Let’s talk maternity style (and my latest jewelry designs!)

Jul 15, 2020 | 4 comments

Hi! Hello! How are you all doing? I’ve not been putting a lot of effort into my blog for the past couple years which I am actually super sad about. Afterall this is where it all started when I pubilshed my very first post back in 2015! I’ve been thinking about picking back up on writing so many times, but with the rise of short-form content (hello TikTok, Shorts and Reels) it’s just harder to have time for it all these days. As much as I love creating snappy little styling reels I do also miss long-form and slower content, and I’m secretly hoping that we’ll start seeing a slow shift back to that in the near future. I mean, am I the only one feeling super fatigued by the AMOUNT of content out there some times? Everything is so high speed; similar to our consumption habits. I know everyone seems to love TikTok, I’ve given it a go myself and I do kind of like it too, but man. From a content creator perspective (even not just that, from a social media user perspective too), I’m so tired of feeling like you have to be “in it” and that you need to be onboard with all the newest social media trends alive to keep up. Anyway… moan over.

I wanted to check in here with a bit of a life update (for those of you old-school enough to enjoy the written format) as I feel like we’ve not chatted in ages!

 

(Trigger warning: infertility)

One major thing I have been considering openeing up about for a while is infertility and how this has been affecting our lives for the past 2 years. I’ve been going back and forth about sharing this for so long because well, it’s private and intimate and while I do like keeping things real on here some things are just better kept private. Having said that I’ve felt so incredibly alone in this whole process, and actually, after deciding to just be honest about it I’m amazed of how many other people we meet are actually going through the same. According to WHO 1 in 6 people are affected by infertility on a global scale, so really this is something we should talk way more about, yet there seems to be a lot of shame and taboo evolving around it. It’s something you always think happens to the next person and it’s never something I pictured would happen to me. But as this article states “infertility does not discriminate”, and it can happen to anyone.

As you know if you’ve followed me for some time we were blessed with a beautiful daughter back in 2020. When we decided we wanted children at the time, it didn’t take long from making that decision until I actually had a positive pregnancy test in my hands. Not long after that we felt ready to expand the family again, but as it turns out fate had other plans for us. It took a long time for us to even feel sure and ready to become parents the first time around, but once we did (it’s true what everyone always tells you) there was nothing else we rather wanted. That was it. Wanting to experience it all again so bad and then not being able to conceive has been no less than heartbreaking. At some point it becomes part of your life – you kind of get used to the fact that it’s just not happening. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but we were ultimately left with no other option (if we ever wanted more kids) than to go through IVF. I’m currently on my second round of IVF after one unsuccesful attempt back in fall 2023. Full of hormones and super (!) tired, but feeling okay despite it all. Having spring around the corner and generally experiencing lighter days at the moment helps a lot.

I’m very grateful for where we are and what we have, please know that. So we will have to see what the future brings. I just wanted to open up about this so that maybe if you’re going through the same thing; please know that you’re not alone and I know exactly how you feel <3 And maybe also so you guys know why I might be a little absent sometimes. 

I’m a little more than halfway through my pregnancy, and from the beginning I’ve been kind of trying not to let my pregnancy define my style all too much; of course with some exceptions. I’m slowly losing my mobility (pelvic floor and back pain has especially become a “thing”), so most days I have to admit my flat sneakers and shoes win over shoes with a heel. But if I know I have a day ahead of me where I’ll be sitting down most of the time or I at least know I’m not going to be walking a lot, I still like to wear shoes with just a bit of a heel.

I’d actually say that corona and lockdown has had a bigger impact on the way I dress than my pregnancy. With so much extra time spend at home a typical white tee (or jumper) & jeans combo is often what I’ve reached for. I’m not sad about that in any way though, because it’s an easy base to dress up. That’s often something I can do with just a cool jacket and some good accessories.

