For decades maternity clothes were designed to hide a growing bump. In 2022 the opposite became fashionable, as cropped tops, low-slung waistbands and cut-outs put the bump on display.
The picture that started it
Much of the credit goes to Rihanna. When she and A$AP Rocky revealed her first pregnancy in pictures taken in Harlem in late January 2022, she wore a vintage pink Chanel puffer coat left open over her bare stomach, with jeans and layers of jewellery, including a jewelled cross pendant. In the months that followed she kept to the same idea, with sheer dresses, crop tops and low-rise trousers at fashion shows and events.
Other expectant celebrities followed with their own bare-bump looks, and the style quickly spread to social media and the high street.
It is not the first time a pregnancy has made fashion headlines. Demi Moore’s nude cover for Vanity Fair in August 1991, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, caused controversy at the time and is now remembered as a turning point in how pregnant women were shown.
How to try it
- Tie a shirt. A loose cotton shirt knotted or buttoned above the bump works with maxi skirts, wide trousers or jeans, and uses clothes you already own.
- Go low. Low-rise jeans and trousers sit comfortably under the bump and pair easily with a cropped top.
- Use sheer layers. A mesh or sheer top or dress shows the shape of the bump without leaving it fully bare.
- Leave buttons open. A shirt or cardigan fastened only at the top gives the same effect with more cover.
- Think about fabric. Breathable cotton and linen help in warm weather, and stretch waistbands adjust as the bump grows.
Stylists stress that the trend is optional. Some women love showing their changing shape and others prefer to keep covered, and comfort matters most at every stage of pregnancy. Remember sunscreen on exposed skin, as skin can be more sensitive to the sun during pregnancy.
Sources: red carpet and street style reports from 2022, Vanity Fair, cover of August 1991.