What to wear during pregnancy: stylist tips

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to wear a special maternity dress for one month? If you divide the average price of a quality maternity item by the 4-5 months it truly fits, the math is grim. As a stylist with 14 years of experience, I constantly see clients make the same mistake: buying shapeless, often downright unstylish, one-time wear items, spending a significant amount of money on them.

But what if I told you the perfect capsule wardrobe for your new situation is already hanging in the next closet? Wearing your husband's clothes during pregnancy isn't a desperate compromise or a way to "make do" at home. It's a powerful stylistic tool that allows you to create luxurious, architectural, and incredibly modern looks. We've covered this in more detail in our A complete guide to life hacks: how to wear regular clothes while pregnant , and today I suggest you sort through your partner's wardrobe as an exclusive seasonal collection.

Why are your husband's things your best capsule during pregnancy?

Styling men's clothing on a woman's figure has long since expanded beyond loungewear. According to a major analytical report by The Business of Fashion for 2024, the trend toward gender-neutral wardrobes (Genderless Fashion) is gaining momentum, and conscious consumers are increasingly abandoning the concept of fast fashion in favor of a shared wardrobe.

Let's look at the facts. In my experience, integrating just five basic men's items saves my clients an average of €400 to €800 compared to similar maternity brands. But it's not just about the money. Men's mass-market clothing is simply better quality than women's.

"Men's cotton in basic T-shirts (like those from Uniqlo or COS) typically has a density of 180-220 g/m², while women's mass-market options often limit themselves to 120-140 g/m². The difference is dramatic: the dense fabric drapes properly over the stomach, is not see-through, and doesn't create a 'sagging bag' effect."

There's also a powerful psychological factor. The scent of a loved one and the feel of their clothes on your shoulders give a pregnant woman a sense of security and calm. This is the kind of comfort that can't be bought in a store.

Men's Shirt: From Base Layer to Statement

If I were asked to leave just one item from my husband's closet for a pregnant woman, it would be a classic shirt. A white cotton shirt (preferably made of heavy poplin or oxford) is your ideal cover-up for the coming months.

We always wear it unbuttoned. Wear it over a fitted knit slip dress or leggings with a fitted top. An unbuttoned shirt creates two vertical lines on either side of the stomach, visually elongating the height and creating a slimmer silhouette. For relaxed weekend looks, a partner's heavy flannel or denim shirts are perfect.

The ultimate stylist lifehack: The J.Crew Roll technique.
An oversized men's shirt will throw off your proportions if you don't show off your wrists. Rolling your sleeves properly will prevent them from unraveling and create a casually chic look.

1. Unbutton the buttons on the cuff.
2. Fold the cuff high, just above the elbow.
3. Fold the remaining sleeve fabric up until it covers the bottom edge of the cuff.
4. Leave the top edge of the cuff (about 1-2 cm) hanging casually above the roll.

Partner's Jacket: How to Bring Structure Back into the Silhouette

Here, I want to debunk one of the most persistent myths about maternity style. It's believed that a rounded belly needs to be "softened" with shapeless, chunky knit cardigans. In reality, layering softly on top of softly turns you into a cozy, yet completely shapeless cloud. You need structure.

A men's jacket works far better than any cardigan. Its crisp shoulder line and dense fabric balance the figure's volumes, restoring the silhouette's clear, architectural lines. The difference in fit plays to our advantage: the men's cut isn't tailored, so it fits perfectly on a changing figure without constricting the stomach.

Last year, I had a client, Anna, a department head at an IT company. Seven months pregnant, she was facing challenging negotiations, and her usual business attire no longer fit. We took her husband's dark gray wool jacket and paired it with a black, fitted viscose midi dress, adding accent gold earrings and loafers. After the meeting, Anna called me ecstatic: not only did she feel prestigious and confident, but she also received compliments on her "Parisian style" from her colleagues.

T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts: stylish, relaxed casual

Why do men's T-shirts fit better on pregnant women than oversized women's shirts? The secret lies in the armholes. Women's shirts often have sleeves that slope downwards, which, in larger sizes, makes the shoulders look sloping and visually adds weight to the back. Men's armholes are straight, creating a slight "angle" at the shoulder, adding geometric detail.

However, simply wearing a men's T-shirt in a size L or XL can make you look like a "tent." To avoid this, use the knot trick. Gather the excess fabric of the T-shirt under your bust (above your stomach) and tie it into a neat knot with a regular thin hair tie. Tuck the ponytail inward. This will instantly define your waistline (which has now shifted under your bust) and accentuate the beautiful curve of your stomach.

If you're unsure what to wear with oversized men's hoodies and sweatshirts, upload photos of these items and your skirts/leggings to MioLook — a smart AI stylist will give you dozens of stylish and proportional combinations in a couple of seconds.

Stylist's Anti-Rating: What Items You Definitely Shouldn't Borrow

Let's be honest: the "robbing" a man's closet strategy isn't 100% effective. Due to fundamental anatomical differences, some items from your partner's wardrobe will only cause you discomfort. Here's my personal anti-rating of items that pregnant women shouldn't wear:

• Men's jeans and trousers. Men's pelvises are narrower, and the rise (from crotch to waist) is fundamentally different. The result is a rough, constricting waistband that digs into your stomach and a baggy crotch that visually shortens your legs by 15 centimeters. Consider buying special maternity bottoms or wearing pants with a soft elastic waistband.
• Men's shoes. During pregnancy, the body produces the hormone relaxin, which softens the ligaments (preparing the pelvis for childbirth). This also affects the arch of the foot, which begins to flatten under the weight. Hard, flat, ill-fitting men's shoes (even if it seems funny to stomp around in your husband's size 11 sneakers) don't provide adequate support and can lead to the development of flat feet.
• Skinny jumpers. If your husband wears tight turtlenecks or thin, form-fitting jumpers, they'll stretch out on you and ride up above your belly button, creating a comical effect. We only wear items that are naturally straight or loose-fitting.

Checklist: 5 Golden Rules for Styling Men's Clothing

So you can head to your partner's closet right now and put together a great look without the "I just threw on the first thing that came out" effect, I've compiled a practical summary of my 14 years of working with proportions. Follow this checklist:

1. Volume balance rule. It's a rule: if the top is bulky (like a men's jacket, hoodie, or shirt), the bottoms should be as form-fitting as possible. Maternity leggings, stocking dresses, and tight midi skirts made of thick knitwear are off-limits. No baggy pants paired with a men's sweatshirt outside of the couch.
2. Open up the subtle areas of your body. Roll up your sleeves to show off your wrists. Choose cropped leggings or roll up your pant legs to reveal your ankles. Unbutton the top buttons to reveal your collarbones. These delicate details will make you appear fragile against the oversized backdrop.
3. Enhance femininity in details. A masculine item should be limited to one (maximum two) per outfit. To avoid looking like a teenage skater, add distinctly feminine accessories: red lipstick, an elegant, structured shoulder bag, and delicate jewelry.
4. Create verticals. Never button men's shirts and jackets all the way. An open shirt creates two vertical lines that make you look slimmer and longer.
5. Monitor quality. Borrow only items that look neat and expensive. The stretched collar on your husband's casual T-shirt has nothing to do with the concept of stylish oversize.

Your pregnancy is a wonderful opportunity to experiment with style without breaking the bank. Your partner's clothes are a ready-made base that, when worn correctly, can work in your favor, highlighting your fragility and concealing fatigue. Try implementing at least one rule from my checklist tomorrow, and you'll see how a men's white shirt can change your mood for the entire day.