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MATERNITY OUTFITS

TIPS FOR A STYLISH PREGNANCY

From maternity jeans to nursing bras, discover the pregnancy fashion must-haves with our fashion editor and mum of one, Sophie Hines

First trimester: work with your existing wardrobe

The first trimester of pregnancy is a tricky time for many; you won’t have told everyone you’re pregnant but you’re probably feeling a bit queasy, and while you won’t have much of a bump at this point, you may well feel bloated and uncomfortable in the first few months. Avoid tight, restrictive waistbands – a smart pair of track pants with a merino jumper looks chic or, if you want to hold on to your denim, choose jeans with some stretch, such as our super-soft Carrie skinnies. You might also notice your breasts get bigger (you can check out our bra size and shape guide here). If so, there’s no harm in buying your nursing bras now and wearing them throughout pregnancy for comfortable support.

Second trimester: invest in the maternity basics

You’ll start to develop more of a baby bump during the second trimester, which makes it a good time to invest in a few essentials for the rest of pregnancy. Maternity jeans are so ridiculously comfy you’ll never want to take them off – M&S has both straight-fit, over-the-bump jeans and skinny-fit maternity denim (also over-the-bump – vs sitting beneath it). Ditto maternity leggings. In terms of tops and knitwear, the looser-fitting items in your existing wardrobe will do the job, although for close-fitting items, such as T-shirts and sleeveless tops, consider buying maternity versions so as not to stretch the ones you already own.


Third trimester: look good, stay comfy

The final trimester is serious baby bump territory, and you may find your wardrobe limited to a few choice items worn on rotation (this can be surprisingly liberating). A couple of good dresses will serve you well; choose between maternity dresses or simply sizing up in a standard shirt dress – you can easily belt this style to fit smaller when you’re no longer pregnant, and they’re great for breastfeeding. You’ll want some giant briefs at this point (they will also be your best friend post-birth) and possibly nursing tops that you can keep wearing for the weeks after your baby’s arrival.


Words: Sophie Hines

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