This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Old Navy is having a maternity sale (prices up to 40% off) through October 1, and I like a lot of what I see in there. This jersey shift dress (pictured) looks chic, and I like that it’s machine washable — it was $33 but is now marked to $30, available in sizes XS-XXL. I also like this dress. It’s fleece, so the thicker fabric should make it more wearable if your complaint with jersey dresses is that they “show everything,” but it should also be nice and cozy for the winter. I also really like this dolman-sleeved top, which reviewers note is great to wear to work. Old Navy Maternity Jersey Shift Dress
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
- 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
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
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?
Carrie M says
I got a few items from Old Navy last fall that were real workhorses for me for the office. I liked their straight leg black ponte pants, tunic blouses and sweaters, tank tops for underneath shorter tops, and sweater dresses. With the sales, it’s hard to beat their prices. I also got a pair of jeans there that I lived in, as well as leggings, and casual long sleeved shirts for the weekends.
Spirograph says
Ditto, but I have to add that none of my ON pieces have survived to look work-appropriate for my second pregnancy; they’ve pilled badly and just look worn. Granted, I probably could have cared for them more meticulously… For $30, it’s not prohibitive to re-buy, and obviously this price point is not intended to last for ever, just fair warning.
Carrie M says
Yes, good point. I did notice pilling on 2 of my sweaters (but I also washed and dried them in the machines, so I’m sure that didn’t help!).
Msj says
I found Old Navy hit or miss for maternity wear. I had a long maxi dress and skirt I liked, but most of their tops were itchy.
On a completely different topic, how do you deal with the postpartum hair regrowth /frizz? I lost a lot of hair during pregnancy and I have a constant frizz halo now from the wispy regrowth. I’m not sure if I will have a second batch of hair loss once I wean. Thankfully, I have tons of hair so volume isn’t a big concern, but how do I tame this?
Also, any fun easy updo ideas? I am still on maternity leave so no need to worry about professionalism at this stage. Just getting sick of my constant bun and I can’t wear it down without getting it pulled by the fistful or shedding all over the house.
Famouscait says
PSA for Old Navy: they have good telephone customer service and will apply a coupon code to an order already placed. I ordered a bunch of stuff Friday night, but just got the extra 15% off with the coed on the website today.
Diapers shopping question: I want to buy enough diapers and wipes at Target to use a $20 off $125 coupon. Should I buy a couple different brands and/or sizes? Baby is due in 6 weeks so this would be the initial stockpile.
mascot says
My string bean was in newborn size diapers and clothes for the first month, but most babies get to size one diapers faster than that. I’d probably start with size one and skip newborn. Once you figure out what diapers you like, Amazon mom auto-ship is pretty awesome.
I can’t help you on wipes; Costco’s Kirkland brand of wipes was my absolute favorite.
pockets says
Amazon mom is my life. My only beef is that it’s called Amazon mom instead of Amazon parent or Amazon caregiver. Also, they are lowering the discount from 20% to 15% for everything except diapers.
(former) preg 3L says
Just get Pampers Swaddlers. That’s what the hospital will have (if you’re delivering in the US). Get half newborn size and half size 1– you’ll go through them all and whatever you don’t go through, you can return/exchange. We like Pampers Sensitive wipes. We have also used Seventh Generation wipes, which I liked, but they were double the price of Pampers Sensitive.
Huggies diapers leak like crazy (they are shaped wrong) and Honest Co diapers do not absorb anywhere near enough (they hold the liquid as a puddle). Now, we use Seventh Generation diapers during the day and Pampers Baby Dry Overnight at night.
Oh ETA: My 8-lb-5-oz daughter was in newborn size for the first 4 weeks. She could have gone up to size 1 but they seemed ridiculously large when we first tried them on her.
Spirograph says
hmm, we use Huggies (and Pampers, and Luvs, and Target brand… we’re not very brand-loyal about diapers) and haven’t had a problem with leaks. I think you have a girl, though, and I have a boy. Supposedly some types of diapers are better for one or the other.
