The Best Maternity Dresses To Suit Every Trimester And Occasion

Material: Cotton | Size range: XS to XXL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Nothing Fits But’s range is comprised of comfortable, pull-on cotton frocks that are super breathable and well suited to the postpartum period and beyond as well. They come in a wide array of neutrals, prints like toile and florals, and are a must for spring and summer pregnancies.

What our writers say: “I wore this brand often in my first pregnancy and the breathable material and stretchy bust area made it easier to dress my changing body and, ultimately, nurse my baby,” says co-author Lex Goodman.

Material: Cupro | Size range: 0 to 16 | Nursing friendly: Yes

Hatch pops up on this list in several places, because it’s really a one-stop shop for all maternity and postpartum clothing needs. This little black maxi dress is a specific favorite of ours, because it can be dressed up or down, looks like a normal, non-maternity dress and is the ideal staple piece even after your baby has made their debut.

Material: Polyester, elastane | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Beyond Yoga specializes in soft, stretchy clothes that feel like you could do yoga in them, which is why they’re a great choice during pregnancy. The brand has a slew of dresses in buttery-soft fabrics that are perfect for layering or wearing as-is. They’re all in neutral shades and are versatile enough to wear just about anywhere.

Material: Cotton blend | Size range: XS to XXL | Nursing friendly: Yes

If you’re looking to save money without skimping on style and comfort, Isabel Maternity at Target is a great option. You’ll find comfortable and cute options that last through your pregnancy and beyond as you adjust to your new normal. We’ve tried this brand (as well as its parent brand, Ingrid & Isabel) and love it because it does a great job of introducing trend pieces and fun colors at a way that feels more accessible, both in terms of price and maternity sizing.

Material: Tencel, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: No

Quince has quickly become a staple in our maternity wardrobes here at Forbes Vetted. The retailer offers beautiful quality with price and production transparency. Its maternity line is almost exclusively basics.

What our writers say: “I especially love the Tencel and spandex dresses for their comfort, softness and support (the light compression really feels like it holds my bump nicely),” says Goodman. “I’m not much of a tight dress person when I’m not pregnant, but this could definitely serve the same purpose postpartum.”

Material: Rayon, linen | Size range: XS to XXL | Nursing friendly: No

If you’re looking to maintain your pre-pregnancy style and introduce a wide range of pieces into your maternity wardrobe without breaking the bank, H&M is the place to go. Its maternity vertical has quality pieces that are meant to suit pregnant and postpartum bodies. We’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the H&M Mama collection and Goodman says she wore it often in during her most recent pregnancy.

Material: Cotton | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Petal & Pup is known for its maternity friendly dress collection. These are not labeled maternity dresses per se. but rather “bump friendly,” making it the perfect stop for those looking for a definitely non-frumpy frock in a fashion-forward style. The flexible pieces are also easy to wear postpartum. The above dress is especially great for summer parties when you want to look effortlessly pulled together without anything clinging to your bump. It’s versatile enough to be styled with sneakers and a cute cap for everyday too.

Material: Cotton | Size range: XXXS to XXXXL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Not only is Hill House Home size inclusive and ideal for before, during and after pregnancy, but it’s also founded by a mom of three who created the Nap Dress with the intention of it being something a woman could take a nap in with a newborn and then rush off to school pick-up in. Goodman says she wore several Nap dresses throughout both her pregnancies. It’s a fabulous spring and summer option and optimal for whatever stage your body is in. The prints are also romantic, unique and help you feel pulled together even if you’re in the thick of morning sickness.

Material: Polyester | Size range: XS to L | Nursing friendly: Some dresses, yes

Whether you’re shopping for a relaxed baby shower look or really want to dress up, A Pea In The Pod has options. The retailer carries its signature brand as well as a great deal of other stylish maternity brands all in one place at all different prices. We’ve shopped for a number of special occasions on the website and love the options we’ve found.

Material: Modal | Size range: 2 to 16 | Nursing friendly: Yes

There’s a reason Catherine, princess of Wales and countess of Chester, was partial to Seraphine dresses and gowns during her pregnancies. The brand is known for making elegant yet comfortable pieces that never go out of style. This vibrant, wrap-style gown, for instance, is a standout. It’s bold, beautiful and includes nursing access and a flowy fit to accommodate bumps of all sizes. Seraphine is one of the few maternity brands that has options that are suitable for a black tie, vineyard, coastal or traditional wedding.

