Growing a child within you is a wonder and a privilege, but as you look forward to the day when you can hold this baby in your arms, you’re faced with some uncomfortable realities: Your clothes aren’t fitting like they used to, and you’re feeling overheated and uncomfortable.
As much as you might feel like spending all day in your husband’s oversized t-shirt, that’s not always feasible. You have errands to run, you’re meeting friends at the farmer’s market this weekend, and next month, when your belly will be extra prominent, you’re planning to attend a friend’s black tie wedding.
Where can you find maternity clothing that’s modest, comfortable, and cute?
At The Main Street Exchange, we specialize in providing modest skirts and dresses that leave you feeling stylish, comfortable, and covered.
Today, we’ll talk about the best ways to curate your wardrobe while pregnant!
How to Stay Modest and Comfortable While Pregnant
If you, like many modest dressers, prefer to wear skirts and dresses rather than pants, you know that it can sometimes be a challenge to find the right garments that are both practical and comfortable.
The good news is that long, loose-fitting skirts and dresses are excellent maternity options. These breezy garments easily fit over a growing bump, and unlike oversized t-shirts, instantly make you look polished and put together.
Even better, although pregnancy can leave you feeling overheated, loose-fitting dresses and skirts keep you cool by allowing air to circulate between your skin and the garment.
For these reasons, even women who usually wear pants find themselves turning to maxi dresses while pregnant!
How Much Should I Invest in Maternity Clothing?
If you’re pregnant and trying to build a wardrobe, you face a conundrum: you’ll only be pregnant for a short time, so is it worth it to buy a bunch of specialized clothing?
Let’s look at some factors to consider when investing in maternity clothes.
Feeling comfortable matters
You’re growing another human, and you deserve to wear clothing that fits right! Feeling cute and comfortable in your clothes is a must. So if your clothes don’t fit right, it’s time to buy some new options.
However, you don’t have to break the bank with an entire wardrobe of specialized clothing. You can find many items that will work for both pregnancy and postpartum, and you can always buy secondhand and pass items along to your friends when you’re done.
But ultimately, if you’re comfortable, everyone around you will be happier!
Finding pieces you can still wear post-birth
There are many styles of dresses and skirts these days that, although they’re not labeled as “maternity clothes” per se, have, by the nature of their loose fits, high waistlines, smocking, ruched styles, etc, an overall shape that fits nicely over a pregnant belly.
The best part?
You can continue to wear these dresses for years, long after the baby is born!
Maternity Staples to Buy
On the other hand, there are certain maternity staples that are worth investing in, which, when paired with items you already own, will help you round out your wardrobe and stay comfortable. For example:
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Maternity leggings are designed to fit over a bump, whereas regular leggings typically slide down as your belly grows. If you’ll be pregnant in the colder months, invest in some maternity leggings for added warmth under your skirt.
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Underwear: There’s nothing worse than ill-fitting undergarments, so invest in panties and bras that properly fit your changing shape.
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Maternity tops: Although it’s relatively easy to find dresses and skirts that will fit over the bump, tops may be more difficult. One solution is to buy maternity tank tops and t-shirts, and wear your existing jackets, cardigans, and button-down shirts over them.
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Formalwear: Special events can be a struggle, so consider investing in one or two really nice maternity dresses.
Overall, you don’t have to replace your entire wardrobe! A combination of maternity-friendly clothing and strategic maternity staples will give you a comfortable, versatile wardrobe for those long months of pregnancy when your normal clothes no longer fit.
Tip: If you’re buying new clothes and want to know what’s currently in style, you might be interested in our blog post about 2025 Fashion Trends!
8 Modest Maternity Outfit Ideas
Now that we’ve discussed what maternity pieces you might need, let’s look at how you might tie the pieces together into cute maternity outfits!
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Casual flowy dress
Start with a maxi or midi dress with a gathered or smocked waist. Pair it with comfortable brown leather sandals, a woven bag, and some simple accessories for a casual yet put-together look suitable for anything from a church service to brunch with friends.
