Shirt | Sweater | Jeans | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that I did not want to buy a whole new maternity wardrobe for this pregnancy. I was able to get away with wearing my regular clothes up until around 18-19 weeks. That’s when it started to become uncomfortable with pants mostly. But every woman is different (can’t stress that enough!) when it comes to this, so it’s important to have some solid, reliable maternity pieces once the time comes. Especially if it’s your first time around, you’ll be asking yourself “what do I really need?” Look no further because below is what I’ve found truly are the maternity wardrobe essentials – those items you just can’t go 9 months without. These essentials would be good no matter when you’re giving birth!
Jeans
This is an absolute must for all expectant mothers. If you’re like me, and you wear jeans basically everyday, then you need to invest in at least a couple of pairs. I’d recommend a pair of dark wash, a pair of distressed and either a black or white pair depending on the season you’re due. Personally, I got three pairs for my pregnancy, and these are my absolute favorite (recommend sizing down one!).
Leggings and Sweats
In the beginning, I honestly thought I could get pretty far with my pre-pregnancy leggings. Boy was I wrong. My pre-pregnancy pairs started feeling tight and restrictive around the same time I had to move to maternity jeans. So I grabbed a couple of pairs of true maternity leggings and am SO happy I did. Huge difference in comfort level and I felt like I had support for my growing belly. Also, my normal sweatpants just weren’t cutting it in terms of sizing and look, so I opted for comfy joggers instead. I’ve been wearing them non-stop since they came in the mail, and I will likely continue well into postpartum with baby.
Tunic Tops
Tunic style tops are great because they are long enough to cover the bump, but also give you some room in the waist area. This style is my go-to pre-pregnancy so I had some already, but I’d recommend getting some comfy tees and a white button down (also love this style) for sure. Throw in a couple of nice sweaters (here and here) if you’re due in the cooler months.
Black Dress
Just in case you have a wedding to attend in your third trimester, or you have the company holiday party in your 6th month, it’s good to have a solid black dress. Black is super slimming and will make mamas who maybe aren’t feeling so comfortable, feel like like a million bucks. This ruched bodycon dress (more colors if you don’t want black) was one of the best maternity purchases I made. It’s so comfortable and can literally be worn to anything with the appropriate accessories. I’ve also heard rav reviews about this dress even though it’s not true maternity (mamas suggest just going up one size to accommodate the bump!).
Bralettes
Last but certainly not least, I wanted to touch on bras and bralettes. I’m going to be dedicating a whole post to this in the coming weeks with my favorites. I would suggest that you get at least one wireless bra and a bralette for the later half of your pregnancy. It will be so much more comfortable then your usual bras, trust me. And Aerie makes my favorite styles. With your belly and boobs growing, you need comfort and nothing restricting.
If you are someone who works in an office that requires business attire, I’d recommend checking out Gap! They have a great maternity line overall and some great work appropriate pieces. I’d pick up these skinny work pants, this pencil skirt and this faux wrap dress.
PS – If you’re looking for a great steamer (so your shirt doesn’t end up wrinkly like mine), check out my Amazon shop! I’m adding our favorite household items and baby stuff!
