7 Rules for Office Chic

Updated January 2025 | News | Home 

Maternity fashion truth: it’s always going to be harder to find clothes you love wearing when your body is changing every day. On top of that, you may now be sweating more easily and more profusely, your water retention may be off the charts, and weird bulges are probably showing up everywhere (wasn't the baby supposed to be the only bulge?). Despite all these complications, it really is possible to like your maternity and breastfeeding workwear if you get just a few things right. 

1. For Maternity Work Clothes, Quality is Even More Important Than Usual

Best: substantial, structured fabrics

Worst: thin, see-through material.

Sloan Maternity & Nursing Suit Top | Sloan Maternity Pencil Skirt

Quality, substantial fabrics smooth out bulges and make you feel less exposed as your pregnancy progresses. Think maternity work pants and pencil skirts made with (stretch) suiting materials, maternity & nursing dresses made with luxury quality knits, and maternity tops made with generally thicker fabric weights. The key is to look for cool-touch, breathable materials that will stay comfortable for overheating-prone expecting mamas. 

Many maternity clothes are made with such poor quality material that they pill and tear within a wash or two. A "great" price isn't worth it if your adorable maternity dress or jeans look worn out in a couple of weeks. Since there are very few brick and mortar maternity & breastfeeding stores left, be sure to order from online retailers with transparent and generous return policies.

2. Maternity Work Wear Should Be Breathable

Best: breathable fabrics like TENCEL and fine wool blends

Worst: 100% polyester 

Sarah Empire Maternity/Nursing Dress in 100% TENCEL Twill | Over/Under Bump Pleated Maternity Maxi Skirt in TENCEL Satin

1. TENCEL (sustainably manufactured lyocell) is the new hero of maternity clothes. It has a luxurious drape and is sustainable, cool touch, more wrinkle resistant than cotton, and can be washed at home. It's considered one of the most breathable fabrics on the market, and manages moisture like a champ. It's structured enough to work beautifully for dresses, shirts, and trousers. Sadly, the majority of maternity clothes on the market are still 100% polyester. While poly doesn't wrinkle easily, it's sweaty, stinky, and does no favors for our planet. 

2. Organic Cotton is a timeless staple for maternity wear, especially when comfort is non-negotiable. It’s naturally breathable, soft against sensitive pregnancy skin, and allows air to circulate, helping regulate body temperature as hormones shift. Because it’s grown without toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, organic cotton is gentler on both your body and the planet. In structured weaves or blended with a touch of stretch, it works beautifully for work-appropriate dresses, shirting, and tailored tops. While it wrinkles more easily than TENCEL, its reliability, washability, and skin-friendly nature make it a pregnancy essential.

3. Wool might sound surprising for maternity workwear, but fine wools are incredibly breathable and thermoregulating. Wool fibers adapt to your body temperature, keeping you cool when you’re warm and warm when you’re chilled (a pregnancy superpower). It’s naturally moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and antimicrobial, meaning you stay fresh even during long workdays. High-quality wool has beautiful structure and stretch recovery, making it ideal for polished trousers, blazers, and dresses that need to flex with a growing bump without losing shape. Bonus: wool is renewable, biodegradable, and long-lasting when cared for properly.

4. Linen is one of the most breathable fabrics in existence, and a secret weapon for pregnancy dressing, especially in warmer months. Made from flax, linen allows maximum airflow and dries quickly, keeping you cool and comfortable through swelling, heat, and long days. It has a relaxed elegance that works well for maternity workwear when tailored thoughtfully or blended with fibers like TENCEL or organic cotton for softness and wrinkle reduction. Linen is also highly sustainable, requiring less water and fewer chemicals to produce than conventional fabrics. Effortless, airy, and planet-friendly -linen understands pregnancy.

