Best maternity clothes: stylish, comfy brands for pregnancy

When it comes to maternity clothes, ASOS DESIGN has it all, including multi-buy basics, workwear and formal occasion wear, plus just about everything in between. Reviewers praise the quality of the material and how well their clothes fit too.

Many of us are currently looking to tighten up our purse strings a bit – something even more important with a new baby on the way – and there are some real bargains in the range, particularly when it comes to wardrobe staples such as t-shirts and vests.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the in-house range, then ASOS offer a huge selection of third-party retailers encompassing everything from designer occasion wear to budget essentials. All this with free delivery on orders over £35 (or free next-day delivery on all orders over £10 if you sign up to ASOS Premier for £9.95 a year ) – what’s not to love?!

Read next: Discover the best pregnancy items for every stage of the journey, from the best pregnancy test to take on day one to the top-ranking stretch mark cream to use as your bump grows.

If you’re looking for a quick, no-nonsense, one-stop shop that's not going to cost the earth, Purpless will be just the brand for you.

With a number of dresses, skirts, and tops in a variety of styles and colours, Purpless provides excellent value for money without forgoing on quality.

Whilst it’s admittedly not the most glamorous range on the market, the clothes rate highly when it comes to comfort and there are plenty of practical styles to choose from which are available in a huge variety of colours.

Related: Looking for a bit of extra support and comfort? Check out our guide to the best pregnancy pillow according to Mumsnet users

It wouldn’t be a best-of maternity list without the appearance of Seraphine. Whilst this isn’t the cheapest maternity range out there, it’s certainly one of the most popular with Mumsnet users due to their well-fitting, high-quality clothing.

We picked Seraphine as the best long-lasting range on two counts. Firstly, their clothes are highly durable and will stand the test of time. As they're made from the highest quality materials they’ll retain their shape post-bump so you can wear them for multiple pregnancies and sell them on afterwards. Secondly, many of the pieces are cleverly designed for both pregnancy and to accommodate you and your baby after birth too - there's a reason why Seraphine tops our list of the best maternity coats with their 3-in-1 Winter Parka.

We love their bamboo range which offers stylish dresses, tops and trousers that are incredibly chic whilst remaining comfortable to wear. As with our pick of the best maternity bras, sometimes the best maternity wardrobe options are those which don't look like maternity wear at all.

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These six-packs of maternity knickers from Intimate Portal are really good value and super-comfy, too, topping our guide to the best maternity underwear. They’re made from a lovely soft fabric and have excellent ‘bum coverage’ with no VPL. (Who wants ‘skimpy’ at this time of life, after all?) They are, however, cut nice and low in the front so they sit easily under your bump (they claim to be suitable to wear with a C-section wound, but personally we might go for over-the-bump styles to be sure) and have a ‘crossover’ style at the front which allows for more ‘give’ and prevents the elastic digging in under your belly (and won't interfere with your pregnancy support belt if you're using one).

We love the range of patterns and styles available from boy shorts to fold-down, so many maternity knickers are just a bit boring. And we liked the fact that the gusset is only lightly coloured so that you’d notice any spotting or the start of a show later in pregnancy.

Coming to terms with your changing body can be tough during pregnancy, but luckily maternity wear has come a long way since the days of frumpy, unflattering dresses. Just because you're pregnant, doesn't mean you have to give up the latest trends and fashion, which is where New Look shines - their maternity wear includes a huge range of sizes from six to 26, and many options are available in petite and tall.

Style wise, there’s plenty to choose from with everything from the archetypal maternity dungarees and smock dresses to edgier styles, so there’s something for everyone.

We particularly rated their range of jeans which come in several different lengths and sizes as well as styles (which is why New Look features in our in-depth best maternity jeans guide too!)

Given that you won’t be wearing many of your maternity pieces forever, it may be that you don’t want to spend a lot of money on an entirely new wardrobe.

When it comes to creating the perfect capsule wardrobe, you’ll need key pieces that subscribe to the old ‘dress it up or dress it down’ adage. H&M is a haven for classic pieces that you can mix and match easily to create a series of outfits for a variety of occasions with just a few items. With so many well-made and comfortable maternity pieces available, it's no wonder H&M also come out out on top in our guide to the best maternity leggings.

Many of their cotton dresses or tapered trousers are perfect for the office when worn with an open blazer or they could be teamed with a pair of trainers and a denim jacket if you’re off to brunch. H&M have an excellent range of baby items as well, ideal if you're also on the look out for the best baby gifts for the newest little person in your life.

Comfort doesn’t always have to be synonymous with hoodies and leggings. JoJo Maman Bébé manages to blend classic, sophisticated style with soft materials, well-fitting cuts and comfortable, supportive maternity bands, making it the ideal go-brand for when you want to throw on something comfortable that isn’t loungewear (JoJo top our best maternity dungarees listings for good reason!)

