I remember when I found out I was pregnant (this time around), I immediately began to shift my focus with regards to clothing pieces. Items that were immediately ruled out? Stiff materials (no give is no bueno), tops less than 23″ in length, and pieces that were “too oversized.” My logic here was that stiff materials couldn’t grow with the bump…. tops that were too short were just not okay (unless I was on a beach somewhere…. and that wasn’t on the schedule)…. and anything too loose just made me look like a big sack. I found myself leaning towards fitted dresses, stretchy jeans, and longer tops with some flow, but still able to skim the body nicely. Each trimester presented a different challenge, and as I come into the last week or so of pregnancy, my focus has shifted still….

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is what are my favorite maternity brands, and how do I go about shopping for non-maternity pieces with a bump? To answer the latter, I use the following criteria:

1. Look at the material composition of the clothing item. Viscose became one of my best friends… being one of the stretchier materials… as well as rayon, some cotton, especially paired with a small percentage of spandex (as in 1-2%), seemed to work best.

2. Look at lengths: As I mentioned above, the length is super important. As my belly has grown, finding pieces that are around 23″ has worked best for me…. If you’re taller, you’ll likely want a longer length, such as 25″ minimum. Almost all on-line retailers will share measurements of clothing pieces.

3. Be strategic: Bottom line, not everything is going to work… so look for items that have an elastic waistband (but still maintain style), a wrap feature, or a looser fit, that still hangs on the body nicely. Also, I’m not typically into bodycon dresses when I’m not pregnant, but during pregnancy they’re such a beautiful option!

4. Size Up: This all depends on the brand, but it’s likely you’ll want to size up one or two sizes for a comfortable and flattering fit. I’d say that Free People always runs large, so stick with your regular size…. but other, more contemporary brands, it’s usually safe to size up at least one.

Now, to answer my favorite maternity line question. That’s difficult. Mainly because I don’t find many lines to have a flattering fit, with most pieces being far too large or lacking in style…. and unable to be worn post-pregnancy. The one brand I have found that I love, and wore my last pregnancy, is HATCH. Meant for before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and after pregnancy their pieces don’t feel, or look, maternity at all. Their items are more of investment pieces, but so well made, and because the styles + colors tend to be timeless, they can be worn season after season (love this slouch dress, linen swing tank, + waffle henley) . I recently got these drawstring shorts + this top because I knew that they would keep me comfortable during these last weeks, and that they’d be great post pregnancy options as well. I can’t wait to wear the shorts with a silk cami front tucked this summer season…. and the top can easily be front tucked into my favorite cut-offs (when they can button again). I’ll be teaming up with them over on instagram later this evening to offer a $250 giveaway, so be sure to look for this outfit to pop up in your feed to enter!

Dressing during pregnancy presents it’s own set of challenges, but knowing what to look for can make the entire process so much easier!

I also wanted to share that SHOPBOP is having their “Event Of The Season” sale, starting today (pre-access….). If you use code EVENT19 you will get 20% off your entire purchase (no minimum required!). I’ll be sharing a full roundup of my favorites tomorrow, but HATCH items are included!
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(Outfit Details || Shorts | Top | Hat | Slides | Bag | Lariat Necklace | Sunglasses)