Congratulations, mama! Let me guess, you’re loving that you’re finally at the point where people are asking you when you’re due! Watching your tummy grow from a “few extra donuts” into a pumpkin is such a treat, but styling the your growing bump is no easy task. By the time you get to the point in your pregnancy where you simply cannot pull your jeans up, all you really want to do is curl up in a snuggie with some pregnancy-safe tea for the next few months. But there are showers, weddings, vacations… and you still have to show up. You might not want to go, much less dress up, but you’re more beautiful now than you’ve ever been and you should feel that way! (Oh, you feel like a hippo with heartburn? Don’t worry, my pregnancy style tips without buying maternity clothes can help with that…)
If I’m being honest, yoga pants make up 95% of my current 6-month pregnant (& mom of a 1 year old) wardrobe, but I still love an excuse to dress up! That being said, I can’t bring myself to spend money on maternity clothes. I’m careful about how I spend my money, and I’m super picky when it comes to clothing. So, I challenged myself: NO MATERNITY CLOTHES… is it possible?! Well, I was able to successfully carry a wardrobe free from maternity clothing through my summer pregnancy with Brooks (gaining almost 40 lbs), and so I’m posing myself the same challenge this time around. And this time I’m not able to workout… so you can bet my body is changing even more than it did the last! Below I’ve outlined a few of my pregnancy style tips that will carry you through your pregnancy without buying any maternity clothes, brought to you with a little help from one of my favorite socially responsible clothing brands, Common Assembly!
- Top: Golden Bell Sleeve from Common Assembly
But first, let me tell you my why. There were 2 reasons I set out to avoid maternity clothes while I was pregnant with Brooks (my son):
- I like to spend my money on quality clothes over fast fashion, and buying quality maternity clothes that will be irrelevant this time next year just seems like a waste.
- I’ve yet to find any maternity clothing store that can compete with my favorite non-maternity ones. They just aren’t that cute, in my opinion. And yes, I’ve looked.
Nine months seems like a long time, but you likely won’t need a drastic wardrobe change for the majority of it. People get excited to shop for their new maternity wardrobe from the start, but you may not need those things until you’re two months out (and by that point you are totally okay with the same yoga pants on repeat). I’ll be honest, it was easier in the summer (and with it being my first pregnancy). Skirts and dresses during the day, the same few pairs of shorts and tanks at home… I was never really strapped for outfits. This time around, I’m a little more perplexed. I find myself larger, and much faster this second pregnancy, and it’s currently 8 degrees outside. Yes, 8 degrees (notice my frozen red nose in all these photographs). So that changes things…
Non-Maternity Pregnancy Style Tips
To help you make it through your pregnancy without spending a dime on maternity clothes, I’ve compiled a list of 6 tips to styling your bump in a way that’s both comfortable and cute! Many of the items pictured below are from Common Assembly, I’ll link each one beneath each photo (in the caption). You can also use my code “Kelsie20” to save 20% off your order on their site!
1. Dress up your Leggings!
If you haven’t experimented with wearing leggings as a part of a non-athletic outfit, now is the time! Nice black leggings with sufficient stretch can carry you through your entire pregnancy – from work to lounge – with a little creativity (and a covered bum)! Now might also be the time to snag some faux leather leggings... I wear these anytime I want to amp up the fancy factor a bit (like in the outfit pictured here)! To “dress these up”, I threw my favorite kimono cardigan over a fitted black top. Feels like athleisure, looks like date night!