Their tunic dresses and wrap cardigans are perfect additions to your maternity wardrobe for days when you want something comforting to wear but still need to look that little bit smarter, and their range of floral prints are perfect for updating your Spring/Summer wardrobe. Many items can be worn for nursing, which could make for a lovely option if you're looking for the best gifts for new mums.

If you plan on breastfeeding your little one, you’ll need to invest in nursing-friendly clothes. The clever design of the Smallshow nursing range means that you can wear their pieces all through your pregnancy and postpartum, so you won’t have to pay out for separate maternity and nursing tops.

Reviewers found the clothes washed really well too, so there’s no reason as to why they shouldn’t stay a wardrobe staple long after you've given birth.

We loved the fact that many of the Smallshow pieces, such as their nursing dresses, came in a huge variety of patterns and colours and they even do a nursing hoodie for cooler days in a range of eight different colours.

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Maternity wear experts JoJo Maman Bébé can always be relied upon to come up with comfortable pregnancy clothing and its swimwear collection is no different.

There are tonnes of stylish swimsuits to choose from and with many made from recycled plastic, it's a guilt-free purchase as well as a comfortable essential for your Spring/Summer maternity wardrobe. You can even mix and match with your kids as well!

There are plenty of fun floral patterns as well as ruffles, one-shoulder pieces and classic plain stripes or block colours and all are well-made and good quality.

If you already go to the gym or do regular exercise, there’s no reason why you can’t continue to do so throughout your pregnancy.

Exercising with a bump is always going to be trickier though, whether you're hitting the gym or bouncing on your birthing ball. The Adidas range is specially designed to work with your growing bump and offer a little extra support whilst you exercise - particularly great if you do prenatal yoga.

In addition to their activewear, Adidas also offers the ultimate sports-luxe wear if you prefer your clothes with a sporty vibe even when you’re not hitting the gym.

Related: Speaking of exercise, don't miss our guide to the best pelvic floor trainer to help ward off post-birth incontinence.

If you love striking prints and fun colours, finding maternity wear to reflect your style can be something of a challenge. Whilst we love a few pastel shades or a Breton stripe, sometimes it’s nice to stand out from the crowd and wear something a little different, and that's where Frugi comes in.

Whether it's bold floral designs or funky animal prints, this brand has got it all. We fell in love with their stylish yet relaxed jumpsuits and dresses and they do a great sale too, so keep checking in if you want to grab a bargain. A lot of styles work for post-pregnancy too, which is always a bonus.

If you prefer your wardrobe to have a cool look, the Topshop range available from ASOS is definitely for you. With everything from faux PVC to distressed denim, the range is packed full of trend-led pieces perfect for those who like their maternity wear with an edge.

We particularly loved their selection of ripped jeans and oversized shirts for an effortless, edgy look.

Although no longer around on the high street, Dorothy Perkins have remained a stalwart online for reliable pieces that you can grab and go without too much planning needed, and their maternity range is no different.

Full of fuss-free t-shirts, jumpers, dresses and trousers that are comfortable to wear, Dorothy Perkins is the perfect place to put together a no-nonsense wardrobe to perfectly complement your other bump-friendly items.

If you’re conscious of how much you’re spending on maternity wear, their range of smart casual pieces, such as their midi dresses and trousers, will take you from day to night and they can also be layered up so you can wear them through the changing seasons.

Related: If you're suffering with some of the less-than-desirable side-effects of pregnancy, such as acne or piles, check out our guides to the best skincare for pregnancy and haemorrhoid cream for options approved by Mumnset users.

Mamalicious are a firm favourite with Mumsnet users and, thanks to their casual everyday wear and pretty dresses you can style up or down, it’s a brand rated highly on bestseller lists too. A great brand for maternity staples, Mamalicious top our guide to the best maternity tights as well.

With their lightweight dresses, cosy leggings, and practical nursing t-shirts, you’ll be able to assemble a capsule collection of maternity essentials, all from the comfort of your own home via Amazon.

Related: Don't miss our guide to the best compression socks for pregnancy for fun and stylish options you can wear underneath all your favourite maternity clothes.

Dressing a bump for warmer weather can be tricky, particularly if you're feeling more self-conscious about your changing body. While it's easy enough to bury a bump under big woolly jumpers, the warmer months bring a completely different way to style pregnancy - but fear not, 'summer maternity dress' does not automatically equal sweaty, unflattering tent.

Happy Mama offer a huge range of non-frumpy dresses for all styles - from bump-hugging bodycon to flattering drapes, on-trend midi dress and shorter skater styles. Most can be used for breastfeeding as well.

The Happy Mama clothes are an absolute bargain too and their pieces appear a lot more expensive than they actually are. We love it when that happens.

Related: If you're feeling like your pjs are a little snug as your body changes, don't miss our guide to the best maternity pyjamas according to Mumsnetters.