Of all the essentials you need to buy during pregnancy, jeans might be your number one priority. Unlike reusing your oversized and loose-fitting clothes, jeans just aren’t designed to grow with your belly — and your non-maternity styles are about to stop fitting straight away. But a good pair of jeans is also perfect for a maternity wardrobe staple (think leggings, dresses, and a blazer) that will see you through this time. Wardrobe stylist and brand consultant Allison Bornstein, who has worked with celebrities like Katie Holmes and brands like Express, Tory Burch and Sezane, helps pregnant clients create a capsule that makes dressing easier during many body changes. And that prevents you from buying too many clothes that you will only wear for a few months.
Bornstein sees pregnancy as an opportunity to try new styles with your changing shape. “I think it’s such a fun time to dress because your body is so different and you get to try new things,” she says. “BUT I find that a lot of my clients feel a little out of their skin at first and don’t look like themselves, so it’s nice to have something that motivates you.” In my case, because I’m short: skinny, straight and cigarette-style denim were the best types of jeans for me (wide legs often make the bump look bigger). Think of it like an inverted hourglass: showing off that gape bump and tapering at the top and bottom of your body. Also worth noting? How your body reacts to pregnancy is unique and sometimes quite surprising, tbh. “I wouldn’t rush into buying things before you start growing because you never know how you’re going to feel and how your body is going to change,” says Bornstein, who also does virtual styling sessions.
There’s more good news: you really only need one or two pairs of jeans that you absolutely love and wear 24/7, which is both budget conscious and environmentally conscious. So below, here are the 14 best maternity jeans that are worth your time and money — and still make you feel like you.