Large-and-in-Charge-15-Ways-to-Rock-Maternity-Looks-without-Breaking-the-Bank-MainPhoto

Large-and-in-Charge-15-Ways-to-Rock-Maternity-Looks-without-Breaking-the-Bank-MainPhoto

What’s the secret to finding cheap maternity clothes that will look cute, feel great and slightly resemble the way you used to dress before you were smuggling a 30-pound basketball in your belly? After all, when you get pregnant you kiss your waist goodbye, but that doesn’t mean you need to kiss your style goodbye too. And before you roll your eyes and think that it’s impossible to look fashionable while pregnant, let’s be clear. No. More. Muumuus. Those frumpy sacks are out and form-fitting, on-trend maternity clothes are in. And let us all say, amen.

As fashion writer (and mother) Nandini D’Souza discovered, “Pregnancy proved to be empowering, in part because I did it on my own terms, not succumbing to the tyranny of the empire waist, the muumuu, or whatever else people thought I was “supposed to” wear just because I was having a baby.” Yes, pregnancy can actually help you embrace your style, not abandon it completely. And you don’t need to pony up the big bucks either. Once you know what fits and which shapes and fabrics to look for then you can dress your bump on a budget. And remember, your best accessories are your pregnancy glow, your confidence and of course, your baby belly. Here are 14 bump-tastic tips to help you dress up your pregnancy without breaking the bank.

  1. A Stretchy, Long Tank Top
    Two words for you: Must. Buy. A stretchy tank is an essential for absolutely every body type at every point of pregnancy. (And for the post-pregnancy period, for that matter.) We’re not saying that we lived in our stretchy tank top when we were pregnant, but we literally didn’t take it off, ever, except to sleep and to give birth, and even then it was only because the hospital insisted we put on a medical gown. They are comfortable, they suck you in (in a good way), they cover you up, they accentuate your bump and the best perk of all, they hold your pants up. Trust us, the pants-falling-down struggle is real.

Read Related: Stylin’ Moms-to-Be: Celeb Maternity Fashion Trends