Embracing where you are and looking good while doing it
Let's chat pregnancy style
When you find out that you’re pregnant, it’s usually undetectable to the outside eye, but you know that you’re on a new path in life and either already *feel* differently or know that you will soon. As a person who enjoys daydreaming and planning, when I found out I was pregnant, my mind went immediately to two things (OK, more than just two things): What will I wear? And, what will baby’s room look like? I eventually focused on other more practical things but these two questions helped keep me happily distracted and focused on both the present moment and sweet future ahead.
For the first couple of months, I could get away with my normal clothes, eventually opting for larger button downs to cover up a slightly protruding stomach, and then using a hair tie to extend the waistband of my pants. As I got closer to really needing more room in my clothes, I began studying other pregnant women I saw on the street, pregnant friends (limited, though they were), and women on Instagram. Anytime anyone would share a pregnancy friendly find, I would screenshot it, holding onto it for a not too far off future. All of those pieces of information I collected were the building blocks of how I approached dressing my bump. But, like anything else, you really have to be there to know what to do and how to make it your own. So I’m sharing this “map” of how I navigated dressing as exactly that: an explanation, an exposé, and an opportunity to find your own path with a friend’s guidance.
My baby was born in March 2024 in NYC, so most of these ideas are for cold-ish dressing. Maybe I’ll have the opportunity to dress a summer bump in the future. For now, let’s discuss fall/winter style, which is just around the corner!
If you’re in a hurry, shop my pregnancy wardrobe here:
First up: Occassion/ elevated dressing
Background image: Vita by Lisa Fine Textiles
I’m a fairly casual person. I love an elevated moment and bougie experience but day-to-day, I feel most like myself in something like a cashmere sweater. I blame it on my time in San Francisco, which is notoriously not fancy. Despite this, I love the opportunity to dress up and often oogle fancy ensembles, knowing I only need a few per season. In this category, I only purchased 3 items with my pregnant body in mind (4, if you count a pair of shoes):
A gorgeous, olive green silk drop-waist dress from Rose Room Collective (I saw it in person at the Holiday on Madison pop-up and knew it would be perfect with a bump and without).
An ultra-flattering, black jane-of-all-trades black turtleneck dress by Norma Kamali.
A pair of ecru boot cut maternity jeans from Ilouity (Swedish maternity jean company) that happen to look beautiful with a suede kitten heel and creamy sweater for a very Montecito monochromatic look.
Aforementioned suede kitten heel (mine, Manolo Blahnik - treat yourself & pray your feet don’t grow in pregnancy).
I used a variety of accoutrements to make these pieces work for different occasions and I would highly suggest digging through your closet to repurpose accessories that bring your outfits to life. Think: silk scarves, blazers, boots, fancy bag, favorite jewelry, wraps, vests. I wish I had pictures of each time I wore these pieces to show how much use I got out of each. It should go without saying (but I, for one, need to hear it repeated): wear your clothes over and over. You deserve to experience the joy of feeling great in your clothes often, especially now!
Next: In-between outfits
These outfits were what I wore to the office, to casual dinner, and when I just wanted to feel more put-together than athleisure. I invested in this category a bit more, given the reps would be higher. My picks?
Ilouity Maternity jeans. These do not get enough air time. I came across them through a google search (they were mentioned in Vogue) and I immediately ordered a couple pairs. My favorite styles were the flares and wide leg, which both come in different inseams. I had tried on some other popular maternity jeans and they felt very 2018 so these were refreshingly cool. If there’s any piece I wish I had purchased sooner, it would be these jeans. If you wear jeans frequently (don’t we all?), you deserve to wear them while pregnant, too! These are a game-changer.
Hatch corduroy overalls. These are so cute and so *pregnant lady vibes* in the best way. I wore them with this Mirth sweater underneath as well as a basic white turtleneck. It instantly felt like an outfit and was one of the the most comfortable things to wear while pregnant.
Oversized sweaters: I have more sweaters in my closet than any other category and they all came in very handy. My favorites are from LaLigne and other honorable mentions include COS, J.Crew, and Gap.
Hill House Adelaide dress. This style is so underrated and currently on sale! I took a screenshot of Nell Diamond wearing this on set of a campaign photoshoot and knew immediately that this would be part of my maternity wardrobe (see? always screenshotting). The color combo is so beautiful and I loved dressing this up and down.
Maria De La Orden smocked top. I also bought this at the Holiday on Madison pop-up (if you’re in town for it this year, you should 100% go - such great vendors and a great vibe). I was skeptical of this silhouette before I was pregnant - would smocking really look good on anyone above the age of 5? But, yes, it does look super cute on a bump and it looks equally cute on a postpartum body too. Tip: I sized up to a medium.