Nu er jeg lidt over halvvejs med min graviditet, og jeg har fra starten af været meget påpasselig med, ikke at lade mig begrænse alt for meget sådan rent stilmæssigt på trods af min voksende babybule; selvfølgelig med få undtagelser. Jeg mister fx langsomt min mobilitet (jeg døjer bl.a. med mit bækken og min lænd), så de fleste dage vinder de flade sko og sneakers altså bare over sko med hæl. Men hvis jeg véd jeg har en dag i vente hvor jeg måske generelt skal sidde ned det meste af tiden, eller ihvertfald ikke skal gå super meget rundt, så kan jeg stadig finde på at tage et par sko på med en lille hæl.

Jeg vil faktisk sige, at corona og lockdown har haft større betydning for, hvordan jeg har klædt mig det meste af året end min graviditet. For med så meget tid herhjemme så er det altså typisk en jeans & t-shirt (eller strik) kombination jeg rækker ud efter. Det er nu heller ikke dårligt, og det er en nem base at dresse op, synes jeg. Det kan jeg ofte klare med en cool jakke og nogle gode accessories.

Preloved biker, boots & bag via Vestiaire Collective | Tee – Organic Basics (men’s size M) | Jeans – DIY maternity jeans | Find alternatives at the bottom of the post

Even though I’m pregnant, I’d still like to feel like myself. Many of you have advised me to wear more dresses when I’ve shared my frustrations about not being able to find any good, ethically & sustainably made maternity jeans in other fits than skinny out there. And although i really appreciate the good sentiment of this advice, most of you might also know, that I’m just not *that* comfortable with wearing dresses. I love my jeans. The simple thought of having to wear dresses with stockings when it starts to get colder during fall sends shivers down my spine, haha. It’s not that I don’t think it looks nice; it’s just not me. I’ve found 3 pairs of maternity jeans preloved, and I’ve even made a few pairs myself (the ones I’m wearing here are actually homemade, from a pair of older jeans I already had in storage). But recently I actually bought a pair of straight leg maternity jeans* from a conventional brand, after having failed to find a pair like this both in a preloved version or from an ethical brand.

I know you can’t compare it, but I’d like to believe that these types of dilemmas and frustrations can be something especially people who fall within the plus-size range can sometimes experience. The lack of diversity among the sustainable fashion brands is beyond disappointing, so I completely understand that for some people, quitting fast fashion brands might not always be so simple. As long as you buy your clothes with intention, you’ve come a long way – also if that means you can’t make the best choice every time. I’m not going to beat myself up about this purchase in any case. In my heart I know where I’d rather have placed my money and which brands I’d rather want to support, but this time it just wasn’t possible.

Selvom jeg er gravid, så vil jeg stadig gerne føle mig som mig selv. Der er rigtig mange af jer som har foreslået mig, at gå mere i kjole når jeg fx har delt min frustration over, at det bare er umuligt at finde gode, bæredygtigt producerede jeans i andre fits end skinny. Og selvom jeg sætter umådeligt meget pris på jeres gode råd i denne sammenhæng, så ved de fleste af jer også, at jeg bare generelt har det bedst i mine jeans. Og tanken om kjole med strømpebukser når det begynder at blive koldere til efteråret giver mig kuldegysninger, haha. Det er ikke fordi jeg ikke synes det er pænt; det er generelt bare slet ikke mig. Jeg har fundet 3 par maternity jeans brugt, og så har jeg såmænd også lavet et par selv (dem jeg har på her er faktisk hjemmelavet, med et par jeans jeg havde liggende allerede). Men for nyligt, så købte jeg et par straight leg maternity jeans* fra et konventionelt mærke, efter forgæves at have forsøgt at støve dem op både brugt og blandt mine bæredygtige favoritmærker, dog uden held.

