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WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S | Family Maternity Center | Pregnancy Resource Center | Pregnancy Library | Emotions | Dressing for success while you’re pregnant
Dressing for success while you’re pregnant
Is yours a jeans-and-work-shirt kind of job, or is a tailored suit more your style? No matter what kind of job you have, you'll need to make adjustments in your wardrobe beginning about Month 4, when you first start to "show," and definitely by Month 6. Fortunately, maternity fashions have come a long way from the Peter Pan collars and frilly bows of yesteryear; whatever your pre-pregnant style, you can probably replicate it in maternity clothes with a little shopping around.
Growing your wardrobe
Few, if any, new clothes are needed in the first three months. The second trimester can be awkward, clothes-wise: You're too small for most maternity clothes, but your waistline won't accommodate your old pants and skirts. Regular (or one size larger) pants and skirts with wide elastic waistbands will work for awhile, or go ahead and ease into wearing maternity skirts and pants with a long jacket, sweater, vest, or other loose clothing. By Month 6 you'll need the extra room and comfort engineered into maternity clothes.
If money's no object, mid-pregnancy can be one big shopping spree. Most working women need to rein in the maternity clothes budget a bit, however. Shopping at thrift stores and borrowing from friends are just two ways to save money on maternity clothes. It also helps to plan your work wardrobe. Assuming you work in an office setting, consider these tips:
- Invest in a simple maternity skirt and pair of pants early on. Black is a good color choice, as it's always in style and goes with most things. Cotton works well for home and office; if you need a more professional look, go with wool. You can wear a black skirt day after day with different tops without anyone noticing.
- Buy big tops. Roomy sweaters, unstructured shirts, and loose jackets and vests are comfy and can carry you for several months. They'll also be convenient to wear while breastfeeding later on.
- Don't put away those dresses yet. Try topping loose dresses (even fitted ones, at first) with a blazer through mid-pregnancy.
- Buy simple styles, and accessorize. Simple clothes in neutral colors allow you to wear the same thing over and over-even daily. If you wear dresses, one black dress and one neutral color dress can go a long way.
- Shop for new shoes. Don't be surprised if your feet grow. Some women gain a full shoe size during pregnancy and never return to their original size. For safety and comfort, lean away from spike heels and stick with flat or low-heel shoes, preferably slip-ons. You might consider black or neutral colors to get the most mileage from your pregnancy shoes.
- Consider leasing. If your work requires particularly formal attire, or if you have a big night out planned for Month 8, you might want to lease an outfit or two. If no shops lease maternity fashions where you live, search the Internet for a source.
- Do splurge on one complete outfit, if possible. This should be a time to celebrate your body, and one fun outfit helps you do that.
- Don't skimp on quality. Some maternity clothes are so poorly made, they seem programmed to self-destruct in 4 months. Feeling huge and uncomfortable at Month 8 is bad enough; don't add unraveling seams to the mix. Better to borrow good quality clothes, and to pass on the good clothes you do buy to pregnant friends when you're through with them.
- Accentuate the positive. Some of your best physical attributes can look even better while you're pregnant, so go ahead and play them up.
Date last reviewed: October 2002.
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