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This Surprising (and Affordable) Maternity Brand Made Me Feel Chic and Pretty—And Ready for Postpartum

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2 months ago

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This Surprising (and Affordable) Maternity Brand Made Me Feel Chic and Pretty—And Ready for Postpartum

I tried their dresses, but also their sweats

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storq review universal

Rachel Bowie

  • Value: 18/20
  • Quality: 19/20
  • Fit: 19/20
  • Comfort: 19/20
  • Style: 20/20
  • Total: 95/100

For my second pregnancy, I’ve tried out quite a few maternity brands. (I also tried super hard to lean on non-maternity styles, too—a sustainability win.) Still, the lesson I’ve learned, regardless of the clothes I’ve chosen, is this: Comfort, stretch and cuteness are the key factors that have defined the pieces I’ve reached for again and again. But there’s one more surprising factor that is critical to maternity attire you can wear again and again: Versatility. Enter Storq, a more under-the-radar pregnancy (and postpartum) brand that is known for its soft and cozy basics that simultaneously offer a capsule-like feel. Now, as I’m well into my third trimester, it’s obvious: Storq is the brand I’ve reached for again and again, gotten the most compliments on and felt the most like myself in. Here, a review of a few of my favorite pieces and why I think it’s a brand you’ll be glad you relied on for maternity—no matter the trimester—too.

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend—and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.

How I Tested Storq

A positive pregnancy test and cue the panic: Of all the things on my list of baby-related questions, the minute my belly starts to expand, what will I wear goes to the top of the chart. I quickly realized how critical it was to have pieces that provided support and breathability, but also a bit of polish for daily life. (Hey, even if all you’re doing is a supermarket run, you still would like to feel a hair put together.)

Storq had been on my radar for a long time after another mom friend in my orbit from my first pregnancy swore by it for its ease of use (delivers on overall comfort, offers the perfect blend of function and fashion, holds up to multiple machine washes—these were just a few of her talking points). To get a real sense of the brand, I decided to try out a few of their core pieces—all bestsellers—to a get a real feel and wore them from the start of my second trimester on. (No joke, in the case of one dress, I sometimes wore it to work from multiple days in a single week.) I also laundered them myself at home in the washing machine and hung them to dry; other than that, no special treatment when it came to care.

The 3 Storq Pieces That Are Maternity Wear Stand-Outs

storq midi tank dress

Rachel Bowie

There was a moment when I was on the cusp of my third trimester that I had family in town. We went out to dinner, then did some sightseeing at dusk that involved a few photo ops. I felt bloated and a hair overwhelmed, but this dress kind of saved my day—and that’s an understatement. A quick glance at the pic that was snapped using my iPhone and I couldn’t get over my chicness; my brother-in-law even happened to take a pic of me walking hand-in-hand with my niece down a Brooklyn block and my arms looked svelte; ditto my derriere. That’s not to say that any part of this was a pregnancy goal: It’s more that this dress delivers on style and comfort that matched how I felt with how I actually looked. There’s a built-in shelf bra; the fabric is stretchy and smooth; it somehow lifted my belly, taking some of the pressure of my back. And, to be totally honest, I’ve been wearing it ever since.

storq easy button up

Rachel Bowie

Regardless of trimester, an oversize button-up is a total no-brainer for maternity wear—and, depending on fit, doesn’t necessarily require you to reach for attire that’s specific to pregnancy. (For example, this oversize button-up from Frank & Eileen was a staple for me from my first trimester up through now.) Still, there’s something about the easy button-up from Storq that felt sleek and sophisticated every time I threw it on. I paired it with bike shorts (also from Storq!) and denim and all throughout my second trimester threw it on over the aforementioned midi tank dress in pinstripe, but also in white. At one point, a non-pregnant friend decided to order one for herself after seeing me wear it—she ran her hands up and down my sleeves and couldn’t get over how silky smooth the material was. Another detail to love: The boyfriend fit, which resulted in a drapey—and bump-friendly—fit.

storq foundation sweatshirt and sweatpants

Rachel Bowie

Luxe loungewear FTW. This set—available in three different neutral hues—actually makes me feel elegant as I enter the home stretch. It’s lined with soft fleece that’s ultra cozy, but still delivers a bit of a sportier feel thanks to the slim cut. In other words, these aren’t your average sweatpants, which means they won’t make you feel gross and unkempt as you begin to hunker down a bit more and wait out the arrival of baby. This sweatshirt/sweatpant combo even has a place in my hospital bag, given how gorgeous and cared for these pieces make me feel.

Why I’m Eager to Give Storq a Whirl in the Fourth Trimester

That’s the funny thing about maternity clothes—on some level, you can’t wait to part ways with them once you catch a glimpse of how close you are to the other side. (Jeans that cinch in your waist again? I’m ready, lol.) Still, each piece from Storq is something I’m excited to mix into my postpartum closet. The material each piece is made from has carried me from trimester to trimester and I’m confident it will serve me well after baby is born, too. Back to my mom friend: She still raves about how much she reaches for her Storq attire; a testament to its quality, but also its everlasting style.

One final note: The price. As I mentioned, sustainability—and building out a capsule wardrobe—matters to me when it comes to clothes. But we still need to invest in pieces that accommodate our growing and evolving bods during pregnancy. Storq’s price point offers quality and affordability, not to mention a brand ethos that cares about sustainability—all things I can get behind. My confidence that I’ll reach for these styles again and again? Icing on the cake.

rachel bowie christine han photography 100

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College
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