This week felt oddly emotional in a way I wasn’t expecting. We had a small fire in our condo building earlier this week (everyone is okay), and between that and my baby shower this past weekend, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about home lately - what makes a space feel comforting, what actually matters, and how quickly perspective can shift.
It feels strange to move between those two things at once: disruption and celebration, smoke and flowers, assessing the damage and organizing the nursery.
Maybe that’s what this season is really teaching me: preparation isn’t always about having it all figured out. Sometimes it’s just about feeling supported, present, and ready enough.
Which brings us to baby showers, summer celebrations, and the dresses currently taking over my browser tabs.
The Shower
I want to start by saying I think baby showers are such a beautiful thing we do for one another. There’s something incredibly meaningful about gathering to help someone prepare for a completely new season of life.
I’m not someone who naturally loves being the center of attention, but I have to say, I really loved my shower - probably because every woman there was someone I genuinely love and admire.
It felt less like being at the center of attention and more like being held up by the people who support you, which I don’t think I fully appreciated until now.
On Preparing
One thing I’ve realized pretty quickly is that preparing for a baby can become incredibly consumption-driven if you let it. Every product has a devoted following, every person has a “must-have,” and it’s very easy to feel either underprepared or like you suddenly need to buy an entirely new life.
Honestly, parts of the baby industry are starting to remind me of the wedding industry!
I’ve tried to approach this season the same way I try to approach most things: slowly, selectively, and with a little less urgency than the internet would probably recommend.
Whenever I’m shown another “registry essential,” I find myself asking a few simple questions: Will this make our home feel calmer? Will this meaningfully improve everyday life? Or is it just more clutter disguised as preparedness?
Less is more has been my philosophy in both my business and the way I get dressed for the last decade, and I’m realizing the same ethos applies here too.
More than anything, I want motherhood (and our home) to feel grounded.
Some of the best advice I’ve gotten from friends and family has actually been to wait. Of course there are basics you need from the beginning, but so many people have told me that much of it can be figured out once you actually meet your baby and settle into your own rhythm.
Oddly enough, I think IVF prepared me for this mindset better than anything else could have. It teaches you very quickly that you cannot predict outcomes, rush timelines, or control what happens next. You learn to tolerate uncertainty a little better.
So for now, I’m trying not to over-prepare for a version of life I haven’t experienced yet. :)
The Dress Edit: Shower Season
I know not everyone reading this is in a baby shower phase of life, but this time of year always brings some version of an occasion: showers, graduations, long weekends, garden dinners, rehearsal dinners, trips away. And personally, I only want to wear dresses from now until September.
Bump Friendly
For reference, I own the first, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh dresses below, so I know for sure these work beautifully with a growing bump (and without). The second and fifth are dresses bump friendly dresses that I find to be just really lovely!
The first dress feels like the ideal summer shower dress — soft color, airy shape, and easy enough to wear for an afternoon event without feeling overly dressed up. I especially love it for a garden shower or something by the water with simple flat sandals and minimal jewelry.
The sixth dress is actually what I wore to my own baby shower this past weekend. I wanted something that felt feminine and special, but still comfortable enough to sit, eat, hug people, and actually enjoy the day. The soft white felt really classic for the occasion and very me. I plan to wear this one all summer with flat sandals too!
And the seventh dress is one I wore on my sister’s bachelorette trip that I already know I’ll wear again for her bridal shower this summer. It’s the kind of dress that works for almost any daytime celebration — easy to pack, comfortable in the heat, and polished with almost no styling required.
For Later
A few shower-perfect dresses I’m saving for another season of life, but maybe you don’t have to!
The first dress is such a beautiful option for a bridal or baby shower guest. The silhouette feels elegant without being fussy, and I love that it could easily work for everything from a luncheon to a rehearsal dinner with different accessories.
The second one I originally noticed because Taylor Swift wore it, but it’s genuinely such a good shower dress. The blue floral feels especially perfect for a baby boy shower, and the shape is really flattering and easy to wear.
The third dress is one someone wore to my shower and it was even prettier in person. It has that effortless, slightly dramatic look that somehow still feels understated — exactly the kind of dress that I always notice at events.
The fifth dress feels incredibly versatile. I could see someone wearing it to a shower, a summer engagement party, or even on vacation. It’s polished, but still relaxed in a way I really like.
And the sixth dress is another one I saw in person recently and immediately loved. It feels youthful and fun without being trendy, which is usually the sweet spot for dresses you’ll actually want to wear again (and it’s even better in person).
A Few Recent Purchases
I’ll end today’s post by sharing my thoughts on a few recent additions.
I just received these sandals and they are perfect. The around the ankle strap isn’t too tight and they are really beautiful in person. I’m so excited for the weather to warm up to wear them!
This room spray scent is soooo good!
I bought 2 pairs of maternity denim from two different brands. After a couple months of wearing them, I can safely say these are the clear winners because they actually stay up.
I mentioned in a recent post that I bought this sleep dress and some pjs (pants, shorts, tank). Both are 10/10!
I ordered this maternity onesie and I can safely say I’ll be wearing it multiple times a week as the weather warms up. It’s soooo comfortable.
These track pants aren’t new, but I love them and they continue to be your number 1 most clicked link…so worth sharing again!
xo,
Abby
In Case You Missed It
The Soleil Tote & A Vincent James Summer
Earlier this week, the Soleil Tote dropped over on ABBY ALLEY, and this bag might be my favorite we’ve ever made. So it felt deserving of a dedicated post! (This one gets a little long, so click over…
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