Maternity Clothes...What to Wear and When
Tips for Buying Clothing during Pregnancy
When should I start wearing maternity clothes?
There is no set answer such as 8-10 weeks. Every pregnancy is different. You should start wearing maternity clothes when your regular clothes feel too tight or start to look awkward because they are too small. You actually have a good reason to wear the comfortable elastic pants…so take advantage!!
How do you determine what maternity size to wear?
You just buy in the size you normally wear. If you want to be on the conservative side to ensure the clothes will fit for the entire pregnancy then go one size bigger than what you normally wear.
I want maternity clothes that will last through my entire pregnancy, but I am only two months pregnant. What should I buy?
While there is a lot of advice out there to buy cheap, there are some good reasons to buy a few "investment pieces" from a maternity designer like Hatch. The Hatch line is designed to fit at two months and still fit perfectly at nine months...and even for the awkward after-pregnancy when many of your clothes still won't fit.
The Hatch maternity fabrics are designed with "memory", meaning it will expand and contract with your body without looking stretched out and sloppy. This should give you about a year of wear out of the clothes even if you only have one pregnancy.
I am at an awkward phase in my pregnancy… I don't fit in my regular work clothes anymore but I don't want to wear anything that makes me look pregnant to work yet. What should I buy?
Maternity Shirts — Buy maternity shirts that are "rouched" around the tummy instead of the sides.
If you wear a suit, the Ripe Krysta tank may be a good option to wear under your jacket. The stomach area is not form fitting around the stomach but has enough shape that it will not look like a maternity shirt. The gathers have been "strategically" placed so that even when you take off your jacket it is not obvious that the shirt is a maternity shirt.
To conceal a pregnancy, you will want to err on the side of choosing a smaller size than a larger size.
Maternity Pants — For pants you want to wear dark colors to conceal the waist- band. To conceal a pregnancy in the early months wear under the belly pants (as opposed to over-belly) with a long shirt. Some maternity pants have a horizontal wrap around the waist-band to conceal the waist band. These pants will stand out even more as maternity pants.
"The Olian Gray Pants" are a good example of using dark color to conceal your waist-band. The "Khaki Twill Wide Leg Pant by Maternal America" and the "Oatmeal Linen Wide Leg Pant by Maternal America" have the waistband sewn inside the pants. These pants look exactly like your pre-pregnancy pants only they have some give at the waist.
I have been working though my pregnancy with morning sickness and fatigue. I don't have any issues with treating myself to something nice.
The Julou brand is ranges in the $100-$200 price range but is very hip and unique.
The "Ripe Frilly Tank" and "Ripe Camisoles" are a little more expensive than other camisoles but feel wonderful against your skin and have a beautiful fit.
The Amy Michelle diaper bags are also a nice way to treat yourself to something nice.
I love my new bust size and I want to have some fun with it. Any ideas?
The "Ripe Euro Kimono Top" is the perfect cut.
I usually wear a suit to work but I am not sure I want to spend a lot of money for a suit I will only wear for a short amount of time.
The maternity suit designers realize this and have made suit jackets that fit through your entire pregnancy and for the awkward phase after-pregnancy while you are losing your baby weight.
For example, the "Japanese Weekend Suit Jacket" has hidden zippers on each side seam. The "Olian Suit Jacket" has one button placed over the belly so it still fits as your belly grows.
I've heard that comfortable shoes are an often- overlooked need for pregnant women.
Swollen feet usually become a problem at the end of your pregnancy. One cost-efficient solution is to always carry your "Spare Soles" with you to work, weddings, or any other occasion where you wear uncomfortable shoes. When you can't stand your uncomfortable shoes another minute then slip on your "Spare Soles" for a cute and comfortable solution.
