The jeans-and-tee wardrobe is a staple of moms who spend a majority of their time at home, and with good reason: tees are comfy and machine washable and inexpensive. But tees are also super casual, so much so that it can be hard to feel really professional and smart when you’re sporting one.

Dressing up your jeans and a tee uniform can be as simple as adding a jacket. Putting something with some structure over your tee gives your whole outfit some shape. Go as formal or casual as you like — a suit jacket can do double-duty with a pair of jeans and a tee, while a jean jacket gives your chinos a little edge. The easiest way to up the wow factor of your basic tee and jeans is a trench coat, which is the perfect spring outerwear, but think also about structured sweater jackets, which are a little more flexible than a traditional blazer but can look equally professional and polished.

A jacket is a terrific way to bridge being at home with your kids and being out and about during the work day; take the jacket off to load the dishwasher or make lunches, then toss it on for the school run or a client meeting. Having one piece that has some structure and shape to it gives your outfit a pulled-together look that bridges work and home, but without leaving you feeling like you need two different wardrobes just to get through your day.

Outfits pictured here are all available at Ann Taylor Loft.

At the beginning of this series, I asked what you all wear to work at home. Selene had this to say:

I’ve been thinking I need a change. I want to step my going out wardrobe up a notch… I’m feeling the need to feel “prettier” than just my standard same-ole jeans and t-shirt type of thing. I actually had my first hair cut in months yesterday (YIKES!) and am feeling good! I’ve been putting myself second for so long (probably since I had my daughter 2 years ago and she became #1, LOL)

I get up so early in the morning though (4am) that I can’t see getting up even earlier (3:30am) to shower and look nice just to pad on over to the office 20 feet away.

BUT, it would be nice to maybe use my current “out” wardrobe (jeans) at home, and get something nicer for when we go out.

I think we all know what Selene is talking about; at some point, we’ve been so focused on our kids that we have lost sight of ourselves; we stop getting haircuts (I once went almost an ENTIRE YEAR without a cut), we stop buying clothes, we stop getting dressed for anything that’s not a special occasion. It’s inevitable, I think, but it’s not necessarily desirable. And it’s easy to change.

Jeans are a fine wardrobing piece for a day at home, whether you’re working for pay or working for love. What you put on TOP of the jeans, though, can make a huge difference in both your look and your attitude. The key is to find tops that are more stylish than a basic tee but are ALSO machine washable AND affordable.

Thank god for Old Navy.
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I’m a big believer in street chic, or in turning to other women when I’m looking for fashion inspiration, particularly if what I’m hoping to find is some balance of style and function. So I was thrilled this week when so many of you put in your two cents about what to wear after you give birth. Your suggestions were fantastic.

Tops
For casual wear, stick with soft comfy tees, either regular styles or nursing tees. Yasmara recommended patterned tops, which “will hide any milk leakage (and baby spit up) better than solids.” She is absolutely right. She also made a pitch for Lilypadz breast pads; whatever brand you buy, keep extras in your bag. If you’re not planning to nurse, you will still want nursing pads for the window until your milk dries up.

If you will be nursing, or pumping when you return to work, the consensus was that you choose tops that are easy to open for more convenient access to your breasts. Button front shirts are one option, although some Working Closet and Friday Style readers pointed out that if you are large breasted to begin with, your extra large nursing breasts may not fit properly in a button-front shirt. Instead, think about a wrap shirt, which will both flatter your fabulous nursing breasts and play down your post-baby tummy.

Finally, think about a nursing cami or tee under a fitted sweater or jacket. Again, easy access for baby or pump without a lot of pulling and tugging.

What if you will NOT be nursing or pumping when you return to work? Again, a wrap shirt will camouflage the last of the baby tummy, as will a fitted jacket over a cami or tee. Be SURE that the jacket fits properly, please, and that you can button it, even if you will never wear it that way. You can also look for slightly longer tunic tops in a slight A line shape; this will draw attention to your face and skim over your mid section. Look for a tunic that hits at the hipbone, for the most flattering line.

Bottoms
Again, stick with basics; you want several pairs of pants or skirts in neutral colors and flattering lines. The easiest thing is to choose pants with a slightly wider leg, which will balance your post-baby hips and tummy, in black or navy or charcoal gray, or a knee-length skirt, also in a neutral color, with a slight A line. Pair a darker bottom with a lighter colored top to draw attention up toward your face (and your totally fabulous Mommy cleavage). Be sure that pants and skirts fit properly. A couple of you said that you bought nicer pieces on sale and had them altered as you lost weight, which is a great suggestion.

