Who says pregnant women can’t be stylish?
Tons of celebrities are making the giant belly fashionable again – and while most young mothers don’t have a celebrity wardrobe and makeup team, that doesn’t mean they can’t look sexy or cute while they’re pregnant! That’s where maternity fashion comes in.
Because let’s face it: pregnancy can be difficult. It’s difficult to get outfit ideas when there’s a big bump getting in the way of your favourite dress. And it’s difficult to deal with the cravings, increased weight gain, and all the other rapid physical changes you’ll go through. Maternity fashion can have you feeling as strong, beautiful, and confident at the time when you need it most!
RELATED: Meghan’s Baby Bump Style
What Is Pregnancy Fashion?
Pregnancy fashion is a maternity style that uses modern and trendy clothing to help any pregnant woman look and feel her best. There’s a focus on cheap clothing that manages to combine quality with the kind of demands a pregnant body may require when it comes to movement.
The basics of maternity fashion are simple: easy to move, looks good, and functional where you need it to be. You can DIY some of the finer details like altering existing clothes, or you can just follow our tips to build a whole new wardrobe of your own.
Dress Down, Not Up
If this is your first child and you’re wondering what to wear when you’re pregnant, the answer is dresses. Lots of dresses. There are three main reasons for this:
- They’re easy to put on and remove (very handy when you need to pee)
- You have free movement when you’re in a dress (also very handy when you need to pee)
- It doesn’t squish your midsection (which does wonders for the baby… and your bladder)
If you’ve noticed a theme with all those, it’s because you will pee a lot when you’re pregnant. If you happen to already have a huge collection of summer dresses, that’s all well and good; but if you’re mostly packing jeans and skirts, you might need to do a little shopping.
Wild Weather
But what about winter? This is where it gets a bit tricky. You can’t exactly slap on one of your ‘going-out dresses’ during the cold, so you’ll need to get creative. Ponchos and sweater dresses will be your best friend: the former since it’s essentially a fashionable blanket, and the latter since they can be worn till your second trimester.
For those a little closer to the due date (or ones who have a really large bump), low-waist trousers and maternity leggings will be your everyday outfits. Learn to layer tops and buy plenty of socks, and you’re pretty much set.
Going Out Should Be Easy
Unless you plan on locking yourself in your house for nine months, you’ll need to find yourself some comfortable clothes that you can use going out. If you’ve stored your Uggs because you thought they were too cliquish, dig them out now. If you’ve been scared of putting on leggings because you skipped leg day, slip them on anyway.
They’re easy to layer and combine with other articles of clothing, and they can look really cute even with your tummy getting big. And it’s likely that you’ll be getting a pair or two (especially during the baby shower) so why resist the comfort?
Dress Like A Man
Finally, you’d be surprised at the amount of clothing made for men that can fit a pregnant woman quite well. Blazers can be a definite godsend if you still find yourself showing up to corporate and need to look sharp, while low-waist basketball shorts are easy to wear and comfy as heck.
Sweatpants, big t-shirts, and low-waist slacks are all pretty common in men’s wardrobes. If you don’t want to spend any more money on clothing, simply haul away half of your SO’s wardrobe for nine months.
Nine Months Of Fashion
You may not be runway ready, but you’ll certainly feel and look a lot better with some well-selected pregnancy outfits. You’re a glowing woman with the miracle of life happening inside her and if you want to look like the goddess that you are then maternity fashion can help!
RELATED: All About Kate Middleton’s Chic (and Final) Pregnancy Look
