Our Fashion Lead has discovered baby bumps and occasionwear don’t always go hand in hand– but these five dresses have got her seal of approval
There are plenty of lovely things about pregnancy, of course. Feeling my baby kick for the first time? Magical. The excuse to nap at any given opportunity? A treat. Trying to find a wedding guest dress when I’m seven months pregnant? Significantly less thrilling.
As I’m currently counting down to my brother’s wedding later this month, I’ve found myself facing the surprisingly tricky task of finding occasionwear that fits a growing bump without making me feel like I’ve borrowed a dress from a completely different decade. I say surprisingly, because until you’re pregnant, you’d have no clue how out of date fashion brand maternity sections are.
Most dresses under the tiny (and very much hidden) maternity tags on websites seem to fall into one of two camps: hideously floral with enough ruffles to curtain a small cottage, or so basic and spandex-y that it doesn’t quite feel special enough for an event.
I still want to look like me, just a version of me who also happens to be carrying around a watermelon-sized passenger. Surely that’s not such a big ask?
The good news is that I’ve discovered you don’t necessarily need to stick to the maternity section. Some of the best bump-friendly dresses I’ve found have actually come from regular high street occasionwear collections. After a lot of scrolling, ordering and trying things on (usually followed by asking my partner, “Do I look pregnant chic or just pregnant?”), I’ve narrowed it down to five dresses I’d recommend to my soon-to-be-mums group chat.
Before I share the dresses that made the cut, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way…
Tips for shopping for occasionwear with a bump
- Look for elasticated backs: Stretchy panels will give you much more flexibility than rigid zip-up styles or corset detailing.
- Choose underbust detailing: Empire lines, ties and ruching under the bust tend to accommodate a bump much more comfortably than anything that cinches at the waist.
- Check the fabric composition: A small amount of elastane or stretch in the fabric can make all the difference.
- Don’t be afraid to size up: I was typically a size small or UK 8 before pregnancy, but I’ve found sizing up to a medium or a UK 10-12 gives me much more comfort. If you’re shopping from a maternity section, though, there’s no need to size up.
- Check for ‘bump-friendly’ edits: Even brands without dedicated maternity ranges often curate styles that work well throughout pregnancy, like Nobody’s Child.
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Mango Chiffon V-Neck Dress
Shop it for £49.99
READ MORE: 18 high street wedding guest dresses for summer that hide upper arms
This was one of the first dresses I tried and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked with a bump. The floaty chiffon fabric skimmed over my stomach beautifully, and the V-neck and empire-style seam created shape without feeling restrictive.
I sized up to a 12, but actually, I could have made a 10 work because it was so floaty, there was no need for more material to cover my bump. It’s a really great pick if you’re concealing a bump in early pregnancy stages, as well, because it looks stylish but shows no figure outline below the bust.
Nobody’s Child Zola Midi Dress
Shop it for £135
If you’re after something that doesn’t immediately scream ‘maternity wedding guest’, this was one of my favourites. It does break my rule of no rigid zippers, but I checked before I ordered, and the zipper didn’t reach down to where my bump started, so I knew it wouldn’t pull me in too tight around the stomach.
I really love how the puff sleeves balance my figure a bit, and how vivid the berry shade is. I felt great in this, but if you’re in the later stages of pregnancy or have a bump that’s on the larger side, this has the least give of all the dresses I tried.
New Look Maternity Satin Lace Trim Jacquard Midi Dress
Shop it for £39.99
Sometimes dedicated maternity ranges do get it right, and this is proof. In fact, New Look had the best choice of maternity dresses out of any high street store I looked at. The satin finish makes it feel fancy enough for a special occasion, and the thoughtfully designed shape comfortably accommodates a bump of any size.
For under £40, I think it’s brilliant value considering how expensive maternity occasionwear can be. It also comes in a butter yellow, if that suits you more.
Never Fully Dressed Blue Soleil Anais Dress
Shop it for £129
This dress immediately put me in a good mood. Actually, fitting in it put me in a good mood. It’s been on my summer wishlist for a couple of months, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to fit it by the time wedding season rolled around – but thankfully, I do.
The brand actually has lots of good styles for bumps, because many of the dresses feature elasticated under-busts before flowing out into satin or chiffon midi or maxi skirts. I sized up to a 12 for this to make sure there was enough room in the satin skirt to house my bump, and it fit beautifully.
Monsoon Georgia Drop Hem Midi Dress
Shop it for £140
Monsoon doesn’t have a maternity section, but it does have plenty of floaty dresses in its new range that work well with baby bumps. This butter yellow dress does have a zip fastening, but again, it doesn’t restrict the bump area. Despite being polyester, the fabric also has give.
I felt really comfortable in this because the middle section almost cradled my bump, giving me support. Again, it’s not my top pick for third trimester dressing, but saying that, I’m in my third and it fit me beautifully when I sized up to a 12.
