Today at CorporetteMoms we’re doing a mini-Hunt for the best maternity dresses for work, from sheath dresses and beyond please do check it out. But in the meantime, I thought now might be a great time to talk generally about what to wear to work while pregnant here at Corporette what are your favorite maternity options for workwear?
What gaffes have you seen pregnant women make in your conservative office and who did you really think looked great? It’s been a while since we talked about the best maternity stores for workwear, how to hide an early baby bump, and what to wear to court when you’re pregnant
Don’t buy maternity workwear too early, you just don’t know how you’re going to carry (low, high), where you’ll gain weight (bust, arms, bum), and so forth. Budgeting for your maternity wardrobe is already difficult, and the last thing you want is a bunch of wool low-rise maternity pants for your third trimester when a) it turns out it’s way too hot for wool and b) you vastly prefer high-rise maternity pants.
(I’ve also advised readers not to buy a fancy diaper bag before you’re actually a mom save it for a treat when your baby turns six months old or something else after you’ve been in it for a bit.) I could still wear my regular (non maternity) blazers until week 38 or 39 with my second child, and I never owned a maternity winter coat. Stylish maternity suits are notoriously hard to find
Chic Ama, a Nigerian fashion blogger who resides in Washington DC, USA has not ceased to recreate fashion trends with her style. The fashion blogger enjoys experimenting with different types of fashion. She creates style inspiration for street fashion with her daily post on Instagram and her website. Chic Ama is a force to reckon with in the world of fashion. See more photos of her pregnancy style above.
Keep these smart shopping tips in mind when choosing maternity clothes for work:
- Find Ways to Keep Wearing Your Clothes: Leaving the top button undone on your jeans or pants is fine when you use an elastic band or safety pin to hold them up. You can also invest in a Bella Band, which is an elastic band that can be worn throughout your pregnancy to help keep your pants from sagging down (great invention and a huge money saver).
- Buy Clothes That Will Grow With Your Body: In the first few months of pregnancy, you have no idea how your weight gain will progress throughout the coming nine months. Therefore, buying maternity clothes at the outset isn’t wise. Instead, buy skirts and pants with elastic waistbands that will give you the longest wearing time.
- You will, however, wake up one day ready to put on your stretchy black pants, and they simply won’t fit. Many pregnant women will try to get more wear out of these items, but you need to know when to put that pair of pants in the box for use during your next pregnancy.
- Invest in Wardrobe Staples: With many high-end designers making their lines of maternity wear, it’s tempting to buy trendy maternity clothes, especially for work. However, any smart fashionista will tell you to try to resist this temptation and stick with stocking your pregnancy closet with wardrobe staples.
- Buy Black, Gray and Brown Pants: Then use accessories and different tops to vary your daily attire. If your job calls for business attire, buy a basic dress that can be worn to work, as well as out to dinner. Invest in one suit jacket. Basic, non-trendy clothing also will come in handy if you plan to get pregnant again in the future.
- Price Shop: Maternity clothes can become very expensive especially because you won’t be wearing some of these items for more than three months. Therefore, don’t invest your entire maternity clothes budget in one designer suit. With so many maternity clothing designers today, you can price shop and still get decent apparel. In fact, many discount retailers, like Molly’s Maternity wear, MumsVillage, Just9, Bumpy and Goregeous Maternity, or Everything Maternity Kenya.
- Buy as You Go: Because your size can change drastically from one day to the next when you’re pregnant, you should buy maternity clothes as you need them. Buying in advance, especially when there is a change of season coming up, isn’t wise because you may jump up a size, and never get to wear some items. (For this reason, always check a retailer’s return policy for unworn maternity clothing).
- Borrow From Friends or Buy Used: If you’re one of those people who can’t fathom going nine months with such a limited wardrobe, it pays to announce to friends, friends of friends, and colleagues that you’re in the market for maternity clothing. Many women have maternity clothes boxed in their attic that can prove to be great maternity clothes finds for you that can help you vary your wardrobe.
Content courtesy of Fashion Police