Are you at a nine-to-five while expecting? Boost your confidence and simplify your routine with pregnancy work outfits that can do it all.
Pregnant professionals need maternity clothes that can keep up with their expanding bumps while setting the tone at important meetings.
Your ensembles should make you feel confident and comfortable from your commute to your desk to home.
Put up your feet and dig into our guide on all things maternity business attire. We’ll walk you through what makes a good workwear pregnancy piece, our favorite product recommendations, and four fool-proof outfit formulas.
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What to Look for in Maternity Work Clothes
If you’re not sure what to look for in maternity work clothes, you’re not alone.
Many of our clients struggle with finding maternity wear that is both polished and bump-friendly. They’re not sure what to keep from their current wardrobe, what to buy, and why.
Additionally, many maternity sections lean into ultra-casual items like sweats and leggings that don’t quite make the dress code. Or, they’re filled with highly feminine dresses or patterns that don’t fit everyone’s preferred aesthetic.
The fact is, pregnancy clothing is as personal as any other type of fashion. That means that the right pregnancy work outfits for you won’t be the same as they will for someone else. However, in our experience, there are three things that all business attire for expectant parents should have:
– Structure
– Comfort
– Versatility
Keep reading to find out exactly what we mean and what this looks like in the professional sphere.
Pregnancy Work Outfits Should Have Structure
One of the defining factors of work-appropriate clothing is structure. Think about it. What signature piece comes to mind when you think of a professionally dressed person?
But when you’re pregnant, your body’s constantly changing and you’re more sensitive to tight, rough, or nonstretchy materials.
So how do you bring structure to the maternity department?
One of the best ways to do this is with layering pieces. Keep the clothes around your belly soft and stretchy with something like a ribbed knit dress. But then, add back a dash of professionalism with a coat featuring structured lapels, or try an oversized blazer.
Another way is with your choice of pants.
Many companies make trousers and jeans with discrete belly bands. That way, you have plenty of room to grow while still having a structured choice for bottoms.
Or, add sharp lines and structure with your accessories. Pop on rectangular sunglasses or slide on loafers with an almond-shaped toe.
These pieces feel elegant and dressed up without sacrificing comfort.
Pregnancy Work Outfits Need Subtle Comfort
Speaking of comfort, that’s another vital part of all pregnancy work outfits. After all, a full day at the office is hard enough without the added stresses and symptoms of pregnancy.
You want to set yourself up for success with wearable pieces that’ll see you through conferences and commutes.
The trick is finding clothing that keeps its comfort on the down low. They feel great to you without others thinking you wore your pajamas to work.
For this, seek out knit versions of work classics. Like a knit blazer or ponte trousers.
Or give dresses a try. Styles like shirt dresses and wraps balance professionalism with airy shapes and soft silhouettes. (We especially love dresses for maternity summer style since they’re breezier than separates.)
Lastly, never underestimate the power of elastic waistbands. Since Covid changed the way we view work-appropriate attire, countless designers have added flexible waistbands to office wear.
Pregnancy Work Outfits Should Be Versatile
Last but not least, maternity work wear should be versatile. Why? Because that way you’re getting the most out of your closet.
If you’re investing in pieces, you want them to look good at the office and the weekends. Better yet, you want to be able to wear them while you’re expecting and as part of your postpartum wardrobe.
That’s why we recommend conducting a closet cleanout after finding out you’re pregnant. Then, you can go through your clothes and get an idea of what pieces:
– You can wear through certain trimesters
– Which you might have to retire for now
– What gaps you have in your wardrobe.
Once you’ve figured that out, you can put together an easy-to-follow shopping list and only buy what you need. Additionally, you can decide what you should spend on and where to save.
Another way to keep your pregnancy work outfits versatile is to lean into a minimalist maternity style.
This means prioritizing a few, well-fitting, well-made outfits in primarily core colors (black, grey, white, and navy) for maximum variety.
Ready to put your professional maternity wear checklist into action? Next up, we’re sharing our favorite outfit formulas for every office.
Pregnancy Work Outfits for Every Dress Code
As we mentioned before, everyone’s maternity style is different. Part of that comes down to what sorts of environments they’ll be in during pregnancy.
With that in mind, we’ve come up with one easy ensemble for some of the most common office types:
– Business formal
– Work from home
– Business casual
– Casual
No matter where you work, we’ve got something for you.
Maternity Business Attire for Formal Offices
If you’re hunting for formal maternity business attire, here’s a combination that works for just about any time of year.
First, start with a jumpsuit. We recommend this one from Nom Maternity.
Product by Nom Maternity, shop here.
Jumpsuits are perfect for maternity wear because they’re easygoing yet instantly look put together.
