As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you may start feeling self-conscious about your body. As a woman, it is natural for us to want to look our best. And as soon as the baby bump starts growing bigger and becoming noticeable under our clothes, it starts to make us uneasy. In most cases, it’s not even just the bump that’s growing – you may feel like your whole body is becoming more prominent to bring life into this world. And when this happens, you might start to panic.
As all your clothes slowly start to become either too small or too tight for your growing body, you may find yourself dressing in unflattering clothes. Oversized shirts, baggy sweaters, and loose jeans that just don’t fit right become your fashion choices. In such a scenario, you can’t help but hate the way you look – you feel unattractive and depressed, which is not how any woman should feel during this beautiful nine-month journey.
First things first, you need to change the way you see yourself. Your body is working super hard, all-day supplying oxygen, nutrients, and everything else that is required to grow a tiny human inside of you. It doesn’t matter how you looked before you got pregnant or how much you used to weigh. Pregnancy changes you into a whole new person altogether – in every way possible. So the next time you find yourself hiding your belly or feeling depressed about your thighs, let it go. Be proud of how you look and learn to flaunt it.
Next, you need to focus on putting together your maternity wardrobe. Nine months is a long time, and you will probably be wearing your maternity clothes even after you deliver the baby, as your body takes time to go back to its original size. So, it only makes sense to do some planning.
If you are looking for some fashion inspiration, here are our top 6 secrets to help you slay while pregnant:
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Start with your closet
Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you’ll need a whole new wardrobe. There are plenty of clothes that you can continue using, especially during the first few months. Separate the items you can still use and start arranging them as part of your maternity wardrobe. A separate maternity section in your closet is handy so that you won’t have to go through everything, over and over again for clothes that can still fit.
Start with any skirts or pants with stretchy waistbands that can comfortably accommodate your growing body. Even jeans that are a little loose with a belly band (i.e., an elastic band that is worn around the waist to hold your jeans in place without the need to zip them).
Any loose A-line tops, tent/empire size dresses, open cardigans, and stretchy tees can also be convenient.
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Invest in dresses
If you want to save money and invest in a few new clothes for your maternity wardrobe, we recommend you get dresses. We say this because when you are pregnant, you want to make it easy to get dressed and get out of the house. Unlike jeans and tops where you need to think about which pieces will go together, a dress is an outfit on its own. It is comfortable to wear and take off and allows you to move around swiftly, without putting any pressure on your belly. Short maternity dresses by Bump Girl are also an excellent option for beautiful dresses that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
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Don’t forget to be yourself
Let’s get this straight: being pregnant isn’t something you need to hide. There’s do not need to wear everything in XL to ensure your growing breasts and bump hidden from the world. Because the truth is, wearing clothes that are too baggy will only make you look a lot bigger than you are. Form-fitting clothes are a better choice, and you can still keep up with your style.
For example, if you have always loved flaunting your long legs, you can continue to do so in gorgeous, flowy mini-dresses. Love showing your shoulders? Don’t be shy to go strapless. Also, if you have always wanted to be a little curvier, there’s no better time than now to show off your new cleavage!
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Choose the right fabrics
Comfort is a top priority for many while pregnant, and the choice of material will have a significant impact on how easily a piece of clothing can accommodate your growing body. If it’s winter, woven or knitted is an excellent option as they have plenty of room. For summer, stretchy, breathable fabric such as soft jersey or anything with a high lycra content will help you stay relaxed and comfortable.
Choosing material that doesn’t wrinkle easily is also a lifesaver as you probably will not have the energy to stand and iron clothes for long, especially towards the end of your pregnancy.
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Get some inspiration from your man
It might be hard for some to believe, but a lot of men’s clothing can fit a pregnant woman wonderfully. So, if your beau has a couple of cute button-down shirts you could borrow, don’t be afraid to try them on. You can choose to leave the buttons open, roll up the sleeves, and wear a stretchy tank top underneath for a feminine look. Alternatively, you could pair a crisp white button-down with black leggings and some boots – you will love the look!
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Accessories are your best friend
On days when you don’t have the energy to put in a lot of effort in your look but still wish to look put-together, adding a few accessories can help make you look and feel great about yourself. Not only that, but accessories also help in drawing attention away from the bump. Here’s what we recommend:
- Use statement pieces such as a bright, chunky necklace or bracelets to add some oomph to a basic outfit. Large, dangly earrings are another great option.
- Wear a cardigan draped around your shoulders to give a new look to an otherwise everyday outfit.
- Add a colorful scarf around your neck.
- Make roomy dresses look awesome by adding a cute belt above your belly.
Pregnancy is sure to take a toll on every woman. With nausea, fatigue, and the need to prepare for the arrival of the baby, there’s so much going on that you may find no energy to look or dress the way you used to. But giving a little thought to your wardrobe and investing in a few carefully-selected maternity outfits will ensure you sweep through the nine months looking like a fashionista. So, go on and make an effort – you will thank us later.