Finding your perfect maternity wardrobe can be particularly difficult during the colder months. If you’re expecting a winter or spring baby, we’ve found 5 essentials to tide you over.
1. Coat Extender
A coat extender is absolutely ideal to make an existing coat more pregnancy friendly. Maternity coats can be incredibly expensive for an item you may not intend to wear for more than a few months, but in the winter months you can’t be without one! A coat extender is a perfect compromise if you are on a budget or concerned about sustainability. If you are keen to practise baby wearing, many of these extenders are intended to be suitable for this, but do check this before purchasing one.
Our top choices:
Zip Us In Standard Length Zip Expander Panel
This piece zips into your existing coat and adjusts to your size throughout pregnancy and beyond with a simple toggle design.
Make My Belly Fit Universal Jacket Extender
This zip-in extender panel has a detachable fleece liner, perfect for more extreme temperatures!
2. Dungarees
Dungarees have always been a well-known choice for maternity wear, but as they have been becoming more popular amongst non-pregnant women there are now so many choices and variations! They’re a classic piece year-round, but for winter you may find a thicker fabric like Cotton Drill, 100% Cotton Denim, or Corduroy a more suitable choice. If you’re looking for a more eye-catching or stand out piece, choose a pair in a gorgeous jewel tone or vibrant print.
Our top choices:
JoJo Maman Bebe Navy Cord Maternity Dungarees
A classic dungaree style in gorgeous navy blue corduroy.
Beyond Nine Laura 100% Organic Cotton Jumpsuit
A more unique dungaree design that’s easy to dress up or down.
3. Knitted Dresses
Knitted dresses are a perfect choice for a winter pregnancy because the knit fabric will stretch with you! If you’re due at the end of winter, you could buy a capsule wardrobe of knitted dresses to get you through from when you start showing in the Autumn right until the end of pregnancy! These workhorse staples can be dressed up with a blazer for the office or a fancy lunch, or worn with leggings and boots for a cosy feel.
Our top choices:
Maidwellway Iris Maternity Jumper Dress
A classic LBD, with full length sleeves for the winter months, in a cosy knitted fabric.
Mamalicious Regular Fit V-Neck Curve Dress
A fun and striking jumper dress in navy blue and white stripes.
4. Christmas Party Dress
The winter months are full of opportunities to wear special occasion dresses. Christmas lunches, New Years Eve celebrations, or your own special events like baby showers and gender reveal parties. If you have just one special occasion, you may prefer to buy a second hand piece. The chances are, the dress will have only been worn once by the previous owner, and it will retain resale value. There are also a few companies offering maternity dress rental, which may be a good option for you as these items are usually quality checked and professionally cleaned between users.
If you have a few occasions in your schedule, another good option is to buy one staple dress and change the accessories for each event. If you’re averse to buying second hand clothing, and not keen to repeat the same dress for special events, even if you buy a few pieces, they will have good re-sell value if you wait until next Autumn for next years mums-to-be.
As for what to chose – stretch velvet is a perfect Winter fabric, being comfortable, easy to fit with your changing body, and glamorous. We’ve even seen stretch velvet with glitter designs which would be perfect for a festive party! Stretch velvet dresses are usually available in all different shapes, from form-fitting pencils, to comfortable swing dresses, and even chic maxi length for an Old Hollywood loo
Tilbea Eva Green Velvet Party Dress
A gorgeous vintage glam inspired dress in stretch velvet.
5. Base Layers
We’re talking tights, turtlenecks, and – dare I say – thermals! These are all essentials that most women wear every winter, but your existing collection may not fit once your body starts to change. If you’ve previously had a summer pregnancy, you may find items from your old wardrobe can be made wearable in the cooler weather with the addition of some simple base layers.
Knitted tights in plain or cable designs are perfect, with many now available in breathable natural fibres like cotton and bamboo. We recommend looking for a high denier pair in the winter to ensure maximum warmth!
Turtlenecks are an ideal base layer, with many boasting thermal properties without the classic pointelle design which can feel old-fashioned. You can easily pair them with dungarees and pinafores, as well as with skirts and trousers.
And, alas, thermals. They might not always be chic, but they get the job done! Thermals these days can be made from finer fabrics than in the past, so they can be worn discreetly under most layers.
With these pieces you should be able to look and feel fabulous throughout your pregnancy and beyond!
Which maternity pieces did you find essential for a winter pregnancy? Let us know in the comments!