Selvom man ikke kan sammenligne det, så vil jeg tro det er sådanne frustrationer man ofte kommer ud for, hvis man fx ligger på “plus size” skalaen. Den manglende diversitet blandt de bæredygtige mærker er simpelthen så drøn-ærgerlig (for at sige det mildt), så jeg kan sagtens forstå det somme tider er lettere sagt end gjort at “quit fast fashion brands”. Men så længe man stadig køber sit tøj med intention, så er man nået et rigtig pænt stykke – også selvom man ikke kan tage det bedste valg hver gang. Jeg har ihvertfald ikke tænkt mig, at slå mig selv oven i hovedet over, at jeg valgte at lægge mine penge dér hvor jeg gjorde denne ene gang. I mit hjerte véd jeg, at jeg hellere ville have lagt dem et andet sted, men det var bare ikke muligt.

Get a closer look at my newest jewelry designs HERE

I wore this outfit a couple of weeks back, when Morten and I took a day off together and drove to Sønderborg to have breakfast at Kislings, and check out some of the local shops. It was such a cozy day and I felt great in this look. I’m also wearing some of my newest jewelry designs, which are from my new Heirloom collection that just launched today. The collection is inspired by vintage jewelry found in Morten’s grandmother’s jewelry box (a special ring in particular), and I’m just so proud of how these designs turned out. I think they are both unique, elegant and timeless at the same time.

We shot the new campaign images in Odense last month, and the pictures turned out amazing! You can have a look at them on Instagram right HERE. I had “hired” some lovely girls to join the shoot and we borrowed all the clothing from sustainable fashion store in Copenhagen – Another View – which I actually also featured in my eco travel guide right HERE. If you’d like to check out all the new pieces we’ve launched today with the Heirloom collection, you can swing by my shop.

Jeg havde det her outfit på for et par uger tilbage, da Morten og jeg tog en fridag sammen og kørte til Sønderborg for at spise morgenmad på Kislings, samt gå og ose lidt i de lokale butikker. Det var en vildt hyggeligt dag, og jeg følte mig super godt tilpas i det her look. Jeg har iøvrigt nogle af mine nyeste smykkedesigns på her også, som er fra min nye Heirloom kollektion som netop er lanceret i dag. Kollektionen er inspireret af vintage smykker fundet i Mortens bedstemors smykkeskrin (særligt én bestemt ring), og jeg er simpelthen så stolt af de her designs. Jeg synes de er både unikke, elegante og tidløse på samme tid.

Vi skød nye kampagnebilleder i Odense sidste måned, og de blev simpelthen så skønne de billeder! Dem kan I kaste et nærmere blik på på Instagram lige HER. Jeg havde “hyret” en håndfuld dejlige, forskellige piger til shootet og så havde vi lånt tøj fra én af mine yndlingsbutikker i København – Another View – som jeg også gav en lille anmeldelse i min eco-travel guide til byen lige HER. Alt tøjet er bæredygtigt produceret, så det passede perfekt til shootet. Hvis I kunne tænke jer at dykke lidt mere ned i de nye designs, så smut forbi min shop, hvor de netop er landet i dag.

4 Comments

  1. Kathysc

    Signe… this may be a little personal. When I was pregnant, my feet swelled a lot. By the end of the term, they were so swollen, I could only wear one pair of shoes that had stretched over time. After the birth, I could literally slide my foot in and out of the shoe without touching the shoes, so I had to throw them away. You have such beautiful boots and shoes. You might want to give some thought about buying some shoes second hand that you won’t mind tossing at the end. I have loved your website and have been following you for years. You are an inspiration.

    Reply
  2. Inez

    Jeg har det som dig – med hensyn til kjoler. Har du evt. nogle gode forslag til en mere feminin vibe, når man nu mest er til jeans?
    Og så elsker jeg kombinationen af beige og grå farver.

    Reply
    • signeh24

      Hej inez 🙂 Mener du en mere feminin vibe eller en mindre feminin vibe? Jeg synes mere feminine kjoler fungerer bedst (for mig i hvertfald) hvis jeg bærer dem sammen med rå eller afslappede ting som fx støvler, læderjakker, denimjakker, sneakers eller lignende. Så jeg prøver altid på at trække dem i en lidt anden retning, så jeg ikke føler jeg kommer for langt væk fra mig selv. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Diana Patterson

    Very informative. This was a great post to read. Thanks and keep going.

    Reply

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