Ingrid and Isabel Maternity Review

One of the brands I got to try during my Rent the Runway (RTR) trial, was Ingrid and Isabel. I first heard of them through their Target line of leggings (reviewed here and sorry to say I wasn’t impressed). So I wasn’t expecting much when I rented their items on RTR. But I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and design of their items! Their items are well and thoughtfully made for the pregnant woman, and the fabric quality was much like that of Storq (reviewed here) and I would say even better than Hatch (reviewed here). The only drawback to this brand is that like most conventional brands we don’t know anything behind their ethics of production (this is “their story” here). But if you to plan only buy a handful of maternity items and use them frequently, then at least you are still purchasing consciously and using your item conscientiously (which is the foundation of an ethical closet IMO). Or you could do what I did and rent the item so that you’re sharing rather than consuming. I think this is perfect if you have qualms about adding faux leather (and other plastic derived clothing) to your wardrobe, like the item below.

{Wearing: Vetta Oversized Sweater, Ingrid and Isabel faux leather maternity leggings (rented from Rent the Runway), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Acne Studios Musubi Mini Bag (review coming soon)}

So I really really loved the faux leather leggings from Ingrid and Isabel. They fit great under the belly (I’m a size M and it was TTS), and they were super thick so no VPL in the back. The back of the leggings are a soft thick stretch cotton, while the front was the faux leather. So the leggings were the ultimate in comfort but looked so sleek from the front. If think these are a great alternative to regular ‘ole maternity leggings and it helps to make it seem like you’re wearing actual pants (when you’re not). I’m 5’4” and found the length to be the perfect ankle length without having to bunch up the leggings (but if you’re quite a bit taller, these are definitely going to be short on you). They’re also perfect for the California winters since they’re warm enough and the front repels rainwater, keeping you nice and dry. I was very much tempted to buy these so they have a permanent place in my closet, but I felt like once I’m post-pregnancy I probably would rather go back to my regular pants so I’m going to wait on acquiring these.

The other item I tried and loved from Ingrid and Isabel, was their shirred maternity dress. It’s mostly made of micromodal so it’s super soft but there’s 10% spandex for stretch. What I loved about this dress is that the shirred parts were perfectly designed to not only accommodate the belly in the front but to also prevent any VPL in the back. So even though the material is thin and stretchy (perfect for the summer really), it doesn’t feel as revealing. It is quite form fitting though, and so for me personally (who’s not a real fan of the big belly bump look—I’m more in the camp of the discrete loose flowing maternity dresses) it wouldn’t be something I’d wear regularly. I think if you’re the kind of mama-to-be that wants to accentuate the bump though, this is definitely the dress for you.

Anyway this will be the last of my maternity reviews! I hope you’ve enjoyed them while they lasted (you can find them all here). Since I review what I buy I’m sure you’ll be seeing reviews of some baby items in the near future. But otherwise you’ll be seeing a review of my one acquisition per month (new year’s resolution) and hopefully some outfit repeating of my pre-pregnancy clothes (can’t wait to wear all my slow fashion items again!!).

Hatch Maternity Review: Is it really worth it?

Hatch was one of those brands I heard about even before I got pregnant, so when I did get pregnant I decided I wanted to try them out to see what all the hype was about. But have you seen their prices?! Their tops range in the $100s while their bottoms and dresses are in the $200s. And I could not just see myself spending that much on maternity clothes, even if their slogan is For Before, During, and After. Who are we kidding, I won’t be wearing maternity clothes after the baby is born, I’m going to jump back into my Elizabeth Suzann Clydes and Everlane-everything-else. So The RealReal to the rescue (you can read about my TRR purchasing experience here). So by purchasing Hatch items secondhand on TRR, I was able to try out pants and 2 dresses for about $40-$60 apiece.

