What to Wear to Your Own Baby Shower

Comfort first: a dress you can sit, stand and play the games in all afternoon

• “After all, you’ll be taking part in tons of baby shower games and activities, meaning comfort is key!” — The Bump
• “When choosing a maternity dress for your baby shower, comfort is just as important as style.” — Mother&Baby
• “the key is to select pieces that reflects your personality while keeping you comfortable throughout the event.” — Angel Maternity

Show the bump: it is the centre of the outfit

• “The bump is the statement; the bump is the showpiece of the outfit” — The Bump
• “For the mother-to-be, flaunt your baby bump with a stylish maternity dress or a flowy maxi.” — La Passion Voutée
• “It’s the perfect way to show off your beautiful baby bump, which by the way will be rubbed hundreds of times during your shower!” — Mommy Diary

A shape with room for the bump: an empire waist, a wrap, ruching or a flowing skirt

• “Look for styles with empire waistlines, flowing skirts, and breathable materials.” — Mother&Baby
• “A dress with a romantic, flowing silhouette or an empire waistline can provide the necessary space for your baby bump without compromising on style.” — Lulus

Soft stretch and breathable fabric: jersey, knit or cotton blends

• “Soft, stretchy fabrics like jersey or cotton blends are great choices.” — Mother&Baby
• “According to Brown, fabrics that have a little stretch end up being more comfortable and far less restrictive.” — The Bump
• “You’ll be facing a lot of guests, momma, so choose outfits with breathable fabrics to ensure your comfortable throughout the event.” — La Passion Voutée

Stay yourself: your own style, not a costume of the theme

• “You should stay true to your own style” — The Bump
• “Remember, the goal is to feel like the best version of yourself.” — Angel Maternity
• “Summary: whatever makes you feel great! This is your party, after all.” — Elisabeth McKnight
• “Wear something that reflects your style and makes you feel great, as these memories will last for years.” — Mom’s First Steps

No need to spend a fortune on a dress you will wear once

• “Don’t feel pressured to spend a fortune on an outfit you’ll wear once.” — Mama Home Journal
• “People don’t love to invest a ton because they know that their body is changing rapidly” — The Bump
• “if you need something cute for your baby shower without spending a ton, check them out.” — Elisabeth McKnight

You will be in every photo of the day

• “For such a special occasion (and the guaranteed deluge of photos) you want to look like the radiant guest of honor you are.” — Motherly
• “looking great is always an important part of the day’s criterion when a mama-to-be wants to celebrate her pregnancy and also love the plethora of pictures that will inevitably be taken.” — Mother Mag

Anything that clings, pinches, digs or restricts

• “So anything that clings, pinches or digs, I would say pass, even if it’s the most beautiful dress you can find.” — The Bump
• “Don’t wear restricting clothes!” — La Passion Voutée

Black, unless it is truly yours: wear a colour for the day

• “A baby shower is a day of celebration, and while we all love black, I suggest wearing some sort of color to represent the joyous occasion.” — Mommy Diary
• “When in doubt, avoid the black color in baby showers.” — The Men Hero

Loud, oversized prints that fight the decorations or the reveal colours

• “Avoid: Overly loud prints that compete with decorations or make photo editing difficult” — Mama Home Journal
• “Opt for small-scale, delicate floral prints on a cream, blush, or soft sage base rather than bold, oversized patterns that might compete with the reveal colors.” — Sew Mama Sew

Sweatpants and an old T-shirt, even at the most casual shower

• “Even if you want your baby shower to be a casual event, you probably don’t want to show up in sweatpants and an old T-shirt.” — Mommy Diary
• “never a t-shirt doing the job alone” — Mother and Main

Dress up, or keep it casual?

• “Baby showers tend to be laid-back and casual. You won’t have to get all glamorous and don a long gown for this.” — La Passion Voutée
• “This is an occasional to get dressed up, celebrate with your favorite people, and probably snap some pictures” — Elisabeth McKnight
• “And such a joyous occasion calls for something extra-special to wear—and not just any something special.” — The Bump

Pink for a girl, blue for a boy?

• “You can also dress based on the gender of the baby—light pink for a baby girl and baby blue for a baby boy.” — La Passion Voutée
• “This red and pink color block dress is a total girl vibe–but there’s no rule saying you can’t wear it no matter what you’re having!” — Motherly
• “Of course, you can always step away from traditional colours and go for bold hues, fun patterns, or even neutral tones that flatter your skin tone and make you feel your best.” — Mother&Baby
• “While some moms like to wear classic colors like pink, blue or white, others break away from tradition and rock bold prints or unusual color combinations.” — The Bump

Florals?

• “This season, we’re seeing a lot of flowy, ethereal florals which TBH, feels right on brand for a baby shower.” — Motherly
• “Florals are always in when it comes to baby shower dresses” — The Bump
• “if you’re not a floral girl you don’t have to force yourself to become one just because you’re pregnant.” — The Bump
• “If florals and pastels aren’t your thing, consider a clean, modern silhouette in a neutral hue.” — Angel Maternity

Heels or flats?

• “And the kitten heels were perfect, just enough lift to feel dressed up without sacrificing ease or comfort.” — Who What Wear
• “Who wants to deal with heels at this point?!” — Motherly
• “As an added bonus, maxi dresses often hide your feet, so you can wear sneakers and flats.” — Blavity

Sequins and sparkle?

• “As far as textures go, I would stay away from sequins unless it happens to be a New Year’s Eve baby shower.” — Mommy Diary
• “Fringe, sequins and crystal embellishments can be incorporated into your baby shower dress.” — Blavity
• “It’s light lurex chiffon and tiered design add a bit of sparkle and sophistication, making you shine at your celebration.” — Mother&Baby

At a gender reveal: hint at your guess, or stay neutral?

• “Go for this dress in blue or pink to show off whether you think you’ll be having a boy or a girl!” — Minimalist Mama
• “Pink or Blue: Subtle hint at your guess” — Mama Home Journal
• “Why choose a side when you can wear both? A pink and blue ombre maternity maxi dress playfully captures the spirit of a gender reveal without committing to either color.” — Sew Mama Sew

Match your partner?

• “Matching your partner’s outfit can be a good choice if you are both invited to the baby shower.” — The Men Hero
• “Identical outfits read as a costume, and the photos last longer than the joke.” — Mother and Main

A maternity dress, or any dress that fits the bump?

• “you’ll likely need a stylish maternity occasion dress to fit you and your bump in comfortably.” — Mother&Baby
• “Brown encourages moms-to-be to explore options that aren’t necessarily maternity.” — The Bump
• “I also recommend looking at flowy options that aren’t specifically maternity (you’ll probably get a better price and still find some beautiful options that work with a bump).” — Elisabeth McKnight