Oh, maternity. Both my favorite and not so favorite subject.
Don’t get me wrong. Being pregnant and having children was the greatest blessing I’ve ever been given. But if I’m being completely honest, I struggled hard with body image before, during, and after pregnancy. I didn’t recognize this “new” body and shopping for it quickly became a chore. But in order to maintain some piece of myself, I sought out maternity wear that was stylish, yet comfortable, and made me feel good. Which, in hindsight, was lots of classic, flowy pieces, all of which I continued to wear postpartum (because my body definitely didn’t bounce back as quickly as I hoped!). I use “maternity” loosely here though, because as you’ll notice, a lot of the items I’m sharing are technically not maternity. I’ve always loved an oversized style, which happened to also work well for me during pregnancy!
Over the course of three pregnancies, I figured out my go-to places to shop, the best everyday pieces, and items you don’t really think about until you’re in the thick of it all. So here we go, a list of my 16 top maternity items and places to find them!
Without a doubt, this is my favorite maternity store. Albeit expensive, the quality pieces I received were worth every penny. And all of these items lasted all three pregnancies and postpartum.
- (1) The New Maternity Cut Off Shorts (What I especially love about their denim is that the elastic wedge (if you don’t know what these are, you’ll quickly learn once you start shopping maternity!) is small and subtle. So if you want to rock that fashionable front tuck, you still can!)
- (2) The New Maternity Boyfriend Jean (available in 3 washes)
- (3) The Classic White
- (4) The Nearly Skinny Maternity Jean (available in 4 washes)
- (5) The Belize Maillot (literally the only maternity swimsuit I ever liked and wore postpartum!)
A high quality (non-maternity) brand whose pieces will last you before, during, and after pregnancy. Soft, worn-in, and loose. Their pieces are incredibly stylish and comfortable!
- (6) The Boxy Crew (available in 17 colors)
- (7) The Scallop Kerchief Dress (this was a risk purchase but ended up being one of my fave dresses ever! Super cute, comfy, and was the perfect Spring/Summer piece that worked with my growing bump!)
- (8) The Tuxedo Dress (I don’t have this exact dress, it seems to have been discontinued. This one just has the added ruffle, which I love even more!)
The store that has it all! I’ll admit, Nordstrom is not my favorite place for maternity pieces but they do have so many options. What I ended up loving from here were items you may not initially think about!
- (9) True Body V-Neck Wireless Bra (I found this bra postpartum but I desperately wished I would have had it during pregnancy. These bras are incredibly soft and comfortable , with a good amount of support for the bust that seems to never stop growing during pregnancy!)
- (10) Everyday Maternity BellaBand (This band is made to go around your growing belly and over your unzipped jeans to hold them up. Sounds weird but I promise you will want this, especially if you don’t want to buy maternity bottoms)
Another go-to store for basically anything (non-maternity). I don’t have specific pieces from this shop, because their (abundant) inventory is always changing. But I always hunted for pieces that worked with an ever growing belly, like the one I’ve linked below!
Like Revolve, this site has anything and everything (both non-maternity and maternity). Although I would argue the quality is average, prices are affordable and there’s a wide variety of styles. So if you’d rather go for quantity, this site is great!
- (12) Maternity Oversized Boyfriend T-Shirt
- (13) Maternity Trench Coat (this is one of those items I didn’t think about until Winter hit. But you’ll most likely need an oversized jacket or an actual maternity one to keep that baby bump warm!)
I love all things Free People and they really came through during pregnancy. Their boho, flowy style always worked with a bump and, of course, after. My go-to’s tended to be tops and dresses, like the one below!
- (14) Jilly Midi Dress (comes in 5 colors)
I would be remiss to not include this brand. I worked in corporate my entire first pregnancy, which meant I had to dress my growing bump in business casual attire. Rosie Pope was the first maternity brand I actually enjoyed wearing and the pieces lasted. So to all of my working Mamas, Rosie is a must try!
- (15) Pret Skirt
- (16) Long Sleeved Cinched Dress (available in 3 colors)
If you’re reading this, you’re most likely pregnant or thinking about trying to become a Mama. I truly wish you all the best during this crazy, stressful, yet beautiful time. You’ll feel all the emotions but believe me when I tell you it’s such a short time in your life. Enjoy every moment, feel every feeling. And don’t ever forget that you’re creating an absolute miracle.
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