How is Maternity Clothing Different?
Maternity clothing is designed to be comfortable, functional, and stylish during pregnancy!
How is maternity clothing different? Keep reading and find out!
Maternity Tops
A maternity top is designed to fit your changing body. Regular tops are designed to fit you at your current size, they weren’t designed with a changing body in mind.
The length and the width of the top is designed to keep up with your growing belly. Pregnancy tops are designed to be comfortable and flattering throughout your pregnancy.
How Maternity Tops Are Different
Length
Generally maternity tops are a few inches longer in the body than regular clothes. This keeps the top long in front as your bump grows.
Waist
Some tops are cinched or have detail at the empire waistline, which rests just below your bust line. Some styles come with a belt to define the bump. Usually, these style tops are fitted in the bust and flare out slightly to form a loose fit over the bump.
Side Seam
Maternity tops that are designed to be fitted have side ruching or shirring. What’s this? Essentially the fabric is bunched, and an elastic is sown into the side seam. This allows the top to hug your growing bump and keep up to the size increases.
Cross Over Chest
Some styles cross over the chest, like a faux wrap, to leave space for your boobs to grow. These tops can also double as nursing tops. Wearing maternity tops that are also designed for breastfeeding is a great way to make your clothing budget go further.
Fabric Distribution
Some tops are put together so that the back part of the shirt is not as wide as the front. These tops usually have flat side seams and extra fabric on the front. They can fit fitted or loose.
Side Expansion
Some tops have side zippers that zip up from the bottom hem. These zippers allow the tops to expand. There are also woven side panels that allow the same growth.
Maternity Bottoms
Maternity bottoms are different from regular bottoms. Maternity bottoms are generally designed to fit low on the front and have added features so they can hug your growing belly.
The lower rise in the front is so your bump doesn’t get pinched when you sit down.
Different Panel Styles
Different Panel Styles Maternity pants are not all the same. There are different panel styles to make your pants comfortable and functional.
Some panel styles aren’t panels at all. Every pregnant person develops a personal panel preference. Buying your maternity bottoms from us is a great way to save money while you find your preferred style.
Cotton Fold Down
This is a thicker panel, usually navy, that is designed to be worn many ways. You can wear it as a full panel, fold it over once so it’s a midrise panel, or fold it over twice to wear it as a low rise panel. Thyme maternity used this panel style a lot in their bottoms.
Nylon Fitted
The nylon blend panel is the same fabric as a belly band. It’s really stretchy and thin and comes in many names. Destination Maternity (Motherhood Maternity) has trade marked the name, secret fit panel, and Old Navy calls this panel style a smooth panel. These panels are usually full panels and were created to appear seamless under tops.
Low-Rise Panel
A low-rise panel is exactly that, low rise. It’s designed to sit below the bump, not over the bump. Think hip hugger. This panel style could be cotton or nylon.
Pocket Panel
The pocket panel isn’t a panel at all. It’s an elastic that sits on the hip where the front pocket is usually found on regular pants. This panel style is also called a hip panel or inset panel. These elastic inserts are always in the same colour tone as the fabric of the garment.
Front Panel
The front panel comes in two styles. A low rise and a full panel. The full panel is “cut out” of the front of a higher rise bottom, like a pant or skirt. The back of the piece is solid fabric. This style of panel often comes with an adjustable elastic on the inside for a more personalized fit.
No Panel
Some maternity bottoms look exactly like regular bottoms. The front is the same as a regular bottom, but the back is made up of a wide elastic waistband. These sometimes have adjustable elastics inside the waist to customize the fit to your body. The no panel elastic back is usually low rise. You canals get a low panel with drawstring.
Over The Belly Continuous Fabric
With a shift towards shorter tops, panels are getting higher. So, if you liked high waisted pants and crop tops before you got pregnant, you can keep your style during your pregnancy. Some bottoms have no panels at all. Where the panel would be, the fabric continues and is sown in such a way that it will hug your bump as it grows.
Maternity Dresses
Maternity dresses are gorgeous and there is so much selection! They come in all shapes and fabrics, and are designed for your changing body. Maternity dresses can be shift, A-line, Sheath, bodycon, tent, empire, sun dress, jumper, shirt dress, wrap dress, just to name a few. You do have a great selection when it comes to maternity dress styles. Two main features help a maternity dress fit you better than a regular dress during your pregnancy. Design and fit. The side seam, length, and waist are the areas where maternity dresses differ from regular dresses.
Length
Generally maternity dresses are a longer in the body than regular dresses. This keeps the dress from pulling up in the front and looking unnatural. The hem on a well-designed maternity dress will be level all the way around you.
Just like regular dresses, you can get mini, knee, midi, or maxi length dresses.
Maternity dresses can be shift, A-line, Sheath, bodycon, tent, empire, sun dress, jumper, shirt dress, wrap dress, just to name a few. You do have a great selection when it comes to maternity dress styles. Two main features help a maternity dress fit you better than a regular dress during your pregnancy. Design and fit. The side seam and waist are two areas where maternity dresses differ from regular dresses.
Waist
Some dresses are cinched or have detail at the empire waistline, which rests just below your bust line. Some styles come with a belt to define the bump. Usually, these style dresses are fitted in the bust and flare out slightly to form a loose fit over the bump.
Side Seam
Maternity dresses come in body con styles as well. Dresses that are designed to be fitted have side ruching or shirring. What’s this? Essentially the fabric is bunched, and an elastic is sown into the side seam. This allows the dress to hug your growing bump and keep up to the size increases.
ONE MORE THING...
MATERNITY BRA MYTH
Question
Do I need a Maternity Bra?
Answer
NO!
I've been selling maternity clothing since 2015, and the term maternity bra is just a marketing term. There is nothing special or different about a maternity bra. There is nothing that makes it different than a regular bra.
Some women will experience a lot of growth in their breasts during pregnancy, while others won't experience any growth at all. Some will experience growth after baby is born, while others will experience growth in every trimester.
If you're one of those women who's experiencing breast growth in every trimester, it can get pretty expensive to keep buying new bras to fit your changing body.
If you're planning to breastfeed, transitioning into a nursing bra during our pregnancy will save you money. If you outgrow a bra during your pregnancy keep it! Remember, what goes up must go down! The bra will fit you again in your fourth trimester or months after your baby is born.
The number ONE bra recommendation I make to my pregnant Moms is to get a seamless bra.