Even the most confident of pregnant women may dread the idea of attending a formal event while pregnant. There are so many ways to go wrong when dressing the pregnant frame for a sleek, formal event. Fortunately, there are also many ways to go right.
Glitz and bright colours are things that should be avoided in maternity formalwear, although sparkles at the bust-line are a nice touch. Dark shinny fabrics are the most flattering for non-pregnant and pregnant women alike.
In maternity formalwear, a structured empire top is best. While a longer length is usually required in formalwear, the maternity evening dress should not cascade down from the bump, but should be fitted, at least somewhat, to showcase it. If she prefers to wear a more skimming fabric, a nice A-line blouse (with pleated back for added definition) can be paired with a slim leg trouser for a very sexy yet formal look.
An evening event is the perfect time for a pregnant woman to show off her maternity bust-line. Ruched cross-over tops are very sexy and flattering, as well as helpful for defining the maternity waistline. Scalloped and squared necklines are also very helpful for accentuating the womanly curves of pregnancy, and for added drama, an open or low back offers the paste resistance in feminine charm.
From the first to third trimester, a pregnant woman can look and feel like the bell of the ball. The key to maternity formalwear is simplicity, and definition. And of course, a pregnant woman should proudly display her baby bump, no matter what the occasion.
© Maternity Clothing.org.uk 2007.
Pleated overbump drawstring top From Crave Maternity , accentuate, bump, crave, drawstring, early, elegant, evening, figure, front, gathers, grow, maternity, pleated, pregnancy, silhouette, slinky, stages, streamline, waist... £21.00 | Black Leggings From FunMum , absolutely, anklelength, boots, bump, casual, comfortably, created, evening, fabric, flip, flops, funmum, heels, high, ho, leggings, love, maternity, sit, soft, stretch, supercomfy, trousers, we, wearing, wear|party, week's, |this... £23.00 | Simple Red Dress From Crave Maternity , corsage, crave, detachable, drapes, dress, effect, evening, figure, jersey, maternity, soft, super, versatile, wear... £28.00 |
Essential Sheer Sleeve Top From Crave Maternity , accentuating, combining, contrasting, crave, cut, double, effect, effects, empire, evening, feminine, flattering, flowing, layer, line, maternity, sash, sheer, silk, soft, thanks, touch, works... £28.00 | Drawstring Empire Top From FunMum , 30, bursting, bust, crowd, cute, design, drawstring, dressed, empire, evening, fab, flattering, floaty, funmum, gorgeous, line, marine, maternity, one's, party, percent, pieces|party, sleeves, stand, tops|enjoy, unusual, wardrobe, we, wear|casual, winne... £29.00 | Pink and Grey Pinstripe Trousers From FunMum , 25, 2", base, black, casual, city, comfort, cut, elasticated, elongating, ensure, evening, fabric, faint, fit, front, funmum, gents, leg, maternity, mustard, outfit, percent, petite, pink, pinstripes, pretty, reason, said, seam, sharp, smart, snap, tail... £30.00 |
Tie back top From FunMum , casual, chiffon, comforting, covers, deep, detailing, evening, fabric, front, funmum, garment, layer, layered, maternity, neckline, occasion, pretty, printed, soft, tied, tops, tops|casual, tops|spring, wea, wear|party... £32.00 | Diamante Top (Size M only) From FunMum , adorned, ancient, aphrodite, beading, beautiful, beautifully, beauty, breathing, bumps, caesar, capture, channelling, cut, design, embellished, empire, evening, funmum, glass, growing, hail, line, living, maternity, neckline, party, rome, tops, wear|par... £32.00 | Black Chiffon Layer Top From FunMum , chiffon, comforting, covers, deep, evening, fabric, front, funmum, gorgeous, layer, little, loose, maternity, neckline, number, party, printed, soft, suits, ties, tight, tops|party, wear... £33.00 |
Knot Front Top From Crave Maternity , blossoming, bump, cleavage, coverage, crave, crossover, curves, elegant, evening, front, helping, jersey, knotted, maternity, silky, sleeveless, soft, vneck... £35.00 | Essential Cigarette Pants From Crave Maternity , alternative, bump, cigarette, crave, elongating, evening, fit, glam, hip, leg, maternity, pants, silhouette, sit, sleek, slimfitting, streamlined, tailored, trousers... £35.00 | Monochrome Top From FunMum , bag, black, bumps, casual, evening, fabric, fashion, front, funky, funmum, growing, heels, hot, leggings, maternity, monochrome, print, sixties, solid, style, swinging, tops|party, wear|this, week's, worn... £36.00 |
