Dressing up the Bump – Tips for Buying Maternity Clothes

You had no issues at all during the early days of your pregnancy…at least when it came to clothing. The morning sickness wasn’t the most enjoyable experience in the world but at least everything in your wardrobe still fit.

Then, the bump formed. And it just keeps growing and growing.

On one hand, that’s one of the happiest periods of the pregnancy. You get to feel your little one growing and you look forward to every little kick.

On the other hand, it gets harder and harder to find clothes that still fit you. The bump’s making getting dressed a little difficult.

It’s about time you got your hands on some maternity clothes.

But what should you look for to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible? These are the tips that will help you to build the perfect maternity wardrobe.

Tip #1 – Elastic is Your Friend

That bumps going to keep growing over the next nine months. That means anything you buy at the 3-month period probably isn’t going to fit when you’re six months into the pregnancy.

That is unless you have our old friend elastic in your clothes.

Elastic allows your clothes to stretch as your belly does, which means you can wear the clothes for the duration of the pregnancy.

If you’re buying trousers, it’s absolutely essential that they have an adjustable waist band. Otherwise, you’re just going to have to replace them again sooner rather than later.

Tip #2 – Loose Dresses Are Great Too…

…As are loose tops.

Many retailers specialise in creating dresses and looser clothing that’s designed to be wearable for the entire pregnancy. This is where Anaya’s Maxi Dresses and Abayas come in.

In addition to preserving your modesty, they’re also loose fitting enough to give you a little room to grow as the pregnancy gets into its later stages. You can check out our full maternity range here.

The key with these garments is to buy with the future in mind. Again, an abaya that fits perfectly right now may not fit in a couple of months. Go for a loose fit today so you can grow into the garment later.

Think back to school when your parents bought you a larger school blazer than you needed so that you could grow into it over the years. It’s the same concept!

Tip #3 – Function Over Fashion

It’s likely that you’re going to carry on working for at least a few months into your pregnancy. Many modern moms work until they’re just a couple of weeks from giving birth.

Now, think about all of those times you’ve felt a little uncomfortable or stuffy in the office. That’s going to magnify as the pregnancy goes one.

That’s why it’s some important to buy for function over fashion. You want to find clothes that will allow you to keep working and conducting your daily activities even as your bump grows.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that style should be a consideration at all when you’re buying maternity clothes. It just means that it’s not the priority when functionality will become so important as the pregnancy proceeds.

Tip #4 – Cardigans and Jackets Will Become Staples

As your bump grows, you’re going to find that most of your clothes don’t fit anymore.

But your cardigans and jackets will. Sure, you might not be able to close them up anymore. However, you can still use them as accessories for any other outfits that you buy. And with a jacket, you’re getting some pockets that will help with the functionality issue.

Buy a few early on in the pregnancy, especially if the bump’s going to grow over the winter. You’ll appreciate having them when the temperature starts to drop.

Tip #5 – Stick with Solid Colours

Now, this is one that you may disagree with, and that’s perfectly fine.

But there’s an old idea in fashion that stripes tend to accentuate your bodily features. And when you’re carrying some extra weight, the idea is that you should avoid stripes so that you can conceal that fact.

So, when you’re pregnant it seems that going for solid colours is the way to go.

But as we said, this is totally up for debate. You may find that stripes accentuate your new found bumps and lumps in a way that you find appealing.

Tip #6 – Consider The Post-Pregnancy Period

As appealing as the idea is, you’re just not going to drop all of that baby weight immediately after giving birth. It’s going to stick with you for a little while, which you’ll need to account for with your maternity clothing.

Of course, buying something that’s long-lasting enough to it’s still usable after the pregnancy. But again, you also have to consider practicality here. For example, if you’re breastfeeding, you will want to have easy access whenever your little one needs a feed. If that’s the case, maternity clothes that feature buttons, such as out Lana Maxi Dress, are ideal.

It’s also worth investing in a few reversible items. Trust us…you may need them if the little one has an accident while you’re out and about and you need to quickly clean up and carry on with your day.

Tip #7 – Cotton is Your Friend Too

The added weight, coupled with all of the hormones floating around your body, may make maintaining a comfortable body temperature a little more difficult.

Simply put, you’re going to find yourself feeling hot more often than not.

That’s why cotton is your friend when it comes to maternity clothes, just like elastic. Cotton is a light and breathable material that allows air to circulate easily. Look for it, or materials with similar properties, in any maternity clothes that you buy.

The Final Word

We hope that you’re having a good pregnancy and that you’re looking forward to the big day!

While the bump’s still growing, we’re here to provide for all of your maternity clothing needs. Check out our collection today. We’re sure you’ll find something to suit your needs.