Figuring out how to dress your bump can be a tricky task especially if it is your first pregnancy. It gets really frustrating when you can no longer fit into your clothes, and maternity clothing is just not as cute! I have decided to share my favorite stores and maternity capsule wardrobe pieces to dress your bump that are (mostly) budget-friendly.
Most of these stores and clothing items are not maternity specific, so I purchased them in a size or two up. If your third trimester happens to be in the spring and summer, dresses can be your best friend! They are super comfy and don’t require much outfit planning. So here we go with my spring and summer pregnancy capsule wardrobe pieces.
Tank Tops
For longer tank tops during the second and third trimesters, I found that Gap and Old Navy have some affordable ones. This one from Amazon is also another great option! I would size up so that you are able to wear them with maternity jeans and so that they are long enough to cover the bump.
I would also purchase a couple of maternity ones, just to make sure they can fit during the last days of your pregnancy. I was able to wear 2 sizes up in my regular longer tank tops throughout the end of my pregnancy, but if your bump is on the bigger side this second one from A Pea in a Pod is a great choice!
Oversized T-Shirts
Oversized T-Shirts are another staple for pregnancy during the spring/summer months. Here is a basic white one from Gap. I also loved having these from HM. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I pretty much lived in oversized t-shirts around the house.
Oversized Sweater
Where I live, evenings in the summer can still be chilly, so having a couple of oversized sweaters is another must. I personally love this graphic one from Amazon and this one from HM. They are both longer and work well with leggings. And they fully cover up the bump too!
Cardigan
A cardigan is another basic that is good to have and not just for pregnancy. I wear them almost every day in the winter around the house for extra warmth, and in the summer if I know I’m going to be outside in the evening I have one around just in case. They work perfectly with a pair of jeans and a tank!
I like this inexpensive one from Old Navy. I have a couple of cardigans from Old Navy, and they have lasted me for years!
VICI is another place you can find really cute sweaters and cardigans for the spring and summer. I like this one for the warmer months because of the light knit.
Denim Jacket
I included this denim jacket for my spring and summer pregnancy wardrobe because I think it’s a good staple for any type of wardrobe. This is a basic denim jacket from Madewell that I really like and wear all the time!
Blazer
A blazer is another staple for any type of wardrobe, and it is perfect for dressing up an outfit for a night out or an event. Here in Washington, the evenings tend to get chilly even in the summer so I would throw on a blazer with a pair of jeans or a skirt for things like going to church, going out in the evening, etc. I like this neutral one from Zara because it works with a lot of different outfits.
Dresses
If you happen to be pregnant in the summer, dresses will likely be your best friend! They are the easiest and most comfortable thing to wear in the hot months! I included these four dresses from Old Navy, Express, and Abercrombie.
I also want to mention the store Forever 21, because they happen to have very affordable and cute dresses for the summertime too! I just wasn’t able to link any here because they don’t have the ones that I bought, but I would definitely recommend checking it out!
Skirts
Skirts are another pregnancy must for the spring and summertime. You can dress them up or down, and they are super comfortable too! These two are my go-to favorites, and they are quite inexpensive too!
Leggings
For leggings, I went with the Blanqi full belly support and I found them to be pretty comfortable. They also have sales often which is great!
Jeans
Jeans during pregnancy are a struggle! I think I only wore jeans a couple of times during my second and third trimesters. However, I was still happy that I bought a pair of maternity jeans because there were times I just didn’t feel like wearing a dress. I purchased a couple of pairs of maternity jeans, but this pair from Spanx was my favorite (they were as comfortable as maternity jeans can be). I still found them to ride down just a bit but not as bad as my other ones. I would often pair them with a tank and a blazer or cardigan.
I also like to have a pair of white jeans because they just feel like spring and summertime for me. This white pair is also from Spanx. Both of these jeans are on the pricey side ($110) but knowing that I want to have more kids, I’d rather have one good pair (or better I should say) that I can keep for years than a couple that I really don’t like.
Pants
I love wearing linen pants in the spring and summer because there are times I don’t want to wear shorts or a dress. They still allow you to stay cool which is key if you are pregnant in the summer! I really like this inexpensive pair from Old Navy. It is not a maternity pair of pants, but I just picked a large up and wear them over my bump. They are really cute and comfy!
Shorts
Shorts are another one of those clothing items that can be pretty uncomfortable when you are in your late second or third trimester. It is good to have a couple of pairs on hand though, and I found that the ones with a drawstring or very stretchy band are the most comfortable. These are the three pairs of shorts that I really like:
I loved picking a capsule pregnancy wardrobe because it makes getting dressed so much easier! As you can tell, I like to stick with mostly beiges, whites, and blacks. However, I do like to add a few pieces of color, like a dress or sweater.
I hope that this has helped you in choosing your pregnancy wardrobe too! It can be really tricky to find the right size when you are buying non-maternity items. For me, it was mostly trial and error until I found a size that worked!
