When I first got pregnant, I spent a lot of mornings jumping out of bed to run to the mirror and check for signs of a bump. I’d arch my back and exhale as hard as possible to create the illusion of the baby bump that seemed to be taking its good old time to appear. My husband, bless his soul, never quite knew what to say to my daily question, “Can you see it?”
But then, it arrived. With a vengeance. And while I was ecstatic to finally be showing (there’s just something special about that moment a stranger first acknowledges your pregnancy), I was suddenly acutely aware of how pregnancy proof my wardrobe was not. Forget the fitted clothes – I felt like a sausage stuffed in a casing in those. And the loose, flowy clothes I thought would carry me all the way through my pregnancy actually just made me look huge all over as opposed to just pregnant.
So I quickly took to the internet to scout out attractive maternity clothes that would carry me through my pregnancy in style. My criteria? Comfortable, fashion forward and flattering. I am a serial order-then-return kind of girl, so trust me, if a brand makes maternity clothes, I tried it. What I learned is that all maternity clothes are DEFINITELY not created equal. Some make you look twice your size or super, super frumpy. Others are so fitted you can see every lump and bump (and we’re not just talking baby bump). But there are some great options out there that help you still feel attractive all the way through your nine month transformation.
Here are my top five picks for fashionable maternity clothes that flatter:
1. H&M
Who knew that H&M made maternity clothes? 
Not me, but I’m certainly glad I figured it out. I bought two dresses, one pair of skinny jeans and three pairs of colored twill pants (olive green, navy blue and black) to wear to work. I also ordered several basic t-shirts to wear under cardigans in the cooler months and on their own in the warmer temps. The best part was the price. These purchases didn’t break the bank, which was important to me considering I would likely not be wearing the clothes again. Word to the wise: I ordered my pre-pregnancy size as recommended, and the clothes really covered me for the first and second trimesters as my belly slowly made it’s debut. But once the third trimester hit and my cute little bump became a full-on beach ball, the pants became a bit snug, the shirts became a bit short, and the dresses felt a bit restrictive around the middle. So consider either ordering up one size or rely on these items to carry you through the beginning of your pregnancy, not necessarily the whole way through.
2. ASOS
I can’t say enough good things about this site. From off-the-shoulder tops to fashion-forward dresses, ASOS does a great 
job of creating maternity clothes that flatter the pregnant body. I loaded up on several options for work and every day life as well as a few dresses for my shower. I had a really hard time deciding which dress to wear to my shower but opted for a coral off-the-shoulder option from this brand, and ended up keeping a few of the runners up to wear to work and events because I liked them so much! When ordering, make sure to purchase your pre-pregnancy size; this brand sticks pretty closely to normal sizing.
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3. Seraphine
With locations all over the world and a customer list including A-list celebrities like Mila Kunis, Gwen Stefani, Kate Hudson and 
even Kate Middleton, it’s not surprising that this brand has really mastered maternity wear. This was one of the only places I ordered flowy dresses from because they were cut well enough that I didn’t feel huge in them… just pregnant. I also found a few fitted dresses that double as nursing dresses, which I know I’ll get good use out of once our little guy areives. Before you order, though, be sure to check Amazon for any of the items you like. I spent more than I needed to ordering directly from the online store and later saw some of my purchases available on Amazon for much cheaper. Plus, the return policy (within 15 days of delivery) is a bit rigid for someone with indecisive pregnancy brain.
4. PinkBlush
With a late summer due date, I was in desperate need of some light and comfortable dresses I could wear to work during my third trimester. PinkBlush filled that need. Offering countless styles in pretty patterns, florals, stripes and solids, this site has something for everyone. The only word of caution I’d give: I found that some of the looser styles just made me feel larger all over. I opted for the more fitted styles, which highlighted my bump nicely without giving that tent-like appearance that some of the looser styles create.
5. Pea in the Pod
Again, cut is everything when it comes to maternity clothes. And Pea in the Pod gets it right
with their tops, shorts and dresses. Working in an office setting with a business casual dress code, I struggled a bit with work clothes until I tried Pea in the Pod.
Offering pregnancy-friendly versions of office classics like blouses, dresses and dress pants, Pea in the Pod is a great place to find work staples. It’s
also got some great dress options for showers. Keep in mind, though, that it tends to be a bit pricey, so I’d recommend relying on it mainly for staples you’ll get a lot of use out of or dresses for special occasions like weddings and showers.
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Honorable Mentions:
I also found a few great dresses at Nordstrom’s, Amazon.com and The Loft as well. Motherhood Maternity has some nice options, but being petite, I found that many of their dresses and tops were just too large for my frame. I did, however, get three awesome pairs of jeans that carried me all the way through my second and third trimesters comfortably.
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