When you first discover that you’re pregnant, the idea of maternity jeans is likely not the first thought to cross your mind. Scans, yes. Birth anticipation, yes. Maybe even a fleeting decision to stock up on some of the best maternity leggings. But deciding to squeeze your ever-growing body into what is traditionally one of the most rigid fabrics won’t be top of your to-do list, trust us.
That is, of course, before you remember that this whole pregnancy thing is one long, old slog, and parting with such a sartorial stalwart for nine (let’s be honest, closer to ten) months provides something of a gaping hole in your wardrobe. Luckily, maternity jeans have come a long way in recent years, meaning that there’s actually no real need to ditch the denim altogether. You just might want to invest in some with a few smart tweaks designed for this exact stage of your life.
The best maternity jeans, at a glance:
When I found out I was expecting, investing in the best maternity jeans was firmly off the cards. I strived to make my Levi’s 501s work for as long as possible. I’d always been adamant that I didn’t want to succumb to maternity denim – maternity clothing at all, in fact. I knew that buying things that I’d only wear for a maximum of nine months was about as bad a decision for the environment as it was for my bank balance.
So, at first, I started off by undoing one button of my ‘normal’ jeans and throwing an oversized shirt over them. Then, soon enough, it was two buttons, with the elastic band trick to keep my waistband together. Not long into the second trimester, though, I had to admit defeat. They just weren’t going to fit any longer, no matter how robust the elastic band.
What followed was some very extensive denim-based research (we’re nothing if not thorough) that we’ve collated and compiled into one handy guide for those of you facing the very same conundrum.
Shopping for the best jeans for women is a mammoth task even when you’re not pregnant, so throw a growing bump into the mix, and you’ve got yourself quite the headache. Sure, you could avoid shopping for maternity jeans entirely, rather than living in maternity nightwear or the best maternity leggings for nine months straight. But jeans are the anchor of every wardrobe, solving a hundred “I have nothing to wear!” scenarios. Throw some knitwear over the top and you’re good to go.
Jeans have always done the heavy-lifting in my wardrobe, and have in turn become the one go-to I know I can rely on regardless of the occasion. The prospect of ditching them entirely felt like I was giving up such a crucial part of my fashion identity, so I knew I had to find a way to make them work for me, regardless of my changing body. Of course, this took some serious research.