With this, you don’t have to worry about matching and mixing separates. Instead, pop it on and you’re ready to go. This black option is especially great because the color is versatile and the wrap style suits all body types.
To elevate this piece, add a layer like this gray blazer from Helmut Lang to your pregnancy work outfits.
Product by Helmut Lang, shop here.
The long-line silhouette and oversized fit leave extra room for your bump. Plus, the simple style is a great way to frame your belly.
To complete this ensemble, add a pair of slip-on loafers. We recommend slip-ons for a go-to maternity shoe because you save yourself from having to bend down over your bump.
Product by Tod’s, shop here.
Just kick on a pair like these gray wood-detail ones from Tod’s to match the blazer. Now you’re ready to climb the corporate ladder in style.
Pregnancy Work Outfits for Work From Home
Are you living that WFH life? If so, you have the greatest leeway when it comes to finding maternity outfits for work.
Here, you don’t have to worry about uptight dress codes. However, it’s always important to dress for success. In fact, style actually affects your mood. So if you want to put yourself in a productive, positive, and focused mindset, it’s still best to put together an outfit.
If you need work-from-home style tips, lean into pieces that combine relaxed and traditional styles.
For example, check out this collared cardigan from Emilia George.
Product by Emilia George, shop here.
What marks this the perfect “Above the keyboard” piece is that the button-down front and collar feel polished. It reads as more elevated than if you threw on a hoodie for a Zoom call.
However, it’s still stretchy, soft, and comfortable thanks to the knit fabrication.
Partner the sweater with elastic waist pants (we told you not to underestimate this style!) like the blue pair below.
Product by Nom Maternity, shop here.
These 100% cotton French blue joggers are the ideal blend of laid-back and sophistication for pregnancy work outfits. They’re a more stylish version of “sweats.” You could wear these at home or add sneakers and step out for the day.
But as long as you’re at home, feel free to stick to slippers.
Maternity Professional Attire for Business Casual Offices
Many people searching for maternity professional attire have a business casual dress code.
However, we prefer to think of this as an opportunity to try out power casual instead.
Power casual is an updated approach to dressing professionally while highlighting your personal style. It combines timeless workwear staples with modern details and silhouettes.
It’s also the go-to when you don’t know what to wear because it rides the line between formal and casual.
Curious to try out power casual while expecting? Start with this simple formula.
Grab a tried and true work piece like this black single-button blazer from Nili Lotan.
Product by Nili Lotan, shop here.
This piece works for this dress code because of its versatility. It’s simple yet modern thanks to the lightly cropped arms and longer hem.
Wear it over a blouse, like this notch-neck style by Nom Maternity.
Product by Nom Maternity, shop here.
The black and white combination sets you up for a classic color palette that’ll never look out of place.
You could always add a pop of color or pattern with your bottoms or shoes if you wanted as well. But if you want to stick with the timeless route, opt for a pair of jeans.
Product by Hudson Jeans, shop here.
We chose these medium-wash slim-straights by Hudson Jeans with elastic maternity panels.
If this is your first time expecting, you might not have even known about this style of maternity pants. But these are a great alternative if the ones with the full, wide belly band feel like overkill.
With side panels, you still have the flexibility you and your baby need.
Product by Chloe, shop here.
Pregnancy work outfits aren’t complete without shoes. So we’re tying this outfit together with one of our favorite ballet flats from designer Chloe.
What’s great about these shoes is that you can wear them anywhere, anytime. They go with dresses and jeans, formal and casual.
Plus, polished finished and scalloped edges add just the right dash flare.
Pro tip: if your feet have gone flat during pregnancy, try these inserts to keep your arches happy.
Pregnancy Work Outfits for Casual Settings
The last on our list of dress codes? Pregnancy work outfits for casual settings. These are the outfits that work best in offices without a dress code, summer attire, or off-site events.
In this case, we suggest wearing a shift or tunic dress like this low-key black frock from Ingrid & Isabel.
Product by Ingrid & Isabel, shop here.
This dress takes the cake by marrying together comfort and style. It’s simple, chic, and perfect for all stages of pregnancy and all body types.
With the relaxed fit and gathered front, this is a piece you can wear postpartum as well.
If you know us, you know we can’t resist white sneakers. So, of course, that’s we’re finishing this outfit.
Product by Sam Edelman, shop here.
This time, we’ve chosen a low-profile lace-up pair from Sam Edelman. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to actually lace these up if you’re getting to that “can’t reach your feet” stage.)
There you have it, quick tips and four easy pregnancy work outfits for all occasions.
Now that you know where to start your maternity fashion journey, why not continue to level up? Unlock your perfect style, and apply for Next Level Wardrobe’s women’s styling and image consulting services. With over 20 years of experience with diverse clients, our experts are ready to upgrade your wardrobe.
