Whether your maternity fashion icon is Kate Middleton or Kate Moss, the truth is that having a seriously stylish pregnancy has never been easier.
If you’re expecting, you have tons of pregnancy style ideas — and the rulebook of the past has been completely thrown out the window.
While you’re free to play around with bold looks, there are also a few hard and fast pieces of advice that a woman in any phase of her pregnancy can benefit from.
So, what should you know in order to create the perfect maternity wardrobe?
Keep on reading this post in order to find out how to nail pregnancy style!
1. Show, Don’t Cover
Pregnancy is likely one of the most exciting times of your life — yes, even though you have to deal with morning sickness and swollen feet.
The days of covering up your pregnancy with outdated and sack-like maternity fashion (we use that term loosely) are o-v-e-r.
Now, we’re living in an era where pregnancy style is all about highlighting, not hiding, your bump. While you don’t have to dress like Kim Kardashian, form-fitting clothes can help you to avoid that dreaded “pregnant or overweight?” guessing game.
Don’t be afraid to wear a sexy pencil skirt that comes up above your bump, or even a snug wiggle dress that perfectly cradles your belly. Investing in a few stretchy knit dresses of any length will hug your bump and keep you comfy at the same time.
2. Invest in Button-Down Tops
When you’re pregnant, your body can change seemingly overnight. Tops that worked perfectly a week ago suddenly feel impossible to put on.
So, what’s the solution when it comes to finding the perfect top for your stylish pregnancy?
Ditch the built-in bra shirts and oversized tunics, and invest in button-downs instead. (If you really want to take your style to the next level, you can even borrow a few of your husband’s or boyfriend’s dress shirts.)
These tops work because they allow you to easily adjust for breast size changes, and there’s no rule that says you have to button them all the way down. Instead, tie them in a loop to show off your bun in the oven, or leave them open over a comfy tank top.
Don’t be afraid to rock polka dots, stripes, and even novelty print button-downs as a part of your maternity outfit ideas. They can liven up an otherwise dull outfit, and going with bright and festive shades and patterns is sure to make you smile.
3. Repeat After Us: Open-Toe Flats
You love your high heels — but pregnancy isn’t exactly the best time to wear them.
In between weight changes and swollen feet, it’s safe to say that your sky-high stilettos might be taking the next season off.
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your style!
Instead, switch to comfortable open-toe flats that allow your feet to breathe and give you a little extra space to shift. If you can get away with flip-flops, why not? If you’re concerned, you can always go for flip-flops with a strap on the back, so that you’ll feel a bit more “locked in.”
You can easily dress flats up or down, and they’re a bit more stylish than a pair of sneakers.
One more maternity fashion tip when it comes to footwear?
We suggest getting shoes in at least one size up, especially if you’re investing in footwear at the start of your pregnancy. Afterward, you can always donate your shoes!
And hey, one other thing?
Your pregnancy is the perfect time to ditch the shoes altogether (when it’s reasonable, of course.) So, embrace that boho lifestyle, and go barefoot!
4. Remember That You’re Not Bound to Maternity Wear
Our final piece of advice when it comes to creating memorable maternity looks?
Whether you’re using the best basal thermometer to find out when the best time to get pregnant is, or if you’re already a few months along, remember one thing: Gone are the days when you must wear exclusively maternity fashion throughout your pregnancy.
While there’s obviously nothing wrong with investing in a few workhorse maternity dresses and stretch pants, it doesn’t have to be all that you wear.
For many women, especially if you wore straight-sized clothing before you became pregnant, going up a few sizes in normal streetwear is always an option. The truth is that, especially in today’s world, you don’t have to change your look just because you’re pregnant.
Plus, even if you feel like maternity clothes are where you want to be, you can always upgrade an otherwise drab outfit with some killer accessories.
Now is definitely the time to play around with bold statement necklaces, crazy updos, and fabulous handbags. When it comes to accessorizing and pregnancy looks, we think that more is always more!
Master Maternity Fashion with These Tips
We hope that this post has you just as excited about the prospect of maternity fashion as you are about your new arrival.
Remember that it’s possible to be comfort and stylish — and at the end of the day, you can and should wear what makes you feel awesome.
No matter which phase of life you’re currently dressing for, we want to help you to create the perfect wardrobe for it.
From understanding how to dress your new baby to making sure that you know what looks good on your body type, we’re here to offer you the style tips, tricks, and trend breakdowns that will make you feel like the world is your runway.
