At this point, I’ve been pregnant through most seasons – fall, winter, spring, and now summer. And I won’t lie to you. Even as a fashion blogger, I’ve found what to wear when pregnant extremely difficult. Your body changes so rapidly throughout the nine months that something may fit one week and not the next. Plus some of your favorite clothing items may no longer be particularly flattering on your new body shape.
Now that I’m nearing the end of my third trimester, I figured it was a good time to catalog the things that make up my maternity capsule wardrobe. I tried very hard not to lean too heavily into buying actual maternity clothes, but there are some things you simply can’t avoid. Luckily there are a lot of items that you’ll be able to leverage from your pre-pregnancy wardrobe and others you can wear post-pregnancy.
Keep reading for my complete list of maternity wardrobe must-haves. And if you’re currently pregnant (or have been pregnant before) leave a comment with the items you found essential during your nine months.
Xx, Kelsey
How to choose maternity capsule wardrobe pieces
One thing I’ll say about putting together a maternity capsule wardrobe is to lean into pieces that feel right to YOU. Every woman and pregnancy is different. I noticed body changes very early on that made it impossible to wear much of my existing wardrobe, while I’ve had friends get away with hardly any new clothes. Don’t feel like you have to buy certain items or dress a certain way just because other pregnant women do. Pregnancy is a wild time in your life where a lot feels out of control. But you can control what you put on your body and wear things that make you feel good during this challenging time. Comfort is absolutely essential, but don’t forget to also look for items that make you feel beautiful in your new shape!
My maternity capsule wardrobe
Maternity leggings
This is one area where it is TOTALLY worth purchasing the maternity version. Once your bump starts popping, the high waist becomes much more comfortable. I was able to wear my typical lululemon align leggings well into the second trimester, but soon they started rolling or feeling less comfortable. I switched to this pair from Amazon and ended up buying four of them so I could wear all week long. Plus maternity leggings allowed me to wear my favorite pre-pregnancy workout tops without my belly being out during workout classes. If you’re mostly pregnant during the summer, there’s also a shorts version that I love.
Bumpsuit
Another item that’s maternity but SO worth it is the Bumpsuit. I received one as a Christmas gift when I was entering my second trimester, and it took me so far. The material is insanely soft and it does a great job of smoothing the bump. It’s easy to dress up with a blazer or cardigan or down under a sweatshirt. They also offer a shorts version for summer pregnancies. This is definitely more of an investment piece than other items in this maternity capsule wardrobe, but I wore it so often I think it’s worth it.
Loose dresses
Thankfully, I was already into breezy, loose dresses before I needed to build out a maternity capsule wardrobe. These have been essential for me throughout pregnancy to help hide the bump in the early stages or purely for comfort in the later stages. I’ve personally found that I hate feeling constricted over my bump, so I lean towards dresses more often than not. In the colder months, opt for long-sleeve versions, and in the summer you can go sleeveless. If you’re worried about looking like a tent, a well-placed belt can help give some shape.
Stretchy dresses
On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve found that stretchy dresses are the most flattering. I spent a whole afternoon in the second trimester trying on literally everything in my closet. The end verdict was that the most flattering items are those that hug the bump and give you some shape. Since then I’ve worn my Skims dress (which I owned before pregnancy) more than anything else in my closet. It works so well under a blazer for work or on its own for dinner with my husband.
Drawstring pants
As I mentioned above, I’ve hated wearing restricting items over my bump as I’ve gotten bigger. Even maternity items! I’ve found that drawstring pants with a stretchy waistband sit nicely below the bump and can still look put together. In the third trimester, I’ve had to order one or two pairs in a bigger size, but for the most part my usual size M pants have had enough stretch. I will absolutely be wearing these as part of my post-partum wardrobe, too.
Elastic waist skirts
Once warmer weather hit, I started wearing this skirt on repeat. It’s as easy as my breezy dresses but better for my OB appointments (access to the bump for ultrasounds). It’s also such a versatile piece because you can pair it with any of the tops already in your wardrobe or with a maternity tee. Plus white maxi skirts are very on trend. It’s nice to be able to wear one trendy thing while pregnant!
Oversized button downs
These have been essential throughout my whole pregnancy. In the beginning, I wore them to hide the bump. As I’ve gotten further along. I’ve liked wearing them half unbuttoned over the bump with drawstring pants or leggings. They also look great thrown over a stretchy fitted dress for a little more coverage.
Tanks and tees
This really depends on your preference when it comes to exposing the bump or not. I’ve been happy to walk around with my bump showing, especially during the warmer months. Many of my existing tank tops and tees have worked fine for me. But I know that’s not the case for everyone! If you’re a bit more shy about showing your bump, a few good maternity tanks and tees will give you that additional coverage. I bought one white tank and one black tee shirt. I’ve only just started wearing them in the last month of pregnancy (but even those are riding up now because I’m so big haha).
Maternity jeans
This is another item in my maternity capsule wardrobe that I think is worth going for the maternity version. I know a lot of women just buy regular jeans a few sizes bigger, but I didn’t really want that oversized look early on in my pregnancy. Between my hips widening early and the bloat setting in, I found a pair of pre and post-pregnancy jeans with an adjustable waistband to be really helpful. I was still able to dress like “me” before I was showing but didn’t have to sacrifice comfort. However, those jeans stopped fitting in the second trimester. I haven’t purchased a new pair since. But if I was in the latter stages of my pregnancy in the colder months, I might have been more inclined to grab another inexpensive pair.
Compression socks & maternity underwear
Ok, this is the least fun item in my maternity capsule wardrobe, but it’s also so necessary. Third trimester puffiness is very real, and a pair of compression socks can help relieve some of that pesky swelling in your feet and ankles that inevitably happens. You’ll also experience chafing between your thighs (fun I know) even if you never did before pregnancy. A pair of pregnancy underwear with shorts is a lifesaver under dresses. Plus they help smooth the bump out in the earlier stages when it’s not perfectly round yet.
Leave a Reply