Stylish Pregnancy: The Dos and Don’ts of Dressing up While Expecting


“I would love to design a maternity clothing line. It is so hard to find stylish clothes for pregnant people; I would say ninety-nine percent of the clothes I wore were not maternity because I could not find anything I liked.” –Kourtney Kardashian

A woman’s pregnancy is one of life’s grandest and greatest milestones—so much so that the event itself is akin to a miracle considering that you are growing a human being in your womb. However, during pregnancy, a lot of changes will inevitably occur to your body so as to accommodate the little passenger you are carrying with you for nine months. For women who are rather fashion forward, this would spell a myriad of fashion limitations, and if there is one thing that can be frustrating to this women, it is the feeling of being constrained of wearing a select few of fashion pieces and apparels. However, a true fashion-forward and stylish woman would not equate pregnant with being unfashionable, at the very least, she would see this as an opportunity to broaden her fashion options as well as her style vocabulary.

Indeed, dressing up while pregnant can be a bit of a challenge—even for the trendiest and hippest moms-to-be as your body is constantly and consistently changing every single day that you would be left confused as to which of the clothes in your closet is going to fit you today and the rest of the week. Suddenly, you might feel like you are making way too many style compromises—you could not wear your skinny jeans any longer, walking around in your wholesale Steve Madden heels is not so practical, and a whole lot more leaving you in total confusion as to how to dress this new body. However, not to worry, here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind when dressing your baby bump:

1.) DO know when it is time to shop for maternity wear

You might think that maternity wear is an added expense you do not necessarily need considering you would not be able to use them right after your pregnancy. In the early stages of your pregnancy, you can still wear some of your regular clothes, but the moment they start to feel a little snug in your midsection, it is time for you to invest in maternity wear. Do not make the mistake of making compromises such as fastening jeans and shorts with safety pins and continuing to sport old shirts and tank tops. When they are causing you discomfort, it is time to embrace new silhouette and dress it aptly.

2.) DO NOT make oversized clothes your go-to outfits

When it comes to dressing up while pregnant, comfort is paramount. However, this does not mean that you should slack off and dress lazily every single day. Some pregnant women are under the mistaken impression that sweatpants, sweaters and oversized clothes are the universal uniforms for any woman who is pregnant. They may fit you comfortably, but they do nothing for your style. Explore your options; there is absolutely no truth in dressing stylishly but uncomfortably while pregnant. You have a myriad of options at your disposal from feminine dresses, leggings, stretchy jeans, jersey knits and so on—the alternatives are limitless. All you would need is to pick one that works for you.

3.) DO embrace your bump

Women try to conceal their bumps by wearing clothes a size too big for them—such as a size or two up a regular dress. Unfortunately, while it may sit comfortably on your stomach, it looks in complete disarray everywhere else. The sleeves and arms will be baggy, and instead of looking merely pregnant, you will instead look bigger than you really are. If this is the case, you would be better off buying a maternity dress.

4.) DO borrow maternity clothes from friends and family whenever possible

If you are adamant about not buying maternity clothes, then at least borrow from your friends or family members who have gone through a pregnancy phase before. They would be more than willing to accommodate you and your needs. Additionally, borrowing from them would be an excellent way to incorporate some variety into your wardrobe without necessarily spending a single dime.

5.) DO NOT sacrifice style for comfort and vice versa

Some women think that style and comfort are two mutually exclusive aspects when it comes to dressing up while they are pregnant. This is a misconception, however, as there are a million of ways to stay comfortably stylish even while you are pregnant. You do not need to sacrifice one in favor of the other. With the proliferation of maternity apparel shops and stores, there is a variety of options at your disposal that there is no absolute reason you cannot look attractive in maternity clothing and stay comfortable as well. Additionally, it will help boost your confidence and lift your spirits—despite the fact that your waistband is expanding day by day.

6.) DO NOT take style too far

Although you may be living the fact that your breasts seem to have grown an extra size over the course of your pregnancy, realize that you can take things too far. In the early stages of your pregnancy, these are generally acceptable, however as you enter your third and last trimester, there are clothes that you can no longer wear. Although you can still wear them, they would not exactly be pleasing to look at. When you are pregnant, too tight and too short are things that are too much. Maternity clothes may be worn fitted, but never tight. Additionally, you should refrain from showing your bare belly—unless you are lounging by the pool or hanging out at the beach.

 

Pregnancy may cause some women to be a little conscious with their newly discovered assets—such as their bulging bellies and swelling breasts. However, this is an excellent opportunity for them to love their bodies more. Additionally, this is a great avenue to do exploration in fashion and style as there are a lot of options as to how to dress up while you are expecting. So, while you are carrying a miracle within you, make sure you do not look like a train wreck and let that miracle within shine through your outer self by dressing appropriately, sophisticatedly and beautifully.

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