Mom jeans!
Now, before you cringe (remember the hilarious Saturday Night Live skit?) I bring good news -- mom jeans aren't all bad, after all!
After an internal conflict of large proportions I finally decided to purchase a pair of maternity jeans. All I could think was elastic and pleats. My decision came after a day of fighting to keep up my favorite pre-pregger jeans with the normally useful Bella Band. Let's just say the Bella Band lost and my jeans were worn somewhere mid-thigh all day. Oy! -- thank goodness for long sweaters.
Jeans are an important wardrobe staple for me. I am one of those people who thinks jeans, paired with the right thing, are perfectly fine for just about any occasion except job interviews and weddings, and even then there are exceptions. So there was no getting around this, I needed jeans if I was to fully function as a fashionable citizen.
So on a recent day I went into Pea in the Pod at International Mall and proclaimed my need for jeans that fit my 51/2 month belly. The saleswoman was delightful and hooked me up with a few pair she thought I'd like. I ended up buying a pair of 7 for All Mankind. They provided good leg room and the color was on point.
As you can see from the photo to the left (that's me!) the main difference between maternity jeans and regular jeans is the elastic tummy sleeve (or maternity panel) sewn into the top of the actual jean. The sizes are basically fitted the same way except maternity jeans don't have buttons. Whoo-hoo...bring on the buffets! I might never go back to regular jeans.
The Sevens are a tad long -- but I dig them and in heels they're just right.
If you're in the market for maternity jeans, have no fear -- here's a handy-dandy guide from Fit Pregnancy on picking a pair.
Want the look and feel of your pre-pregnancy jeans? Go for J Brand low-rise bootcut jean, $187 at www.babystyle.com
Short legs, round tummy? No sweat, you little mommas need to check out Old Navy's low-rise bootcut maternity jean, $37 at www.oldnavy.com
Need your space? Check out Mimi Maternity's It Jean, they're known for having the most comfortable maternity panel, $118 at www.mimimaternity.com
Want comfort and style, but don't want to spend a bunch, Liz Lange for Target maternity jeans give you the most bang for your buck, $30 at www.target.com
~ Deal Diva Nicole
(photo: Youtube.com)
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Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or 
Since she was a little girl Nicole Hutcheson dreamed of dressing like a Vogue cover girl. But her reality was more JCPenney catalog. The fact only honed her better ability to find luxury for less. Always on the hunt for markdowns on designer labels, this Deal Diva’s weaknesses are good jeans and killer heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8828 or 
Colleen Jenkins learned two invaluable shopping tenets from her mom: 1. Buy quality. 2. Get it on sale. Then she added one of her own: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! This Deal Diva’s idea of a blissful Saturday includes a trip to the Ellenton outlet mall. She loves mixing classic with trendy and cheap Target accessories with her markdown Banana Republic duds. She can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
