If you aren’t pregnant, this probably doesn’t interest you at all. Just warning the masses.
But if you ARE pregnant, let me tell ya….this is maternity clothing GOLD.
I’m here to share some of my current favorites when it comes to maternity wear and things I bought this pregnancy that have been amazing…both flattering and comfortable. Now let me tell ya, if you are one of those people that can wear anything when you are pregnant….I kinda hate you in my heart just a little. just a little. It’s simple unadulterated jealousy. I have never been that girl.
I am the one that Googles “shoes for super swollen feet” and looks at Kim Kardashian’s swollen ankles squeezed into heels all day long. I will tell you…I can’t wear heels after a certain point because it makes my PGP worse and I literally won’t be able to move. I will be frozen in place with no ability to move my legs. I like dresses but I can’t wear them all the time because I have to squat a lot with kids. And I do retain ALL the water. My legs, feet, ankles and even my butt swells. I need big girl pants that stay up over the bootie. If this sounds like your type of maternity wear….we are kindred. we are peeps. we are shopping buds.
SO let’s talk basics….
SHORTS & TEES
My best piece of advice when it comes to t-shirts or any lightweight top (because we are all super hot when pregnant – even in the winter) is to buy cotton and buy long. If you think it’s tunic length or mini dress length….that will probably last you into the third trimester. It’s amazing how short those tees get. I bought a few from H&M this pregnancy and they are winners. Liz Lange for Target are good too. ASOS has some great fashion forward tops but make sure you double check the material.
top – shorts – sandals – earrings
For shorts, if you can find drawstring shorts that are lightweight, then I size up and go for it! I got these ones at Old Navy and then these ones from Target that both have done really well this pregnancy. They are lighter than standard denim and very affordable. My tip is that if you can stand the full belly coverage with shorts…go for it. I tend to pull shorts down lower and having that extra bit of fabric at top covers anything squatting could expose.
JEANS
For blue jeans, I have had to buy only one pair this pregnancy and they were from Old Navy. The Liz Lange brand run small and tend to only last me through the first two trimesters but often have a weird fit. Old Navy are usually the best fit for me (ASOS has terrible jeans fit for pregnancy as the legs are too tight and then the waistband is too loose). I got a long skinny pair and they have been a go-to!
For this summer, I have really loved white jean shorts and white jeans. I got some of the Liz Lange shorts and I LOVE them. I did size up and they have been a great in the wash.
tshirt – jeans – sandals – jacket – bag
I also bought some white maternity jeans with the band waistband and I love them too! They stretch out a little bit much for overall…still a favorite.
SPECIAL TOPS
When it comes to other tops, I love off the shoulder options…again just make sure they are long enough. And then make sure you wear a four clasp bra that has great coverage. Your body (specifically your boobs) do weird things when you are expecting…so I swear by finding the right bra. I use a Maidenform convertible bra that has four clasps and it stays up, has plenty of nip padding and under boob support so that nothing falls down and out. It is very similar to this one.
For other tops, I actually do love wearing long bathing suit cover ups (like the one above is meant to be!) and mini dresses. I can usually get away with them for at least two trimesters. It may be a little tight around the bust area if you owned it before getting pregnant but if it’s new, just size up.
Also this is my first time with maternity rompers and this black one feels like pajamas. I highly recommend it. I jazz it up with a couple bracelets and a necklace when I go out….but seriously…it’s up there with yoga pants. A lot of you question how to go to the bathroom with it on…it unbuttons at the neck and yes, you pull it down. But it’s not complicated…kinda like when you go to nurse a baby…there is adjusting.
DRESSES & SKIRTS
Oooookay! Let’s talk DRESSES!
So the few dresses and skirts that I have bought this time around are all neckline appropriate. In the past I’ve loved wrap dresses (still do!) but they can require a little babysitting. Yes, stray boobs are a thing. So this time around, I’ve taken it very seriously and bought ones I could wear to work events and still feel comfortable and appropriate.
