) is easier for them socially and we’ve found that to be accurate. I don’t think any of the kids have been negative to him at all about repeating the grade.
Pogo says
I repeated pre-K because I was very close to the cutoff and I would have been the youngest in my class.
The only drawback for me was that as a young child in public school (where we didn’t have separate “gifted” classes or anything) I had major maturity gains over the other kids, especially boys. Everything evened out by high school, and I loved being the first to drive, turn 18 etc.
Just be prepared that LO might be bored/annoyed with her classmates who are a year behind her in terms of being able to concentrate, sit still, etc. Around 4th grade my parents floated the idea of a private, girls-only school and/or skipping me ahead a grade. I even went through the interview process at the school, but in the end I’m glad I stayed in public (for sports, the social aspect, etc – much more limited at the girls’ private school).
So that also reminds you nothing is set in stone and just because you choose to hold her back a year, you can always change your mind later!
In House Lobbyist says
We held our July son out for K and it has been great. It seems like almost all boys and a fair amount of the girls started at 6 or turned 6 soon thereafter. K is hard on them and I was shocked at how much he is doing – things like nouns/verbs, lots of math, word problems, homework 3 nights a week, etc. I think he is a little bored because he did have an extra year of pre-K but I think that’s better than struggling. The school is good about giving out extra work/responsibility to those doing well and we do stuff with him at home.
Another consideration is college. My husband turned 18 his first year of college and more maturity probably would have helped him. So that was another thing that helped me feel good about holding him back.
Meg Murry says
Also, things may change in the next five years. Multiple states have moved their kindergarten cutoffs in the last 5 years, or started to offer more pre-k or “young 5s” or “transitional kindergarten” options. And in other areas they are scaling back So everything could change – but if you are budgeting for private schools and daycare, it would be safe to budget for whichever is more expensive when she turns 5.
Another thought on the “wasting” a year – if she starts K the year she just barely turns 5, that means that she could be heading off to college when she is not yet 18. I have a handful of friends that weren’t yet 18 when they started college (either because of school cutoff dates or because they skipped a grade), and it was a logistical pain in the neck for them to be away from home but not yet a legal adult. Not for everyone, but some people had a lot of troubles.
There are all kinds of studies about whether red-shirting is a good or bad thing, and I think the most important part of that is just to not push her too fast or hold her back from something she is ready for just because of a handful of days on a calendar. From what I’ve seen, it seems like one of the major factors is what the trend is for the rest of the district. If red-shirting is super common, she might be in a class that is mostly 6-15 months older than her – whereas if red-shirting isn’t common she would just be on the young end of average.
My younger son is the oldest in his pre-k class this year and will be one of the oldest kids next year in kindergarten, just because of how his birthday fell. I think if he had started K this year he probably would have been more of a follower, based on his interactions with his slightly older daycare classmates. He would definitely have struggled with sitting still and following directions, and has benefited from an extra year of preschool. However, I am a little bit afraid that being one of the oldest he is going to be the kind of kid who is going to push every boundary for every loophole to the rule, and is going to finish his work quickly and then get himself into trouble out of boredom.
Anon says
My kid is 15 days past our district’s cutoff (which is 10/15). First- don’t worry u til you actually move. New town/district may have new rules.
Second, my kid is super bright and will be ahead of kids her entire life. I spoke to private schools about enrolling her and getting her into the grade ahead. I was talked out of it (by friends that are young for their grade, moms in our district, and this board.). Many of the parents of boys on our district red shirt boys born in summer. So my kid would be almost 2 years younger!
Also, I’m really starting to see her emotional
Immaturity. She’s 4 and while she can read and write and has been potty trained since 2, she still has separation anxiety and shyness. She is way more of a just turned 4 y/o than a 4-going-on-5 y/o.
We enrolled her in a preschool that has a “fall birthdays” program. She started preschool when she was turning-3 and all the kids on her class are fall/January birthdays. She’s now in the 3s program and 4s after that. She’s the most mature/advanced kid in the 3 y/o program and I think it’s way better than being the baby in the 4s.
My other kid is a June b’day and I’m actually a little disappointed that she’ll be on the younger side.
Anononymous says
Don’t rush it. It probably won’t matter that much in elementary school, but your daughter would be graduating and heading to college at 17. I knew a few kids who did that (one skipped K, and my district was pretty liberal with letting parents skip middle schoolers up a grade) and NOT ONE OF THEM graduated from college on time. (One was a semester late due to transfers, two went part time and graduated in 5 years and one failed out of Claremont Mckenna and went to community college and still don’t know if he has a BA.)
Not to mention she would be younger when it comes to puberty/dating / driving in high school. There were certainly senior boys who were eager to take advantage of freshman girls in my high school and she would basically be an eighth grader.
Experienced mom says
School age- if you’re still reading I agree don’t rush it. That is – don’t rush the decision and make your decision on your child as the time gets closer. My son was a June baby who would have been terrible held back. (His classmates was an August baby – same thing.)Even gifted classes were slow. He didn’t graduate college in four years – it only took three. My point is all kids are different.