Dress your bump for every occasion with style and ease. From work functions to cosy days at home, walks around the block to those special occasions.
Mum Central’s roundup of the best maternity clothes of 2022 will ensure you look good, feel great and keep your bump supported during this extra exciting time.
We’ve got our top picks from some of Australia’s best maternity clothing brands including The Comfort Mama, Bamboo Body, Mamaway, Plie Australia, MAMA MUSE and SRC Health.
So, let’s shop til our bumps drop!
First things first, when to shop?
Most expecting mums will notice their regular clothing may be getting a bit tight around the end of the first trimester to the beginning of the second trimester. You may need a larger maternity bra in the first trimester followed by a few staples.
While you can certainly stretch your regular clothing, you’ll probably want to start shopping for maternity clothing around the fifth/sixth month. But this depends on so many factors. If you’ve had babies before, you may pop a lot sooner. Oh, and for the record, pyjama pants are perfectly acceptable shopping pants, now, okay?
What you need
Key items you should consider:
- One or two good maternity bras are a must and wire free bras should be worn once you’re pregnant! We happen to have our best nursing bras coming up later this month so stay tuned to see our top picks!
- You will also need some comfortable cotton underwear.
- Work clothing: Dresses, trousers, blouses, that sort of thing. If you work in an office, you may want to invest in a few different staples for when out of the house.
- Something extra pretty for any special occasion (baby shower, gender reveal, upcoming weddings or events you may be attending) – a maxi dress is a great option!
- A few pairs of leggings, jeans and comfortable pants – you will live in these!
- Cosy t-shirts, tank tops, cardigans and jumpers – to suit your style and the season.
- PJs or something soft and sweet to wear during labour.
- Recovery shorts/leggings
- Swimwear if you plan on spending your days floating in a pool or ocean. Highly recommended for summer pregnancies!
- Amazingly comfy shoes!
Mum Central’s Best Maternity Clothes 2022
Our Pick for Everyday
The Comfort Mama Maternity and Beyond Dress
Price: $129
Buy it: The Comfort Mama
The Comfort Mama is one of Australia’s favourite maternity clothing brands and their ready-to-wear dresses are comfortable, stylish and the softest fabrics you’ll ever wear! Perfect for pregnancy, in the lead up to and during labour, while nursing and for long after your babe has grown, you’ll love these dresses. If you’re after an everyday dress, then The Comfort Mama is our top pick.
Australian made from luxurious, buttery soft fabrics, these dresses come with pockets (yay!) plus snap buttons for quick access to the milky goods. They are great for both day and night and, bonus – you’ll get a set of reusable breast pads with every order for free!
There are heaps of colours to choose from too – bright hues, stripes and all of which can be dressed up or dressed down with the right accessories.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: OFFER: 15% OFF ALL FULL PRICE DRESSES CODE: MUMCENTRAL
Our Pick For Work Clothing
Bamboo Body Jasper Maternity Dress
PRICE: $89.95
WHERE TO BUY: Bamboo Body
Bamboo Body has a massive range of pregnancy essentials plus beautiful and comfortable workwear to flatter your bump. They are our top pick for all things office-related when shopping for maternity clothes.
Take their Jasper Dress. It’s comfortable, versatile and can go from a casual dress to a work staple in seconds. Great for lunches, outings or simply around the house, this maternity essential is sure to be one of the hardest working pieces in your maternity wardrobe.
Featuring flattering side ruching and a soft and stretchy fit, the Jasper Dress will ensure you are feeling comfortable and looking stylish throughout 9 months of pregnancy and beyond. Available in a range of colours, the Jasper Dress is available from size XS to 3XL.
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Our Pick for Something Special
MAMA MUSE Skylar Shirred Maternity Dress
PRICE: $179
WHERE TO BUY: MAMA MUSE
MAMA MUSE has so many beautiful dresses that will keep you flowing and glowing throughout your pregnancy. If you’re after something special and a little bit fancy, their maxi dress range is a must!
