Every woman needs a pregnancy capsule wardrobe for those last few months of pregnancy… Discover my secret to keeping it both simple and diverse.
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Picture it: You’re about 20 weeks pregnant, maybe even sooner, and all your clothes are too tight or just don’t look quite right on you anymore. Besides some sweatpants and a handful of t-shirts, your wardrobe is quite lacking…
I’m here to help you figure out an easy, affordable way to buy a few staples for your wardrobe that are so easy to mix and match. I’m even throwing in a few optional items that are dependent upon the season (and your preferences) to make it even more customizable.
These are great for everyday, casual wear, especially if you work from home or are a stay-at-home mom.
Whether you prefer a little color or like to stick to easy neutrals and black, I’ve got you covered with these ideas. Let’s get into my pregnancy capsule wardrobe!
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is essentially a small collection of clothing geared toward mixing and matching so the few pieces can turn into many different outfits. That way it doesn’t look or feel like you’re wearing the same outfit every single day. The idea is to have everyday outfits for most occasions without accruing an excessive amount of clothing that will only get used for a few months.
How many pieces do I need for a pregnancy capsule wardrobe?
If you’re a minimalist or just a generally frugal person, you may be able to get away with 8-10 items total. I personally only purchased 8 maternity items to get me through summer and early fall weather. (9 if you count my maternity swimsuit.)
I already had an oversized jean jacket for cooler weather, black leggings that worked even in my last months of pregnancy, summer dresses that were bump friendly, and even a few plain v-neck shirts that worked pretty much through my entire pregnancy.
Some of that was luck and some of that was because I was planning on pregnancy for this year and had made sure when I purchased clothes over the last year or so that I considered if they would be bump friendly before buying.
Many of these clothes I could wear until about 24 weeks. A handful I could wear the entire nine months.
You may need or prefer a few more pieces than I purchased (or be able to get away with less). This will depend on if you work outside your home and need formal attire or if you just so happen to put on a lot of weight during pregnancy. Every woman and every woman’s body is different.
What if I can’t afford to buy all these items?
You should feel zero pressure to spend an arm and a leg on supplementing your traditional wardrobe with maternity wear. Additionally, you may choose just a couple of these pieces that you find absolutely necessary and you can also choose to purchase items secondhand or swap with another pregnant mama.
Everyday Pregnancy Capsule Wardrobe Ideas
Basic shirts (4-6 pieces) | pregnancy capsule wardrobe
Basic v-necks, scoop shirts, oversized or fitted can serve a variety of purposes. These can be dressed up or down, depending on the bottoms you pair them with. They are an everyday staple for me and make dressing feel so simple. Since I was pregnant throughout summer I did buy a cute tank top as one of my basics. I knew this would also look good under a jacket or loose button up shirt. It can pair well with leggings, shorts, or even a skirt.
If you want to play it safe stick to cream colors, whites, grays, tans, beige, and black… and maybe dark blue. I added a white shirt with thin blue stripes to add just a little more to this basic staple, but you can dress as simply as you’d like. There are some great package deals (like this 3-shirt package deal on Amazon) that work with practically anything. I wear these very often and can confirm they work well and are cheap.
Don’t forget an oversized sweater or button-up shirt or two in cooler seasons. These are also very easy to mix and match with leggings, biker shorts, long skirts, and jeans.
Leggings (2-4 pieces) | pregnancy capsule wardrobe
Black leggings are pretty much a staple in every woman’s wardrobe, pregnant or not. Perfect for exercise, lounging, or a simple fall outfit, they’re extremely diverse. I recommend having a couple pairs of leggings (sometimes pre-pregnancy leggings will still work) for any of these occasions. They’re also great for pairing with a skirt or dress in winter to make even more outfits work throughout the year. You can dress them up or down, which is why I feel they are a must-have.
I personally wear the offline leggings from Aerie and can attest that they work throughout pregnancy. Yep, even over the bump.