{Also I should note that I purchased and tried a pair of Hatch leggings that I reviewed (and compared to with Storq, PACT, and Target’s). You can read that review here. I got the Hatch leggings in a size 2 and found that it was a smidge too small for my third trimester body even if they were under the belly leggings and I’m usually a size medium.}

{Wearing: Hatch Nantucket Dress, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine soft cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

So I’m not even going to show you the pants because it was dang awful. The fit was bad, the material was bad, everything was bad. But I will show you the two dresses I tried on. First up the striped Nantucket Dress, which I kind of loved until I took outfit shots with it. I’m a bit too short for this dress and it makes my legs look stubby especially from the side and back because of the dipped back hem. Wearing heels would make this dress fit better proportionately but I’m not about to wear heels when pregnant. And since I didn’t love it, back this dress went. But the construction was really good and it was made from a very thick and sturdy 100% cotton material. This particular dress was made in New York and thus presumably made ethically (if following US law) though not all of Hatch’s current items are (more on this below).

The next dress I tried on was an older silk piece from when Hatch was an offshoot of the Hatch founder’s first line, TwoBirds. I’ve noticed that most of the offerings on Hatch currently are blended with plastic (polyester) which makes the garments cheaper to produce. But the prices are still quite high for garments blended with such “fillers”. Since shopping mostly ethical and slow fashion, I’ve really paid attention to fabric content and only buy clothes made of 100% natural fibers (cotton, silk, wool, etc.) since not only does that mean the garment is of a higher quality, but they are also fully biodegradable at the end of its life (100% natural fibers are also more expensive so you’re getting better bang for your buck). There are very few pieces in Hatch’s current collection that’s 100% silk so I jumped at the chance to try this very old Hatch piece from The RealReal.

I would say the silk quality here is pretty good, at about the same level as Cuyana’s silk items (but not as good as say Elizabeth Suzann’s silk). This item was also made in New York. But I’ve noticed that many pieces from Hatch’s current collection are no longer made in New York, and instead are made in China (so I don’t get why such the high prices like this dress, the one Meghan Markle wore). A polyester viscose dress made in China at most cost them around $30 to make (loosely based on Everlane’s transparent pricing of their triacetate dress here), so charging over $200 seems excessive.

Anyway I liked this silk dress for the interesting details of the sleeves and the quality of the silk even though the overall shape isn’t the most flattering. But layered with some of my other ethical pieces, I was able to transition it in a winter outfit below:

{Wearing: Grana cropped cashmere (sold out, similar), Hatch silk dress, PACT leggings (reviewed here), Vince Blair Sneakers (similar), Celine Soft Cube Bag (similar, reviewed here)}

So would I recommend Hatch clothing for expecting mothers? No, to me it’s not worth the price. Like I said before getting it secondhand makes it slightly more worth it, but I think there are other maternity clothes designers out there that produce better items at better prices (especially since Hatch is not necessarily producing their items in a social or environmentally responsible way—which you know is important to me). I think when you buy something from Hatch, you’re paying a lot for the brand name and not for the quality and design of the product. Stay tuned for another review of a maternity brand that I liked much better and found to be of a better value!

Have you guys tried Hatch and what did you think?

Maternity Leggings Review: Storq vs Hatch vs PACT vs Target vs Uniqlo

L to R: Uniqlo, Target, PACT, Hatch, Storq

Since the majority of my pregnancy is during the Fall, Winter and Spring months I needed some leggings to keep me warm under dresses (I’m just not a fan of maternity pants/jeans, though I did purchase a pair of overalls that act as go-to my jeans). I’ve just been on a waistband ban since pretty much the beginning of the pregnancy and have been wearing dresses as long as I could get away with them. But with the cold weather I need some leggings and so I tried a bunch out, both maternity and not. And here’s a comprehensive review of them all:

First of all there are two kinds of maternity leggings: over the belly and under the belly types. Over the belly is great when you want a bit of extra warmth and support around your mid-section. But for me personally, I like the under-belly types since I’m just not a fan of anything putting pressure on the belly. Also some leggings can technically be worn alone as pants, but the ones I wanted were more like opaque tights that I could wear under dresses. So without further ado…

Storq Basic Leggings ($60) made of 92% modal and 8% spandex

For a full review of them, go here. But a quick summary: these are great over the belly leggings if you’re tall (at least 5’6” and above). Otherwise the legs are way too long and the torso portion comes up to right under my bra (and there’s a seam that goes up that irritated my belly every time I wore them). However if you are tall and are looking for a pair of super soft, stretchy, fully opaque and ethically-made over the belly leggings these are probably your best bet.