I agree, though. I wouldn’t get more than one box of newborn size. You can buy more if needed, once you know how big your baby is, and you have an idea of how quickly you go through them. My son was under 7lbs when he was born, but gained weight like crazy and was out of newborns before the end of the first month. The size 1s will be waiting whenever LO gets to them, but once the newborn size is outgrown, they’re useless.
hoola hoopa says
I *hated* Pampers diapers and wipes. We used Kirkland, but Huggies were our regular store go-to.
I wouldn’t even buy newborn diapers. We always got plenty from the hospital and used up the stash by the time they were outgrown (7-8 lb at birth), and even if you don’t you’ll probably only need to buy one pack, which isn’t worth stocking up on. I’d start at 1’s, although if you have storage space, I’d actually start at 2’s or 3’s. You can more easily stock up on those and know they’ll get used. Even 1’s get outgrown pretty quickly, but our kids were in 3’s and 4’s for a long time.
Anonymous says
My suggestion would be to get an initial stockpile of higher reviewed products (if you’re going to stockpile), and then experiment later with smaller batches of different brands. IME, Pampers senstive wipes are a go-to (I believe the highest rated and most reviewed on Amazon). I bought a huge box of refills and two of the plastic dispensers (one for upstairs, one down).
Before delivery I bought two boxes of newborn diapers (Pamper sensitive swaddlers, I believe 88 diapers in each). Fortunately baby did not outgrow them. He was in newborn size for a few weeks. I tried Pampers swaddlers and Huggies in the beginning and loved the swaddlers. Baby had no issues with diaper rash and the Huggies seemed to leave little balls of the absorbent material in his diaper. As mascot mentioned, it’s difficult to know how many newborn diapers you’ll need, so I’d buy at least a box or two of size 1.
Katarina says
I would buy one smallish box in size newborn (50-100 diapers), two giant boxes of size 1, and the rest size 2 to to be safe. I liked Pampers Swaddlers for the first year or so, and they are the most popular/highest rated. I also like Huggies wipes, which I think is also the most popular/highest rated, but I do not have a strong wipe preference.
The size 1 diapers would have fit okay at the beginning, but I liked the notch for the umbilical cord in the newborn size. I went up to size 1 at 2 weeks when my son was 8 pounds 6 ounces. They looked silly, but I immediately noticed fewer blowouts. I think height was a factor, my son was 21.5″. I went up to size 2 at 2 months. I have always gone up in diaper size early, because it seems to help with blowouts.
mascot says
A sudden increase in blow outs and leaks was my cue to go up a size instead of whatever the weight ranges said on the box.
KJ says
We had a big baby and only used the NB size for about a week. I would stock up on wipes (We use Swaddlers Sensitive) because you always need them and they always fit!
Famouscait says
Thanks all for the suggestions! I can’t believe I’m actually heading out to buy diapers and wipes….!!!! Me thinks this baby thing is actually happening. ;)
KJ says
Ladies, in your communities, what is the etiquette on hand-me-down baby gear? Is there any expectation that if you have another kid the items you passed along will get returned to you? Can you ask for them back, or is that horribly tacky and you should wait to see if they are offered? My baby is starting to outgrow some things and it doesn’t make sense to keep her gear in storage for a #2 that may or may not ever come along, but it kind of pains me to think of buying all this stuff again if we do have a second.
Anastasia says
I don’t think there’s any expectation that baby gear will be returned – after all, whoever you give it to could decide to pass it along to someone else when her kid outgrows it and wouldn’t necessarily think to consult you first – but it depends on who you give it to. I’m imagining how this would go down among people I know. For a close friend or family member, I can definitely see saying, “hey, since you don’t need them at the moment and I do, can I get the swing and bassinet back?” Especially if you make a comment to that effect when you give it to them in the first place. But for coworkers or more casual acquaintances, I think I would feel awkward asking for something to be returned. On the other hand, I got a ton of baby stuff from a coworker. She has 3 kids and says she is done, but if she were to ask for any of it back, I’d thank her for letting me borrow the stuff and wouldn’t think any more of it.
Any chance some of it could hide out at a family member’s house, if you don’t have space to store it, yourself?
mascot says
I found that people were really good about offering to return baby gear in the event of a second one and wouldn’t be offended if you asked. My friends have passed around some kids clothes for 3-4 rounds of kids. Also, if there is another baby and your original gear is gone/worn out, you can always hit up consignment sales for new to you baby gear. Car seats expire so I’d be careful about sourcing those second hand. The rest of it, however, is pretty easy to find for cheap.
