What to expect (from your wardrobe) when you’re expecting

When you think of maternity wear, do you picture the dreaded elastic waistband that swallows you whole, aka Joey’s ‘Thanksgiving pants’ in Friends? Or a tent dress that’s big enough to become your to-be-child’s play tent? Well, forget all that. Gone are the days when women were expected to hide their pregnancies or drown themselves in infantile bows and ribbons. Instead, now, the key is to wear what makes you feel good and feel like yourself, no matter where you are in your pregnancy. Curious about what the most stylish new-gen moms are rocking? We asked a few to spill their wardrobe secrets. From the coolest maternity jeans to one internet-famous modal-and-elastane dress, these women know exactly how to elevate their look without sacrificing comfort. 

Athiya Shetty, actor

What did you wear on repeat during your pregnancy?

All my husband’s and dad’s clothes! I remember panicking at three months when my pants didn’t fit—I had an event and nobody knew I was pregnant, so I threw on my dad’s suit. So comfy and chic. I wore Lululemon tights for working out. I bought every colour and style and lived in them, though I usually hate tights! I also lived in Skims and Uniqlo pyjama sets and tonnes of loose linen co-ords my mom made for me from her label With Love, Mana. I barely needed to shop for maternity wear.

Any clothing discoveries you’d recommend to other moms?

Throughout my pregnancy I wore oversized jeans from Levi’s or Calvin Klein. I love them! My favourite ones were a pair of men’s vintage Calvins—I’m quite sad they don’t fit anymore.

What about when you wanted to feel put together?

My white Prada shirt, which I wore through my pregnancy. You can never go wrong with a crisp, oversized white shirt. I also loved wearing oversized suit jackets—especially my dad’s from the ’90s.

Bodycon or oversized?

Free-flowing is my personal style even before I was pregnant. So, it only seemed natural to stick to that. My approach was treating pregnancy like an extension of my style; just because I was pregnant, it didn’t mean I had to dress differently. It was important for me to feel like myself and enjoy my clothes while trying my best to embrace the changes.

Did you alter your pre-maternity clothes?

Yes! Lots, and I had fun doing that. I used a lot of my pre-maternity clothes, opening up pants and mixing and matching clothes.

A styling tip for other moms?

There are no rules. It’s important to wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy, be it PJs all day or a dress. The only person that you need to seek validation from is yourself. There’s no right or wrong. Fashion is something that I’ve never taken too seriously—hence, I enjoy it.

Masaba Gupta, fashion designer and entrepreneur

What did you wear on repeat during your pregnancy?

The Skims bodycon dress—it just really fit well. I used to wear it pre-pregnancy as well, and I thought that with the belly, it just looked even more beautiful. It was also very comfortable. I also wore a lot of bodysuits from this brand called Leset and yoga pants from Oysho.

Any clothing discoveries you’d recommend to other moms?

Wearing nightwear during the day. I have these beautiful cotton voile maxis in white, black and beige; you tie them at the shoulder, and they feel weightless. I would wear that and a chic jacket on top. It looked breezy and comfortable, but also very feminine and delicate. And I also wore a lot of denim overalls.

What about when you wanted to feel put together?

An oversized shirt with the buttons dropped down, a lace camisole and shorts, and high heels. You’re not meant to wear heels, but my doctor gave me the go-ahead. I always wore something form-fitted—never tent-like. I think silhouettes that flare waist down make you look bigger than you are, so I avoided that. Skims was my go-to when I wanted to look put together, and I wore a lot of Masaba. I’d pair a Skims dress with a charm jacket from my own brand.

Bodycon or oversized? 

I preferred outfits that hugged my belly. I didn’t ever worry about feeling bloated or my stomach sticking out. I actually didn’t think too much about my body at the time. I just thought of comfort and of things that could take me from day to night, literally, because I was working through my pregnancy till the last day. So, I just wanted pieces that let me breathe, and because I was using the bathroom so much, they had to be easy to take off.

Did you alter your pre-maternity clothes?

I didn’t alter any of my pre-maternity clothes. I have two extremes in my wardrobe: everything is either bodycon or oversized. So, I wore a mix of the two. I did love this one pair of maternity jeans that were, of course, too big for me after I delivered. So postpartum, I altered them back to my regular size.

A styling tip for other moms?

Dress for how you’re feeling in your pregnancy—if you’re feeling ridiculously big or want to hide certain areas, then dress for that. Open shoulders, bare backs, off-shoulders, lots of cleavage and legs worked for me. I liked to be in oversized shirts with shorts and bare legs. It was important to dress according to how my body was changing month to month, and I think women should be mindful of that. Just avoid anything that cuts under the bust and flares out like a tent—it adds unnecessary volume.

Priyanka Kapadia, fashion stylist

What did you wear on repeat during your pregnancy?