Hatch Premium Leggings ($128) made of 88% nylon and 12% lycra

These are under the belly leggings that are thick enough to wear alone as pants if you choose to do so. They run a tad small and the size 2 (medium) was a bit tight for me though I’m normally a medium. I also found that the waistband folds and bends, which is a pet peeve of mine. At $128 these are the most expensive of the bunch, and I think the worst value. They weren’t the softest and I found they had a bit of a scratchiness to them. They are however made in New York and so if we assume they are following all US laws (and why not), then they are ethically made and workers are paid a fair wage. This is also presumably why they are the most expensive.

PACT Leggings ($30) made of 92% organic cotton and 8% elastane

These are not maternity specific leggings but since I knew I was looking for some under the belly leggings, I thought these might work. So I purchased them in a large (I’m regularly a medium) and I think they work fine. Since they are on the thicker side, you can wear them as stand alone pants and they are fully opaque. I did find the large were a bit too big in the leg area for me and they bagged a bit, but they weren’t too long (I’m 5’4”) so they’re probably too short for those who are a bit taller and want to keep their ankles covered. As for me, I found them to be the perfect length and they hit right at the ankles. The seams are a bit more noticeable than the Storq leggings and the PACT leggings aren’t as soft as the Storq ones, but for half the price I found them to be of pretty good value. So far these have held up great though I’ve heard mixed reviews about these leggings and some people have found that they don’t last very long (I personally don’t wear leggings all that often, maybe about once a week max and these aren’t my favorite so I’m probably not wearing them more than once a month right now).

Target Isabel Maternity Leggings by Ingrid & Isabel ($20) made of 87% polyester and 13% spandex

I decided to try these undoubtedly unethical line of leggings because after doing some research on the internet, a couple of mommy forums were raving about how great these leggings were. And as much as I wanted to stick to ethical clothing during my pregnancy, I wanted to keep an open mind about what’s out there (who knows, maybe the cheapest option really is the most comfortable). Well even though these leggings promised to be seamless they weren’t. I definitely felt the large seams running up and down my leg and that made it uncomfortable. Also I tried both the over the belly and under the belly versions of these and both were too long in the legs for me. The material for these were the most athletic and had a sheen to them, which is not what I was looking for in my leggings. In the end I returned them and at least I know I wasn’t missing out.

Uniqlo Heat Tech Leggings ($14.90) made of 38% polyester, 32% acrylic, 21% rayon and 9% spandex

So these were my go-to pair of leggings I was wearing under dresses and skirts pre-pregnancy and are several years old. I don’t know why I just didn’t try these out first since I already had them, but for some reason I had it in my head that maternity leggings had to be over the belly. Only after trying out the various leggings up top did I realize that I, one, dislike over the belly leggings and that, two, these heat tech leggings worked just as well during pregnancy (I just have to roll over the waistband a couple times to make them fit under the belly). And this was the most ethical and cost-effective solution since I’ve already had these for several years. Too bad I only discovered this after already going through all the ones above facepalm.

Ah well so lesson learned: try what you have first (the first lesson in ethical closets, right?). So that’s what I recommend: if you already have a favorite pair of leggings, see if they work for you by rolling the waistband to make them under the belly leggings (especially if you’re only briefly pregnant in the winter/spring months). If not, then depending on your height and what you may need I recommend either the Storq ones or the PACT ones.

