Work Maternity Clothes Help (Not tight, bump concealing)

[RaaRaah]

I need to invest in maternity clothes for work - only in 1st trimester but second child and usual clothes already feeling tight.

Browsing maternity clothes, they all seem to show-off bump, tight dresses, tops etc.

I don't plan to announce pregnancy until after 20wks therefore wish to find clothes that 'conceal' current bump and bigger bump later on.

I've started wearing a scarf over clothes but it's not going to work for long.

(Previous miscarriage just before 12wks and I want to keep this pregnancy to myself until I feel 'safer' at 20wks).

Ideally looking for winter dresses or loose tops and trousers. In my head I vision layers and loose clothing but stylish! (dresses with blazers or smart cardigans / trousers, loose tops, scarves etc). Work environment is large corporation but not requiring suits, just smart clothes. (Current clothes are fitted trousers and cashmere fitted tops or fitted knitted dresses. So a new capsule wardrobe is needed!)

Approx. size 10-12 - currently! no curves -except for tummy 5'7" blonde and pale.

Please help

This might sound odd, but do you have a low or high bump? Mine was quite low and as a result clothes with fuller skirts like fit and flare dresses hid my bump for quite a long time!

Good point, at the moment low and I could get away with fuller skirts for now but the top part of my tummy is no longer flat so for a bit I could wear fitted tops with fuller skirts but I don't imagine for much longer. Loose tops and fuller skirts feel frumpy on myself. (tummy is problem area and spanx usually make clothes look better but I'm not wearing them now!

My tummy definitely isn't flat, but fit and flare generally work pretty well. You can also cheat and add a good thick belt which exaggerates the "flare" bit and covers the tummy.

Thank you again - I didn't know you could get mama spanx (I'd be too uncomfortable and worried in the standard ones now!)

I found them necessary sometimes - a lot of maternity clothes are fitted and a bump at the front didn't miraculously make my bum hips and thighs nice and smooth!

I'm in exactly the same boat. I found a couple of slightly longer slouchy tops that are designed to be baggy around the arms/chest/stomach but then fit on your hips so not just baggy all over. They are a bit more casual than I would normally wear for work but they are pretty good and don't make me feel too frumpy.

Annoyingly all my normal work dresses are out as they are either fitted/tailored or slightly clingy, and they all make me look about 6 months (and I'm not telling anyone at work til past 20wks either due to scan worries). Have not yet found a replacement style of dress that hides my stomach Empire line just seemed to emphasise the bulge.

Someone I work with is 20 weeks and has been wearing skater dresses with black tights and a black blazer - I had no idea until she told me a week ago!

I invested in an Isabella Oliver black blazer. It was brilliant - masked the bump and didn't look like maternity wear. Also I draped huge colourful scarves around me. No one noticed I was pregnant for AGES and believe me, I had a whopping bump!

I was also in the same situation because of two miscarriages. (Also I was in probation at new work). My baby was born in September so I have the added challenge of summer clothes.

Anyway I found loose fitting empire line dresses with tights work best at concealing pregnancy. However in the end I have to tell my boss at 17-18 weeks as I was getting very big even with big dresses. my boss (male) didn't notice but other colleagues who are mothers did. You just become big so quickly with a second!

Same as clarabell all my normal clothes are fitted and short. I'm petite so never wear baggy clothes. I'm sure that makes it more noticeable for someone observant.

I'm thinking knitted dresses from your list btw.

Separates, circle skirts with shell tops which sit on top
Slim leg trousers with jackets or crepe tops
Patterns are your friend
New hair do to detract!!
When is 20 wks- post Christmas 'indulge' help you out?

Thank you for the ideas, I've decided to go shopping tomorrow morning and try on some of these styles.

Pleased to read that others have managed to 'conceal' their bump. (I do think people won't really notice if I choose clothes well, when you know and can see yourself getting bigger, believe everyone else can when most people probably don't even notice!).

I've been planning on the 'I put so much weight on over Christmas' starting as soon as we're in December!