So, you have a little person growing inside you! Yay! Once the excitement settles in, the next thing that comes is a lifestyle change where you will be thinking of what to buy, what food to eat, how much to spend, where to spend, etc. and the one thing that is definitely on the list is the wardrobe change you will have to undergo.
Now, just because there is a baby on the way, it doesn’t mean you need to forgo your personal style or spend a bomb on pieces that you may need to put aside later.
While it will not be as easy as throwing on your previous favourite outfits, there are still ways to tackle your maternity dressing so that you can still rock an awesome style and not burn a deep hole in your pocket!
To give you a starting point, I’ve listed down some ideas below, which you can expand on using your own creativity!
1) Borrow from Your Man
One of the easiest, and dare I say, sexiest way to dress up is to ‘borrow’ your partner’s shirt.
Since they are there to support you financially, emotionally, physically, it wouldn’t hurt to have them share their outfits with you.
After all, sharing is caring.
What I love most about an oversized boyfriend shirt is its versatility. For one, it’s always in trend.
You can opt to have it tucked in or tucked out, wear it under a jumper, over a bodysuit, just by itself or have it paired with your favourite pants.
And depending on your personal liking, you can also choose to have your sleeves rolled up or down, and collars turned up or down. Each will give you a different style.
Plus, if the shirt has vertical lines, it can nicely hide your baby bump should you choose to. So really, anything goes!
Another great option is a denim shirt. It gives you a more rugged look as compared to a working shirt and you can easily pair it with either jeans or leggings. So, go check out his wardrobe now!
2) Style with Scarves
This is one of my personal favourites! The little piece of cloth can serve as an accessory or as the outfit itself. As an accessory, it can be used as a hairband on your hair, as a neck warmer on your neck, or as a twilly on your handbag.
Or you can tie your scarf in multiple ways to make it your top. Scarves are literally tops that can grow with you. As your belly bump gets bigger, you can be more creative and use multiple scarves instead of one.
Scarves and stoles, with their variety of prints and patterns, just make you look more feminine and add a bit of spunk to your outfit.
Wear your scarf in multiple ways with your existing wardrobe pieces, and you will have a new pregnancy look each time.
3) Shift Your Waist Up
One of your simplest and best investments is to get yourself a long, adjustable belt, one which probably costs only RM50 or less.
As your little one grows, you can then adjust your belt from your waistline upwards and create a style of your own.
For example, with a long maxi dress, by belting it just under your bust line, you can create an empire line dress, which I always say look very much like the traditional Korean costume, the Hanbok.
The Hanbok, with a slim top and wide bottom, akin to a bell, flatters the wearer’s gracefulness by hiding the movements of the lower body so that the wearer appears to be floating on air.
Similarly, an empire dress, fitted on top above the waistline and flares down below, will allow the fabric to drape loosely over your bump and will enable you to move gracefully.
You can also work the same on a long skirt as well, pulling it higher or lower.
4) The Power of Jackets
No matter what style of blazers or jackets you have—boxy, fitted, peplum, drape or wrap; this is a good time to wear them and not have to button up!
A jacket gives your outer silhouette a structured look which will be very helpful if you need to project a professional image.
Another cover-up you may choose is cardigans. A short, colourful one makes you look chic; whereas a long cardigan gives an illusion of longer legs.
So, you really don’t have to spend more buying oversized jackets or coats. Just have them unbuttoned, and you are set to go! They really are an absolute must-have in your maternity wardrobe.
5) Layer, Layer, Layer
Layering is one of the easiest ways to create interest in your outfit. For example, wearing a denim jacket with a stretchable dress underneath or layering your bodysuit with an extra vest.
You can even wear a T-shirt over a sleeveless dress for that extra spunk!
But whatever you do, I want you to remember this mantra: Wide over narrow, long over short. This means, with a maxi dress, you need to pair it with a short cardigan and not a long one—hence ‘short over long’.
If you pair an oversized coat with a loose-fitting shift dress—which means ‘wide over wide’, you will look frumpy.
Choose a stretchable dress instead, which will give you the ‘wide over narrow’ effect.
Another option is to pair it with pants which will make you look more attractive, rather than wearing it with a long skirt, as the two columns of the pants will give you extra vertical lines.
6) Accessories to the Rescue
Never underestimate the power of a pair of chunky earrings or a statement necklace.
On occasions that you need to dress up, your outfit can be a monotonous single-coloured one; but the minute you add on some bling, your mood will be lifted up, amplifying your pregnancy glow three-folds!
A quick tip: Gold will go well with black, whereas you can opt for silver with white.
7) Bless These Dresses
If you love dresses, invest in pieces that do not have a definite waistline. For example, a shift dress.
I must admit, shift straight-cut dresses, although very comfortable, are without a defining waistline which can make one look dowdy.
However, with all the aches and pains that come with pregnancy, these easy-to-wear pieces are God-sent!
With a short dress, you can always add on a pair of leggings for comfort. With a long one, you can always add a belt to cinch it up if you like.
So really, maxi dresses, shift dresses, or any dress that does not have a definite waistline is an easy-to-wear solution.
Do look for good quality fabrics and pieces that will accommodate you as your belly expands.
So to all you hot mamas out there, remember, there is no need to sacrifice your own personal style just because the little one is coming.
Besides the guide above, there are myriad of ways you can transform your regular clothes into trendy and comfortable maternity clothes and still look smashing!
Remember, my personal belief—Stylish mummy, stylish baby! Go give it a try!
Read more interesting stories and fun recipes on Motherhood Story!
Article written by:
Wendy Lee,
Adjunct Professor,
Professional BrandImage Consultant,
Director of BrandImage International Institute