Shorts (2-4 pieces depending on the season) | pregnancy capsule wardrobe
I admit that I already owned a couple of terry cloth, oversized shorts that I wear every single night to bed. But during the summer I often wear them during the daytime, too. Especially if I’m dressing down for the day. I pair them with a plan v-neck or scoop shirt or a t-shirt.
Even if it’s winter, I can’t tell you how important it is to own at least a couple pairs of shorts. For bedtime, working out, or just lounging at the very least. Us pregnant mamas get hot easily. It’s best to have a couple pairs of these in your arsenal.
For those women who prefer a different style, consider some black biker shorts that look great with a summer tank or an oversized sweater or button-up shirt for a casual spring/fall day. They look great with sneakers or sandals and are so comfortable. These are usually very affordable (check out Old Navy, Amazon, or Maurice’s for affordable pricing) and flattering for most body types.
Casual dresses (2 pieces) | pregnancy capsule wardrobe
I do think it’s important to have a casual summer dress or two if you already wear dresses. If not, you will skip this one and maybe choose to invest more in another area. I wear dresses a lot in warmer months because they are cute and loose and comfy. That’s exactly what I need in pregnancy. Old Navy tends to have some great ones that often go on sale, so keep an eye out there for something cute, casual, and affordable.
Aim for dresses that can also work in spring or fall, too. Pair with an oversized jean jacket or sweater to really make it stretch. I personally chose a more vibrant dress (a mustard yellow since it’s my favorite color and I needed some color in my maternity wardrobe), along with a dark blue dress with thin white stripes.
Don’t be afraid to add a little color in since these can always be paired with neutrals to create different styles and outfits. You don’t want your entire wardrobe to be boring for months on end.
Tips for Your Pregnancy Capsule Wardrobe
You may be wondering why I didn’t include a pair of jeans or a more formal dress for church Sundays or the random wedding/baby shower you’re invited to. Many women, like me, won’t even touch jeans during pregnancy because we are just not about that life. Jeans are too restricting. If you really want to wear jeans during pregnancy, I’d highly recommend a band that loops onto your regular jeans buttons so you don’t need to purchase new jeans for pregnancy.
As far as dresses go, if you have any looser fitting dresses, as most women do, they’ll naturally flare out around the hips and lower belly area. In my experience these skirts and dresses still worked for me throughout pregnancy. Many skirts can just be worn super high waisted during pregnancy and you can mix and match different tops you tuck in or tie up in the front for a different look each time you wear each skirt/dress.
Dresses that still fit can be mixed and matched with oversized sweaters and jackets in cooler months just as you normally would. Do not invest in expensive new dresses unless you absolutely have to for a special event. My one exception for this was for my maternity shoot. I wanted a dramatic, loose, flowing, off-the-shoulder gown for my shoot. Although I knew I’d only wear it once, it was well worth it for the photos and memories. I spent about $65 on this and plan to resell it or find some other use for it in the future so it doesn’t completely go to waste.
Jackets, cardigans, and blazers are not considered a “must-have” in my book. If it is winter, then a warm winter coat is an exception. However, I find that most lighter jackets still fit throughout pregnancy, you may just need to skip buttoning them up after a certain point.
A maternity swimsuit is completely optional but a great idea for summer if your due date is late summer/early fall. Lounging in a pool and catching some rays is a great way to destress and relax the joints on a hot summer day. Pair a basic black swimsuit with any sarong or button-up swimsuit cover up to wear over it if you prefer. It is still really cute and somewhat modest to button just the top buttons on a cover up, as far down as they go until your cute, round baby belly pokes out.
In case you haven’t caught on, the biggest tip I can give on maternity clothes whether new or repurposing regular clothes: mix and match them with as many different layers as needed to create a new look. Try to adapt as many old clothes as you can before purchasing new ones to cut down on costs. The key to capsule wardrobes is keeping individual pieces basic and getting creative with adding other pieces or modifying them to look like a new outfit.
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