When you’re pregnant, wardrobe becomes a whole new challenge. Suddenly, you’re rocking maternity jeans and bump-friendly swimsuits, but you don’t want to drop a billion to re-outfit your nine months of pregnancy when a baby is on the way. While stylish maternity clothes do exist, we chatted with Jennifer Hyman, Rent the Runway’s CEO, about how she made it through her pregnancy by only buying one pair of maternity jeans, one pair of leggings, and a maternity tank top. She shares her best tips for feeling stylish and comfortable during your pregnancy.
Hyman’s Tips for Maternity Dressing
1. Layer your outfits. Hyman relied on her Unlimited Rent the Runway subscription throughout her pregnancy and paired it with her select maternity items. “I purchased one pair of maternity jeans, one pair of leggings and one tank top. I wore the leggings and jeans under dresses and I layered the tank under sweaters and blazers. By utilizing my Unlimited subscription, I was able to swap my four items an unlimited amount of times and select pieces that were high-quality, designer pieces that I felt great in,” says Hyman.
2. Dress by trimester. Your belly (and body) will change drastically throughout your pregnancy. For your first trimester, Hyman recommends renting clothes in your normal size but with less shape if you want to conceal your growing belly. During the second and third trimester, you might enjoy showing off your bump so Hyman suggests finding pieces that are more form-fitting but that can also stretch and glide over your belly. “The trimester I didn’t realize would be as important before I had my baby is the fourth trimester. My body is still changing, even six months after birth, and Unlimited has been a lifesaver in helping me as I transition down in size,” says Hyman.
3. Silhouette is key. Maternity clothes don’t have to be loose fabrics. “There’s this myth that only things that are super stretchy with ruching look best on pregnant women,” says Hyman. “Silhouette is key in selecting the right pieces. The only silhouettes that I would recommend avoiding when pregnant are mini lengths and straight shifts with no stretch.”
4. Don’t spend a lot of money on maternity wear. As a new mama, Hyman understands that you’re focused on buying needed baby supplies and prepping a nursery so she advises saving money on maternity wear by renting outfits for work and special occasions. Rather than shelling out for a maternity dress for a special occasion like a wedding, try finding a rental in a larger size that will fit comfortably around your bump.
5. Avoid garments with seams in the waist or hips. With a growing belly, clothes will fit differently, so a mini dress pre-pregnancy might fit you like a top instead. “When you’re pregnant everything also fits shorter with a growing belly. I paid attention to the length of the piece — knee length and below was what I favored,” says Hyman.
6. Pay attention to where clothing fits on the waist. You don’t have to shop exclusively in the maternity section of department stores. It’s all about where pieces land on your waist so use that as your guide. “I quickly found that empire waists and things that were loose around the body were great in my first trimester and pieces that were more fitted with stretch worked best in my second and third trimesters,” says Hyman.
Dress Your Bump With RTR
Hyman recommends these stylish non-maternity dresses, all available on Rent the Runway, that look great on pregnant women.
1. Tanya Taylor Hillary Dress ($160)
2. Bec & Bridge Pink Florence Dress ($40)
3. Rachel Zoe Nicolette Dress ($105)
4. Adrianna Papell Tulle Lace Gown ($60)
5. Saloni Orange Iris Maxi ($70)
6. Halston Heritage Dahlia Cape Gown ($70)
What’s your best tip for shopping for maternity clothes? Tweet us @BritandCo to let us know.
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(Photos via Rent the Runway)
