https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:18:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525645 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 07:05:23 +0000 Rockies11 2525645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Canada, but they're the same as the UK ones because of the same legal system thing. Justice is blind and all that. The real problem is the vest, which is a special vest with sleeves. It's fitted and doesn't exist in maternity. It is also crazy expensive so it's not like it's feasible to just keep buying bigger ones. So I just kept leaving more and more buttons undone. I had an appeal with one of my kids when I was around 8 months pregnant, and I was robed up and in the elevator on the way to the courthouse and another lawyer walked in, saw me, burst out laughing, and gave me a high 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525627 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 06:46:05 +0000 winniebee 2525627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rockies11: do you live in Europe? I've never heard of robes and vests for court!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525499 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 20:52:06 +0000 Rockies11 2525499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: also an attorney. I bought plain cut staple dresses and used my regular blazers and suit jackets. For trial we have to wear robes and a vest and special shirt, and I just wore my non maternity ones and didn't do up all the buttons and looked totally ridiculous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525398 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 19:18:08 +0000 psw27 2525398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: hmm if you think the trials will go forward you could probably buy a maternity suit jacket or two. I honestly don't think anyone will say anything or bat an eye! In the office, I wouldn't even worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525219 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 16:01:56 +0000 winniebee 2525219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@psw27: Mostly just depositions and in office (I WAH about 50% of the time and wear whatever for that). For office and depositions I can probably wear whatever (even depositions seem to be getting less formal these days). Court usually only a few times a month EXCEPT I have a few scheduled jury trials over the summer. Who knows if they will go forward! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525212 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:59:21 +0000 psw27 2525212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Are you in court a lot? or mostly in the office? In the office I wore a lot of cardigans! Or just went sleeveless cause I was hot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525205 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:52:16 +0000 winniebee 2525205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marley: congrats!</p> <p>@psw27: I'm more worried whether they are going to fit across my eventual back fat!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525195 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:47:44 +0000 psw27 2525195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another lawyer bee here. I bought 2 pairs of black maternity suit pants and wore my normal suit jackets for the most part. I also bought a lot of tank sheath dresses and just mixed and matched. No one ever said anything. Certainly none of my coats matched or buttoned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525137 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:52:24 +0000 marley 2525137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjd: thanks! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525135 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:51:18 +0000 mrsjd 2525135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marley: AH! Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2525132 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:50:35 +0000 marley 2525132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: another attorney here. When I was 9 months pregnant with my DD I wore a regular suit jacket with maternity pants arguing my first motion to dismiss. I felt like nobody cared what I was wearing though, they were all just staring at my enormous bump thinking that I was going to pass out or something (it was mid-summer).</p> <p>Just got my bfp this morning and I'm already bloated and dreaming of maternity pants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2524844 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 11:45:06 +0000 winniebee 2524844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: This are really cute dresses! Maybe I'll get one from here and an Ingrid &amp; Isabel and just throw a jacket on them when needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2524078 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 18:02:39 +0000 agold 2524078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My work suits, especially the pants, are the only thing starting to give me trouble now at 21 weeks pregnant. </p> <p>I'm going to get these pants from Pea in the Pod. </p> <p><a href="http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=134010270&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC5" rel="nofollow">http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=134010270&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC5</a></p> <p>(They were out of the size I need yesterday when I went to the store.)</p> <p>I did purchase these pants yesterday, but they might be a little too sassy if you work in a conservative place. But I can imagine wearing them after pregnancy, too. </p> <p><a href="http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=134180480&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC5" rel="nofollow">http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=134180480&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC5</a></p> <p>This jacket went with the pants I bought. I considered buying it because it was cute but wasn't sure if it was good for the office, either. Also something that would be fine for after pregnancy. </p> <p><a href="http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=61847010071&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC8" rel="nofollow">http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=61847010071&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC8</a></p> <p>And then here is the suit jacket I will bite the bullet and buy if I think I need one. My current suit jackets already don't button because I, umm... gained some weight since I first bought them. Oops. </p> <p><a href="http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=61812Z10071&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC8" rel="nofollow">http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=61812Z10071&#038;MasterCategory_Id=MC8</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2524074 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 17:59:32 +0000 catomd00 2524074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found a pair of gray maternity pants at motherhood that nearly match my gray suit, so I just wear that jacket unbuttoned. I only have to wear suits a few times a month so I don't feel weird wearing the same thing over and over lol. Plus, pregnancy card applies here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2524016 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:33:12 +0000 Shantuck 2524016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an attorney as well but I practice transactional law so I don't need suits all that often. There are some cute work dress options at: <a href="http://www.seraphine.com/us/maternity-clothes/maternity-work-wear/show/all.