Cross Bust Top From FunMum , bump, bust, created, crossover, cute, dressing, ease, elastane, evening, flattering, framing, fulllength, funky, funmum, gorgeous, hemline, little, maternity, neckline, nine, number, ruching, sleeves, soft, square, stretchy, super, tops|party, viscose,... £36.00 | Classic Black Skirt From FunMum , 27", 69cm, 'sashay', bump, catwalk, certain, comfort, created, discreet, elastane, evening, exaggerated, floaty, folded, funmum, gorgeous, hemline, hot, it's, it’s, maternity, mumtobe, musthave, neatly, office, panel, pavement, pulled, sit, skirt, ski... £36.00 | Gathered Sleeve Knitted Top From Crave Maternity , arms, band, bust, crave, delicate, detailing, evening, finely, fit, flattering, form, knit, maternity, metallic, ribbed, styled, yarn... £39.00 |
Long Sleeve Knot Front Top From Crave Maternity , blossoming, bump, cleavage, coverage, crave, crossover, curves, elegant, evening, front, helping, jersey, knotted, maternity, silky, sleeve, soft, vneck... £39.00 | Tailored Trousers From FunMum , 31", 34", bestsellers, big, bootcut, bump, evening, flattering, funmum, innovative, lengths, maternity, mums, mumstobe, play, raving, regular, skin, stretch, support, tall, they'll, triplets, trousers, underthebump, waistband, wear|party, wear|petite, w... £39.00 | Pleat Top From FunMum , bumpfriendly, casual, comfort, created, design, elastane, evening, functional, funmum, going, gorgeous, it's, love, maternity, mauve, mix, mumstobe, neckline, pleat, pleats, ruffles, sleeves, soft, stretch, tops|casual, tops|party, ultimate, viscose, we... £44.00 |
Black Chiffon Top From FunMum , beautiful, chiffon, comfort, design, double, elegance, evening, flattering, funmum, gorgeous, layered, luxurious, maternity, party, stretchiness, sums, tops|party, underneath, viscose, wear, words... £45.00 | Black Bootleg Jean From Crave Maternity , black, bootleg, classic, crave, denim, evening, fashion, flatter, form, high, jean, maternity, modern, pregnant, sheen, smarter, style... £46.00 | Embellished Cropped Cardigan From Crave Maternity , beaded, bolero, cardigan, contemporary, crave, cropped, dresses, embellished, evening, feminine, hand, it's, jeans, maternity, minimal, relaxed, stitched, style, wear, works, yet... £49.00 |
Little Black Dress From FunMum , 116cm, 455", beautiful, beautifully, casual, created, dress, evening, fabric, figure, flawless, flows, funmum, glam, gorgeous, hemline, impossible, lbd, maternity, midcalf, mumtobe, office, panels, party, practical, skirts, slimline, soft, stretchy, sum... £54.00 | Isis Pencil Skirt From Crave Maternity , box, bump, classically, comfortably, crave, design, elegant, enabling, evening, fitted, freely, maternity, pencil, pleats, pregnancy, progresses, sit, skirt, stylish, tailored, translates, wear... £55.00 | Bootleg Jeans From FunMum , absolute, bump, bursting, button, change, comfy, concealed, constricted, conventional, created, denims, don't, evening, extras, funmum, gorgeous, grow, hidden, holes, jeans, knows, maternity, mumtobe, musthave, natural, party, pregnant, regular, relucta... £55.00 |
Shoulder Tie Dress From Crave Maternity , beautifully, casual, crave, dress, evening, figure, jersey, maternity, occasions, skimming, soft... £55.00 | Embellished Neck Tunic From Crave Maternity , beaded, crave, evening, maternity, neckine, occasions, tunic... £56.00 | Tunic with Sash From Crave Maternity , camisole, crave, dreamy, evening, floaty, maternity, tie, tunic, underbump, worn... £59.00 |
Scoop Neck Wrap Dress From Crave Maternity , beautiful, category, crave, crowd, dress, evening, flattering, jersey, maternity, purple, stand... £65.00 | Simple Black Dress From Crave Maternity , corsage, crave, detachable, drapes, dress, effect, evening, figure, jersey, maternity, soft, super, versatile, wear... £69.00 | Printed Maxi Dress with Corsage From Crave Maternity , beautifully, crave, drape, dress, empire, encourages, evening, fabric, flattering, line, maternity, occasion... £90.00 |
Midnight Evening Dress From Crave Maternity , crave, dress, evening, formal, glamorous, maternity, occasions, truly... £125.00 |