I finally found stylish maternity clothing—and it's influencer-approved
The new collab between A Pea in the Pod and Something Navy is a haven of chic mom-to-be wear.
Credit:
Reviewed/A Pea in The Pod
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Pregnancy doesn’t always—or ever—feel as glamorous as all the mom bloggers make it look on Instagram. After all, you're growing an entire human being inside of you, which can cause a lot of uncomfortable changes in your body, from back pain to weight gain to the need to pee every three seconds. As an expecting mama myself, one of the first changes I noticed was my growing belly—and the shrinking waistband of my favorite pair of jeans.
I avoided even thinking about maternity clothing for as long as possible. I wasn’t sure where to look, what to get, or how much I really wanted to invest in clothing that I was only going to wear for a few months. But when my belly started to resemble the shape of a basketball (and even my stretchiest pre-pregnancy leggings were starting to dig in), I figured it was time to give in.
A lot of my mom friends recommended A Pea in the Pod, a popular maternity clothing retailer. While I was casually browsing the site, I came across the new Something Navy x A Pea in the Pod line—a collaboration between the recently pregnant style blogger Ariana Charnas and the brand..
The collection includes leggings, joggers, shorts, a jumpsuit, and a tank top. I was excited for the chance to 1) try the brand everyone was talking about and 2) look like Arielle Charnas from Something Navy without spending hundreds. I ordered two pieces: the Luxe Maternity Bike Short for $38 and the Luxe Maternity Jumpsuit for $88. Here’s what I loved—and didn’t love—about each one.
What I like about the Something Navy x A Pea in the Pod maternity wear
The pieces from the Something Navy x A Pea in The Pod line make me feel put-together and comfy at the same time.
I went with my typical size medium for both the shorts and the jumpsuit, and they fit snugly yet comfortably while still allowing some room for growth in the last eight weeks of my pregnancy. To start, I regret not ordering the Luxe Maternity Bike Short sooner. The smooth fabric of the shorts is soft and stretchy and hugs my curves in a comfortable and flattering way.
The shorts pass the squat test—meaning they're completely opaque even when I bend over—and I love that they come up over my entire belly so I don't have to constantly pull them up. They stay in place without extreme compression and that’s a huge win for me, as someone who works in a gym as a trainer and is on her feet all day long.
For as much as I like the bike shorts, the Luxe Maternity Jumpsuit is my absolute favorite maternity item I’ve ordered. It’s made from the same super soft, ultra-stretchy jersey knit of the bike shorts. Unlike other jumpsuits, it's made with expecting moms in mind, with spaghetti straps and a wide neckline so it pulls up and down easily right over your belly for quick (and frequent) bathroom breaks without having to untie or unzip it. I've worn it dressed up on date night with cheetah-print mules and dressed down with tennis shoes for a day with family.
Bonus: The jumpsuit's relaxed fit makes it post-pregnancy friendly so I plan to wear it well after the little one has arrived.
What I don't like about the Something Navy x A Pea in the Pod maternity wear
The biggest issue with the bike shorts is that they started to pill after just one wear and wash. I noticed that other reviewers also experienced pilling on the inner thigh area of the shorts, which are made of a rayon/spandex blend. The shorts may feel luxurious but I wish they held up a little better. It’s also worth noting that the shorts are much longer than the standard 8-inch bike shorts (I measured the inseam of the size medium at 10.5 inches, although A Pea In The Pod doesn't give the exact inseam length on its website). I’m 5-foot-5 and the shorts hit almost at the top of my kneecap.
As for the jumpsuit, I have two hang-ups with the fit. First, the back was not made with a curvy booty in mind. If you’ve got a bit of a butt (hi, it’s me!), the fabric pulls taut from your rear end to the top of the jumpsuit in the back. The belt that ties around the top of your belly helps to negate a complete lack of shape, but I do wish there was more fabric in the back so my booty could live its best—and most comfortable—life. Second, the jumpsuit is very low cut. You'll want to wear a bralette or tank top underneath if you don’t want your bra peeking out.
Is the Something Navy x A Pea in the Pod maternity wear worth buying?
I recommend both the bike shorts and the jumpsuit to any expecting mama.
Take it from a mama-to-be who values comfort and style equally: I spent far too much time being uncomfortable in my clothing while avoiding maternity wear because I didn't think I'd find something that I felt and looked good in. But I found that in the Something Navy line with both the bike shorts and the jumpsuit. The pieces are easy to mix and match with almost anything in your closet, and the jersey-knit fabric feels like what you'd find in the most luxurious loungewear—I could've slept in it.
That said, because I experienced pilling on the shorts after just one wash, these likely aren't pieces that you could wear for multiple pregnancies. But at fair prices compared to other retailers (the shorts, for instance, are almost half the price of Lululemon's bike shorts), I'd buy both again. In my opinion, comfortable clothing is worth paying for, especially when you're pregnant.