7 Tips When Shopping For Maternity Work Clothes
As a woman, figuring out what qualifies as professional attire is already tough enough. Can jeans be business casual? Do you need to wear heels on interviews? The list of questions goes on.
But what about what you should wear to work when you're pregnant? The challenge of what to wear only gets tougher.
If you're a soon-to-be mom that works in a business casual or business formal environment, you'll want to add maternity work clothes to your list of pre-baby purchases. But what can you do to ensure you 1) look professional, 2) feel comfortable, and 3) don't break the bank? We've got you covered with a list of 7 mom-approved tips below.
1. Online Shopping Is a Good Way to Go
You've got enough on your plate right now without going through the hassle of heading to the mall. Online shopping is a more efficient and often cheaper alternative. Plus, if you're buying clothes in advance, you won't be able to try them on anyway. Websites like Asos, Macy's, and H&M are great options for finding reasonably priced, professional maternity clothes.
Pro tip: If you buy clothes in advance, leave the tags on until you're ready to use the outfit in question. Try it on and if it doesn't fit like you'd hoped, you can always return it.
2. Don't Be Afraid of Color and Stripes
The idea that horizontal stripes make you look bigger is an old notion. Wearing stripes can be very effective in creating a flattened look that will make you feel good. Pregnancy can be an exciting but also overwhelming time, and feeling confident that you look your best can help you stay on your game while at the office.
You can also try a skirt or a blouse with one stripe to accentuate your curves. To distract the eye away from your belly bump, consider wearing an all-over design that contains a print pattern.
3. Menswear Can Make For Spectacular Second Layers
Nobody wants to spend excessive amounts of money on clothes they'll only wear once, and chances are that you can find stylish, baby-bump friendly business attire in your own home!
Many pregnant women may opt for wearing men's clothing to cover up their bump and maintain a dignified look while on the job. For example, cardigans and oversized blazers are always wonderful options for maternity business clothes.
Raid your husband/father/male friend's closet and see what you can find.
4. Wear Clothes That Stretch
Next, it is important to consider the clothes' fabric when weighing your options in finding the best maternity work clothes. Of course, you do not know how your belly and weight will develop as you go from one trimester to the next. So, a jersey fabric, stretch fabric, or flex fabric will permit more flexibility and optimal comfort.
This skirt has a tailored appearance, but is made of stretch fabric
5. Always Remember, Comfort is Key
You are at work and must meet the demands work entails. Of course you want to look the part, but you also want to feel the part.
Don't feel guilty swapping pencil skirts for stretchy slacks and high heels for supportive flats.
6. Renting/Borrowing Maternity Clothing Is a Wonderful Choice.
Let's face it, your pregnancy will last for nine months, and then you may need a few months to get back to your normal size.
And in the first 3-4 months, you'll likely be fine in your regular clothes. So it's totally understandable if you're hesitant to buy new items at all.
That's where renting and borrowing come in. Plus, they'll help you save space and money that you'd rather use for the baby anyway!
Rent the Runway recently started offering postpartum friendly and maternity clothing into subscription services. Over 450 brands and designers are included in these subscription services.
If renting doesn't align with your budget, don't feel shy asking friends to lend you clothes. Chances are, you'll get plenty of offers from women who were pregnant not that long ago and have a closet full of maternity work clothes they'll never touch again without even asking.
And don't limit yourself just to maternity clothes! As with menswear, the key is just finding professional clothes that will accommodate your bump. Ask your friends if they want to do a work clothes swap and see if any of them have clothes that fit you well!
7. Find a Store That You Like, and Stick With It
Many stores that sell maternity clothes will often come out with new styles and releases. So if you find an outlet that you enjoy, it is a good idea to continue to shop there. The fit and material that the clothing is made out of will usually stay the same as new items are made available for purchase. Using the same store to purchase maternity work clothes will provide a consistent fit that you can enjoy throughout your pregnancy.
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Don't let the stress of what to wear take away from this exciting time in your life. Remember, you'll be glowing no matter which maternity work clothes you choose!
Lead Together: Behind the Scenes of Facebook's Women@ Leadership Day
Tatiana L. is a global client partner based in Miami.
Tatiana is part of the Women@ Facebook Resource Group and helped plan Women's Leadership Day, an annual global community summit. While the highly-anticipated event takes place over just one day, its massive impact is felt over the course of the entire year.
Amy W. is an operations lead based in London.
"Women's Leadership Day is more than an event. It's energy, and it's a movement," Amy W., an operations lead in London, says. "Moments like this can completely change the perception of women in technology."
From choosing the content and programming for the event to making it accessible for women around the globe, we went behind the scenes with seven members of the Women@ Facebook Resource Group to learn more about how women are empowered—and are empowering one another— in their career journeys at the Facebook company.
Behind the scenes with Women@
Amanda M., an internal recruiting manager based in Singapore, speaking onstage at 2019 Women@ Leadership Day in APAC.
