With summertime quickly approaching (too quickly for me), allll the pretty dresses are out. I decided to do a roundup for the pregnant mamas. Turns out, a lot of maternity dresses are a bit sad…and I know we can do better. 

So, after deliberating with Shana on which maternity dresses we actually liked, I ended up with a lot of non-maternity dresses that could still work for a bump. Brands like Free People and Anthropologie do a great job of making super-flowy, loose dresses that could easily slip over a baby bump.

The best part? Being able to continue wearing it even after your beautiful bundle of joy is here. 

Styling 8 Cute Maternity Dresses, From Brunch To Summer Weddings

Of course, rounding up the eight dresses wasn’t enough. I was itching to style them up for different summer scenarios. Like when I saw this pretty Free People cotton midi dress — I couldn’t stop thinking about a summer getaway, even if it’s just for a weekend trip. (But this dress totally deserves a trip to Venice too.)

Keep on scrollin’ for even more ideas.

Maternity Dress Outfit 1: Weekend Getaway

Let’s take a moment for the Venetian dress from Free People I mentioned above. Simple but pretty and comes in a bunch of colors. And 100% cotton — breathable cotton is a must for the summer heat. I kept the accessories simple with Shana’s beloved Clare V. Bag and little gold earrings. I’ve been seeing hair bows styled in a half-up, half-down hairstyle, and to my surprise, I love it. 

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Maternity Dress Outfit 2: City Explorin’

This is the one actual maternity dress I decided to include. You really can’t go wrong with a ribbed maxi dress — it can be styled so many different ways. I went the casual route for a day in the city with these asymmetrical Converse sneakers (that I actually just bought for myself), a mini backpack and some cool sunnies. Or a baseball cap and a boho bag would look great too. I couldn’t decide, heh.

P.S. The dress comes in hot pink, lime green and a cream color that would also be stunning.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 3: Mocktails & Hors d’Oeuvres

I love a pretty mini dress. I know the bump might make it a little shorter, so consider sizing up in this one-shoulder dress from Anthropologie. But how fun?! Even during pregnancy (when I imagine I’d rather be on the couch relaxing), there are still events and fun summer things to do! So, I call this my mocktails and hors d’oeuvres outfit, but any fun event in the summer would call for a pretty dress, a cool little bag and fun earrings.

P.S. That bag is selling out, but Lele Sadoughi makes a bunch of other beautiful ones.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 4: Museum Day

Back in 2021, Shana was loving her shapeless dresses. She actually had this button-up (read: breastfeeding-friendly!) maxi from STAUD in a light tan color. It’s perfectly lightweight and airy for summertime, so I figured it would be a great option for expecting mamas. A chic black-and-white moment never fails.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 5: Coastal Walks 

We always need at least one coastal-style outfit for the summertime. I’m not generally one for super-nautical vibes, so this striped dress from Banana Republic with pretty tan accessories feels like the perfect balance. I’m loving on the Antique White Birkenstock Boston clogs at the moment, but they can be hard to get your hands on. Keep checking back at Saks, Free People or Zappos.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 6: Sunday Brunch

Sunday brunch calls for your Sunday best. At least, I think so. It’s always an excuse for me to break out the cute stuff. I wanted to play around with some color and patterns for this one. Granted, you could totally go neutral with the accessories (pearl earrings, white Birks) and let the Anthro dress do the talking, but I love it paired with that checkered Clare V. bag and patterned earrings too.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 7: Afternoon Tea

I don’t think I’ve ever participated in a classic English afternoon tea, but if I did…I’d grub on the perfectly cut (no-crust) sandwiches in this gorgeous one-shoulder dress from Free People. The simple hoop earrings and a straw bucket hat let the dress take alll the attention. I believe that strap on the dress comes untied, so it could be nursing-friendly once your bebe is here too.

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Maternity Dress Outfit 8: Summer Wedding Or Fancy Events

Oh, wedding season. You are so fun and yet cause me so much stress because WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR? This pretty halter dress from Anthropologie does *technically* have some cream/white on one half, so you might be more likely to wear this dress to other summer events. But I feel like the other half saves it. Regardless, it’s a great choice for any potential dressy events that might pop up. I kept the accessories super-simple and chose not to go with heels. I, for one, imagine I won’t be wearing many heels when I’m carrying a baby.

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Hope this gave you guys some summer maternity style inspo!

-Danielle