We especially love their Skylar Maternity Dress in the prettiest baby blue, the perfect item to pair with any party! It’s a great option for a baby shower, babymoon, family vacay to the beach, weekends away and more. It’s also a cute option for any planned maternity pics coming up.
Skylar doubles as a nursing dress so is great for postpartum too. It’s comfortable, feminine and flatters every size bump (or no bump!). Crafted from 100% cotton, it comes with breathable textured weave with crochet-lace detailing throughout, plus has super-stretchy shirring and elasticated ruffles designed to work for every trimester and especially, the fourth.
Discreet side zippers allow for easy dressing and nursing on the go while the tapered shoulder-ties drape beautifully and can be adjusted to find your perfect fit. LOVE!
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Our Pick for Jeans
Mamaway Maternity Pants
PRICE: From $44.95
WHERE TO BUY: Mamaway
Mamaway supplies a whole range of everyday fashionable clothing from tops to PJs and beyond. But what makes them a stand-out maternity brand is it’s over-the-belly maternity pants.
We all need a pair of pants that will go the distance and Mamaways Maternity Pants are great for this. Affordable and comfortable, you can choose from several styles and designs, from relaxed jeans to work pants and beyond.
All of their jeans come with a belly fold that you can fold up to support and cover the belly during pregnancy but fold down to support your stomach during postpartum recovery. These over-the-belly maternity pants won’t sag or loosen over time and are soft and stretchy.
They will remain with you long after your maternity days too and the skin-touch materials will make them your fave pair of jeans for years to come.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: OFFER: 15% OFF ALL MATERNITY PANTS CODE: MUMCENTRAL15 EXPIRY: NONE
Our Pick for Shapewear
Plie Australia Maternity Leggings
PRICE: $135
WHERE TO BUY: Plie Australia
Whether you’re looking to keep up your gym work or are simply after a pair of leggings that will let you squat down to pick up your dropped fork without fear, we recommend Plie Australia! They make an excellent maternity legging that triples as activewear AND shapewear.
Their High Waist Leggings are one of the top pregnancy leggings on the market and the perfect pregnancy support, accommodating your evolving shape and growing belly. The soft and stretchy fabric grows with you and the side seam-free design ensures no-show wear under your outfit.
They are also designed to offer light graduated compression to improve circulation and posture. They help to relieve common pregnancy niggles such as lower back pain, pelvic and joint pain, swelling and varicose veins. Wear them while running errands or walking around the block – whatever the day brings!
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: OFFER: SAVE 20% OFF CODE: PLIEMOM EXPIRY: NONE
Our Pick for Recovery
SRC Recovery Shorts & Leggings
PRICE: $189-$199
WHERE TO BUY: SRC Health
SRC Health is one of the biggest names in pregnancy shorts and leggings. But did you know they also have a range of recovery shorts and leggings that are hands-down incredible. In fact, 97% of mums would recommend SRC Recovery to other mothers. And because their recovery shorts and leggings are classified as a medical item, there’s no GST and some health funds provide rebates depending on your plan.
The SRC Recovery Shorts and Leggings Range has three options – recovery shorts, recovery shorts mini and recovery leggings, all designed in consultation with an obstetrician for the ultimate in comfort and functionality.
These compression garments are proven to not only provide the ultimate comfort postpartum, but are used to treat abdominal muscle separation (DRAM) and decrease the swelling and pain for C-Section wounds, perineal wounds and stitches.
They can also improve stability, assist with back pain relief and improve postpartum mobility. Essentially, they make the whole recovery process faster. Plus, they look great and fit beautifully!
Our Pick for Maternity Bras
Cake Maternity
PRICE: $49
WHERE TO BUY: Cake Maternity
Cake Maternity are the experts in maternity bras and nursing tops and their entire range is worthy of all the praise. However, their Tutti Frutti maternity bras are our fave for your everyday maternity bra that will take you from day to night, from work to the couch, and back again.