I lived in my Alo leggings and Oysho swimsuits. I wore a lot of workout wear—that’s always been my thing. I just sized up with the Alo leggings. I also loved my Skims dresses and flared pants; they looked great with a simple tank.

Any clothing discoveries you’d recommend to other moms?

I used to be so anti-leggings—like I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them. But as I got bigger, I realised how comfortable they are. I found leggings from Skims, Alo, and Pace Active (an Indian brand) comfy around the belly. As my bump got bigger, I just wore the waistband under the bump. The one thing I couldn’t bear were the maternity pants with the big band that covers the belly.

What did you wear to feel put together?

Honestly, when I went out I’d just bring out the stretch dresses. I wore my Skims bandeau dresses all the time—they’re so soft and hugged the curves just right. I also discovered knit dresses by Christopher Esber. There was one with a plunging neckline that I probably wouldn’t wear otherwise, but with a bump it looked great.

Bodycon or oversized?

I alternated between my husband’s oversized Savio Jon shirts and T-shirts with the H&M Mama tanks. Those were really helpful after five or six months, when the belly gets really big and you need to cover it, because all my tank tops were super tiny. But I also loved fitted clothes. I didn’t like the tent-like, super-big clothes. I’m pretty tall and broad-built, so I felt like I looked too big when I wore really baggy clothes.

A styling tip for other moms?

It’s kind of crazy how much of your wardrobe you can actually use while you are pregnant. There was a point where I was so confused about how to dress the pregnant body because you’re just not used to seeing yourself like that. But I just kind of owned it. Don’t go overboard with maternity-specific clothes. With sweatpants, I bought a size up. And I’m still wearing them a year later. The one thing I would say is to invest in comfy pyjamas for those last few weeks and months.

Marianna Mukuchyan, hair & makeup artist

What did you wear on repeat during your pregnancy?

A flowy dress that had been passed to me from a very close friend who wore it throughout her two pregnancies. I wore that a lot, especially in the last trimester. In my last trimester, I was in Morocco, so I lived in tunics with bikinis around the pool.

Any discoveries you’d recommend to other moms?

Bodycon tube-like dresses—they’re so beautiful, especially when your belly starts to show, right till the last month. I have one from Skims. I also discovered a super-soft, stretchy one-piece bodysuit in white, black, and green. Free People had some really cool boho stuff. I bought, like, nine flowy dresses from there. They were perfect for that in-between phase when the bump isn’t too obvious. Once it was, I switched back to bodycon.

What did you wear to feel put together?

I usually wore a simple bodycon dress and accessorised with some beautiful jewellery.

Bodycon or oversized?

I loved how my body was changing—it looked beautiful, and I proudly showed it off. I lived in bikinis, tunics, and bodycon dresses because they flattered the bump and were super comfy. Post-pregnancy, I think twice before wearing bodycon, but during that time I enjoyed flaunting the bump.

Did you alter your pre-maternity clothes?

No, I didn’t. Some of them were stretchy enough that I could also wear them during the pregnancy. But because I was entering this new phase, I didn’t really want to wear the same clothes that I was wearing before. I loved the idea of changing my vibe a little. It was still me, but cooler and boho.

A styling tip for other moms?

Birkenstocks were a game-changer. I never wore them before, but during my pregnancy, my friend passed hers on to me, and I couldn’t believe how comfortable they were. You don’t have to worry about your feet pressing into shoes or wearing some weird pregnancy clothes just because your body is going through a change. It’s such a beautiful time that your body is going through, so try to embrace it. And accessories—always! Upgrade your look with some earrings, rings, necklaces, and even cute belly belts.

Tanya Vohra Ahuja, stylist and entrepreneur

What did you wear on repeat during pregnancy?

Linen co-ord sets from Posse and denim overalls from Muji were my go-tos.

Any discoveries you’d recommend to other moms?

I avoided typical maternity wear and instead invested in pieces I could wear postpartum too. I discovered Jaki during my second trimester—their ribbed knit sets with elastic drawstrings were a dream. I also loved Bumpsuit’s Cloud collection, especially their lounge maxi dresses and robes. Skims was another staple—I’m obsessed with their maternity foldover pants and catsuit, which I styled with linen blazers.

What did you wear to look put together when stepping out?

Dresses—jersey ones from Posse and knit or linen styles from the Australian brand Dissh.

Bodycon or oversized?

I loved showing off the bump with fitted knits and jersey dresses, especially early on. By the third trimester, I leaned into breezy linen co-ords and dresses. Comfort was key, but I also liked feeling polished—it helped me feel like myself.

Did you alter any pre-maternity clothes?

Not really. I wore a lot of my existing wardrobe until mid-second trimester, then switched to new pieces that weren’t maternity-specific but bump-friendly.

A styling tip for other moms?

Pregnancy style, for me, was all about striking a balance—feeling good and looking good in equal measure.