Stylish maternity fashion that will make you feel fab, not frumpy

Pregnancy and breastfeeding shouldn’t impact your ability to be active, however there’s no denying that the changes in your body mean you do need a little extra comfort and support. Aussie label, Active Truth has made a promise to make activewear for “every body”, and that includes us pregnant and nursing mums. Made from breathable, moisture-wicking fabric that keeps you cool and dry it’s perfect for us incubators. And once on, you can it expect it to stay put – there’s no awkward rolling down because Active Truth bends with you, bump and all.

Navy + stripes + a double layer of stretchy, quality jersey fabric = absolute winner! The Lila Wrap Hem Maternity Dress looks cute as is, or if you’re pregnant through winter, you can add a pair of ankle boots and a cute jumper to keep cosy. (Price: $139, Lila Wrap Hem Maternity Dress)

Fitted but not quite a figure-hugging body-con fit, this soft black cotton number by Bae the Label is your express ticket to looking stylish and feeling comfortable during your pregnancy. (Price: $89, Set Them Straight High Neck Midi Dress)

This grey marle dress by maternity label Legoe Heritage will be your pregnancy wardrobe MVP. Stretchy, chic and made in super-comfy premium ribbed cotton, you can dress it up for the office with a nude heel and a statement earring, or wear it on the weekend with white trainers and a cute fedora. (Price: $99.00, Portugal Dress in Grey Marle)

You’ll be linen the dream in this versatile white sundress by Nude Lucy. I bought this summery number in mint green and white and made sure to go a size up so I can get full mileage out of it. It’s my throw-over-the-cossie and head to the beach fave, or if I want to take it for a spin at the office, I just whack on a crisp tee underneath. (Price: $79.95, Albion Linen Dress)

Mama Muse’s Terry-Lined Nursing Compression Cami is another great item that can work as a versatile everyday piece on either side of your pregnancy. The top, which is also available in black and white, has a super supportive inner shelf bra which is lined with soft, seamless terry fleece to absorb moisture and hide any sneaky leakage. It also has an easy-to-use snap-down bust panel for stress-free nursing access. (Price: $79, Terry-Lined Nursing Compression Cami)

Let’s face it, growing a human is tiring work and some days you deserve to wear nothing more than a pair of comfy trackies – but that doesn’t mean they have to be your old tattered pair from the back of the wardrobe. Enter these luxe charcoal harem pants by Legoe Heritage. Designed to be worn low, below the bump, they feature a comfortable stretchy elastic waist, a drop-crotch, pockets and a white rope drawcord meaning you won’t look like a total dag when you do the coffee dash in these bad boys. Ensuring you get full longevity out of your pants, they’re also perfect to wear without a bump – win win. (Price: $89.00, Mosman Harems in charcoal)

This chic khaki maternity dress by Bae the Label is the ideal option for when you want to dress up with minimal admin. The intricate side-gathering means your bump will be on full display plus the premium, super-stretch fabric means you can rock it right up until you pop! Always a win. (Price: $99, Little Wonders Tank Dress)

This is the ideal little white dress for a special occasion – before or after your pregnancy! Mama Muse’s Anaïs Ruffled Maternity Day Dress has a smocked bust and delicately elasticised shoulder straps that can be detached easily for nursing access. Yep, you can even nurse in it! Most stylish nursing dress ever? We think so. (Price: $169, Anaïs Ruffled Maternity Day Dress)

Dressing your bump should be fun and expressive! Gone are the days of the eighties oversized moo moos and thank god for that. Showcase your gorgeous tum in this bright, floral wrap-dress from Topshop Maternity and look a million bucks while doing it. (Price: $52.47, Wrap Mini Dress)

Every wardrobe needs a classic stripe top and we think this nautical number by Bae the Label is a total keeper! You can balance out the loose-fitting silhouette with slim-fit jeans. (Price: $69, Rockabye Long Sleeve Top)

One of the trickiest stages to dress for is, surprisingly, your first trimester. You’re still trying to conceal any hint of a tiny belly but suddenly your jeans, skirts and trousers don’t fit. I lived in these elastic-waisted Sportsgirl crinkle pants, which come in black and dusty pink, during those first 12 weeks. Again, just make sure you buy one size up so they don’t cut into your expanding waistline. Pro tip: Wear a tighter top to balance out the wide-leg proportions so people don’t clue onto you suddenly wearing more loose-fitting shapes. (Price: $59.95, Crinkle Crop Pants)

Does anything instil the fear of god in a pregnant woman more than the words black tie wedding? Since falling pregnant, me and the bump have attended a total of four weddings (no funerals, touch wood) and it’s taken A LOT of forward planning to nail the perfect wedding frock. Brands like Kookai and Bardot are full of divine stretchy dresses but my best discovery so far was this simple black off-the-shoulder creation by Forever New! Even better, I picked it up during the Boxing Day sales and got it for the bargain price of $67 (!!!). The fine milano stitch yarn blend means it will stretch back and forth with you, so you can definitely wear it again down the track when you’re not pregnant. But my favourite part was the fact my newfound oversized chest was made to appear way smaller thanks to the black cross-over neckline which cleverly disguised my lovely lady lumps, all the while my bump was on full display, which is always the best accessory. (Price: $89.95, Amber Frill Dress)

Once your wedding wear is sorted, the next biggest conundrum is swimwear. Shopping for a cossie is hard enough when you’re not pregnant but thankfully brands like Lilly and Lime cater for all shapes and sizes, with styles ranging from 6D–18HH with a beautiful selection of brights, colours and prints perfect for curvier, bigger busted ladies. You can mix and match your top and bottoms, which is always a huge bonus if you’re a different size on your bust compared to your bum like so many of us. You can check out their collection here.

Finding a classic skirt during pregnancy can be one hell of a challenge! Enter Bae the Label’s maternity skirt, which is beyond versatile. Featuring a fun high waist, a flirty thigh-split because you can totally still flash a little leg and a soft elastic waist, you’ll have no regrets adding this to cart pronto! (Price: $79, Side Line Midi Skirt)

Breaking up with your everyday jeans wreaks havoc on your tried and tested combos. I swear I wear jeans and a nice top 85 percent of the week. Thankfully, Topshop’s maternity line have a whole range of options to help. Granted, it took me a long time to realise I finally needed to bite the bullet and buy maternity jeans but these high-rise waisted, skinny leg denim ones have been the missing piece of my preggo clothing puzzle. (Price: $59.47, Maternity Bleach Jamie Jeans)

Everyone needs a little black maternity dress and this classic yet cool creation by Legoe Heritage works overtime with its clever features, which include a a flattering body-con silhouette, a playful midi-length hemline and an eye-catching shoulder tie details – which is totally functional in that they untie super quickly so you can use this when you’re breastfeeding too! (Price: $99.00, Coachella Dress in black)

Tried and tested: Your pregnant reporter takes some of the aforementioned looks out into the wilderness. (L-R) The Legoe Heritage grey marle dress, the Forever New cocktail frock and the Lilly and Lime mix and match swimmers all get my tick of approval.