Maternity workwear staples for spring. (A.K.A. no yoga pants for you!)

Finding beautiful and appropriate maternity clothing to wear to work when you’re pregnant can sometimes feel like a fruitless effort. There were many times during my pregnancies that I had to cobble together an office-appropriate outfit with items in my wardrobe that were really more suited for lounging around.

But thanks to some clever designers and some new brands,I’ve put together a slew of cute maternity work clothes out there for the season.

This knotted short sleeve dress (above)
from the famous New York maternity boutique Veronique, is a comfy yet
elegant essential for every working mama-to-be’s wardrobe. It’s an investment piece for sure, but if you need a staple, this will get you through the next two seasons.

This pretty empire-waist maternity shirt
from maternity maven Rosie Pope’s new line, would look great with a
nice pair of trousers or a chic pair of dark denim jeans–depending on
what kind of office you work in. There is discreet gathering on the back of the shirt to allow for your belly to grow. And grow. As it will.

If you’re up for a shirred pencil skirt, try the adorable maternity line Ingrid & Isabel. There are so many
things I like about this one. First, it’s ultra-flattering with ruching
in all the right places. Second, you can wear the belly panel folded
over or pulled all the way up over your bump. This will be the piece
you’ll reach for over and over again.

You can wear this adorable blue maternity shirtdress from A Pea in the Pod to the office and then easily rock it to a post-work dinner or (virgin) drinks. It easily transitions into weekend wear with a pair of flip-flops. Not sure if it’s the best 40th week choice, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself wearing it again after the baby comes.

Everyone needs a bright and happy spring/summer dress! This fun orange maternity dress in comfy cottom from chic maternity designer Isabella Oliver is a cool addition to every mama-to-be’s wardrobe.

I could never wear real suit jackets during pregnancy because of the closure issue–the buttons never fully buttoned. This sharply tailored, Balmain-esque, closure-free maternity jacket from French maternity line En Sainte is the perfect answer to the blazer. As for hiding your butt…well if that’s a concern, you’ll need a longer option. -Melissa

Find more cool maternity clothing in our archives!