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Getting dressed during this pregnancy has been harder than I expected. By the middle of my second trimester, my usual clothes stopped working. Pants were easy enough to solve with stretchy styles or a couple pairs of maternity jeans, but tops were the issue. Everything I tried either swallowed me or clung to my bump in a way that felt too revealing and uncomfortable. Timing didn’t help. With my first, I had a September due date and could rely on flowy dresses. This time, I’m in that winter-to-spring transition where you actually need practical outfits, and nothing quite fits right.
I usually like getting dressed and feel like I have my style figured out, but for a few weeks, I felt completely stuck. So I started paying attention to what other women were actually wearing during pregnancy, specifically the ones who still looked like themselves. The common denominator was a good white t-shirt. It’s basic, but for a reason. It works during and after pregnancy, layers with everything, and can be dressed up or down. The challenge is finding one that actually fits well with a bump.
I ordered seven from Amazon, Gap, Old Navy, and a few other brands. Most got one thing right and everything else wrong. Some were long enough but too tight in the arms. Some were comfortable and incredibly soft, but too thin and see-through. Others were oversized in a way that made me look bigger than I already felt (woof).
Then I tried the $10 Amazon Essentials crewneck. I ordered a large, even though I’m usually a small or medium, and it hit exactly the balance I was looking for. The length covers my bump without looking oversized. The fit is slightly boxy but still structured. The sleeves aren’t tight. The neckline is high and substantial. It’s also 100% cotton, which makes it soft and breathable without feeling thin (a rarity at this price point).
I wear it with everything: maternity leggings, lower-rise maternity jeans, lounge pants, under sweaters, with cardigans, with a trench.
I wear it often enough that I bought a second one just to keep it in rotation. More than anything, it solved the daily question of what to wear. It’s one piece I can rely on that feels comfortable, looks put together, and works with the rest of my closet, and I’ll keep wearing it long after this pregnancy is over.
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