This moment made me realize that I don’t need to purchase maternity clothes for my wardrobe if I choose not to. It was also a refreshing reminder that I don’t have to conceal my pregnancy. (For context, I no longer work full-time in an office, which is a privilege allowing me to be more flexible with my attire.) It frustrates me to hear that many expecting women feel pressured to hide their pregnancy for the sake of their careers! No one should feel that way—let them be free!
Currently, I style my maternity outfits below the bump, which allows the bump to be visible. These days, when dressing, I pretend my bump isn’t there, showcasing my midriff just like I used to—albeit now my midriff resembles a hefty loaf of bread that protrudes outward. Perhaps I’m inspired by Rihanna’s bold and extravagant belly-baring choices during her pregnancy, or by Madonna strutting around London in 2000, her Union Jack T-shirt and cargo pants barely hanging on. There’s also Demi Moore’s iconic nude cover for Vanity Fair back in 1991. And how can I forget Sienna Miller elegantly walking the red carpet at Vogue World: London in a dreamy Schiaparelli ensemble—a ruffled cream crop top paired with a confectionary skirt.
I’m not alone in this below-the-bump styling choice. Recently, while at the Maimoun store opening in Williamsburg, I encountered a designer from a trendy Italian label. Pregnant, she sported her pants slightly undone. (Just a note: I tried this with a zipper, and it did not go well. Your pants will unzip and eventually fall off.) She looked fabulous—definitely giving off that carefree vibe!
Later, facialist Raquel Medina-Cleghorn shared a photo of herself pregnant, taken at the spring 2025 Sandy Liang show. She wore delicate Little Bo Peep pink bows in her hair, along with an open cardigan and low-slung jeans. “Honestly, it felt quite daring for me,” Medina-Cleghorn admits. “Even though I don’t usually dress ‘professionally’ for work, exposing my midriff felt a bit too intimate for that environment. So this was probably the only time I showed my belly. When I lined up to enter the venue, several people snapped street-style photos of me, which was a bit embarrassing since I’m not accustomed to it, but it felt amazing.”
