If the thought of having to buy maternity clothes makes you nauseated (and not from morning sickness), then you’ve probably been loving Blake Lively’s maternity style. Since Mrs. Ryan Reynolds revealed that baby #2 is on the way, she’s been knocking it out of the park with her sexy, glamorous, playful baby mama clothes. And we’ve been watching, learning and taking notes. Here are nine things Blake Lively’s taught us about pregnancy style.
Too dang often the beginning of pregnancy means the end of sexiness (at least that’s how it feels sometimes), but not for Blake Lively. The actress shows us that pregnant women can and should look sexy too, in this figure-hugging David Koma dress that shows just the right amount of skin thanks to a mesh hip panel and asymmetrical hemline. (Photo via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Style for Comfort
Sometimes pregnancy side effects get in the way of sartorial slayage. You wanna be trend-right, but you’ve also gotta think about comfort. I mean, you are carrying a little person around 24/7. When you just can’t spend another second in heels, throw on your sneakers and switch up your look like Blake did after hitting up the Target Cat & Jack launch.
Bondage and Motherhood Do Go Together
Who knew bondage and motherhood went so well together? Blake, apparently. The second-time momma-to-be wore this Emanuel Ungaro harness dress, accessorized with her baby bump, on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and it just looks so right. (Photo via Theo Wargo/Getty)
Florals Don’t Have to Be Frumpy
Floral dresses for pregnant women tend to resemble frumpy muumuus — but they don’t have to. Blake is pretty and delicate in this dove gray Carolina Herrera dress with the palest of pink appliqué flowers. (Photo via Jamie McCarthy/Getty)
Empire Waists Aren’t the Enemy
Pregnancy clothes mean A LOT of empire waists. While they’re great at accommodating the bump, they don’t always look like something you’d want to wear beyond the couch. Leave that fate to the other moms. The floral lace overlay on Blake’s strapless, tea length, A-line dress is goals, and would look great at a summer wedding.
You Can Embrace ALL Your Curves
The 40 weeks of pregnancy are both the fastest and slowest weeks of your life. They can be hell to live through, but walking around with your ever-growing baby bump is pretty magical. So don’t hide that bump. Show it off in a figure-hugging dress like Blake did in this cobalt blue Cushnie et Ochs bodycon number. (Photo via Jamie McCarthy/Getty)
Moms Can Be Edgy
Yeah, you may be a bit emotionally delicate, but that doesn’t mean you have to dress like a wallflower. Edgy is totally a pregnant gal thing, as Blake shows us in this Carolina Herrera dress. The PVC bustier and appliqué flowers are fashion-forward greatness, while the billowing tulle skirt is an added bonus. (Photo via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
You Can Still Have Your Princess Moments
Blake Lively was totally channeling Belle from Beauty and the Beast in this billowing Jenny Packham gown. It’s true — you, baby bump and all, can be a Disney princess for a day.
Cutouts Are Still Fair Game
Too often pregnant mamas shy away from showing skin. Reveal just the right amount in a dress with cutouts like Blake does in this tight little Versace number. The long hemline makes this game of peek-a-boo even more fun.