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Denim Overall Dress
Buy an overall dress that’s a size or two larger than you’d typically wear to accommodate your growing bump! Wear it over a cute t-shirt and pair it with sneakers for a casual, comfortable look perfect for grabbing groceries or taking your older children to soccer practice.
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Flowy skirt with simple top
Many full skirts have smocked or drawstring waistbands that can easily accommodate a bump. Pair it with a white t-shirt and a claw clip updo for everyday, or dress it up with a nice white maternity blouse and simple jewelry for a special occasion.
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Denim skirt with oversized t-shirt
Do you live in denim skirts and t-shirts? You can still wear the look for most of your pregnancy if you buy a size or two larger than usual and opt for a skirt in stretch-denim or with an elastic waistband. To wear denim through the entirety of your pregnancy, however, you’ll want to buy a specialized maternity skirt with a stretchy band over the waist.
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Neutral skirt with button-down top
Although pretty floral skirts are lovely, it’s also a good idea to have some neutral skirts in your arsenal. Pair your neutral skirt with a maternity tank top and a cute button-down top worn open. Add some comfortable boots and a bag, and you’re good to go!
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Formal dress
It’s always nice to have at least one really nice dress to wear to formal events while pregnant. Treat yourself by buying one in your favorite color, or go with a classic black and dress it up with accessories.
Think about what time of year you’ll be the largest, and buy one that will be weather-appropriate at that time!
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Stretchy skirt set
Some days, you just want to wear something super-comfortable while still looking decent enough to run errands. A perfect solution is a skirt set in a stretchy sweater fabric! The stretch fabric should fit over your bump, although you may need to size up. Pair with sneakers and cute sunglasses, and you can look put-together while still feeling like you’re wearing PJs!
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Basic black dress with accessories
Finally, nothing beats a basic maternity dress in black (or your favorite neutral). With colorful scarves, bags, and shoes, you can re-wear the same dress over and over while still making it feel like a new outfit each time!
Transitioning Summer Maternity Dresses to Colder Months
It’s easy to fill your wardrobe with pretty flowing midi and maxi dresses during spring and summer. But as summer turns to fall, these outfits can be chilly. Here are some ways to transition your maternity dresses to colder months.
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As the weather starts to get chilly, buy maternity biker shorts to add a little more warmth under your dress, and add a coordinating cardigan.
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Pull a cute oversized sweater over the dress.
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Add leggings under the dress, and pair with wool socks and cute brown or black boots.
Tip: If you know your pregnancy will last through the summer and into fall, buy colors that can work in both seasons and then add layers for warmth.
Other Considerations
Here are a few other things to keep in mind as you shop for modest maternity clothing.
Nursing-friendly
It takes a while for your body to adjust after having a baby, so you’ll likely continue to wear many of your maternity-friendly dresses post-birth. For this reason, try to buy garments that are nursing-friendly!
In particular, choose dresses that have buttons or a wrap-front, and try to avoid clothes that zip in the back.
Hemlines
Although many maxi and midi dresses fit nicely over a baby bump, the hem may not fall as low in the front, creating a “high-low” effect. On the other hand, dresses made specifically for maternity will be cut to fit over a bump, but may be hard to wear after birth.
The secondhand market
Finally, remember that you don’t have to buy all your maternity items new! There’s often a thriving secondhand market for maternity items, and you can also borrow from family and friends.
Conclusion
Here at The Main Street Exchange, we want to help women curate a wardrobe that’s stylish and modest. And that includes expecting mothers! We have countless dresses and skirts that can work for mommies-to-be, as well as specialty maternity skirts.
Browse our collections on our website, or stop in and see us in Gordonville, PA, to try on outfits in person!
We look forward to helping you find pieces that make you feel comfortable, stylish, and excited for this new phase of your life.
