Style Your Bump Without Maternity Clothes

I don't focus much time on my blog witht my clothes and where I buy them, so I wouldn't really consider myself a fashion blogger. However, I have had women ask how I got away with out buying much maternity clothing during my pregnancy , and I want to share a few tricks that I used. 

I put on the average weight for a pregnant woman, so I wasn't one of those teeny bump ladies! What I didn't want to do was buy a ton of maternity clothes that I wouldn't be able to wear post-pregnancy. I also didn't have money to buy a whole new wardrobe. I was gifted a few maternity shirts, but other than that, I only bought 1 pair of Target maternity leggings, 1 belly band, and was handed down a pair of maternity dress pants. Being a teacher at the time, I had to get creative with my wardrobe to make it stay relevant and adapt to my changing body. 

Other than one pair of maternity leggings, none of the articles of clothing in these pictures are maternity clothes and were all items that I previously had in my wardrobe.  

1. Go for floral prints or vertical stripes rather than solids or horizontal stripes. 
The florals and vertical stripes will make you look smaller and won't show as much if the dress is tighter than normal. 

Dress- Xhilaration (M) • Cardigan

Dress Francesca's (M) • Cardigan- Bobeau (M)

2. Find maxi dresses with empire waists that are loose and flowy.
Maxis that don't have much give or sway will get tight around your thighs and become hard to move in. The empire waist line will accentuate your bump.

Dress- Doe and Rae (M) • Necklace- Urban Peach • Vest- From New Zealand (similar here)

3. Buy workout clothes one size larger.
I found some non-maternity tank tops that stretched right over the bump. I can still use them now that I'm not pregnant.

Leggings- Fabletics (L) • Tank Top- Fabletics (L)

4. Turn short dresses into long shirts with leggings or pants underneath.
When your pregnancy progresses, your dresses may become too short with your add the bump. Doesn't mean you can't still wear them.  Just turn them into shirts.

Dress from Bailey Blue- similar here • Jean Vest- Francesca's • Leggings (maternity) • Shoes

5. Continue to wear your stretchy skinny jeans by adding a belly band. 
I wore these coral jeans, unbuttoned with a belly band from Target, right up until I gave birth!

Shirt- Forever 21 (XL) • Jeans- Denim BLVD (L)

6. Add a belt
A belt will make a shirt or dress fit perfectly around your bump.

Dress- Mod Cloth (M) • Jean Jacket- similar here  • Belt

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