P.S. I’ve just recently tried these faux leather leggings from Ingrid and Isabel (through Rent the Runway Unlimited and these are not the Target line but their own branded leggings) and I have to say I love these under the belly leggings. They’re very thick and warm and if you’re wearing a maternity tunic, it’s sort of like wearing pants. The medium size is very true to size and fit me perfectly. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more than your regular ‘ole leggings I highly recommend these!

Unsponsored Storq Review: The Basics Bundle

All images including this one are from their site here.

This is my third review of Storq, the first two being a review of their Easy Pants (here) and their leggings (here). If you haven’t heard of Storq, you can read more about them here. But I like to think of them as the Everlane for basic maternity wear. They make quality clothing responsibly in factories in Los Angeles and China. Since they are direct to consumer, they’re able to keep their prices somewhat reasonable (especially if you compare them to maternity lines like Hatch!).

Technically I could have included the leggings in this review since it is part of their Basics Bundle but decided to separate it out since I plan to talk a lot about various maternity leggings and wanted to reference it specifically (I’m getting ready for a Comparison Review of Storq vs. PACT vs. Target vs. Hatch so stay tuned if you’re interested!). Anyway the other 3 pieces in Storq’s basics bundle are their T-shirt dress, white tank and pencil skirt. All of these pieces can be purchased separately but when bundled together you save about $14. So is it worth it?

Here’s what it boils down to, if you’re 5’6” and taller, I think this might be worth it for you. But for us petite gals, since this does not come in petite sizing you’re going to have to compromise on fit. Similar to what I said in my Storq leggings review, the quality is great but you have to make the fit work (so for the leggings I would bunch it up near the top of the thighs so it wouldn’t bunch up near the knees).

All items are made of 92% modal and 8% spandex which make them really soft and stretchy. They’re super comfortable and don’t feel synthetic-y even with all the stretchiness.

But if you don’t need or want any one of these three pieces, don’t get the whole bundle. Just get the pieces that you want. For me, some items were clearly a winner while the others did not work for me at all (and I ended up selling them off through eBay—which was pretty easy to do).

So let me start off with the pieces that I didn’t care for:

1) The white tank was just too sheer. You can see the bra outline and even your belly button. For me, I wear it as a layering piece under something else and would never wear it by itself. Also since it’s made for tall people, the torso is ultra long on me. I haven’t sold it yet but I’m considering it.

2) The T-shirt dress is also way too long for me. It becomes quite a midi dress on my frame and doesn’t look great IMO. Also the modal/spandex material is quite thin and can easily show panty lines, which I’m also not a fan of. I ended up selling this off on eBay pretty immediately.

Now onto the clear winner of the set for me: the pencil skirt. What makes this pencil skirt so great is that it is made with a double layer of the modal/spandex material so unlike the t-shirt dress there’s no VPL. Plus the extra layer helps hold in the belly better. I usually pull this skirt right up to the bra-line and it falls right at the knees. I also like the way the skirt tapers down a bit at the knees, which does make taking large steps difficult but gives the whole thing a nice silhouette (especially when wearing a bigger or boxier top). Also it’s basically seamless so there’s no rubbing point and I love that.

{Wearing: Everlane Oversized Alpaca Crew (reviewed here), Storq Pencil Skirt (size 3), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

So for me, the Basics Bundle was not worth it. Also the fact that it comes in a plastic pouch is a turn off because really I don’t need another plastic pouch in my life (though I understand it’s reusable). I ended up giving it to the buyer of the t-shirt dress. But for me personally it was worth trying out this bundle since I’m able to write this review here lol. Also I love the pencil skirt and still use the leggings (for now, until I find one that works better for me). But for everyone else, I think it’s worth it to just pick and choose what you want and skip this bundle that really only saves you $14 (and who knows if you’ll use or like all the pieces).

P.S. That maternity leggings comparison post is here. And you can find all my other storq reviews here.

