What To Wear

Today’s pregnant woman doesn’t hide her belly, she flaunts it! With pregnant celebrities like Halle Berry and Gwen Stefani for inspiration, mothers-to-be can look as stylish and sexy as they did pre-pregnancy. And many of today’s trends, such as tunics, empire waists, peasant tops, and wrap dresses, are perfect for growing bellies.

Local options for maternity clothing include national retailers like Old Navy, Gap, Target, and specialty stores like Mimi Maternity and Motherhood. All stock clothing for a range of budgets and lifestyles, from sophisticated office wear for professional women to chic, comfy hoodies and yoga pants for stay-at-home mothers. Online retailers, including bellydancematernity.com and japaneseweekend.com, offer designer clothes for women who won’t sacrifice style just because they’re pregnant.

Because your wardrobe will be limited, it makes sense to pick a color scheme—black and white, or chocolate and cream—to make it easy to coordinate. Your due date will dictate some necessities; a spring baby means you’ll need sweaters and maybe a coat, while late summer or fall will require a swimsuit and shorts. And remember that pregnancy doesn’t last forever, so experiment with new looks, like fun prints, bursts of color, and even skinny jeans.

FIVE MUST-HAVES:

Belly Band—A maternity or belly band is a knit band worn at your waistline over your unzipped jeans, disguising bulky snaps or buttons.  They hold up your favorite jeans so you can continue to wear them with confidence throughout your pregnancy.  Bands come in assorted colors and patterns and can peek out from under your top for that layered look.  Popular brands are Baby Be Mine Belly Band and Bella Band.

A pretty dress—For work, a wedding or a night on the town, every pregnant woman should have a dress that makes her feel beautiful.

Patterned t-shirts—A few sexy, body-hugging shirts in bold prints dress up jeans without breaking the bank.

Cardigan—As your body temperature changes constantly, it helps to have an attractive layer in a neutral color to add on or take off as needed.

Comfortable shoes—Pregnancy isn’t the time for stilettos, but you can still complete your look with ballet flats, wedge shoes, kitten heels, and dressy thongs.