How To Dress During Pregnancy Without Maternity Clothes

A lot of things change when a woman conceives. She’ll go through different bodily changes – putting in more weight and a growing abdomen, among others. With these, a woman should learn to adjust to cater to the demands of pregnancy, such as in the way she clothes herself. Some of her old OOTDs may no longer fit or is unwell for a pregnant woman to wear, such as ill-fitting jeans. But we understand that some women can't take wearing maternity dress, so here's how to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes.

Regular Articles of Clothing You Can Use While Pregnant

When a woman learns she’s pregnant, she starts planning her wardrobe to fit her growing belly. She’ll initially think of shopping for new clothes. However, you may want to head to your closet instead, and look for regular clothes that work as maternity clothes. You might be surprised to find out that there are more than you expected. The following are clothing articles to guide you on how to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes:

• Bodycon skirts. Bodycon skirts are tight-fitting skirts that hug your bottom half in all the right places. It helps show off your curves and flaunt your tummy.
  
  
• Bodycon dresses. Bodycon dresses, similar to bodycon skirts, are also tight-fitting, accentuating your figure from top to bottom. The material of bodycon dresses will help flatten out your form, leaving only a flattering silhouette.
  
  
• Maxi skirts. Maxi skirts are usually ankle-length skirts that are flowy. They are loose and comfortable and helps cover up everything since it will not ride up too much, even with a nine-month bump.
  
  
• Maxi dresses. Maxi dresses are also just maxi skirts with a top attached. They are easy to throw on without giving it any mind. They are sure to look fashionable, regardless.
  
  
• Baggy dresses. Baggy dresses are loose from top to bottom. They flow through your whole bodice without constricting anything. Even with its loose fit, it is flattering, mainly if it follows a good cut.
  
  
• Swing dresses. If baggy dresses do not make you comfortable due to the lack of shape, swing dresses are for you. They hug your chest beautifully and will flow down from your stomach until the ends of its length.
  
  
• Swing tops. If you look around, you will realize that a lot of pregnant women wear swing tops. They are flattering on your figure even when they flare at the bottom, creating a bell shape.
  
  
• Leggings. Leggings are comfortable due to its soft and stretchy material. They are great for when other bottoms become too tight around the waist or hips.
  
  
• Jeggings. When you find that your regular jeans no longer fit you, jeggings are a great alternative. They look like jeans but are as soft and stretchy as leggings.
  
  
• Singlets. Singlets are fantastic to pair with skirts or jeggings. They are form-fitting, giving your figure a flattering appearance while being breathable and comfortable.

Articles of Clothing to Spice Up Your Everyday Clothes

Clothes are quite scarce when you are pregnant since you have to make sure that it fits well around your belly. So you can choose to wear neutral clothing over and over again while putting on other articles over them to make sure that you still look fashionable every day. Here are some of the pieces of clothing to help on how to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes:

• Kimonos
  
  
• Blazers
  
  
• Cardigans
  
  
• Ponchos
  
  
• Jackets

DIY Regular Clothing to Make Maternity Clothes

Even with the many clothes you can choose to wear as a substitute for maternity clothes, you would still want to have new clothes just for pregnancy. You can choose a more affordable option by doing it yourself instead of buying new. Here are some ideas on how to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes by DIY:

1. Jeans:
   • Regular jeans become tight during pregnancy. You can mend it by taking a piece of stretchable cloth. You can sew in a button on one side of the fabric while making a buttonhole on the other. You can then attach it onto the jeans with the pair’s button and buttonhole.  
     
     
   • You can also choose to DIY the jeans by cutting off the part where the pants pocket is attached. Take a stretchy cloth or garter-like cloth and sew it onto the region that you cut off. 
     
2. Tops:
   
   
   • If you have an oversized shirt, you can choose to fit it around the waist by sewing on a length of garter on the inside of the shirt.
     
     
   • You can make your button-downs more fashionable and wearable even with your pregnant belly by cutting it in half at the back from the bottom to almost the top. You can then sew on a piece of cloth that can make it more of a flared shirt than a regular button-down.

Conclusion

Dressing up during pregnancy does not have to be costly. You can look into your clothes and select pieces that are stretchable, breathable, and lightweight. Some examples are leggings, maxi skirts and dresses, swing tops and dresses, and singlets. You may also pull off the classic do-it-yourself route. There are also several ideas you can look up on the web. With this, you can now succeed in answering the question of how to dress during pregnancy without maternity clothes.

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