Dream It / Do It: Maternity Wear

DKNY Maternity Maxi Dress, $475.

Bloomingdale's promises this stretch viscose-jersey number won't wrinkle, making this a good buy for frequent flyers, at least before 36 weeks. This dress captures that rare day-to-night potential, and then there's that flattering ruching at the waist. There's also the Splendid Short Sleeve Must-Have Basic Maternity Dress, $195, which provides equal parts coverage, comfort and style.

Forever 21 Kelly Knit Maxi Dress, $11.80.

This 100% rayon steal features more design than you'd expect for the price — subtle vertical pleating makes graceful room for expanding belly, thicker rope-like straps offer support, and best of all, two words that will soon offer the same endorphin rush you used to feel at a Barney's warehouse sale: machine washable.

Hanky Panky Maternity Thong, $18.

I can't tell what's different about the maternity version (there's only so much material to go around here), but these are available in a nice range of lacy colors that might help you forget you're carrying around the equivalent of a Thanksgiving turkey in your body.

4-Pack Printed Fabric Maternity Thong, $14.98.

Cotton jersey knit in cute prints, a four-fer at just $14.98. No hand-washing required.

The Real Reality: You probably don't need a maternity thong. Most thongs sit below the protruding belly and should fit throughout your pregnancy. At least with skimpy underwear, there's a reason so many are one size fits all.

Fold Over Belly Jersey Knit Maternity Yoga Pant, $75.

It's a sad day when it's time for prenatal yoga and even your elastic waistbands don't stretch across your tummy. Enter the maternity yoga pant, with a little more give in the fit, comfy cotton/modal/spandex and a foldover waistband. Though not technically maternity-wear, the Serenity Capri pants from Patagonia, $60, are low-waisted enough to fit throughout pregnancy and are made of what is possibly the softest, never-even-after-a-ridiculously-sweaty-vinyasa-class-do-I-want-to-take-these-off organic cotton/spandex.

Maternity Yoga Pants from Old Navy, $19.50.

They may not show up in those catchy ads on TV, but this pair of yoga pants with their extra wide waistband and wide range of sizes (XS-XXL) are a great find. Cotton/spandex in black or carbon.