How to Buy Maternity Clothes You Won’t Hate

Shopping for clothes when pregnant isn’t for the weak at heart. Not only is your waist expanding, but for some reason so many brands feel like expectant mothers should dress like a character out of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Couple that with the fact that you’ll only be wearing these outfits for a few months and it may have you shying away from taking out your wallet. I know that’s how I felt during my first pregnancy (though I did find a few pieces I really loved when I was expecting Arielle). But this time around I’m arguing that it is important to curate a maternity wardrobe that isn’t just comfortable for your bump, but also stylish and chic. Keep reading for tips on how to buy maternity clothes you won’t hate. 

Don’t Change your Style Just Because your Pregnant

As I said, so many brands make it feel like you have to cover it all up, or wear shapeless dresses when you’re pregnant. But if that’s not how you typically dress, why switch it up? I don’t wear a ton of form-fitting outfits, but I like to make a statement with my wardrobe which is why I wore this pink sequin crop top over a simple maternity tank dress with some glittery heels to our gender reveal. I also stuck to what I know best, pink and sequins, when I recently attended a friend’s wedding. 

Final Advice: When picking out maternity clothes, ask yourself: would I wear this if I wasn’t pregnant? If that’s a no, don’t buy it!

Don’t be Afraid to Embrace Color and Prints

First off, if bold colors and prints aren’t your thing in general, then stick to my first piece of advice and don’t change your style just because you’re pregnant. However, if you do like to wear color and prints, there is no reason you can’t keep it up! I always say that cheetah print is a neutral, and as you all know I live in pink, especially shades of raspberry. The dress in the picture above was one of my favorite, statement-making dresses during my first pregnancy and I’ll be breaking it out when it gets a little warmer in our area. As for pink, I love these pieces from PinkBlush Maternity.

Final Advice: Just because you’re pregnant, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t allow yourself to stand out in a crowd if that’s something you feel comfortable doing.

Don’t be Afraid to Shop Outside the Maternity Section

While I may only be 12 weeks pregnant in this picture, I ended up wearing this elastic-waist skirt well into my third trimester and then even postpartum as I was working to lose the excess weight. This is not a maternity piece, but the elastic in the waist and the A-Line cut makes it very versatile. Those kinds of finds are worth their weight in gold when it comes to curating a wardrobe.

Final Advice: You don’t always have to stick to the maternity section, just pick your non-maternity pieces wisely. 

When in Doubt, an LBD is Always your BFF

I wore this simple dress from ASOS during my last pregnancy and it has been a staple in my closet during this pregnancy as well. I even wore it on my recent press trip to Salem. While it is on the more billowy side, the black color is slimming, even when pregnant. I actually refer to it as my cheetah-print Wednesday Addams look, thanks to the patterned collar. I get so many compliments every time I wear this dress, I actually might keep it even when I’m done with pregnancy. 

Final Advice: While I am always cautious of relying too heavily on black, there is a reason why the LBD is a wardrobe staple, even during pregnancy.

I hope these tips will help you to curate a wardrobe of maternity clothes that you will love to wear, even in your fourth trimester!