My Third Trimester Wardrobe
If you’re trying to figure out what to wear in the third trimester, especially at home with a toddler, I’ve found the easiest outfits are built around breathable fabrics, elastic waist bottoms, and simple layering. Think linen shorts or pants, midi skirts, fitted tanks, and lightweight button-downs you can throw on without thinking.
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Before I got pregnant with my first, I would have said my number one interest was fashion. Now, in my second pregnancy, I still care about what I wear — even if I’m in my third trimester and most of my days are spent at home.
My wardrobe just looks different now. It’s softer, simpler, and much more practical. I focus less on dressing for others and more on wearing clothes I can live in: for cooking, sitting on the floor, doing laundry, and occasionally leaving the house. This is by no means a curated wardrobe — it’s just what I actually wear day to day, and what helps me feel like myself.
My pregnancy outfit priorities
When I get dressed now, these are the things I prioritize most:
- Natural fibers — mostly cotton and linen
- Comfort — nothing I have to fuss with or adjust all day
- Fit — I’m still petite, especially in my shoulders, so oversized doesn’t really work for me
On my style: I really like basics, and most of my wardrobe is white, gray, blue, navy, and black. Since becoming a mum, I’ve noticed I’m more drawn to items with subtle feminine details — like pointelle knits, scalloped edges, lace, and broderie. Nothing overly romantic, just softer textures that make simple outfits feel a little more considered.
My approach: comfort, but make it intentional
I don’t want to feel sloppy just because I am staying home. I also don’t want to wear anything uncomfortable or too styled just for the sake of it. So I built my third trimester outfits around a simple idea: easy silhouettes, breathable fabrics, and pieces that still feel stylish, even on regular days.
Also, I don’t believe you need to buy a whole new wardrobe for such a short period of your life. Most of these pieces fit me before this pregnancy and will fit postpartum.
Best bottoms for third trimester outfits
I love jeans outside of pregnacy, but structured or tight clothes just don’t work for me in the third trimester. So, I wear some kind of elastic waist bottoms, usually linen shorts or pants. When it comes to easy bottoms for the third trimester, I look for:
- breathable fabrics, especially linen — I have these pants in black and white
- wide-leg fits that don’t cling
- waistbands that don’t require adjusting all day
They’re simple, but they make getting dressed easy. And honestly, that matters more than anything right now. I get one size up from my normal size.
Why midi skirts are perfect for third trimester outfits
If there’s one piece that defines my third trimester outfits, it’s midi skirts. They’re comfortable over a growing bump, easy to move in with a toddler, and automatically feel a little more put-together. I look for soft fabrics and elastic waists that don’t dig in — this kind of skirt has been the easiest to wear. Better yet, they go with everything, which is exactly what I need right now.
Easy tops to wear in the third trimester
Because my bottoms are so simple, my tops do most of the work. My rotation is basically:
- fitted tanks, which balance out wide-leg bottoms — I usually reach for a basic ribbed scoop neck or this pointelle cami
- soft tees I can tuck or leave loose
- button-downs in linen or cotton, slightly oversized — I wear this one on repeat
Button-downs are probably what I wear most. I can wear them open over a tank or partially buttoned, usually to my bump, and it just works.
A few “nice tops” for when I want to feel more put together
Even though I’m not going anywhere most days, I still like having a few pieces that feel slightly more elevated — when I want to feel a bit more like myself.
These are usually:
- tanks with lace or broderie elements
- soft blouses with a unique shape — I’ve loved this affordable one
I reach for these when I want my outfit to feel a bit more intentional, even if I’m just at home with my toddler.
The outfit formulas I wear on repeat
I’ve been rotating these easy outfit formulas daily in my third trimester:
- linen shorts or pants + fitted tank + open button down
- midi skirt + fitted tank or tee + cardigan
- elastic waist bottoms + “nice” top
It’s nothing complicated — just combinations that work without overthinking.
Why this works for me right now
There’s a lot of pressure in pregnancy to either fully “dress up” or completely give up on style, but I’m not interested in either. I still care about how I look, but it needs to make sense for a life that’s mostly at home, a bit unpredictable, and very toddler-led.
Getting dressed helps me feel like myself. It just looks different now, and that’s okay.
Shop the pieces I wear on repeat
If you’re building a simple third trimester wardrobe, these are the actual pieces I reach for:
Bottoms
- White linen shorts with elastic waist
- Soft black linen blend shorts with elastic waist
- Linen blend wide-leg pants in black and white
- Cotton midi skirts that float over your bump
Tops
- Pointelle cami in gray and navy
- Gorgeous white sleeveless blouse with broderie detail
- Slate blue sleeveless blouse with pintuck details
- Pointelle tee in cream and navy
- Airy shortsleeve blouse in navy
- Linen button-down in white and dusty blue
Shoes + accessories
- Black flip flops
- Black fisherman sandals
- Black leather crossbody bucket bag that holds everything I need + a few diapers!
- My favorite Ray Bans
Final thoughts
I dress for how I want to feel on an ordinary day at home: comfortable, a little put together, and still like myself. If you’re in the third trimester and getting dressed feels harder than it used to, I’ve found simple combinations like these make it a lot easier.
