A first pregnancy can be overwhelming. Everything is new and exciting. Shopping for maternity clothes, although fun, may be confusing when planning ahead for the unknown belly size to come.

To stay stylish while pregnant, remember your personal style. Pregnancy does not mean you can not be fashionable; on the contrary, you can be stylish and look great, here are some tips how.

• Make sure you have at least one pair of maternity jeans in your new collection. Look for an adjustable waistbands, stretchy material and a flattering cut, such as bootleg. This would be a good item to splurge on because you will wear probably wear these for a bit after baby is born.
• Basic pants are a must for your wardrobe. Dress them up with a glamorous tunic or ware them for lounging with any top.
• If you like skirts, make sure you have at least one skirt in a basic color with a lightweight material and a stretchy waistband.
• A wrap dress is a must have item for the pregnant woman. The size is adjustable by definition and it is a perfect look for your new shape.
• Don’t forget to pick up a figure-hugging top with a cute neckline to accentuate your bump. A flirty and feminine empire-waist shirt is also a great look, and you can never go wrong with a fitted tee.

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• This is not the time to reinvent yourself. If your pre-pregnancy style was casual, don’t get tailored maternity clothes. Some of your maternity clothes will go with you even after the pregnancy (if they are of high quality or if you get tops that are also designed for nursing), and you want to make sure you will feel comfortable in them for some time.

Stay true to yourself, enough things are changing in your life, and your style doesn’t need to be one of them. You can find maternity clothes in so many different styles; there is no need to compromise your personal style.

• Waiting too long to buy maternity clothes has no benefit. Get clothes that can grow with you, and be comfortable from the start. There is no reason to wear uncomfortable clothes for half your pregnancy. Shop smart, look for flexible items that can last throughout the pregnancy.
• Since you can’t foresee all the changes to your body throughout the pregnancy, buying all your maternity clothes early and all at one time is probably not a good idea. Buy the items you need and know you may need to expand your collection later on.

For example, your bra cup size may change dramatically throughout the pregnancy, and then again after you give birth. It is a good idea to wait until after you deliver to purchase your nursing bras.

• Avoid the tent look. Empire waist style may be a solution if you do not want to wear tight maternity tops. Embrace your new curves, don’t hide them.
• This is not the time to neglect your self. Pampering is important to feeling good about yourself, especially now that you may feel insecure about the changes to your body you may not have expected.

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When you are pregnant, you are already self conscious about your looks. May it be your size, the fact that your wardrobe has shrunk, the way people are looking at you or just the wrong side of the bed you woke up on this morning.  Whatever it is, you are just not sure about your appearance anymore.

Well, there is something you can do about it! And yes, it would have been fabulous if you had the time and money to treat yourself to a complete new maternity wardrobe to boost up your self confidence, but there really is no need to go to that extreme.

It could be that just a few new fashionable items, mixed with your existing wardrobe (!!) and a nice piece of jewelry or the right accessory will do the trick and make you smile at your reflection at the mirror.

Start with your existing wardrobe. Almost any top you own, you can still ware, using a belly band for the extra length your pre-pregnancy top is lacking. Choose from a variety of colors and get two –three different colors/patterns that will work with the tops in your closet. For your pants you can use the pants expander to get a few more months out of your already owned pants. Later in the pregnancy you will have to get some maternity pants.

Now take a look at other items you already own, such as scarves, bags, gloves, hats, hair accessories, jewelry, and any other accessory you own and like. Mixing these items into your look can be fun and contribute to a fashionable look.

Bold items and/or splashes of color can give your pregnant look just what it needs to make the statement you are looking for, or spice up your appearance. There is no reason why you wouldn’t look fabulous while pregnant!