2. Bodycon (fitted) Dresses & Skirts
Bodycon styles are almost always made of a stretchy, forgiving material. This makes them PERFECT contenders for pregnancy outfits! Despite what you might think, you don’t actually need that ruched side hem characteristic of maternity styles when the material is stretchy on its own! Pull out all your favorite “fitted” skirts and dresses and try them on over your belly – chances are most will fit just right and offer the perfect canvas for pairing with a fun sweater/cardigan or graphic tee! Plus, bodycon styles are super flattering with a prominent bump as they outline your cute new figure from top to bottom (and closing back in on the parts of you that aren’t sticking a foot out)! One Suggestion… I recommend a midi-length for any bodycon style. A fitted short dress will pull the attention away from your cute belly and on to your thighs (which I would imagine are also a little more prominent right now)! Keep it below the knee!ÂÂ
3. Incorporate something “fitted” in each outfit
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. But if a little extra attention isn’t put into crafting an outfit, it’s easy to go from beautiful to frumpy (bluntly stated… I know this from experience), and this is especially true if your frame is already on the shorter side! A guideline I stick to in order to combat this is to incorporate at least 1 fitted item in each look! If I’m wearing leggings, my top is loose, and if I’m wearing a loose pleated maxi skirt, my top is fitted! Otherwise, it’s easy to look like you’re being swallowed by your clothes… especially when the bump is turning them into a tent of sorts! I love this crinkle-pleated midi skirt… it is so versatile and perfectly accommodates the growing bump!
4. Utilize Non-Maternity Sweaters
My rule of thumb is this: oversized with pants, cropped with a fitted dress or skirt. Why anyone would ever invest in a maternity top is beyond me… there are far too many forgiving non-maternity options that you can put your money toward instead and use for years to come! Save your money on that ruched side… a little stretch or oversized fit will suffice! And if you want to wear one with a skirt or dress, opt for a shorter cropped sweater that shows off your belly OR one you can front tie/tuck right above the bump!
5. Go for an empire waist!
Anything you can wrap/tie/sinch right above the bump is a cute way to show it off while keeping (what’s left of) your waistline visible! I love a good empire waist wrap dress, drawstring dress, wrap cardigan or wrap blouse over leggings, anything that makes my bump POP but emphasizes that line between my chest and tummy! (I’ve tried on all the items linked above and they are perfect “bump friendly” options)
Pro Tip: As long as you can still fit your pants over your hips, you can use a hair tie to close the buttons! Pinch the tie and slip one end through the hole, wrapping the other end of the tie around the button to hold it in place!
6. Avoid Restrictive Pants – Leggings & Dresses/Skirts can carry you through!
With a little creativity, you can get by the final few months with leggings/skirts/dresses! If you do feel the need to spend some money on a few more options, opt for a pair of super stretchy yoga pants that are comfortable now but that you can continue to wear once you’re no longer pregnant (my favorite are Beyond Yoga – they are buttery soft and have the most flexible stretch while maintaining compression). If black yoga pants and a tunic aren’t going to cut it for an event, go with a comfortable dress or skirt! There should be no reason you should even HAVE to wear jeans or slacks in those final few months, so save your money.
And just in case you needed someone to validate what you’re already thinking…
Lounge Sets and Sweat Suits ARE an acceptable outfit.
When you’re 8 months pregnant, nobody is going to think your cutie sweat suit makes you underdressed. And since you will inevitably be spending more time around the house for the next several months (at least), now is a great time to splurge on a few cute matching sweat suits and lounge sets for those cozy baby-snuggling days in your future! It is surprisingly easy to find cute matching sets that are forgiving enough to look cute with a big belly AND without, so opt for a non-maternity set (like the one pictured above)! This is something you can take advantage of during pregnancy, at the hospital, and far beyond your baby-making years!
If you take nothing else away from this post, I hope you hear this: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and YOUR BODY IS AMAZING. It’s the truth, no matter what you see when you look in the mirror, so go ahead and start complimenting (and treating) yourself! The clothes you wear for the wonderful months ahead should make you feel nothing short of stunning. Now go curl up on the couch with something sweet and rub that growing belly of yours!
Now that you know my top 6 pregnancy style tips (without buying maternity clothes), head over to my favorite online boutique Common Assembly and use my code “Kelsie20” to save 20% on their site! This post is sponsored by Common Assembly, a socially responsibly clothing brand that strives to spread kindness through collaborations and various give-back efforts! Every supplier they work with signs their “Social Responsibility Contract” which states that they provide fair wages & benefits to their employees, healthy & safe working conditions, and that they follow local environmental regulations relating to waste, pollutants and toxins. In addition, Common Assembly values economic sustainability by offering a variety of eco-friendly lines! They really are a brand that “pays if forward”, and I’m proud to wear and support them! Feel good about what you wear AND what you buy.
With love,
Kelsie
You look fabulous !!
You look fabulous !!