(former) preg 3L says
IMHO:
For gear: no big deal to let another family borrow it and tell them that you’d like it back when their baby outgrows it.
For clothes: not worth it. Too many diaper malfunctions.
MomAnon4This says
This. Don’t give away the clothes you love, or would want back because of price or sentimental value or anything. Keep those stashed somewhere else and give away the cheapies.
Anonymous says
Another option is to buy the gear on CL and resell. We pretty much broke even that way and got some great deals, and if we ever had a second I’d do the same thing.
Carrie M says
My assumption was that I was borrowing and would return the gear when done. I think you should just be clear at the outset that you’re happy to let your neighbor/friend use the gear, with the understanding that they will return when/if your need for it arises in the future. I think anyone would be happy with that deal (and would not think it’s tacky). We’ve borrowed gear from friends and as soon as I learned my friend was pregnant with her third, I made sure to remind her of all the stuff we had (swing, chair, rock and play, etc.) that I would gather up, wash and get back to her.
hoola hoopa says
Be clear that you plan to need the items again when you hand them down. Saying one way or another is common.
Don’t hand down anything that you would really miss. Even if they intend to give them back, items get broken or worn down.
Be mindful of the age of the interim baby when you’d be asking to get the item back. Don’t lend someone a highchair, for example, if their kid will still be highchair age when you’ll want it for baby #2.
If you don’t have the space, I agree that selling and rebuying via CL is a very good option.
BethC says
In my group, we generally discuss it explicitly. We have passed around baby clothes, maternity clothes and gear. I always assume the lender wants it back. I wanted to donate some maternity clothes I got from my SIL, and I still checked with her even though I knew they were definitely done with babies.
Anonymous says
I think the norm is not to give used baby stuff unless you don’t expect it back. After two kids a lot of baby stuff is worthless anyway. Factor in that the person you give it to is storing it for you and saving you space.
I was given a lot of used stuff that is already so used that I may not use it altogether or it may not survive another child. Some of it I wish I could have refused because it was so worn or stained. If someone wanted it back I would be stunned.
Used baby stuff is pretty cheap (other than maybe the crib and change table) so it’s not worth stressing about.
Meg Murry says
In my circle, it is generally understood that you are *giving* the items, and don’t expect them back – although its generally understood that you then pass it along by giving items that are still usable to more friends/family, not selling it. Although we had a neighbor that gave us a crazy amount of clothes and toys and insisted I keep them or pass them down – I bought her a $50 gift card as a thank you, because we honestly didn’t even have to buy any toys that Christmas, she gave us so much.
The only exceptions are when you are explicitly borrowing something for short term – such as when I loaned a friend our Ergo carrier for their vacation, or when we gave an aunt a highchair for the weekend her grandkids were visiting, and a few heirloom cradles that were handmade that are passed around our family but always returned to the original owner.
I wouldn’t have borrowed a bunch of baby stuff from others that expected it back, because I just couldn’t mentally keep track of which items belonged to who, and I wouldn’t want it hanging over me that we might ruin them. I’d rather just buy secondhand on Craigslist in that case.
Tunnel says
FYI – I am still early on in my pregnancy (14 weeks) and a lot of the maternity tops I bought at Old Navy are really, really long. I know I will need that eventually, but I definitely can’t wear them for a while longer.
Anon says
I didnt wear maternity clothing until 6 months. I suppose at least you will get your money’s worth by starting early. :) I own 4 dresses for work, 2 skirts for work, two tops, 1 suit, maternity tights (super useful). You don’t need much.
Tunnel says
Where did you get your suit? I am having trouble finding quality maternity suits.
Tunnel says
My shirts are becoming tight on my lower stomach at this point and I haven’t announced at work yet, which is why I tried going the non-obvious maternity route now. I get that people show at different times and I would have waited longer if I could.
Anon says
Also- maternity clothing is so cheap and hideous you should not buy more than you need or wear it before you need to, it’s depressing. I have ten weeks to go and I can’t stand it anymore.