I'm about 25 weeks pregnant, Yay! that means that now I can finally show off my baby bump. For the first three months I had no problem using my normal clothes, and anybody seeing me on the street would not have known if I was pregnant, although they may have though I had eaten a lot of tacos.

As I felt and looked almost the same, I did not invest in any maternity garment until week 14, when my jeans stopped buttoning. The first thing I bought was an elastic belly band that I used to hide the opened zipper of my jeans. That trick worked for a couple more weeks.

But then after week 18, the jeans stopped feeling comfortable, especially when I was sitting, so I decided to invest in some actual maternity clothes. I tried a couple of them until I discovered my favorites.

Although there are thousands of lists of maternity essentials, I believe that every one of us should try different options to find out what make us happy. Still I want to talk a bit about the things that have worked for me, I hope they help you as a guide to look for basics that make you feel pretty and feminine, and hopefully a bit more comfortable.

MATERNITY CLOTHING ESSENTIALS:

1. LEGGINGS

Right after I stopped using jeans, I bought a pair of maternity leggings and fell in love with them. The great thing about leggings is that you can play with layers and wear them with almost anything: boots, tennis shoes, flats or sandals and even dresses or long shirts.

*Finally found a perfect colorful pair of leggings I love | Oh Baby Blues. Preggo Leggings

The only bad thing is that I couldn't find a pair of fun and colorful leggings that would fit me. All the leggings I've seen in the maternity stores are black, gray and if I am lucky, a bit of brown or navy, really, why does maternity clothes have to be so boring?

So I jump with joy when I found Preggo Leggings on Instagram. I started imagining a black and white patterned blouse with a pair of yellow leggings and my favorite lime yellow blouse with a pair in turquoise. The possibilities are endless for those who are dying for maternity clothes with color!

Some of their awesome colorful leggings:

2. LONG BLOUSES  / TOPSI have found that long blouses are super comfortable during pregnancy, not only because they tend to be a little loose, but you can use them with leggings or jeans and hide the open zipper for the first few weeks. These types of blouses do not even have to be from the maternity area, you can find many comfortable designs and long tops among regular clothes, especially now during the autumn-winter season. They look great with leggings, a scarf and a pair of winter boots. 3. COMFORTABLE DRESSES 

Try different styles of maternity dresses to find out the style and cut that makes you feel pretty. For me, for example, the high-waisted dresses work great, I like the ones that are loose on the tummy (like this one). I also bought a pair of straight-cut dresses in my usual size. These kind of dresses are great because they stretch and fit your pregnant body, but are still functional after the baby is born.

Find your ideal cut and buy a comfortable dress in black, white or chocolate. Don’t forget to indulge with one or two printed dresses, to add a little color to your wardrobe.

 4. MAXI SKIRT

Although I am not a big fan of maxi skirts, for some reason I bought two just after I found out I was pregnant and I discovered that they are awesome. They grow with the belly and are super comfy. During the summer I used them a lot with tank tops and a pair of sandals, they make me feel fresh and relaxed.

5. SPORT OUTFITSI invested in a sport outfit after the 20th week and it has saved my life. I wear it for my morning walks, for the prenatal yoga classes and even just to go to the grocery store at night. It’s not a bad idea to invest in a set of pants and sweaters especially during the cold season. It is always good to have at least one sweater that can be fully closed when your belly is a full 40 weeks.

6. COLORFUL ACCESSORIES 

These are definitely something that every pregnant color lover should have in their closet. I'm talking about a couple of colorful scarves, necklaces, earrings, rings and even a pair of colorful flats or sandals.

Since most maternity stores have just basic clothing colors, I found that the best way to add color to your outfit and not die of boredom is through accessories. Be sure to invest in the brightest and coolest you have ever seen.

I’m still looking for shops with colorful and fun maternity clothing, do you know about one? What are the basic maternity pieces for you?