Stylish maternity dresses for wedding guests – and there’s not a kaftan in sight!

Pregnancy is a great excuse for getting out of most things you don’t want to do – including housework (‘ouch, my back!’), walking the dog (‘soz, I can’t scoop poops’) and going to the gym (‘my trackie bottoms won’t go over the bump!’). Unfortunately it won’t get you out of attending the weddings of your nearest and dearest, even if all that fits you right now is maternity leggings.


The good news is that it does present the perfect excuse to go shopping – an activity we can all get on board with, provided there are adequate tea and wee stops and a credit card that hasn’t already been maxed out in Mothercare. Since you’ll probably have less stamina for shopping while you’re pregnant, it pays to do a bit of research in advance and consider your options before you set out. That way, you don’t waste time marching around stores that don’t stock maternity wear or trying on items that just won’t work with a bump. Also, even in cases where you know a brand has a maternity line, it’s worth shopping online first and doing click and collect where you can - not all stores will have the items you’re after in stock unless they’ve been pre-ordered. You'll thank us later...

Related: http://www.sheindressau.com/bridesmaid-dresses

Once you’ve tackled the initial challenge, here are a few things to bear in mind before you splash the cash…

Watch the waist

Your bump may be teeny right now, but one day you will wake up and feel like you’re smuggling a watermelon. Dresses with an empire line that are cut under the bust are the easiest to wear as they’ll be more forgiving of your growing belly.

Oversized is your friend

The trends for SS16 and AW16 are pretty preggo-friendly in that you’ll find lots of oversized items which still look stylish but are also great bump coverers. Even if you prefer a body con dress, the right kind of oversized jacket can really add a certain level of chic to any outfit.

Ditch the details

The key to successful maternity dressing is simplicity. Too much detailing in the wrong places can actually detract from your look and give you an odd shape, so take care to stay away from too many ruffles in the wrong places and stick to clean lines where you can. Let your body do the talking.

Size is just a number

Not all shops stock a dedicated maternity dress range (Zara, where are you when we need you?!) but you can still find items in their non-maternity collections that would work, provided you go up a couple of sizes. Shape and fit is much more important than size here, so make sure you opt for a style that flatters your new figure and try it on in a couple of sizes if necessary. (And, trust us, even if a size looks great right now, you’ll never regret going a size bigger later on, so overestimate if you’re not sure).

Longer is better

Channel Blake Lively at the Met Gala 2016

This season is all about midi-length dresses but when you’re pregnant, midi-length will quickly turn into micro once your bump expands and the fabric rides up. When shopping for dresses, look carefully at the hem lines and make sure you have a bit of slack built in for when the bump gets bigger and, if necessary, go a size up to get the length right.

Finally, remember that you don’t have to do monochrome just because you’re pregnant – you can still wear colour, but make sure it flatters your skin tone and also that you avoid any bold patterns which might warp around the tummy. If in doubt, try it out and take a photo in the mirror to see how the pattern fits around your bump.

Also see: http://www.sheindressau.com/wedding-dresses-2015-2016