
Pregnancy Style: Storq’s Courtney Klein
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Maria Del Rio
Need some preggo style inspiration? Meet Courtney Klein, the entrepreneur and designer behind new maternity label Storq, a brand built on the premise that your wardrobe shouldn’t suffer, or even change that much, once you get knocked up. The S.F.-based creative invited us into her airy, minimalist home that she shares with her husband Zach (co-founder of Vimeo and CEO of DIY), her pups, and growing baby bump, all the while dressing up in some of her favorite belly-accommodating looks. Click below, and swoon.
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"Minimal and simple, yet comfortable. I recently read this article in the New York Times about a family of four living in a one room house, and while I don't think I can be quite as ultra-minimalist as they are, it inspired me to be really conscious about each and every item we buy for the kid."
Courtney wears a limited-edition Storq dress in Rose, jewelry by Erie Basin, Love & Luxe, and Tiny Armour, and espadrilles from espadrillestore.com.
- "The redwood slab table I bought at Artisan Burlwood in Berkeley, my motley collection of plants from the S.F. Flower Market and Flowercraft, and the Fujimarca shaved ice machine my husband Zach had sent over from Japan for my birthday."
- "Avoid the impulse to furnish everything all at once. Add great pieces as you find them."
- "I love our little postage stamp of a yard. Coming from New York, it feels so luxurious to have your own outdoor space. Also, I'm convinced food just tastes better when eating it outside."
- "The kitchen! I'm not sure what'll happen on that front once the kid comes. Takeout?"
- "Since we live in an open layout with a single bedroom, our idea is to integrate the baby's stuff into our normal living spaces, rather than dedicate a single baby zone. We're still working on it, but so far we've done things like converting the dresser in our bedroom into a changing table, buying a Baby Bjorn Cradle that can fit beside our bed, but is also portable to other parts of the house, and picking out a vintage rocking chair to replace the bench by our couches in the living area."
- "There's a real dearth of rosé and oysters."
- "My mom saved my favorite teddy bear sheets from childhood and made them into a baby blanket. It really got me all verklempt when she gave it to me."
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"The biggest surprise is definitely how normal I feel!"
Courtney wears a Storq skirt, vintage tank top, and Nike Air Max Theas.
- "Claire Huxtable and Murphy Brown for sure. Aside from TV characters, Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot, Meryl Streep, Princess Di, Linda McCarthy, Diana Ross, Margaret Thatcher, and of course my own mom and mother-in-law."
- "1.) My Storq Basics Bundle. It mixes effortlessly with my existing wardrobe and has made it easy for me to get through these last 7 months feeling like myself. 2.) Popsicles. I haven't had any real pregnancy cravings but have become a real popsicle fiend as of late. 3.) Isa's Restoratives Belly Oil. It's a straightforward, natural formulation that's incredibly soothing on tight, itchy skin. The lack of pink or blue and bubble lettering on the packing is also a plus. 4.) Jane Austin's Pre-Natal Yoga. Jane has an almost cultish following of preggos here in S.F., but it’s absolutely well deserved. 5.) Barely Tea. It's a hearty breakfast beverage that's caffeine-free, pregnancy safe, and doesn't feel like a compromise."
- "I'm just excited to meet this little human! As for nerves, it's been difficult for me to wrap my head around just what's coming and how to plan for it. I honestly have no idea what to expect!"
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"We didn't get around to a babymoon, but I had a baby shower of sorts. Knowing that I start to sweat when I'm the center of attention, my best friend planned a casual spa day with a couple of close friends and family at Solange Calistoga. It was minimal games and gifting and maximum pool time with women I love."
Courtney's Bugaboo Bee, just waiting for baby to arrive.
- "I heard a lot of complaints from my pregnant friends and family about a lack of stylish maternity options. Everything out there feels like a compromise. And for clothes with such a short shelf life, they’re not cheap either. The goal with Storq was to offer simple, chic pieces that will help you maximize your existing wardrobe and maintain your sense of identity and style."
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"My background is actually in digital design and strategy. In New York I was a partner at an agency called Hard Candy Shell where I worked with clients like Jetsetter, The New Republic, Discovery Channel, Of a Kind, and Rent the Runway. When I relocated to S.F. last year, it felt like a chance to reset and explore other options."
Courtney wears a vintage Yohji Yamamoto tunic, secondhand mules from eBay, and ILIA Wildchild lipstick from Storq.
- "I like that no day's work is the same and the company is like a living, breathing thing that we're growing from the ground up."
- "Classic and laid-back with emphasis on a good shoe."
- "One of the great things about living in S.F. is that comfort and practicality are core to fashion and personal style here. My No.6 boots have definitely gotten more wear since the move and during pregnancy than my Jil Sander platforms."
- "Storq dress, skirt, and tank, Dieppa Restrepo loafers, ILIA Wild Child Lipstick, and a vintage trench."
- "Day to day I'm in the skirt, dress, and tank on regular rotation. Then I mix it up with sneakers, boots, heels, and Birkenstocks depending on the situation and I layer my regular outerwear and sweaters and such on top. I find my everyday style works in a business context, as well, and for night I add a heel and some lipstick."
- "It's always more about individual pieces, but I'd say Azzedine Alaia, Phoebe Philo, Rei Kawakubo, Acne, Nicholas Ghesquiere, Christobal Balenciaga, Bonnie Cashin, Helmut Lang, and whoever invented espadrilles."
- "I generally avoid in-person sales situations and have a potentially unhealthy obsession with Amazon Prime."
- "My Want/Need list consists of minimal, classic pieces that I don't have to think too hard about. A Hendrik Lou Tank Top, Proud Mary Raffia Flats, Kathleen Whitaker Staple Studs, and Clyde Straw Hat for myself and Makie Onesie, KicKee Pants Gown, and LANACare Cap for the kid."
- "Mommyish, Reading My Tea Leaves, Romy and the Bunnies, Bleubird, Cup of Jo, The Glow, and A Merry Mishap."
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"We did! My husband started a new business with some friends that were living in S.F., so we relocated to the area. San Francisco is wildly different from New York, but I've come to see that as a good thing."
Courtney wears Storq prototype pants, a Storq tank top, Lauren Manoogian sweater, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh Sophie shoes.
- "I'd say snow was great for a while, but seasonlessness has its appeal for sure."
- "For sure. I hope that S.F. is just one of many places I get to experience living in."
- "Everyday is different! I know everyone says that. Really, the only constant is as early as I woke up before, I wake up even earlier now that I'm sharing my womb with a very active little baby. Guess I should take it as good prep for what's to come!"
- "We're currently working on a new bundle and a potential pop-up store. We'll keep you posted!"
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