You’re pregnant – congratulations! This is such an exciting time in your life, whether it’s your first or third child. But as you probably know, your body is going to go through a lot of changes in the next nine months and if this is your first time, some of these might seem a bit crazy!
But being pregnant doesn’t have to mean questionable maternity leggings, baggy jumpers and hair scrunchies (unless you love a scrunch of course!). This is a guide for all the mums-to-be out there that are looking to rock their pregnancy style over the coming months, no matter how much your belly might grow. Here are seven tips for the ultimate maternity style.
Think about long-term investments
You’ll be amazed how quickly your body changes during different stages of your pregnancy, therefore you need to think long-term whenever you buy something new for your wardrobe. It’s always a good idea to shop for clothes that can grow with you or that will create flattering silhouettes. Otherwise you might find you’ve grown out of it in a matter of weeks.
Dresses are always a win because they leave room to grow, they’re loose and comfortable – especially in the warmer months! Shift dresses hug an expanding bump and look good at all stages of pregnancy, alternatively, opt for wrap dresses that will cup your bump.
For the colder weather, long cardigans, blazers and trench coats are perfect for creating a flattering silhouette whilst keeping you warm. In general, it’s always best to avoid buying any statement pieces that are going to go out of fashion within the month. You want timeless pieces that can be worn again and again throughout your pregnancy. Plus, these are always good to have if you plan on having more children in the future!
Don’t neglect your existing wardrobe
It can be surprising what maternity-friendly items you already have hanging in your wardrobe. You might already have a weakness for maxi dresses, ponchos or over-sized knits and these can all become part of your maternity style. So before you go out shopping, take a look through what you already have and assess what garments are going to be the most comfortable and pregnancy friendly. This will give you a better idea of the sorts of things you might want to go out and buy later.
Accessories can make all the difference
As said above, you don’t want to buy anything that’s going to be a passing trend, so it’s best to keep most of your maternity clothes timeless and classic. You can then add accessories to jazz up your outfit and add an extra wow factor to your maternity style. If you want to add a touch of personality to an outfit with personalised jewellery, just be sure you don’t choose anything that is going to become too tight or restricting. Other than that, you can’t go wrong with throwing on some statement jewellery to complete your look.
Don’t be afraid to try new things
It can be tricky pushing yourself out of your comfort zones when it comes to your style. After all, you don’t want to walk around all day feeling uncomfortable or self conscious. But when you become pregnant this can sometimes force you to try new things, because the old things simply won’t work anymore. For example, you might have always been a fan of those tight skinny jeans, but at eight months pregnant shoehorning yourself and your bump into them is just no longer practical or comfy.
This means you’ll need to push the boat out a little and try something different. Remember, you don’t have to make drastic changes like starting to wear bright florals, or only dress in black despite having never done this before. You simply need to find stylish but classic items that you feel confident in. Even if these seem a little plain, remember you can accessorise to add to your look – so don’t be afraid to try new things and change it up a bit. After all, confidence and comfort are always the key to looking and feeling great.
Embrace the athleisure movement
Right now is the perfect time to be a pregnant women, because believe it or not, trackies and leisure wear are dominating the mainstream right now. This means you’ll be able to find affordable, comfortable and stylish clothes in many of your favourite high street stores. So even if you’ve not been one for the athleisure look before, now could be the perfect time to embrace your inner Sporty Spice!
Don’t forget to treat yourself
Remember style isn’t just about the clothes you buy, it’s about feeling confident and beautiful, inside and out. So don’t feel guilty about treating yourself every once in a while. You may not be able to go for conventional spa treatments, spray tans and so on, but there are so many other ways you can pamper yourself. Splurge on your favourite make-up or buy some great new skin care products that are going to leave you glowing (even more than you already are). This will all add to your look and help you to feel confident and like your true self.
Embrace the bump
Pregnancy is no longer something to hide in the shadows, nor does it mean you instantly need to turn into a mum wearing only practical clothes, because they’ll eventually be covered in spit up and milk, right? Wrong! Pregnancy is beautiful and it’s your time to shine. Nowadays you can even find pregnant women on catwalks around the world. So embrace your impending motherhood and dress it up to suit your style.
Pregnancy and motherhood has become so celebrated in recent years. Some very famous and stylish women are often photographed out and about with their (equally as stylish) kids in tow, as they attend fashion shows or go about running their own businesses. So choose clothes, accessories and beauty products that show you’re proud of your bump and that you can still be a stylish and confident woman even at nine months pregnant!