"I've always been passionate about empowering women, but I didn't know how I could do it at work. My first Women@ experience changed how I felt at Facebook," Amanda M., an internal recruiting manager in Singapore, remembers. "From then on, I wanted to help other women feel heard, valued, and confident."
Planning the global event, which brings together women from more than 20 countries, calls for close collaboration across multiple teams, regions, and timezones. Members of Women@ also partner with other Facebook Resource Groups, such as the Pride@ Resource Group, Latin@ Facebook Resource Group, Desis@ Facebook Resource Group and Black@ Resource Group, to ensure all women at Facebook are represented and feel included.
Vivian V. is a program manager based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
"Across regions and communities, we each bring unique differences and powerful stories. When one of us moves forward, we have the opportunity to bring all of us forward," Vivian V., a program manager in the San Francisco Bay Area explains. "While planning the summit, we meet weekly to talk about what women in different regions are experiencing. From the event theme and content to planning speaker sessions and fine-tuning details, we each have items to own. Two months before the summit, we meet daily to share updates and make sure nothing slips through the cracks."
"Just like me, women in APAC look forward to Women's Leadership Day all year long," Amanda says. Planning something that's deeply meaningful to so many people can feel like a lot of pressure, but at the same time, it's uplifting. I appreciate that we have the opportunity to talk about our individual and shared challenges, and we map out ways we can build community while empowering leadership for women across the globe."
Empowering confidence, equality, and leadership through storytelling
Paris Z., a vertical strategy lead in Singapore, and Amanda M. collaborate with women across the globe to plan Women@ programming and events.
Women's Leadership Day encourages women to talk about challenges like experiencing imposter syndrome, breaking through barriers, and how to manage work/life flexibility. "Storytelling is a huge part of the event," Paris Z., a vertical strategy lead in Singapore, explains.
Vivian says, "I've been at Facebook for nearly two years and help plan these events, and honestly, I never really understood imposter syndrome before I got here. Working with the Women@ community and hearing from our speakers—who are talented, brilliant superstars—I've seen firsthand how it affects them too."
Michelle C. is a client partner based in London.
Michelle C., a client partner in London, says that the summit's speaker sessions, which feature people from inside and outside of Facebook, are a highlight of every event. "We had a speaker from Tel Aviv who talked about the importance of balance in her personal life and how she co-parents with her husband. She shared specific things she's done, like adding her husband to the WhatsApp chat groups for mothers she's in and reminding her daughter's school that her husband is also available when their child feels sick. Her message was that we'll never be equal in the workplace until we're equal at home, and it really struck a chord."
Paris says that in APAC, Eva Chen's talk about facing challenges amidst the coronavirus pandemic and how she's raising her daughter was a top-rated session because it was so relatable. "From talking about her daughter's love for dinosaurs—a "boy" thing—and raising kids to fully be themselves to opening up about what it was like to grow up with immigrant parents from China and Vietnam, Eva inspired us with her authenticity and openness. Her struggle to feel supported while working in fashion and tech, rather than medicine, is something a lot of people in APAC understand."
"Every woman has a unique story," Michelle says. "Hearing from others is inspiring, validating, and truly eye-opening. It reminds us that we're not alone."
A memorable and lasting impact
It's no surprise that with the tremendous amount of planning and careful consideration that goes into the summit, its full impact is impossible to measure.
"It meant so much to me when people shared such positive feedback about Women's Leadership Day," Paris says. "We heard that some attendees felt inspired for days and weeks."
Kira G. is an agency partner based in Berlin.
Kira G., an agency partner in Berlin, has witnessed how the summit's programming can inspire action, even helping people push past a career plateau. "We might reach a point in our careers when we think, "I can't do this anymore, I'm not moving forward'," she says. "Women's Leadership Day gives us fresh perspectives, shows us new approaches, and starts important conversations. This can unlock new paths for growth and help us move forward."
Impact is felt in other Facebook groups, communities, and across teams too, inspiring interest and allyship. Amanda explains, "I felt so proud when a male VP from the Sales team came to us after hearing about what people talked about at Women's Leadership Day. He told us he wanted to learn more because it's everyone's responsibility to be an ally."
Empowering the community throughout the year
While Amanda describes Women's Leadership Day as a "bump in energy and inspiration" and "an injection of adrenaline", Vivian says that the real magic is what happens afterwards—and takes place all year long.
"When we think about Women's Leadership Day, our focus is on making sure that the powerful messages we hear and experience serve us throughout the entire year. We ask ourselves questions like, "How can we sprinkle these themes into our programming throughout the month or quarter? How do these ideas fit with our Women@ initiatives?" Going through something awesome together is just the beginning. Our work takes place year-round and we're constantly building on it to do more."
Paris agrees: "There's no shortage of amazing stories from our Women@ community throughout the year. Women's Leadership Day is just one channel for those stories, and I love how it stays top of mind with people and empowers them to do more good. When we come together, we can do anything we dream of."
"We're building a sisterhood and a community," Tatiana beams. "It feels so good to know there's always someone there to support you."
Learn more about Facebook's Employee Resource Groups, including Women@ here.
