It has been a long time since expectant ladies chose to hide their blossoming bodies under flowing caftans and muumuus. Nowadays, there are as many stylish garments made for the "lady-in-waiting" as there are for her slender peers. There has been a true revolution in maternity wear in recent years. For any stage of a pregnancy there are appealing, even alluring, dresses available to wear to the office, to dinner parties, or to those big formal events.

A dress with a so-called empire waist is an ideal option for the "lady in waiting." It does not have a traditional narrowed waistline. Instead, it becomes fitted just under the bosom. Then the rest of the garment's fabric falls softly, skimming the body and draping its way down to the knees, the middle of the calf, or the floor.

An empire line dress hides many body flaws. It disguises a large abdomen or large hips and a waist that is a little thicker than desired. The empire dress looks especially good on plus size ladies that are petite or on the short side. This is one of the most comfortable styles of dress to wear. The style was first noted in the period of the First French Empire. It has been fashionable for a very long time.

The wrap dress is designed to flatter any woman's shape including the plus size woman who is expecting. This dress will look good on any body - tall, short, apple-shaped, and pear-shaped. Every woman looks pretty and sexy when wearing the wrap dress. The point of the wrap dress is to draw the eye to the curves of a woman's body by skimming over the hips and cinching at the waist. Women also like how their busts look in the wrap dress.

Pregnant women can have a wrap dress altered to fit them - it does not have to be snug and clingy. The wrap dress is viewed as a staple for any maternity wardrobe. The wrap dress can be worn almost anywhere. It is great for casual gatherings and you can dress it up for a fancier occasion.

A jersey-knit maternity wrap dress is a good investment for your wardrobe, especially if you plan to have more than one baby. You can easily wear the dress from the beginning up your pregnancy, and right up until your third trimester. Once your tummy has expanded the dress will be every bit as comfortable as it was before you started to show. The tie will be just inches below your bust and the material of the dress, because it is stretchy (but not clingy) will make your rounded front region look stylish, while still making you as comfortable as possible.