Pre-pregnancy, Taylor Dungjen’s style was pretty low-maintenance. It’s almost as if the addition of the belly allowed her to up the feminine ante. She started wearing dresses and bump-defining belts and ballet flats. At 34 weeks pregnant, Taylor declares that she is “large and in charge”. As a single mom, she mostly assumes the task of documenting her pregnancy herself. Therefore, she chose to submit a selfie to the TCP. We think it’s an expression of feminist pride!
How did you get pregnant? No, just kidding. I mean, how did your style change (if at all) once your belly started to grow?
Early in my pregnancy, I tried to trick myself into thinking I could wear my normal jeans, but the snugness made me less than pleasant to be around (could have also been the hormones). I ended up splurging on some maternity pants and leggings and, fortunately, could wear non-maternity shirts for the first 20 weeks. Now I look for basic items that I can jazz up with accessories so people won’t notice I’m wearing the same four shirts and so that I won’t get sick of the same four shirts (I’m so ready for real clothes again.).
What is the most annoying thing about “maternity wear”?
Ugh. Everything. Everything that I would consider to be “my style,” was insanely expensive (like, $200 for a shirt) and just about everything I could afford was awful. Ugly prints, awkward shapes. Once I was obviously pregnant — not making people wonder, “Did Taylor gain a little weight?” — I wanted to show off the bump, not hide it in more fabric than you’d need to cover a sofa. I’m finding that I’m wearing things now — like bodycon dresses — that I’d have been too self-conscious to wear pre-pregnancy.
Did you discover any fashion loopholes that made it all easier to dress while pregnant?
I still incorporate my non-maternity wear into my daily wardrobe. Mostly cardigans and things that I can wear open to showcase my belly. I did find a fantastic peacock-green/blue non-maternity dress on clearance from The Gap ($10!); the dress has drawstrings on the sides. It’s the dress equivalent of fat pants.
What’s your favorite item of maternity clothing that you own?
My favorite piece of maternity clothing is kind of quirky. It’s a T-shirt that says “I’m so pregnant.” Because, you know, some people might not be able to tell. I’d live in my maternity leggings, though, if someone would let me.