Pregnancy essentials for the first 6 months

I’ve always disliked that marketers bombard moms-to-be and new moms with all the things they need to buy for this new phase in their life, whether it be maternity clothes to pregnancy pillows. But as your body and lifestyle changes, yes sometimes you need new things to accommodate that. So here are the four things that I found most useful for my first 6 months of pregnancy:

A Weekly Pill Case

Ok, so this might not seem like a usual thing to recommend to pregnant women, but prenatal vitamins are really essential during pregnancy (and even before). But the first trimester and nausea/morning sickness is no joke and couple that with pregnancy brain (also a real thing, not a myth) and suddenly remembering to take a vitamin everyday is no easy task (at least for me). So a 7 day pill case was just what I needed to answer my daily question of “Did I take my prenatal vitamin today?” I plan to keep this until I’m a senior citizen because you know I’ll be needing it then too (let’s take care and treasure our plastic folks!).

Belly Butter

Preventing stretch marks with a cream alone is largely a myth (the best prevention is gaining weight slowly or minimally) but moisturizing tight belly skin can help how bad it looks. But more importantly, your skin can get ridiculously itchy when pregnant and moisturizing is key. I mentioned it in a previous post, but this mostly natural belly butter has been essential for my sensitive itchy skin. One 8 oz bottle has lasted me for the first 6 months and I might need just one more bottle for the rest of the pregnancy. And at less than $10 each, it’s waaaay cheaper than the Tata Harper lotion I tried (which gave me a rash). I only wish this came in bulk or a less waste option.

A Wedge Pillow

So I tried one of those large full-body pregnancy pillow and I hated it. And sadly it was quite expensive (what a waste of money, ugh). So when I asked a fellow pregnant friend what she uses, she recommended a wedge pillow. And oh man, I love the wedge! It’s perfect for supporting my belly but also I sometimes use it for my back. I also love using it wedge side down to support my lumbar when sitting up in bed. I plan to use this versatile pillow post pregnancy and beyond. Also I found this wedge pillow easy to take to the hospital when I went for my ER scare. It came in super handy for lumbar support and sleeping but also fit easily into an overnighter bag.

My Slip Silk Pillowcase

So I know this isn’t a normal essential for pregnant women but with a growing belly you are forced to sleep on your side. And I’m just so grateful to have purchased this pillowcase before the pregnancy and I now love it more than ever. I can sleep comfortable on my side knowing that I’m not increasing my chance for wrinkles nor will I wake up with a crease on my cheek. You can read my initial review here (and if you’re tempted to get a cheaper dupe on Amazon, you can read my comparison review of a dupe here).

So those three additions (plus one I already had) has made the most difference so far in my pregnancy. For those mamas and mamas-to-be out there, what were some of your essentials? I already have the heavy duty maternity belt ready to support my ever growing belly and relieve my back (but didn’t include it here since I just got it).

Unsponsored Storq Signature Leggings Review

This is my second Storq review, with my first one being the Easy pant (review here), and it also happens to be a bottoms review. Comfy, stretchy bottoms for pregnant women are hard to find secondhand, thus I find I’m having to buy them new. Dresses and tops are much easier since I can still fit into a larger size for those.

So one of the more hyped about ethical maternity leggings I heard about are these Signature Leggings from Storq. These leggings are made in China but Storq’s about page assures us they were made under fair working conditions, and thus their ethics are much like Everlane’s. So what did I think of the leggings?

Well the 92% modal and 8% spandex material is quite stretchy and comfortable and I find them to be fully opaque (though I still always cover my butt when wearing leggings). My biggest gripe though is that they don’t make these in various lengths so for someone petite like me (I’m 5’4”) these leggings are way too long. I end up having to bunch them up by the crotch or the upper thigh to make them the right length. Also there’s a seam that runs up vertically from the crotch to the smooth belly panel that doesn’t lie flat (pic below).

