If I’ve learned anything during pregnancy, it’s that maternity outfits are a struggle. There simply aren’t that many brands making maternity pieces at a reasonable price point with a fashion point of view. As far as actual maternity brands, I love the few pieces I’ve gotten from Hatch, Ingrid & Isabel and Blanqi, but otherwise, I’ve sized up a few sizes in regular clothes from either Rent the Runway or affordable fashion brands to style my ever-growing bump. In my second trimester, my daily maternity style really took a hit, because I was defaulting to loose, bohemian dresses over and over again. My sister pointed this out, in a way that only a sister can get away with, and I set out on a mission to find cute outfits that don’t look like I’m wearing a tent. That’s what sisters are for, right? Now that I’m deep into the third trimester, I wanted to share the outfit combinations I have created that make me feel comfortable and confident. I hope this helps if you’re also looking for fresh outfit ideas at a time when nothing fits!
bike shorts + crop top
I’ve talked about bike shorts a lot on my Instagram during pregnancy because they’re so comfortable yet easy to dress up. I love styling them with oversized sweaters and tops, as seen here, and recently tried them with this boxy crop top. The key to making this look work for maternity is finding a crop top that has a looser fit then sizing up a couple sizes. When I’m not pregnant, I am a size 4, so I went up to the 8 in this top so it would meet my bike shorts in the middle. I rounded up a few other tops below if you want to give this outfit combination a try.
bodysuit + midi skirt
Midi skirts with an elastic waist have been another great maternity-dressing staple for me, as seen here. For a chic date night look, I started with this stretchy knit skirt and paired it with a basic bodysuit that I bought in three colors in size large for styling maternity outfits. Warning: bodysuits with snaps in the crotch may require a husband to buckle them at this time.
t-shirt + sweat shorts (but make it fashion)
I’m obsessed with the sweat shorts trend at the moment for two reasons. Obviously, they are the height of cozy, plus I used to wear them to dance practice in high school and college. Comfort and nostalgia? I’m in. I love the idea of dressing them up a bit with an oversized graphic tee and glitzy heels. Of course, this outfit works just as well around the house without heels, but I love the juxtaposition of pairing athletic and lounge pieces with fancy heels at the moment. Give this one a try if you’re pregnant or not!
maternity leggings + blazer
These leggings by Blanqi are the only maternity item in this entire post, and for good reason. The fabric feels really high quality, and they stretch over the belly easily and comfortably. I paired them with a crop top from pre-pregnancy days that just meets the top of the leggings and finished things off with a bright blazer. If I were still going into an office every day, this would be my maternity work uniform, but instead, I wore this on a walk to the grocery store (no joke!).
