Pregnancy fashion used to consist of loose-fitting dresses, oversized shirts, stretchy pants, and anything else that could help hide a woman’s growing belly.
But celebrities such as Margot Robbie are among a growing number of stars opting for clothes that show off their pregnant figures, rather than hide them, which stylists say has made showing the bump seem more socially “acceptable”.
The 34-year-old Barbie actress was recently photographed taking a boat ride on Lake Como while on holiday with her husband Tom Ackerley.
She opted to wear a white cropped T-shirt with baggy, low-cut black pants, proudly showing off her small but growing belly.
The celebrated actress is not the first high-profile person to show off her blossoming curves while awaiting motherhood: the trend of celebrities showing off their baby bumps began several decades ago.
Margot Robbie was recently photographed showing off her baby bump while on holiday in Lake Como
Sienna Miller (pictured) showed off her baby bump while attending an event in London in September 2023.
Stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: “I think showing the baby bump became popular in the early 90s and I think Demi Moore was one of the first people to show it on a magazine cover. I think it was one of the iconic moments that slowly gained popularity.”
Meanwhile, Rachael Wood, managing director of Chinti & Parker, added: ‘The trend of celebrities publicly flaunting their baby bumps dates back to the late 90s and early 2000s, in particular to a couple of high-profile public moments that set a new standard for maternity fashion and celebrity culture.
‘The first of these is Demi Moore’s 1991 Vanity Fair cover shoot, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Moore, who was seven months pregnant at the time, posed nude for the cover, making a powerful statement about pregnancy and beauty and breaking with traditional norms, sparking widespread debate about body image and motherhood.
‘The second high-profile moment came from Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in the early 2000s.
‘These two pop stars were constantly in the public eye, especially once they announced their pregnancies, something the media couldn’t stop covering.
‘Both Spears and Aguilera often attended public events and photo shoots with their pregnant bellies exposed or highlighted, normalizing and glamorizing visible pregnancies.’
She continued: ‘Following from this, the rise of social media, particularly the aesthetic-focused Instagram, has given celebrities more control over their public image (whereas historically this would fall to a publicist), and celebrities have been able to share personal milestones directly with their fans.
‘As a result, pregnancy announcements and updates about baby bumps have been shared in abundance and on their own terms.’
He added that perhaps the most notable of these in recent years has been Beyoncé, noting that her Two ‘highly publicised pregnancy announcements’ were ‘particularly influential in driving the visible baby bump trend’.
A very pregnant Rihanna is photographed attending Paris Fashion Week with Asap Rocky, showing off her baby bump.
Singer Mel Blatt, of 90s girl group All Saints, shows off her baby bump as she performs at Capital FM’s Party in the Park in Hyde Park, London, in 1998.
‘The first came in 2011, when Beyoncé revealed her pregnancy during a live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
“Fast forward to 2017 and Beyoncé uploaded a floral photoshoot to announce her pregnancy with twins, which quickly became the most liked photo on the platform at the time,” Rachael added.
Both stylists agreed that it is becoming more acceptable, with Rochelle saying: “A lot of celebrities are proud of their bellies and appear in
‘Red carpets and runway shows are really part of the norm and are becoming a style that many people feel comfortable showing off.
‘For example, Kylie Jenner hid her first pregnancy for some reason, but with her second pregnancy we saw more photos of her and her baby bump, and I feel like she felt more comfortable because it was more normal.’
Rachael agreed, adding: “Of course, and this is due to three main factors:
‘There is a near-constant stream of high-profile celebrities showing off their baby bumps, including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen, and their visibility and the positive reception they receive have helped make it more acceptable for others to do the same.’
She added that maternity fashion “has evolved significantly, with many designers creating stylish, body-positive clothing for pregnant women.”
Rachael said: ‘This has made it so much easier for parents-to-be to feel confident and fashionable, encouraging them to embrace their changing bodies and even show them off if they feel like it.
‘There has been a greater emphasis on health and wellbeing during pregnancy, with a greater focus on prenatal care, physical activity and general wellbeing, meaning pregnant women are more inclined to share their experiences and celebrate their pregnancies.’
When it comes to how to wear maternity clothes and how to feel good, Rochelle said it depends on each person’s personal style.
“Rihanna is known for her mix of street style, oversized and also tight clothing,” he said.
‘I would say stick with what you know is comfortable. You can recreate your style with clothes designed for maternity or in larger sizes.
‘This way, you can still look stylish and not feel like you’ve lost who you are.
I would say that well-fitting clothes always look better (nothing too tight that makes you feel uncomfortable).
‘T-shirts, leggings, tracksuits and maxi dresses are usually a good choice and look good on most people.’
As for whether celebrities are making a statement by showing off their baby bump, Rochelle added that she feels that…They’re not necessarily making a statement, but just accepting their bulges and who they are.
“I think times have changed and there is no shame in showing it. It is something natural and something that some people are very proud of and want to show it,” she concluded.