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.seraphine.com/us/maternity-clothes/maternity-work-wear/show/all.html</a>. If I need a suit, I'd probably just throw on a black non-maternity suit jacket over a black dress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2524003 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:17:09 +0000 mrswin 2524003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Not an attorney but in finance/consulting and business professional is still the expectation. When I was pregnant with my DD finding appropriate work clothes was a huge PITA because maternity clothes are hard to get in Canada to begin with but professional maternity wear is unicorn level! As you mentioned I mostly relied on wearing a variety of dresses with blazers 😊 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523421 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:43:23 +0000 Mrs D 2523421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I am not in the legal field but DH is an attorney, as is my FIL (he's as conservative as they get and only practices in federal courts) and I made a comment about "just trying to look 'ok'" and he said how I was dressing was perfectly acceptable for him...</p> <p>I work in Finance for an automotive company - aka all boys club - whenever I am in a meeting with the CFO or CEO (both very east coast conservative) I consider a suit to be necessary...I never felt I got odd looks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523414 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:39:56 +0000 pwnstar 2523414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: That's also why I like the tank dresses . . . because I can dress them up or down, like with a jacket and heels for work, or sleeveless with flats on the weekend. It's really nice that they're not just *work only* pieces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523405 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:37:48 +0000 pwnstar 2523405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Toward the end of my first pregnancy, I wore a really nice wrap dress--without a jacket-- to the court of appeals. It wasn't for a formal hearing/appearance, and I never would have considered it pre-pg, but I was swollen and had limited options. Everyone there told me I looked so professional/great (eta: there's the diminished expectations in action for ya)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523403 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:37:06 +0000 winniebee 2523403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pwnstar: I am just looking at my stuff from my first pregnancy (which is mostly winter, drab pieces) thinking...what the heck did I wear?! I think I need to just get a few staple dresses that I can throw on a blazer with when necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523397 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:35:20 +0000 pwnstar 2523397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: You are too kind! </p> <p>@winniebee: I definitely think people are inclined to cut you slack! I also have worn more of my jackets because I am not wearing a complete suit and am not trying to be matchy-matchy (if that makes sense). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523394 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:34:30 +0000 winniebee 2523394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: When I'm massively pregnant I think I can even forego the suit jacket in court if necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523382 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:27:15 +0000 Mrs D 2523382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had two dresses that were my "formal" attire staples. They were both investment pieces from Isabelle Oliver.</p> <p>I did mostly mix n match blazers.</p> <p>Towards the end I wore black pants and my nice maternity white button up....not a true "suit" but looked like one with the jacket taken off. I didnt catch and heat for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523373 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:24:39 +0000 pregnantbee 2523373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pwnstar: You've looked amazing in all photos I've seen :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523249 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:28:48 +0000 winniebee 2523249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That's what I'm thinking. For summer I have a white jacket and khaki and then a teal that all might go well with dresses this summer. I also can mix and match gray and black. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523245 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:23:08 +0000 looch 2523245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I think that is the classic problem of differing fabrics! I swear, my black pants do not go with my black jackets, it's because of the weave, the fabrics, etc. And forget about navy!</p> <p>Can you wear a blazer in a different color? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523236 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:18:39 +0000 winniebee 2523236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjd: @pwnstar: we've got the attorney contingency here!</p> <p>@pwnstar: Good tip on the dresses. I only have a few b/c with my first I was due in May....but this one in October. I HATE spending more money on maternity clothes for a third pregnancy but probably need a few dresses.</p> <p>I feel like my normal suit jackets don't match the coloring of the maternity pants I have. Oh well, I guess you get a pass while pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523231 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:14:44 +0000 Adira 2523231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my maternity slacks, wore a maternity blouse, and just a regular suit jacket that I couldn't button. My jacket is black, so it went with all my slacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523230 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:14:27 +0000 mrsjd 2523230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! I'm an attorney and I have to dress up 4-5 days a week and I'm struggling so hard. I'm almost 19 weeks but can't seem to find decent maternity work pants or skirts so I'm making my regular clothes work for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-business-suits-formal-work-maternity-wear#post-2523220 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:02:21 +0000 pwnstar 2523220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love to wear shirred/ruched tank style maternity dresses with my regular suit jackets (or cardis on more casual days) . . . I cannot tell you how many compliments I get about looking pulled together "even though" I'm pregnant. My favorite dresses (so far) have been Ingrid and Isabel and Isabella Oliver dresses. </p>