How to Find the Maternity Clothes You’ll Love to Wear

Normally, I would relish the opportunity to slip on a sexy dress and feel like a Hollywood star for a night. But, when my husband and I were asked to attend a ball for the hospital at which he works, the prospect of finding something glamorous to wear at six-months pregnant was more than a little daunting.

Having a dress made for the occasion was out of the question: I knew I was never likely to wear it again. Finding a ball gown in a maternity store was mission impossible. Fortunately, a friend came to the rescue with a beautiful dress, which managed to fit in all the right places, and I was spared the embarrassment of arriving at the ball in much the same state Cinderella exited it.

While black-tie events will always create maternity-outfit mayhem, shopping for inexpensive and fashionable maternity clothing can be difficult at the best of times.

The challenge for most moms-to-be is to find a balance: clothing that is affordable and stylish. While trends are changing to meet this demand, the frustrations encountered in the search for the perfect outfit are often compounded by the fact that your pregnant shape may change quicker than you anticipated. Weight gain may be above or below average, you could be carrying more than one baby, and your breasts may be growing unrestrainedly. Suddenly, it becomes perfectly understandable why some women would prefer tearing their hair out to subjecting themselves to maternity shopping.

Although the world will take pity on your pregnancy plight and forgive you for falling victim to fashion faux pas, there are many options to looking good while pregnant without putting a dent in your bank balance. So, if you dread the thought of shelling out hundreds of dollars on clothing that will only fit temporarily, and if you can't get away with wearing your husband's baggy T-shirts to work, consider the following tips.

Borrow clothing from friends and family

Rely on the generosity of sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends who have been pregnant. Consider swapping some of your regular wear for their maternity wear for the duration of your pregnancy. Not only will you make space in your wardrobe by removing items you can no longer fit into, but borrowing maternity clothing from others also saves you the hassle and expense of frequent shopping trips.