Wire-free, luxuriously soft and extra pretty, the Tutti Frutti range comes in several colours, with memory foam moulded cups and racerback design providing additional comfort and support.
The ultra-comfy and soft bamboo viscose fabric grow with you during pregnancy, with an adjustable hook and eye for ribcage expansion and nursing clips for your breastfeeding days down the road.
Our pick for Loungewear (and Labour!)
ergoPouch Matchy Matchy Robes
PRICE: $59.95
WHERE TO BUY: ergoPouch
ergoPouch is a big name in baby sleepwear but did you know they also have a range of maternity and postpartum robes?
Good loungewear can go a long way, especially when you’re heavily pregnant and don’t feel like getting off the lounge. Enter ergoPouch’s Matchy-Matchy robes. These silky soft robes are designed to match with ergoPouch’s range of newborn clothing. So cute! Pack it into your hospital bag for something soft and matchy-matchy to wear after birth.
The sensational, buttery soft and breathable bamboo viscose robes are one-size-fits-all, set to fit every size, shape and bump. The icing on the cake? POCKETS. Meaning you can store your essentials – you know, your phone and a pile of snacks, in your pockets and avoid having to roll off the couch. Winning!
Our pick for Swimwear
Corsica Short Sleeve Tie Front One Piece Swimsuit
PRICE: $119.95
WHERE TO BUY: Capriosca Swimwear
A perfect fit for mamas-to-be and postpartum mums in their fourth trimester, the Corsica Tie Front One Piece is the ideal swimsuit to take to the water in! A sun-smart design with cap sleeves to protect shoulders from the sun and a tie-up front detail for easy breastfeeding access, it’s a must-have pair of togs for stylish mums this summer.
Featuring a pretty black floral print, shelf bra and extra stomach ruching, this stretchy fabric will accommodate your growing belly and support you in all the right places. Capriosca’s maternity swimwear collection offers so many amazing, fashionable choices for mums. There’s a print and style to suit every woman here!
Check out all of our maternity swimsuits picks here.
Our Pick for Playsuits
BAE the Label Shortalls or Overalls
PRICE: Starting at $59
WHERE TO BUY: BAE the Label
Pregnancy and overalls go hand in hand. There really is no cuter way to dress up your bump and BAE the Label have a range of playsuits, overalls and shortalls (for summer bumps) that are flirty, fun and flowy.
Their shortalls are the effortless summer staple made with a natural washed back, linen blend. Layer them over crops, tees and tanks and enjoy a hot girl summer, even when expecting.
Or, go with something warmer and opt for the full-length overalls. Their denim overalls are a best-seller, with minimal seams, adjustable tie straps and made from their premium stretch denim.
Our Pick for Statement Tees
MAMA MUSE BÉBÉ À BORD Tee
PRICE: $69
WHERE TO BUY: MAMA MUSE
Tees are a must for maternity wear but why go with a standard t-shirt when you can let the universe know you’re expecting with an adorable graphic tee from MAMA MUSE?
Sure to get you noticed, this version is a playful take on the universal ‘Baby on Board’ sign. Cut from a beautifully smooth, stretchy cotton blend, it has a crew neck, over-sized boyfriend-style fit and rolled sleeves. Wear it with leggings or jeans and your favourite sneakers for the perfect weekend outfit.
Well, ladies, that just about wraps up our best maternity wear round-up for 2022. Are there any staples you couldn’t live without during pregnancy? Let us know in the comments below.
Time to shop for baby!
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1 Comment
For those on a tight budget there are department stores where you can get practically the same clothes much cheaper. In many cases the cheaper brands are made by a big brand manufacturer but have the cheap brand labels in them.
I saw a dress in a boutique that had a price on it so high it would take you weeks to save for one. I saw exactly the same dress in a “cheaper” brand department store. You could buy 2 dresses and a top for the same amount of money.
Even better, if you go to an op shop you might even find one with the store price tag still on it. The same applies to baby and childrens’ clothing.