What Clothes Should Be Worn During Pregnancy?

Dressing During Early Pregnancy

• Few women during the first three months actually look pregnant, so the knowledge that you will be able to continue wearing your regular clothes most of the time during the first trimester may be a relief. During these first three months, take some mental notes about the clothing you tend to wear, including the colors and styles. If you normally wear a lot of blue tops, then you'll want to continue that trend throughout your pregnancy. Similarly, if you work in an office, then you'll obviously need some professional, stylish clothing (in addition to casual clothing) that seamlessly transitions you through your pregnancy.

  As you near the end of your first trimester, you will notice that your pre-pregnancy clothing may start to get a little snug. In order to make your regular favorites last a little longer, you can leave the top button undone on your skirts and pants (hiding it with looser, untucked tops or jackets), or you can hook a rubber band through the buttonhole and wrap it around the button to provide instant relief and a few more inches of room in your regular clothing. Other popular options include a belly band (which helps hold your pants up while slimming your waist), as well as low-rise pants or jeans that sit below your belly.

Dressing During the Second Trimester

• Your second trimester of pregnancy marks that stage where you look pregnant but are too small for most maternity clothing. The key feature to look for in clothing choices during this stage is stretch. Mid-pregnancy is all about transition. Skirts and pants with elastic waistbands or drawstrings prove to be especially helpful during the second trimester, as well as longer sweaters and jackets, loose shirts, and leggings. The key is to acquire clothing that gracefully drapes on your body without putting too much focus on your belly. Don't go out and splurge on pregnancy clothing during this trimester since most clothing that fits at this point will be too small in your third trimester.

Dressing During Late Pregnancy

• Now that your belly is so obvious, late pregnancy is your time to revel in your condition. Since there are so many options out there in the world of pregnancy clothing, you need to streamline your wardrobe; after all, you'll only be wearing these clothes for a few months, so there's no reason to break the bank. Popular maternity clothing designer Liz Lange suggests that you base your clothing selections on your lifestyle and your preferred non-pregnant clothing choices, being sure to include certain wardrobe staples: a pair of jeans, a "little black dress," a cardigan or jacket, a pencil skirt, a fitted T-shirt and a pair of black pants. Remember that you are beautiful during pregnancy and what you wear should always reflect that beauty.