This pink one also comes in black and it is not maternity. BUT it’s SUPER lightweight so I wore it to Haven and felt great even in the 100 degree heat.
scalloped dress – leopard flats – necklace
Hands down my favorite purchase for dresses has been this black scalloped dress. The arms are scalloped as well as the hemline and it’s a t-shirt material so you can imagine how comfortable it is. I would have loved to wear heels with it but again…walking is kinda important. So I grabbed some flats and loved dressing it up with accessories. Also just look at Jen from House of Wood and Rachel from Shades of Blue Interiors….my friends literally look like two living barbie dolls.
One of the fanciest maternity dresses I bought was this floral short sleeve body con dress and it was all sorts of comfy even when my ankles weren’t. They only have one size left in it but I found a couple other options that are from the same place and they look like they would be winners too! Here are some similar ones…
Last but not least is this casual option for those of you loving skirts but not really knowing what to do about them. Skirts are super tricky and can be very unflattering. This one is actually not maternity – it’s a maxi skirt but I hoisted it up and over the boobs and layered a regular tshirt over top. It was light enough for the hot Georgia summer, stretchy enough to squat and was way more practical because it was so casual. Here are some similar ones that would work….
Thanks so much for this! 26 weeks so right behind you. I have also loved a few basic pieces from Seraphine for things I can wear to work. Do you have any favorite swimsuits? I always have trouble finding good ones and being prego had made it ever harder.
This is a great list! I love the Jessica Simpson maternity jeans. They are for me the best fitting pair that I have found. I am still wearing them now since they are so comfy and my little girl is now 5 weeks old!
People who can wear regular clothes during pregnancy (or out of the hospital) are on my “do not speak to” list when I’m pregnant. I’m only mostly joking. I’m 13 weeks with #4, and I look like I’m 20 weeks already.
I LIVE in maxi dresses for summer pregnancies. I have also been nursing during the last three pregnancies, so finding clothes that cover the belly, pants that stay up, and tops that provide coverage AND access to the girls is challenging, not to mention clothes that I can chase toddlers in. V-neck or splice neck maxi for the win. Still figuring out what I’ll do this winter, and I need a new pair of maternity jeans, since pregnancy #3 killed my last pair. And also shoes. My flip flops aren’t going to cut it in the snow.
I highly recommend the LOFT maternity jeans. The only thing that sucks about them is that it’s online only . . . so trying on in the store is a no-no. And you know, $$. My sister splurged on a pair when she was pregnant with baby #1 and 4 babies later (between the two of us) they are still going strong!
That’s I guess my other recommendation – if you have a close friend or sister who is relatively the same size, try to share maternity clothes if your pregnancy doesn’t overlap. My first time around I was working in an office so I have a ton of dressier options and it felt great and less wasteful to know I could pass those on to other mommas.
Did you find a lot of your other maternity wear from the previous 4 pregnancies got worn out so you had to buy new stuff? I love all the inspiration, and wish I had bought more with my 2 pregnancies but I think I only bought one pair of jeans, one pair of shirts, a few tops then some work pants and dresses that lasted me through both.
You are stunning. Enjoy the glow.
That is the ONE THING that I can’t find something I LOVE.
xo – kb
A lot of things just simply don’t fit. My pants didn’t fit at all…and a few dresses didn’t either…most of the tops do but some of them were very tight and uncomfortable. Also…I never had a true summer pregnancy so this is a new one for me!
xo – kb
Thanks so much! 29 weeks and apparently I have entered bra hell, so really appreciate the bra rec! I just found one recently at Target by maidenform and it’s a racerback and it’s the ONLY thing that is comfortable right now … I’m so desperate that I have it on at work with a regular top. When I realized the entire racerback part of my bra is showing I started to care, and then just couldn’t. lol. Now maybe I’ll have a better option!
Also about your maternity bathing suit – there was a picture of you in SUCH a cute one at jekyl island I think… polka dots perhaps? I thought you looked sooooo adorable in it.
Oh that isn’t maternity! That was one I got from Walmart of all places! It’s a skirted suit so it is a little more modest for when I am gonna be doing a lot of bending and squatting and all the kid stuff 🙂
xo – kb
Uggs. I splurged on a pair last year and I could have worn them every day. I wasn’t pregnant then, but this winter I will be and since I won’t be working I probably will wear them every day. I love that they are meant to be worn without socks. Just like my beloved flip-flops.