A column sweater dress I already owned, super similar here from Kilte. This is a no-brainer and so comfortable! The silhouette is so much more elegant than a full body-con moment, IMO.
The Dôen Ischia dress. Everybody and their mother recommends this dress for pregnant people for good reason! It’s flattering, feels very feminine, and photographs well (I wore it for a little photography sesh). Dress up and down, bridge seasons with different outerwear and shoes, and you have yourself a winner. Bonus? You do not need to size up so you can wear postpartum, too.
Commando faux leather leggings. These have a couple of caveats: you need to size up 1-2 sizes, the crop only works if you’re about 5’4 of under (they have a full length too), and you likely won’t want to wear these in your third trimester. Still, for the price and oomph they brought to an outfit, I think they were worth it.
Finally: Athleisure/loungewear
I really wound down my schedule toward the end of my pregnancy and found myself loving nights in and walks in the park (ok honestly, this is how I like to live most of the time). These types of activities called for cute-enough and, most importantly, comfortable. You can go high and low in this category and mix and match to get your desired look. Here were my picks:
The GOAT of cheap sweatpants: this $50 set from Amazon. I wore the matching top exactly once before spilling coffee on it but then decided the henley look wasn’t for me, anyways. Instead, I wore these pants (in navy, cream, and brown) with every sweater I’ve ever owned. These are a necessity, trust me. Oh, and I sized up 1 and wore under my bump.
Save The Duck two-way zipper vest. I purchased this on a whim and it was a huge part of my pregnancy wardrobe. I love a good vest and this one is so good I will probably get another color this year (some colors are on sale right now!). It’s thick and luxe feeling and the shape is flattering. Best of all, it’s roomier than it looks to accommodate the bump, plus once you’re really bumpin’ you can unzip it from the bottom for more space.
On the opposite end of the sweatpant spectrum, James Perse track pants. I wore them under my bump and did not have to size up, which was key for a nicer pair of sweatpants. I loved the low key luxe vibe these brought to whatever t-shirt or sweater I paired them with.
My trusty Splits59 flare leggings. I love these because they come in multiple lengths (I wear the short) and they cover your ankles in the winter. I think they look more polished than regular leggings and the thick knit is super comfortable (do not get the airweight!!). I sized up 1x and literally wore them until the actual day before I went into labor. They’re also fab postpartum (once you’re out of mesh undies, of course).
Lulu Lemon Align ribbed leggings. I hadn’t worn align leggings in a couple years but knew I needed some for the bump. The ribbed material made these feel a little more elevated and I only needed to size up 1. I will say that these slipped down my bump toward the end (just meant I had to pull them up more often) but I loved wearing them with boots and a long top as well as sneakers for walks.
Fresh sneakers. I think a nice sneaker is a great thing to invest in while pregnant. They will elevate your Amazon sweatpants that you will be getting and you’ll be so happy to have them once baby arrives and you’re ready to kick off your house shoes. If a fancy sneaker is not your style, a fresh pair of classic New Balance will do the trick, too.
Bump-friendly coats. I went down a rabbit hole researching maternity coats and at some point I saw the light and turned around - you do not need a maternity coat! I mostly wore coats I already had: Marfa Stance, navy wool coat, Herno A-line coat and a colorful wool coat. The only new coat I bought was $50 from Target! Sadly it’s no longer available, but I would look out for something similar and size up 1 size to accommodate the bump.
T-shirts. You’re going to need a lot of T-shirts to wear on their own, under sweaters, and to extend the look of any newly-too-short tops. I lived in these before, during, and after pregnancy: James Perse white t-shirts, Kule stripe modern long sleeve, Alice Walk swingy 3/4 length, Amazon long tank for layering.
Maternity tights. This is something you might not think about until you’re getting dressed and suddenly realized you need tights under your dress & with your boots. So do yourself a favor and order these (I suggest sizing up if in doubt - nothing worse than the feeling of your belly being squeezed!)
Lake maternity PJs. I did not and will not (ok, never say never) wear any other PJs while pregnant! These are hyped up for good reason - they’re soft, cute, they make you feel put together, extremely comfortable, and perfect for postpartum too. The wide leg style is my favorite look but keep in mind you may run warmer so short sleeves could be a good option too. Tip: if you refuse to hang dry your pajamas, size up 1.
There you have it! This is my guide to dressing like yourself — your NEW, ever-evolving self! What would you add to this list?
Thanks for being here,
Audrey