How to Dress a Baby Bump

It’s a happy event when a woman becomes pregnant but buying clothes and putting together outfits can be daunting when you can see and feel your body changing month after month.

The good news is that one can remain stylish throughout pregnancy, you just have to try harder sometimes, especially when you experience morning sickness or don’t feel your best. We have the following useful tips on dressing while pregnant:

1. Wear an empire-cut dress

Empire dresses accentuate the bosom and skims the figure resulting in a very flattering look. The empire dress is the most common clothing that pregnant celebrities go for. Empire dresses are perfect because you can continue wearing them after you give birth.

Bryce Dallas Howard at the World Premiere of “The Help” held at the Samuel Goldwin Theater in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Beverly Hills, California (August 9, 2011)

Natalie Portman at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) held at the Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles, California (February 27, 2011)

Here are two lovely empire dresses for formal and casual days. First, here’s a gorgeous gown with bold colors:

Aidan Mattox Floral Print Gown

This gorgeous gown is only $440 from Neiman Marcus. It’s a modern formal dress that would look lovely on a pregnant woman.

The next dress is a casual dress from Revolve Clothing:

Jen’s Pirate Booty Burning Man Dress

This dress from Jen’s Pirate Booty is $143. This adorable dress can be worn in and out of the house to all kinds of places, and all kinds of events. Wear the dress with wedges or flat sandals.

 

2. Wear a dress that hugs the belly

There are pregnant women who wear loose clothes to hide their baby bump. At the other end of the spectrum are pregnant mothers who wear clothes that hug the belly. This can be a great look for fit mothers. Accentuate the belly and let the world know you’re proud to be a hot mom!

Kourtney Kardashian Launches Rich Soil at Kitson, Los Angeles, California, USA (October 21, 2009)

Go for dresses with stretchable fabric so that even if the dress is body-hugging, it isn’t tight. You want to look pretty, but you must also stay comfortable for you and the baby in your tummy. Just make sure the dress you pick is long enough because it will hike up because of your belly.

Kourtney Kardashian at TAO nightclub Las Vegas, Nevada (October 16, 2009)

Here are two body-hugging dresses that you can wear while pregnant:

Millie Short Dress

This dress is from Karmaloop. It sells for only $70 and is perfect for women who have toned arms. It will hug your body and really show your tummy. This look is not for everyone, and will work best on mothers that are on the slim side.

Here’s another dress from Karmaloop. This one’s from Hurley and retails for $49:

Hurley The Whiskey Dress

3. Put a belt on it

If you have loose tent dresses or maxi dresses, turn them into flattering dresses by putting a belt under the chest, on top of your baby bump. Wearing a belt effectively turns your unflattering dresses into empire dresses. You don’t have to buy a big belt. You can use satin ribbons or even long neckties, it is all up to you.

If you have nothing in your closet that you can use to tie above your baby bump, here are some beautiful belts that you can buy. Rope and chain belts are perfect because you can keep wearing them as your belly grows.

WGACA Vintage Vintage Chanel Belt

This Vintage Chanel Belt is 38″. It’s a fashion piece that will last forever. You can buy the belt from Shopbop.

Vanessa Mooney Skull Tassel Belt

This Vanessa Mooney piece is dual-purpose. It can be worn as a belt or as a lariat necklace. Either way, it can look great on a pregnant woman. The belt is 74″ long and is available for $174 from Shopbop.

 

4. Invest in a gorgeous cover-up

We’re saying this because cover-ups are a wardrobe staple. It’s something that you can use even when you’re not pregnant. It can liven up any outfit, whether it’s a simple dress, or jeans and a tank top.

Selma Blair out and about in Studio City Los Angeles, California (May 17, 2011)

Actress Ali Larter showing of her belly bump seen leaving a office building with a friend Los Angeles, California (August 23, 2010)

Below are two gorgeous jackets that are so beautiful you can expect to get much use out of them even after you give birth. You can use these wraps belted or without a belt.

Blu Moon Kimono Jacket

The Blu Moon Kimono Jacket is a great light cover-up that can look glam or boho depending on your style. It is $120 from Singer 22.

Winter Kate Roque Bed Jacket

The Winter Kate Roque Bed Jacket is currently on sale for $161.99 at Boutique to You. It is a gorgeous wrap jacket that will go well with jeans or a dress.

 

5. Show your legs

Whether you are in your first trimester or last, you can always wear short dresses that show your gams.  Your goal when showing skin while pregnant is to look chic and classy, and not trashy.

Here are two of our choices for short dresses that pregnant women can wear.

Banana Republic Aliana Eyelet Dress

The Aliana Eyelet dress is made of 100% cotton which is perfect for warm days. The dress is $119.99.

Hive and Honey Crochet Detailed Dress

The dress is $39.99 from Piperlime. It has short sleeves and crochet trim. The dress has a button-down closure at the back.

 

6. Add a touch of luxury to your outfit by wearing interesting accessories.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban The 80th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars), Los Angeles, California (February 24, 2008)

Of course unlike Nicole Kidman, you don’t have to ice yourself with diamonds, and certainly not during random days out, but if you’re going somewhere special, you can wear a sleek dress and wear a fabulous necklace to spruce up your outfit.

Here are two affordable necklaces from Ami Club Wear that you can wear out:

Gold Dust Pink Cascading Necklace

This $18.99 necklace is made of faceted beads cascading in multiple chains. The necklace comes with matching earrings.

Here’s another set that you might like:

White Faux Pearl Necklace

The white faux pearl necklace is only $15.99. It is made of chain and faux pearls, with matching faux pearl earrings.

One very important thing you should remember when buying clothes and accessories when pregnant is to buy items you can keep wearing even after you give birth. This way you get value for your money. You can also revisit your closet and look at the back for dresses you haven’t worn in a long time.

Do you have tips for dressing a baby bump? Share them with us in the comments!

Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Apega/ Chris Connor/ Danny/ Michael Wright/ WENN.com