If you are pregnant, you’ll probably get flooded with tons of ads for maternity clothes that you just have to have. But I have a hard time justifying buying a whole new wardrobe when I’ll only be pregnant for 9 months. Instead, I purchase a few maternity options and then opt for lots of dresses that I can wear during different seasons of motherhood as my size fluctuates. Here are my favorite non-maternity maternity dresses to wear while pregnant and postpartum!
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Neuflora “Ashland” Dress
I love how feminine this beautiful Neuflora Ashland dress is in the pattern Cottage Floral. The smocked bodice is comfortable for nursing and can fit as my body grows and changes. It is flattering whether you have a small first-trimester bump or if you are about to pop!
I am not super comfortable in pants while pregnant, so this is a perfect option for summer! Furthermore, I prefer dresses with looser bodices for day-to-day wear, but I love wearing this dress to church or for special occasions.
Neuflora does monthly releases and they are passionate about helping women create calm and cohesive wardrobes by shopping with intention over time.
I am wearing a size small, which is my pre-pregnancy size. Neuflora offers this dress in several styles and colors. They do sell out quickly, so I recommend signing up for their product restock alerts on their website.
Shop the Neuflora Ashland Dress here.
Neuflora “Everett” Dress
While I prefer natural fibers like cotton or linen due to their breathability and durability, I do still like this short, lightweight Everett Dress that I bought secondhand from Neuflora! I got it from this Neuflora Facebook Buy Sell Trade Group.
It has a feminine floral pattern and comes in several colors and styles! It’s perfect for church, a date night, or if you just feel like dressing up at home!
I am wearing a size small which is my pre-pregnancy size. The elastic on the arms is a bit snug, so I recommend sizing up if you are sensitive to tight bands.
Not Perfect Linen “Mama” Dress
My Not Perfect Linen mama dresses are some of the most-worn items in my closet. I love layering these dresses in cooler seasons and wearing them alone in the summer.
I have this dress in the small black and white checks pattern (pictured below) and a beautiful soft purple color called cafe mocha. This dress is available in two lengths, and I got the longer maxi version which is about calf-length on me. I am about 5’6″ for reference.
Linen gets softer with wear and holds up well over time. I purchased these dresses secondhand from this Buy Sell Trade Facebook group, but NPL has countless colors and styles on their website and on Etsy. These dresses are ethically made in Lithuania and they hold up with lots of wear.
I have worn these dresses weekly for several yeas, and they are still in excellent condition! I highly recommend!
For this dress, I am wearing a size small. Pre-pregnancy, the bodice of this dress was pretty loose. Now, it’s getting tighter in the bodice and the arm holes are a bit snug. I could probably size up, but I think that would be too large when I am not pregnant.
I recommend joining this Not Perfect Linen Facebook group to look for secondhand options as well as advice for custom orders and sizing.
Shop the Not Perfect Linen Mama Dress here.
Christy Dawn “Dawn” Dress
I bought two beautiful Christy Dawn “Dawn Dresses” secondhand earlier this year. They are gorgeous, flowy, and comfortable. They are perfect for pregnancy and breastfeeding thanks to the adjustable waist and snap on the chest.
I bought one of the dresses on ThredUp for about $70 and the other from this Buy Sell Trade Facebook group for about $80. Both were investment pieces, but they are made well, I wear them multiple times a month, and they are far less than a new Dawn dress at $198.
These dresses are sustainably made—often from deadstock fabric that would otherwise go to waste. While new Christy Dawn dresses are out of my budget, I have been able to find some beautiful ones secondhand for a fraction of the cost!
Some Christy Dawn dresses are unlined, unlike this one, and require a slip. I recommend joining their secondhand Facebook group to find great deals and to get advice on the fabric quality of a dress prior to ordering.
I am wearing a size small which is my pre-pregnancy size. It is starting to get a bit snug in the bodice and armholes, but I think I’ll be able to wear it for a few more months while pregnant regardless!
Shop the Christy Dawn Dawn Dress here.
Rachel Pally Non-Maternity Maternity Dresses
I bought this Rachel Pally dress secondhand on ThredUp. This dress is a cotton gauze material, and although it has long sleeves, it is still breezy enough for summer!
Rachel Pally is an ethical brand that prioritizes comfortable, effortless style. I just learned that Rachel Pally is no longer selling clothing, but you can still find some of her pieces secondhand on ThredUp from time to time.
It’s perfect for pregnancy thanks to the loose design of the dress. I am considering dyeing it a different color eventually, but I have already worn this dress several times this summer!
The only thing that I don’t love about this dress is how the gathering is above the chest-line on the dress. I think it would be more flattering if it was lower, but I do still like this dress and wear it frequently.
This dress is a size small, which is my pre-pregnancy size. It fit well several months ago and I still have room to grow into it over the next few months!
Shop Rachel Pally secondhand on ThredUp here and save 45% on your first order with this link!
Hubbading Patterns “June” Dress
I made this June Dress from Hubbading Patterns several years ago out of a beautiful, mid-weight linen. It’s a bit small in the bodice during pregnancy, but the skirt is loose and I still have lots of room for my belly!
Even with the 3/4 length sleeves, I wear this dress year round because of how breathable the linen material is!
This dress pattern is from Hubbading Patterns, and it was one of the first pieces I made out of linen. It’s a pretty beginner friendly pattern, and someday I’d love to make it in more colors!
Shop the June Dress from Hubbading Patterns here.
ABLE “Harris Oversized Button Down” Shirt
Ok so this isn’t technically a dress, but I absolutely love this Harris Oversized Button Down Shirt from ABLE Clothing in blue and white stripes. It isn’t a maternity shirt, but it can be worn as one! It’s lightweight and available in several colors.
Able Clothing makes sustainable clothing and jewelry for women. They are an ethical business who’s mission is to empower both the women who wear their pieces and the women who make the items.
I also have the ABLE Merly Jacket which is extremely high quality! Read my review of it here.
The Harris oversized shirt is great if you like extra coverage. I also love how it can be worn open, buttoned, or tied up.
I layered it with this maternity dress for these photos, but I’ve also worn it with shorts and pants.
I’m wearing a size small. I can still button it up at 6 months pregnant, but I personally prefer to leave it open. This shirt is so versatile and can be worn pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum. It’s a great nursing-friendly piece, too!
This Harris shirt is very oversized, so if you prefer a more tailored look, I recommend sizing down one or even two sizes.
Shop the Harris Oversized Button Down Shirt here and use my code MILLER15 to save 15% at ABLE!
Shopping for Non-Maternity Maternity Dresses is Worth the Effort
If you are currently pregnant and don’t want to spend a lot on clothes that you’ll only wear for a short season, I recommend looking for dresses that can accommodate the changes that your body will go through!
As I mentioned above, you can often find non-maternity maternity dresses at a good price, especially if you shop secondhand. With a little creativity, you can often find versatile pieces that can be worn during different seasons of motherhood–making them well worth the investment!
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