Material: Polyester | Size range: Petite & one size | Nursing friendly: Not this one but others from the brand

Hatch’s formal wear category is just as wearable as its other maternity and postpartum dresses. The range includes options for black-tie, formal and semi-formal events, and features the beautiful craftsmanship for which the brand is known.

What our writers say: “I snagged this specific dress for myself for an upcoming wedding, and am relieved to find that there’s no need to worry about my bump fitting or not, because it’s constructed to suit you the entire nine months and beyond,” says Goodman.

Material: Rayon, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

While Nordstrom has a little of everything, the upscale retailer has no shortage of designer maternity options. The dresses—which are suited for anything from black tie to casual events—don’t scream I’m pregnant. This can often help women feel a bit more like themselves during a time when so much is changing. This maternity mermaid gown has enough stretch to grow with you and keep you feeling comfortable on the dance floor and beyond.

Material: Modal spandex jersey | Size range: XS to 4X | Nursing friendly: Yes

Sure, Storq may not have endless options when it comes to dress styles, but the select options (and handful of prints) it does offer are among my favorite everyday pieces. Both the midi tank dress featured above and the brand’s shirt dress are silky soft, sustainable, size inclusive and easy to wear. I love this dress specifically because, as a bustier person, it can be hard to find a tank dress that feels modest enough to rock for preschool pickup but still flattering enough for date night. This dress (and all of Storq’s range) is ready for anything your day holds.

Material: Polyester, rayon, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: No

Ingrid + Isabel has dresses for all occasions and a great number of pieces that can be worn in all sorts of settings. The brand is known for its great fit, high quality and fantastic style. This particular Ingrid + Isabel dress is deliciously comfortable and soft. It pairs with sneakers or wedges, depending on the outing, and checks all the boxes for a casual weekend day.

Material: Rayon, spandex | Size range: XS to L | Nursing friendly: No

A Pea In The Pod is a legacy brand in the maternity world, and it still delivers with gorgeous styles, colors and prints in a range of sizes. The brand is packed with everyday dress options, including this simple, soft jersey t-shirt dress, as well as dressier choices. A Pea In The Pod clothes usually have thoughtful details like pockets, too. Every dress on the site is on sale right now for $30 so it’s a great time to stock up for the next nine months.

Material: Lenzing ecovero jersey | Size range: 0 to 14 | Nursing friendly: Yes

Isabella Oliver has quickly become a new maternity favorite of ours. The brand really knows how to nail elevated basics. It’s also sustainably crafted, female founded and ethically made in Europe. This dress is so sultry, elegant and comfortable, and has become a go-to that we can certainly envision wearing postpartum. We also really love that this specific off-the-shoulder style isn’t typically seen in maternity dresses.

Material: Polyester, spandex | Size range: XXS to XL | Nursing friendly: Some styles, yes

Norma Kamali isn’t technically a pregnancy brand, but the four-way stretch fabric and figure-hugging styles are beautifully suited to this chapter of life. We love how every option in the range is super stretchy and sexy. The dresses move with you and are wonderful for whatever stage of motherhood you’re in.

Material: Modal, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Emilia George excels at making maternity friendly pieces that are fun, fresh and flirty, which makes the female-founded retailer a great stop for date night looks. The quality is fantastic, and the dresses are well-lined. Many of the collection’s pieces are able to be worn beyond pregnancy, like this super cute cutout number.

Material: Rayon | Size range: S to L | Nursing friendly: Yes

Pink Blush has options for every chapter of your pregnancy, but we highlighted the brand specifically for its babymoon options, because they’re flush with vacation-ready prints and bright hues, whereas other maternity lines can trend more towards neutrals blacks. It often has sales, so it’s a fairly wallet-friendly choice for nicer looking pieces.

What our writers say: “I love that the fabrics tend to be lightweight and breathable, making the dresses optimal for warmer months and climates,” says Goodman. “I’ve worn several Pink Blush options while pregnant and felt confident in each dress.”

Material: Cotton madras | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Tea’s dresses are bright, colorful and made from high-quality and soft fabrics, but we also love that they have matching baby and toddler outfits that use the same prints as their dresses. If you want to put togehter together family looks, we recommend considering something from Tea’s collection. We also like that 10% of Tea’s profits go to various philanthropic efforts worldwide, like the Global Fund for Children, Homeless Prenatal Project and Little Sister Fund. 

Material: Cotton | Size range: XS t0 XL | Nursing friendly: No

Several moms suggested Nom Maternity dresses to us as researched this piece. They noted the brand’s emphasis on comfort and that many options are compatible with nursing and the postpartum period. We specifically love this dress, because it’s stretchy, flattering and a great option if you’re on vacation or enjoying the spring and summer months. It can be dressed up or down and has ruching around the torso to accommodate for changes in size.

