Pregnancy is all about change, and your style is no exception. As your body undergoes an often drastic transformation, it can be difficult to decide what type of clothing to invest your money in, especially as there seem to be endless varieties of maternity clothing available. The maternity dress, however, is a classic and reliable go-to look for pregnant women.
Maternity dresses are comfortable, stylish, and flattering, and they often are wearable throughout your entire pregnancy. Still, there are seven things you need to know before buying just any maternity dress. This guide will help you choose the perfect maternity dress for you.
7 Maternity Dress Tips
1) Choose “Clingy” Dresses
Though you may want to hide parts of your body with a maternity dress, you want to make sure that something in the dress clings somewhere. In other words, a maternity dress still needs shape, and it needs to be fitted to your body somewhere.
In the past, many women wore extremely unflattering and extremely loose maternity dresses. These days, there is nothing wrong with wearing a dress that accentuates your bump and other parts of your changing body.
2) Buy Actual Maternity-Designed Dresses
Many women think that they can just purchase a dress a few sizes up and that it will look fine. This is often a mistake because maternity companies truly do have the pregnant body in mind.
Relying on dresses a size up can look sloppy and unfitted, and honestly, can even be uncomfortable. That is why it is important to shop in stores that have specifically-designed maternity wear, and there are now thousands of online shops that do just that.
You don’t want to make the mistake that many women make and not invest in yourself during your pregnancy. It is important that you still feel confident and comfortable, and buying perfectly designed maternity dresses can boost your self-esteem at a time when you might feel vulnerable.
3) Less is more
Your growing bump is going to bring a lot of attention your way, so investing in sleek and simple maternity dresses may be the way to go. Sometimes, busy patterns can take away from that beautiful bump, and that may or may not be something you are looking for.
Simple patterns and solid colors are often the way to go, but if you’re looking to draw eyes and attract attention, flowery designs, patterns, or polka dots are always great choices for flattering the pregnant body.
4) Choose Diverse and Solid Colors
Red, black, gray, gold, white, pink, blue, yellow, green, and purple are all flattering colors for pregnancy. Choosing one of these colors in a solid design can set you apart, especially for a special occasion.
Often, tan or beige can be unflattering in pregnancy, so it is better to stick to bold, vibrant, and solid colors.
5) Special Occasion Dresses
There are many celebrations during pregnancy, and this is when you might want to consider investing in a maternity dress that is specifically designed for a baby shower, maternity shoot, gender reveal, or something else. While you may want something relaxed and casual to wear throughout pregnancy, there is a time and place to get fancy!
Everyone knows that these special occasions come with photos, so it is important to invest in a dress that is stylish and flattering in pictures. Again, pregnancy can be a time of insecurity, so spending a little extra cash to look and feel your best is worth it. Stress and unhappiness can have a profoundly negative effect on your developing baby, so making sure that you look and feel your best is an investment in your child’s future.
6) Don’t Forget Your Accessories
The perfect maternity dress often needs the perfect accessories, especially on those special occasions. A matching purse, cardigan, shoes, hat, and jewelry are all things to consider when creating your maternity wardrobe.
7) Show Some Leg or Skin
While long dresses are cute, there are maternity dresses out there where you have the opportunity to show off your legs or skin!
Don’t feel that you have to cover your whole body when you are pregnant, and remember that many complain about feeling overheated. Short, flowy dresses can help with your comfort and temperature!
The Bottom Line
Besides the tips mentioned above, the bottom line is that you feel comfortable, confident, and radiant when choosing a maternity dress. The good news is that there are now online shops that make just what you’re looking for, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home. Most pregnant women find that shopping is an exhausting task, so it is best to start digging through those online stores now!
Whatever you do, do not wait until the last minute to choose a maternity dress for a special occasion, like a baby shower. Now is the time to start looking, even if your bump is barely showing!