3. The Best Maternity Style Has Shape 

Best: show off your best bits

Worst: try to hide everything

Slim Leg Maternity Work Pants | Into the Blue Empire Maternity & Nursing Dress

When your waistline is out the window for 9+ months, the key to feeling confident in your clothes is highlighting other favorite areas of your body. Have great legs? Invest in a knee-length maternity sweater dress, or leg-hugging maternity dress pants. Have amazing arms? Go sleeveless when you can. Emphasizing your other assets will make it clear that you are still you, just with a baby bump! 

Avoid boxy cuts, exaggerated sleeves, and ruffly . The eye won't be able to differentiate between the size of these larger styles and your belly, making you look like you're growing everywhere at once.

4. Invest in Maternity Business Styles that Transition

Best: pieces that can move from work to play, and from pregnancy to nursing to postpartum.

Worst: trimester or occasion-specific pieces

Louie Striped Knit Dress & Luxe Knit Maxi Dress for Maternity & Nursing

Most expecting mamas don't want to buy a massive pregnancy and nursing wardrobe. Even though "maternity" can last nearly 3 years for each baby (after 9 months of pregnancy, 2 years of breastfeeding is now considered optimal, when possible), it can still be hard to invest in lots of pieces for a temporary period. If this describes your feeling about maternity and nursing fashion, we recommend opting for pieces that are highly stretchy to accommodate all bump sizes, and shrink back down postpartum beautifully. We also recommend prioritizing styles that transition between work and off-duty with just a quick changes of shoes and accessories. If those same pieces are nursing-friendly, you've found your winners. 

5. Choose Your Maternity Waistline Carefully

Best: empire waist or multi-tasking

Worst: drop waist or no waist  

Go for empire waists whenever you can. They hit above the baby bump, at what is now the smallest part of your torso. This slims your silhouette overall. Empire waists are beautifully forgiving at the waistline, making it easy to feel confident on your most bloated days. They are also a favorite of mamas who have recently given birth. 

Garments with zero waist shape will make you look like you're wearing a tent. It might feel like it's hiding something, but it's not. Repeat after me: it's not. Try MARION's Into the Blue Maternity Dress or Sarah Empire Maternity Dress.

6. The Best Maternity Style is Timeless

Worst: super trendy

Best: classic

 

7. Black Maternity Styles Are Office Favorites For a Reason

Best: the color black 

Worst: the color white

The Boardroom and Sarah Maternity & Nursing Dresses 

It may be cliche, but it's true - nothing can beat a flattering black maternity dress for style, versatility, and comfort. When you're feeling bloated and stretched, black is classic and slimming. It naturally looks more put-together than most colors, and it has the added benefit of hiding stains (spills, breastmilk, spit-up, oh my!). Plus, it goes with everything, allowing you to leverage a few great, quality maternity pieces into a complete wardrobe. The same goes for an effortlessly wearable pair of black maternity dress pants or maternity pencil skirt. They just work, and you can wear them. with. everything. 

8. Choose Mostly Solid-Colored Maternity Work Apparel

Best: solids that flatter and coordinate with almost anything you own (think black, navy, beige, or gray). 

Worst: large, busy patterns 

Large patterns confuse the eye and enlarge whatever they're covering. A tasteful floral or narrow striped pattern can look lovely, but should be chosen carefully. A good rule of thumb is to invest in solids for your core wardrobe pieces - they're incredibly versatile and let you mix-and-match your way into lots of maternity outfits with just a few pieces. 

We Want to Hear From You!

What are your maternity and nursing style secrets for the office? Share your tips with the MARION mama community below!

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Author Bio: Joy O’Renick is mama to 3 amazing sons and wife to an "adorable Pixar dad". She gets to live on a mini farm in Oregon where she and her family grow food and host board game nights. Joy is a longtime teacher, principal, and education executive. In 2022, she launched MARION out of a desire to empower working moms and limit pregnancy discrimination in the professional world. Joy is a frequent contributing author at Motherly and a former foster parent and mentor for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. She holds a B.A. in English Literature and a Master’s Degree in Education & Educational Leadership.