When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend proudly told me “I didn’t buy any actual maternity clothes for any of my pregnancies.” I had only made one maternity wear related purchase at the time: A pair of maternity jeans with an elastic waistband that was so vast I had yet to actually wear them, and yet I felt judged by her declaration. Not buying maternity clothes is sort of the modern day pregnant women’s flex akin to “I don’t own a TV” or “I deleted Facebook.” I felt embarrassed thinking of the state of my browser with 14 tabs open on various “maternity wear” websites. My friend explained that rather than buy maternity-specific clothing, she tried to buy only things that she would wear regardless of the shape of her current body. I loved this idea! I too wanted to be the sort of woman who “didn’t buy maternity clothes” and went right home to shop in my own wardrobe.
Leggings often seem to be the go-to suggestion for pregnancy attire, but as a dress lover, leggings don’t make the rotation in my day-to-day life so I was hesitant to reach for them just because I had a human growing inside of me! Other than the aforementioned maternity jeans, I was able to keep to my pre-baby wardrobe by sticking with dresses. To me, this was the ultimate solution to “maternity dressing”; rocking clothes I already had or only buying something I would wear in my post-bump life too.
The Best Maternity Dresses, According to Vogue:
Little Dress On the Prairies
Most of the first trimester is spent in a sort of limbo: Between morning sickness and the uncertainties of those first few early weeks, you’re likely caught between wanting to shout your pregnancy from the rooftops while also wanting to keep it close to home. You probably won’t look any different at first, which will feel maddening considering how different you feel. There is also often the frustrating sensation of waking up with a relatively flat stomach and having a bump by the end of the day—very hard for wardrobe planning! I found the best dresses for this stage to be prairie-like styles since they were fitted up top for definition but with wiggle room in the body for whatever is happening on any particular day (or hour). I relied heavily on my floral dresses from Dôen during this stage as they were comfortable and made me feel instantly put-together. These dresses are also ideal for the final countdown stages of pregnancy as they will have enough space in the flowy material to cover your blossoming basketball!
Knitted to Perfection
A fitted knit dress might not seem like the best option for a growing baby bump but once the bump has made its official appearance, a tight knit dress is actually the ideal way to show it off. This usually happens in the second trimester (a.k.a. the “golden age” of pregnancy) when typically the sickness has passed and left behind an adorable baby bump, just the right size to showcase in a slim fitting dress. Winter pregnancies can enjoy the sweater dress options, but this style also works in the warmer months as a way to really add definition and showcase your bump regardless of size. A sleeveless fitted knit dress like this Loewe one is also a great option if you’re really feeling your bump and want to show it off and work equally well after the baby has arrived when you want a little extra stretch for your post-baby boobs!
It’s a Shirt! It’s a dress! It’s a Shirtdress!
For something with a bit more structure to help when you need to look pulled together, a looser shirt dress is a great option. I love the Cos version that can easily be dressed up with a great loafer and a blazer for a meeting or outing and look equally as chic with sneakers on the weekend. Anything with buttons is great for breastfeeding or pumping too; I loved a linen shirt dress from my Sleeper dresses for this and Zara always has a great selection of button-up dresses ideal for breastfeeding.
RSVP, Plus One (the Bump)
If any fancier occasions fall during pregnancy, look for something with a looser silhouette but jazzed up accents like feathered sleeves or a bejeweled collar that will allow room for both you and the bump to breathe easily throughout the night and hopefully even dance! I also love an empire waist for an occasion, Agua by Agua Bendita has some beautiful options.
Easy Sun Dresses
If any part of your pregnancy falls in Spring or Summer, then sundresses are your best friend. Easy to throw on, sun dresses typically don’t have much in the way of zippers or buttons so there should be plenty of give wherever you need it. Easy to dress up with a heel or a great bag and perfect with flats and a denim jacket, the sun dress will be your go-to just as much during pregnancy as it will be the following summer.
Removable and Adjustable Ties
Any dress with a self-tie, removable belt is a pregnant woman’s secret weapon. From classic striped versions to playful patterned ones, you can cinch the tie above the bump for a bit of definition or remove it entirely if it feels too constricting and wear it loosely.
In Your Kaftan-Era
Search “kaftan” on any retailer and you’ll find everything from sheer bathing suit coverups to fully bedazzled silk versions. The best kaftans for pregnancy fall somewhere in the middle: a patterned cotton or silk to allow for coverage but nothing too voluminous and flowy that would look more like a bowling ball rolling around under a tablecloth. I love Pippa Holt’s versions for something fun and unexpected!
