Pregnancy style. Can you really have that much style during a pregnancy? Especially during that third trimester… While there have been a lot of improvements in maternity wear these days, I still try to minimize the amount of maternity clothes that I wear because, who really wants to spend much on stuff that you’re not going to wear very long?! And let’s face it, the good looking maternity clothes can get pretty pricy.
Here are some maternity basics that I have purchased, and that I feel are essential to help you get through your pregnancy. And keep reading for my tips on dressing your bump in non-maternity clothes as well! If you’re a new mom, or a pregnant mama trying to break out of an athleisure rut, I hope this guide is helpful.
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MATERNITY BASICS YOU WANT TO INVEST IN
These basic staples will help you get through your pregnancy with minimal investment in actual maternity wear.
TANK TOPS
Long tank tops are a MUST for pregnancy, and most you can wear post pregnancy as well! I love the Ingrid and Isabel maternity tanks from Target and wear them ALL THE TIME ! They are so long, you will never have to worry about whether or not you have good coverage around your waistline.
MATERNITY JEANS
Jeans are a staple in everyone’s wardrobe, so when the hair tie holding the button on your favorite jeans together is starting to stretch a little too far, time to get some maternity jeans! Maternity pants come in a couple different styles. You can buy them with a panel to go over the bump, or you can get more of a low rise pant to go under your bump with built in elastic side panels.
The right kind of pant to get is totally up to your preference and what feels most comfortable for you. I prefer my maternity pants to have a side panel, and I’ll wear a long undershirt to go over my pants depending on what kind of top I wear. Because, got to keep plumber butt at bay!
For my maternity pants, my go to places to shop are Target and Old Navy. I have a black and a couple blue pairs of maternity jeans from Target, and a black and khaki pair of maternity pixie chinos from Old Navy for work.
MATERNITY LEGGINGS
Okay, so athleisure is a BIG part of staying comfortable during your pregnancy. High waisted maternity leggings are probably the most comfortable thing you can wear during your pregnancy, however not all maternity leggings are created equal. Some are thin, some are thick, some give support, and some don’t!
When it comes to maternity leggings my opinion is: the more built in support the better! Especially once your belly starts getting big, you can never go wrong with built in back support, and good compression for your legs. For me, I am willing to pay a little more on supportive maternity leggings because it’s an item that you basically live in and will wear every day.
Since this is my second pregnancy, I have now tried several brands of maternity leggings and believe Blanqi and Zella maternity leggings are the best! Stay tuned for a future post covering nothing but maternity leggings…
NURSING SHIRTS
(…that don’t look maternity, and that you can wear even when you’re not pregnant)
I have only bought a few nursing shirts (and they’re mostly just to wear in the middle of the night). If I’m going to buy a nursing shirt, I don’t want it to look like it’s maternity. I love this shirt from Seraphine pictured below, because it’s just a long tee with snaps on the shoulder for nursing access. I bought it in blue and red, and wore it even when I was not pregnant! You can find several color options here.
Aside from these shirts, I usually just stick to wearing my tunics (see below) that have buttons during those nursing months. And high waisted maternity/postpartum leggings are also fabulous for wearing on those days when you might have to lift your shirt up to nurse, but don’t want your belly hanging out.
SHOP YOUR MATERNITY ESSENTIALS HERE:
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SHIP’S TIPS:
HOW I DRESS MY BUMP (NON MATERNITY)
After getting married, I knew I’d probably be getting pregnant sometime in the near future… So when I’d go out shopping, I’d keep my eye open for classic, timeless, non-maternity items that could be worn while pregnant too! This means keeping your eye out for tunics, loose fitting, boxy/dolman sleeve tops, cute kimonos, long sweaters, and loose fitting dresses.
COVER UPS:
JACKETS | LONG SWEATERS | KIMONOS
There’s nothing like a good cover up to hide some of the bulging, less flattering sides of being pregnant! While you must fully embrace all the wonderful changes that your body goes through to bring life into the world, you don’t need to show it all off!
I love wearing light kimonos when it is warm (my first pregnancy was during the summer), and move into all the sweaters, jackets, and other layers you can wear once things start cooling off!
SHOP COVER UPS HERE:
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TUNICS
Tunics are great for pregnancies because they’re long enough to cover your bump (and booty), and most are loose fitting and therefore, flattering on all body styles. Let me repeat, tunics are flattering on ALL BODY STYLES, and they always look great with leggings and jeans! There’s no need to buy a long “maternity” shirt that is basically a tunic anyway.
SHOP TUNICS HERE:
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DRESSES
Loose and Flowy Dresses
There are tons of styles for loose fitting dresses that are non maternity that can work during your pregnancy. Non-maternity dresses that I gravitate towards for pregnancy are on two opposite ends of the dress spectrum: bohemian or Lilly Pulitzer.
Bohemian dresses pretty much speak for themselves, they’re always loose, flowy, easy to wear everyday, and oh so comfy. I love Lilly Pulitzer dresses too because their patterns are pretty, flattering, and also camouflaging for a growing bump!
Body-con Dresses
Body-con dresses, for the most part, are super cute to wear when you want to show off that bump!
To wear a bodycon dress and still keep things classy, here’s what to do:
1. Make it a midi dress (to the knee or below the knee), because short and tight dresses with a big bump are just, NO.
2. Pair it with a cover up. Depending on what look you’re going for you can pair body-con dresses with a kimono, jean jacket, long sweater, or even a utility jacket! Keep them long enough to cover up your butt, so your belly is the only curve that is standing out.
SHOP DRESSES HERE:
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AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…
SIZE UP
And don’t forget for many non-maternity styles, you can just size up! Think about those brands where you’re close or kind of in between sizes and just go for the larger size.
What are your maternity staples and favorite things to wear during your pregnancy that are non-maternity? Leave a comment and let me know!
And for to see more of my pregnancy style, follow me, ShipsHQ, on Instagram and on the free LIKEtoKNOW.it app!
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