What is maternity wear?
If you're pregnant for the first time, maternity fashion is completely new to you and you've probably never held a pair of maternity jeans or a maternity shirt in your hand. Welcome to the new mama club! We've all been there. So here's a quick explanation of the most important maternity fashion essentials. The 1 x 1 of maternity fashion, so to speak:
What is maternity jeans?
At first glance, our latest maternity jeans are indistinguishable from your regular favourite jeans in terms of washes, materials (many of them sustainable!) and style. But take a closer look and you'll notice the clever changes that turn them into maternity jeans. For example, our maternity jeans are extra soft and stretchy. Elastic inserts at the waistband give your baby bump enough room and gentle support. You can choose between jeans with an overbump or underbump waistband. Many of our maternity jeans also have an elasticated waistband, so you can keep adjusting your new favourite trousers as your bump grows. Some even have a removable waistband. This means you can continue to wear your jeans comfortably even after pregnancy. You can find everything you need to know about maternity jeans in our maternity jeans guide.
>> Shop for maternity jeans
What is a maternity shirt?
Our maternity shirts are also perfectly tailored to your changing body. Thanks to stretchy materials, gathers and clever pleating, your bump always has enough room to grow without your shirt ever running out of fabric. Special design elements such as darts in the back, flounces or a highlighted empire line flatter your new silhouette. The right necklines, such as deep V or round necklines, also set off your décolleté.
We have a wide selection of maternity shirts, maternity blouses and maternity tunics to style for work, outings or events - so you don't have to worry about boredom in your wardrobe with a baby bump! Our tip: Make sure that at least most of your maternity tops have nursing openings, so you can continue to wear them for a long time after the birth and the money invested will pay off twice over.
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What is a maternity dress?
Do you love dresses as much as we do? Then you'll love them even more during your pregnancy. Maternity dresses simply give you that extra feminine look and accentuate your baby bump beautifully. At the same time, they give you maximum freedom of movement and don't constrict you. Like our shirts, our maternity dresses are made with stretchy fabrics, ruffles, pleats and other special design elements to perfectly fit your changing silhouette. Choose from short, midi or long dresses with a variety of sleeves and necklines. Particularly popular are our maternity dresses in the trendy layered look, which not only look stylish but also have discreetly hidden nursing openings. Depending on the occasion and the look you want, you'll find plenty of casual maternity dresses and festive maternity dresses.
Our tip: Our maternity shaper gives you a smooth silhouette under your dresses and is super comfortable at the same time. Our maternity tights in skin tones will give you smooth legs, and in black they'll add the perfect finish to any outfit. They gently support your bump without constricting you.
>> Shop casual maternity dresses
>> Shop festive maternity dresses
Do I need a pregnancy bra?
Absolutely! A well-fitting bra should be the be-all and end-all of your underwear during pregnancy. A pregnancy and nursing bra gives your changing breasts the support they need during this special time and relieves the strain on your back. Not only will your breasts grow during the pregnancy months, but your ribcage will also expand. Elastic materials and a closure system with up to six rows of hooks in our nursing bras always give you the flexibility you need during this time.
In the 4th month at the latest, you should measure your breasts properly and buy two or three maternity bras. In the 7th month of pregnancy you should measure yourself again and check your bra size. How to measure your bra size correctly is explained in detail in our nursing bra guide.
>> Shop for a pregnancy bra
Long-time favourite: maternity jacket with baby carrier insert
As your bump grows, you won't be able to fit your normal jacket over it. Then it's time for one of our practical maternity jackets that give your baby bump plenty of room to grow. Many of our maternity jackets also have a baby carrier insert, so you can still close them over your baby carrier after the birth. Last but not least, styles like our bestselling maternity parka look great long after your baby is born and carried.
>> Shop a baby carrier jacket
Maternity sportswear for maximum support and freedom of movement
Special maternity sportswear gives you the freedom of movement you need during your workouts and doesn't constrict you. At the same time, they support your bump. A matching sports nursing bra also gives your breasts enough support. You can also find maternity swimwear for aqua gymnastics or swimming during pregnancy.
>> Shop sports maternity wear
What size maternity wear schould I buy?
Our maternity wear does not have a complicated conversion chart or special sizes. The designs are made to fit you throughout your pregnancy in your usual clothing size and "grow" in the right places. This means that you can be sure that our maternity clothes will fit you until the birth and that you won't have to buy new clothes regularly during your pregnancy.
The only thing that will change during your pregnancy is your bra size. That's why you should take your measurements at the latest in the 4th month of pregnancy and later again in the 7th month and determine your correct bra size using our size chart. You can find detailed instructions on how to measure correctly in our guide: Nursing bras.
If you are still unsure about what size you need, just give us a call. We'll be happy to advise you personally and answer any questions you may have.
What should I look out for when buying maternity wear?
You have already taken the first important step to avoid bad buys ad badly invested money: You have landed with us, with Mamarella. After almost 20 years of experience in maternity fashion, we simply know what really matters. And we are happy to share our knowledge with you, so that you can enjoy your maternity and nursing clothes for a long time.
And that's where the keyword came in: maternity AND nursing clothes! Buying new maternity clothes is especially worthwhile if you can wear them not only during your pregnancy but also beyond. Most of our tops and dresses are therefore also equipped with a nursing function. The hidden nursing openings give you quick access to your breast without having to undress. Discreet nursingin public becomes super easy that way.
When it comes to fit and comfort, our designers have already thought of everything for you: our tops and bottoms are cut to fit you at all stages of pregnancy, creating a favourable silhouette at all times. Stretchy materials, elasticated waistbands and clever pleating and gathers make it possible. In addition, seamless designs ensure a particularly high level of comfort, especially with items that lie directly on the skin (underwear, belly bands in your maternity trousers, maternity tights, belly supports, shapewear, etc.).
Otherwise, when buying maternity clothes, look for exactly the same things you look for in your regular clothes: modern designs and a mix of easily combinable basics and stylish It pieces. However, you should pay special attention to quality. Even more than in your "unpregnant" life, you will notice inferior materials in your clothes. Hard, scratchy fabrics that don't let your skin breathe and make you sweat are an absolute no-go. You'll notice that soft, elastic and skin-friendly fabrics like viscose, modal and tencel are much more appealing. This is because your skin gets better supplied with blood during pregnancy and is therefore more sensitive. In addition, you don't want to expose your unborn child to harmful substances that you could absorb through your skin from cheaply produced textiles. We therefore advise you to use natural fabrics such as organic cotton, ideally certified with Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
