As much as I love the idea of color, I have to admit that 90% of my wardrobe falls on the greyscale. Black, white, off white, charcoal, heather grey—these are the colors that come home with me in shopping bags, and I know I’m not alone. It’s tempting to buy basic colors because they’re safe—they complement every skin tone, coordinate together, and in many cases, tend to be the most figure-flattering.

This is especially true of maternity and nursing wear. When accumulating pieces for a very particular era in life, it’s comfortable to select the most flexible garments. And that’s fine!

Pregnancy and parenthood come with so many rules. It’s only fair that getting dressed each day means doing what we like, wearing what feels best. The Cozy Up Maternity & Nursing Poncho is a wardrobe workhorse for fall, and to my delight, the snuggly charcoal color jives perfectly with a handful of subtle color additions.

Alright, so cream-colored jeans definitely don’t qualify as color, but neutral shades lend perfectly to a technicolor bag. With an accessory as ubiquitous as a purse or diaper bag, you have to make it work.

Confession: I wouldn’t even own this golden long-sleeve t-shirt if my mom hadn’t picked it out for me. The fact that it looks gorgeous peeking out from the poncho is just further proof that a mom is always 10 steps ahead, even when their baby is long grown.

While our babies are still babies, however, we’ve got to keep up. For me, this means leggings and Converse sneakers, of which I’m up to six pairs in varying colors and styles. This particular pair just happens to match the teething necklace I’m already prone to wearing despite having [the two longest weeks ever] left in this pregnancy. When baby does arrive, she’ll not only have a cozy top to nurse under, but also a little something to play with. In the meantime, my 5-year-old approves.

I was slow to jump on the colored denim trend, but these red jeans have proven to be less fad and more classic. Even 9 months pregnant, I still get rock star vibes when paired with messy hair and knee-high black leather boots. (Is the cup of pregnancy tea interfering with that vibe?)

Statement accessories like a colorful scarf or a big, enamel necklace are perfect for a poncho. The sheath of fabric acts as a canvas for hanging something pretty from the neck. My daughter gave me this necklace as a birthday gift a couple years ago, which I think proves that children—with their vibrant minds and sensibilities—have the real eye for color.