Material: Cotton | Size range: XS t0 XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

If you love matching with your minis as much as me, you’ll love Minnow. This cool, contemporary children’s swimwear and resort label has the cutest cover-ups for grownups that are fancy enough to wear all on their own—and the quality is fantastic. While they aren’t maternity specific, the feminine, flowy silhouettes make them very bump-friendly. This adorable ditsy floral dress can be worn with or without the waist tie and has convenient pockets for stashing your essentials.

Material: Polyester, elastane | Size range: 4 to 12 | Nursing friendly: No

What better way to celebrate this special time than to memorialize your bump with a maternity photoshoot? Sure, you can always go casual or bare-bumped, but a simple and classic maternity gown is a foolproof way to ensure you’ll love your photographs forever. This Club L London gown comes in a range of shades and calls attention to your bump wonderfully. It can also double as a wedding guest dress if needed.

Material: Polyester, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Known for its stretchy one-pieces, Bumpsuit also offers a figure-flattering array of maternity dresses that can also be used postpartum because they’re super stretchy and smoothing. We found the material to be buttery soft and loved how comfortable each piece felt on. Made with four-way stretch, just keep in mind that its lighter colorways are a bit more transparent than you’d expect, so choose undergarments accordingly.

Material: Polyester | Size range: 2 to 12 | Nursing friendly: No

A number of moms told us they swore by ASOS dresses throughout pregnancy. The retailer has every style under the sun with options starting under $30. They’re good quality for the price, and moms-to-be love that they can feel on-trend and stylish without breaking the bank (or trying to squeeze into standard sizes that just aren’t comfortable).

Material: Tencel lyocell | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

You’ll look like a boss, even if you’re not, in Marion Maternity’s luxe selection of designer maternity workwear, available in petite and standard sizing to suit everyone. Their website features an entire pregnant lawyer edit, with courtroom and bump-friendly formal pieces, including this statement fit-and-flare dress, which comes in both black and beige. The front zips down for easy nursing access once baby arrives. Plus, it has pockets.

Material: Viscose, cotton, nylon | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Ripe has a special knack for making dresses that are the epitome of versatile. Many of its options can be dressed up or down, worn for work, fun dinners out or weekend errands. Most of its maternity dresses are nursing friendly, ready to take you right into the postpartum period with an outfit you already love.

What our writers say: “I bought this dress in my first pregnancy, and the quality and style made it a staple in my second,” says Goodman.

Material: Tweed | Size range: 2 to 16 | Nursing friendly: Most styles, yes

Seraphine has bump-flattering dresses for just about any occasion, including work. You can browse their office edit to find more formal workwear options, though there are plenty of dresses on the site appropriate for casual and business casual settings. We love how effortlessly chic this stretchy tweed dress is, and the blue color works for every season. Pair it with the matching cropped jacket for chilly offices or cooler weather.

Material: Polyester, spandex | Size range: S to L | Nursing friendly: Yes

It can be tough during pregnancy to find shorts and T-shirts that are comfortable enough to work out in. Enter workout dresses. Pink Blush’s maternity tennis romper comes in a flattering silhouette with enough give to grow with your bump. The racerback lends a sporty vibe, while an elastic band under the bust gives added support. There are even pockets for your keys and other essentials. Choose from nine different shades.

Material: Nylon, spandex | Size range: XS to XL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Ingrid + Isabel has a massive range of maternity clothes for stylish moms, including this chic exercise dress. It’s crafted from fabric that’s ribbed on the outside but smooth on the inside to maximize your comfort. Built-in biker shorts help keep everything under wraps down there, while a keyhole cut-out in back adds extra airflow and style. This dress is pretty enough to wear outside the gym, too.

Material: Polyester, spandex | Size range: XS to XXL | Nursing friendly: Yes

Workout dresses can be challenging to find, even when you’re not pregnant. But Old Navy has several maternity styles, including this skort dress. It’s made with light compression fabric for a smooth and soft feel. Wide shoulder straps keep you supported up top, while the built-in shelf bra has removable cups. There’s even moisture-wicking technology to keep you from turning into a puddle during your workout.

What the parents say: Forbes Vetted contributor Freddie Moore is a fan of this dress. “I’m a sucker for the build-pockets in the bike-short layer that can hold your keys or a phone if you’re out for a quick workout,” she says. “This dress is also accommodating for slightly larger busted-ladies and has a fabulous fit even in the 3rd trimester.”