Everyone agreed that you should NOT, under ANY circumstances, try your pre-baby jeans on for, well, a while. I would say honestly not for the first three months, at least, but everyone is different. Instead, get a pair of jeans that fit properly and look good on your bottom half AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. I bought my post-baby jeans at Old Navy, on sale, and wore them for quite a long time; I was actually kind of sad when they stopped fitting. Other readers recommended Levis, which have a very forgiving fit and are terrific for curvier bodies. And one savvy reader wrote to say that she bought jeans at a consignment shop, for next to nothing.

Consignment, as an aside, is a great idea for postpartum wardrobing, particularly for pieces that you need right now but might not need in three or six months. Suits, for example, or dressier skirts or pants–pieces that would cost a substantial amount if you bought new–are great things to pick up at consignment. And the jeans idea is terrific because you can buy them for next to nothing, wear them until they don’t fit, and then go back for another pair that DOES fit, all without spending the baby’s college fund.

Several of you wrote to remind me that in the first few weeks after the baby, you can get out your very early maternity pants, the ones with the expandable waist band (NOT the kind with the big “pocket” in the front) and wear those again. I agree, but I would caution you to treat this as a stop-gap measure; these are MATERNITY pants, so if you’re still wearing them for the baby’s first birthday, we need to talk.

The Core Postpartum Work Wardrobe
3-5 nursing bras, or regular bras in your new size (err on the side of MORE nursing bras because they will wind up with breast milk on them, and when that happens, you definitely need to launder)

3-5 soft cotton tees (more if you like, although you will be doing laundry ALL THE TIME in the first few weeks, trust me)
2-4 pairs yoga pants

1 pair of jeans that fit you RIGHT NOW (replace as needed)
2-3 pairs of trousers (less if you will be wearing skirts, more if you only wear trousers) in a wide width and a neutral color
2-3 skirts (less if you will also wear pants, more if you only wear skirts)

Some combination of the following, all of which can be mixed or matched:
button front shirt
wrap shirt
nursing cami or tee
fitted cardigan
fitted jacket

Finally, keep in mind that a wrap dress is incredibly flattering on a fuller figure. If you are nursing or pumping, look for a wrap made specifically for this.

Where should you shop? Go to stores you already love and look at larger sizes than you would typically wear. Think about places like Forever 21 and H&M as well; lower-end chains are a great source of trendy, temporary pieces. Where ever you shop, resist the urge to buy things extra big in the hope that they will hide how big you are; clothes that fit are always more flattering than clothes that hang, even if you’re feeling like your body is bigger than you like. Don’t get hung up on the number in the waistband. Instead, focus on fit, and only buy–and wear–what really fits well.

You can find more terrific suggestions in the comments on this post and this one, too.

I’m all about basics, for everyone, but especially during pregnancy, because you’re trying to balance looking good and making sure everything fits, all without spending your entire year’s clothing budget on pieces that will only be useful for maybe six months, tops.

Did I say balance? I meant juggle.

The secret is to choose a small collection of staples, pieces that are the maternity version of what you would wear if you were NOT pregnant. For some things–tees and yoga pants, for example–look to retailers like Target; if your tees don’t survive the pregnancy, it doesn’t really matter. (But even for lounge wear, please PLEASE buy proper maternity pieces–don’t just make due with your husband’s sweats and tees. PLEASE. I’m begging you.)

If your office is very conservative, it might be worthwhile to invest in one suit and just wear the hell out of it. Look for something with pants AND a skirt; mix and match the pieces like you would a non-maternity suit. And don’t worry about wearing the same thing over and over–after all, you’re pregnant! How many maternity suits can you be expected to buy?

Think also about getting at least one dress, particularly for summer. A shirt dress is a great option because it can go easily from work to weekend. Wear pumps or dressy flats for the office, and cute skimmers for the weekend. Wear it with your suit jacket or a little cardigan ( you don’t need a maternity cardigan, by the way–wear a regular cardigan but DO NOT button). Choose something in a neutral color–navy or black or even white–which will allow you to change your look with accessories.

So what SPECIFIC pieces am I loving right now for the mamas-to-be? Funny you should ask . . .

Japanese Weekend Lux Jersey Polo, Bella Blu Maternity, $54.00

Mod Print Top, Bella Blu Maternity, $42.00

Black Fold Over Pants, Bella Blu Maternity, $88.00

Gap Maternity Roll Panel Modern Flare Pants, now $48.00

Knee Length Ponte Skirt, A Pea in the Pod, $125.00 (jacket and pants also available)

Liz Lange for Target Shirt Dress, $27.99