The days of camouflaging a pregnancy are a thing of the past. More than ever, soon-to-be moms are celebrating their journey to motherhood and today’s maternity clothes reflect this.
Priorities when choosing maternity wear:
- Comfort, quality and elasticity
- A good fit (but not necessarily oversized)
- Three-quarter length sleeves to cover arms
- Black and darker hues to minimize certain expanding body parts (buttocks, hips, arms)
- Empire waist dresses or sweetheart style tops to flatter the figure
- Colourful accessories to polish the look
- Layering lightweight and fluid fabrics to create functional style
Maternity fashion don'ts
- Buy clothes that are too loose or too tight
- Continue to shop at your favourite stores. As time passes, the upper body, arms, chest and neck will expand and regular clothes won’t fit
- Wearing too much black can look depressing. Go for bright, cheerful colours when possible or use them as accents
Underwear
Bra
- Visit a specialty store, if for no other reason than to be properly measured and fitted by a professional. They will advise you on how to best support your increasing chest size, and you can use their guidelines to inform your choices when shopping at other less-expensive stores.
- Keep in mind that you’ll need to change your bra size every trimester.
Panties
- You can keep your current panties, but avoid synthetic fabrics. Cotton is your best option.
- The elastic band should fit under the belly. If it’s worn on the tummy, be sure it’s not too tight.
Shoes and boots
- Buy them one size up. You’ll be more comfortable once your feet start to swell.
- Avoid anything higher than a one-inch heel, and make sure they provide ample arch support.
- Wear tall boots (with an elastic calf) with leggings or a dress.
Watch out for jeans
Though you may be tempted by low-rise jeans, they are not a friend to your changing body, especially your growing belly. Anything with an unforgiving waist is strongly discouraged. On the other hand, pregnancy jeans with elastic panels are comfortable and easy to wear.
Beach guide
If you’re pregnant during the summer, you should avoid bikinis. You need to protect your belly from exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays. One-piece (maternity) swimsuits are ideal.
Have you thought of thrift shops?
Consider checking out thrift stores from time to time, regardless of your budget. Though size selection may be limited, they are usually a reliable source for good quality maternity clothes.
Staying in
Staying at home is theoneoccasion when you can get away with wearing your partner’s clothes. Nevertheless, incorporate at least one or two ultra-feminine outfits into your casual maternity wear, just in case company drops by!
