2nd trimester, hurrah! Hopefully any feelings of tiredness or nausea have disappeared and you’re now full of energy and looking forward to dressing The Bump with pride. Happily, the second trimester is the easiest third of your pregnancy to dress (albeit you do have to deal with the “I’m-not-fat-just-pregnant” stage when your bump hasn’t yet ‘popped’)!
Here are a few guidelines to help you as you begin to shop for maternity clothes. Before you begin reading, I suggest that you have a quick look back over the advice that I gave for the first trimester, as many of the tips will apply from months 4-6 too.
1. Don’t wear maternity clothes until you need them
There is no point wearing maternity clothes (no matter how excited you might be) unless you have a visible bump to dress. Without a bump, you will just look frumpy and bigger than you actually are. If your bump is not yet obvious, then continue following the advice that I gave for the first trimester. Once the bump ‘pops’ then you can start looking at specialist maternity clothes.
2. Before buying maternity clothes, examine your own wardrobe
You may be surprised to find that you actually have plenty of clothes in your wardrobe already that will suit a medium-sized bump, for example; wrap dresses, loose blouses, empire line tops and dresses, maxi dresses etc. Which brings me to my next point…
3. Buy on a need-only basis
Genuinely, you don’t need to buy many maternity items. In fact, the most important purchases for me were; comfy bras, flattering maternity trousers, leggings, maternity tracksuit pants, a few plain tops (versatile to style) and two smart dresses with stretchy fabric. Make sure you purchase items that reflect your lifestyle needs e.g. if you’re working in an office environment you may require tailored cuts and plain colours.
4. You don’t need to spend a fortune
My BEST purchases for the whole of my pregnancy were two pairs of slim-fitting trousers from H&M costing a mere €19.99 each which I wore every day for the last four months of my pregnancy. They supported by bump comfortably, flattered my legs, held their shape and washed/ironed brilliantly. I got great wear out of dark-hued leggings too – again they were soft, comfortable and looked very well under long tops, tunics, smocks and wrap dresses.
5. Buy maternity clothes in the correct size
I made a big mistake early on and purchased two pairs of expensive maternity jeans. I foolishly ignored the shop assistant’s advice and purchased a size too big, thinking that I would “grow into them”. That never happened. Even at 40 weeks, they were still hanging off me! The lesson here is to buy the correct size – if you were a size 12 pre-pregnancy, then you’re likely to remain a 12 in maternity -wear throughout your pregnancy.
6. Draw attention to your best features
Draw attention away from the bump i.e. upwards towards the décollete or down to your legs. For example, you can draw attention to your slim waist above your bump by choosing fabric belts, drawstrings, colourful patterns etc. Pretty necklaces will attract attention to your neckline and slim-fitting trousers will show off your legs.
Avoid adding bulk to your bump with loads of ‘tent-like’ fabric. Instead, choose soft fabrics that drape comfortably over your bump. Consider hiring a beautiful maternity dress for special occasions. Irish website Stylemama offers a beautiful range of designer maternity dresses for hire – ideal for weddings and formal occasions. Simply choose your favourite dress online and they will post it out to you (or alternatively you may try the dresses on at their Dublin boutique).
7. Invest in comfy, attractive flat shoes
Pregnancy had a derailing influence on one’s sense of gravity; hence I suggest that you invest in a few pairs of wedges and flats that are comfortable and attractive. Your feet, ankles and back will thank you.
8. Wear a bra that fits you properly
I covered this topic in detail in my previous article, but to summarise; it is essential that you wear a bra that is comfortable and supportive, and, because your size and shape will change frequently throughout the pregnancy, I recommend that you visit a trained bra specialist every two months for a review.
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SAMPLE ITEMS FROM IRISH BOUTIQUES
Prices and availability correct at time of publishing.
StyleMama.ie | The Audrey (Red)
BumpsNBabies.ie | Sierra Blouse €56.96
Mothercare.ie | Blooming Marvelous Dress €26.95
NeloMaternity.com | Skinny Jeans €65.00
HauteMama.ie | Maternal America Leggings €43.00
NaoiMi.com| Annine Wool Jacket €69.95
H&M | Maternity Tights €7.95
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In my next article I will be discussing style during the third trimester. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me on Twitter, Facebook, or my website Style By Caroline . See you next time!