Fashion tips for pregnancy and beyond: How to stay stylish in maternity and nursing wear! - Pregnancy - Home and Family

Pregnancy is a great excuse to treat yourself to some new clothes! With such a wide range of maternity and nursing wear available, there’s no better time to be pregnant.

Maternity and Nursing Tops and Dresses

Say hello to your new best friends: the wrap, smock, tunic and empire line! These are great because they highlight the thinnest part of your body above your bump, proudly showing off your new impressive curves. Look out for solid block colours; black and white staple tops and flirty purples and pinks for something more eye-catching. A bold print or brightly coloured wrap dress will keep you cool in summer and warm in cooler months when worn with leggings.

You don’t have to spend a fortune if you’re saving for the birth of your little one. Many maternity tops and dresses can be worn throughout the nursing period too, with cleverly concealed openings for discrete feeding. Maternity feeding tops, also available in plus sizes, are an ideal money-saving option as they can be worn throughout both the pregnancy and nursing stages.

Invest in natural fabrics like cotton and bamboo as they will keep you cool and comfortable, and mixes containing a small percentage of elastane (sometimes called spandex) will stretch to fit your changing bump. Comfort and support doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style!

Luxury brands like Mothers en Vogue, Annee Matthew and Paola Maria use high quality organic materials to create exceptional nursing top and dress designs. You’ll have a choice of concealed openings such as empire line, side seam, neckline or drop cup access, each specially designed to offer convenient feeding while maintaining privacy. Quality is important when buying maternity tops – a well-made maternity/nursing combination top can be worn for years!

Trousers and Skirts

As you reach the later stages of pregnancy, you’ll probably find your trousers or skirts no longer fit. Invest in a belly band to cover up open zips and buttons and provide extra support, before you move on to elasticated maternity trousers and skirts.

Nursing Accessories

It’s impossible to have too many handbags! Complement your new maternity and nursing wear with a new design, big enough to carry all your baby’s belongings.

Koochu’s luxury changing bags look like regular designer handbags, and can be used as one, but they also come with clever concealed practical features like a removable and washable lining, water resistant double sided changing mat, thermo-insulated side pockets for baby bottles and even a nappy compartment. When style is this practical, you have no excuse to carry a bright plastic Winnie the Pooh changing bag!

For extra coverage when feeding your baby, a wide scarf can be a great addition to your nursing wear. Other than this, accessorize as normal. A belt may be uncomfortable, but how about treating yourself to a chunky necklace to compliment your new maternity feeding top?

Buying maternity and nursing wear isn’t rocket science. Stay comfortable with well-designed pieces, and, most importantly, have fun with your style!