So the first time I wore them, after 3 hours I had an angry irritated mark on my belly from that seam (poor design!). However I was able to remedy that by wearing a tank under the leggings, which I have to do everytime I wear these leggings. I think also if you’re taller, your undies would prevent that problem, but that seam is way longer on my short frame and comes up past that. So as long as I tuck in a tank or a tee I no longer have that problem. Also because I’m short, the belly panel comes up to right under my bra.

So these leggings aren’t perfect, but they’re pretty good. And the negatives aren’t so bad that I won’t wear them. In fact they’re an integral part of my favorite maternity uniform (that I’m wearing in all these pics): these leggings plus a thrifted Lemaire for Uniqlo knit tunic.

Anyway I think if you’re taller than 5’4”, these leggings shouldn’t give you any problems. But for us short gals we have to make do, unless does someone know a brand that makes good ethical leggings for petite preggos?

P.S. If you’d like to see a review where I compare these leggings with Hatch Maternity leggings, target maternity leggings, PACT leggings and Uniqlo leggings see here. You can find all my other Storq reviews here.

Unsponsored Storq Review: The Easy Pants {Updated April 2019}

When I first learned I was pregnant (and I got over the “oh sh*t” moment and finally got around to thinking about clothes), I knew I wanted to 1) not buy too many maternity clothes that will just last me for less than a year and 2) that I wanted to source them as ethically as possible. So my first order of business once the bump started being too large for my normal clothes, was hitting up my neighborhood thrift store and buying dresses in large. But there came a point where I needed to get pants that fit the bump and the ones at the thrift store weren’t cutting it. I also tried out maternity jeans purchased from eBay and I’m not a fan (jeans are just too constricting when all I want right now is loose and comfy). So with some direction from Constant Closet (seriously love her gram) and some other mamas and fellow mamas-to-be I took a look at ethical brand Storq.

If you haven’t heard of Storq yet, they’re like the Everlane of maternity clothes. Simple, yet modern basics made ethically in American and Chinese factories with a focus on worker safety, fair wages, and commitment to minimizing environmental impact. And they keep prices reasonable by being direct to consumer. You can read all about their ethics and mission here.

Sounds great on paper so how do their products measure up?

{Wearing: Everlane rib cashmere round crew (reviewed here), Storq Easy Pants, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Everlane form bag (c/o, reviewed here)}

Well the first thing I ordered was their Easy Pant because they look a lot like my favorite Grana Silk Ankle pants but in soft and comfy Supima cotton. I can no longer fit my Grana pants, so these cotton ones are the perfect alternative. The high-quality cotton is super soft and stretchy, with a really big elastic band that can accomodate my growing belly. Sometimes the elastic on my Grana pants flip, which can be annoying so I love that this never happens with these Storq pants. Also love that these pants have pockets (a necessity of course) and the slightly tapered leg. The pants were so comfy I even went hiking with them with no problems!

I’m 5’4” and I find that they’re the perfect ankle length on me (but I do wear them at the belly. If I wear them below my belly then the pants are a tad long and I'll probably hem them when the time comes to wear it like that). I’m wearing a size 3 here which is recommended for those who were a medium (size 8-10) pre-pregnancy. I got a size larger than my usual because my fibroids have made my belly bigger than the usual pregnant lady’s.

So if you’re looking for some stretchy and comfy pants from a company whose values align with yours, I can’t recommend Storq enough! I’ve worn these multiple times already and have included them in my Fall 10x10 Challenge (which is where I pulled some of these pics from). I look forward to wearing them throughout the pregnancy and even post-partum (I might actually never get rid of these super comfy atheleisure pants lol).

{April 2019 Update: I just wanted to let you all know that I’m still loving these pants post-partum. They’re perfect for the little belly I still have left. I now wear them above my little pooch which is lower than where the pregnancy bump was, and I find it super comfortable and yet flattering. Who knew I would get such great mileage from these pants? Also if you want to read my other Storq reviews (this one was my first) you can find them here.}