Long ago, designers realized that there was a big business in chic maternity wear. Now you can get designer J Brand jeans and Velvet dresses. At the other end of the price spectrum, there are Liz Lange's sleek, stretchy styles for Target. But how do you decide what's right for you?

"The most important thing is you want to be comfortable and maintain your style," says Elleni Vorvis, co-owner of the Apple Seed boutiques in the Washington area. "If you never wore wrap dresses in big prints before, you might not feel comfortable doing that now. We always ask people, 'What was your style before pregnancy?' "

We consulted experts for tips on dressing the bump in style this summer.

Kelli Richardson Lawson, 40, owner of 9 Maternity in Rockville, Md. (www.9maternity.com).

IF YOU BUY ONE THING:

Aim for perfect pants. Like our other maternity fashion experts, Lawson suggests a brand called Noppies; the slacks are made of a lightweight Lycra that comes up on the belly without an added strip of stretchy fabric. They may look odd on the hanger — as if someone kept adding fabric and forgot to stop at the waistline — but they offer a smooth line over the stomach and grow with you from the first trimester on. No surprise, then, that they're one of Lawson's top sellers.

TIPS

— Show off your shape without baring all. Lawson's store is filled with bright print blouses by Japanese Weekend and ruched tops by Ripe that are form-fitting without revealing too much. She also sells maternity henleys and tanks by celeb favorite Michael Stars.

— For getting out of a wardrobe rut, Lawson recommends that women buy designer jeans or a few fun, frilly tops to boost their confidence in their appearance as their body makes dramatic changes. "Some people say, 'I just feel so miserable. I just want to look great,' " she says. "Splurge on some fun tops to go out in with your partner."

Julia Beck, 40, founder of Forty Weeks, a New York- and Potomac, Md.-based marketing company focused on expectant and new parents (www.fortyweeks.com).

IF YOU BUY ONE THING:

Make it a high-quality basic, such as a top you can dress up or down, or slacks that go from work to weekend with ease. "Every piece you buy, it must multitask," Beck says. It pays to spend more on these items rather than blow your budget on a new wardrobe full of cheap mistakes.

TIPS

— "Normally, I'm not a big advocate of non-maternity clothing" if you're pregnant, Beck says. "But this season is a little bit of an exception." Flowy, empire-waist blouses that hit at mid-hip are everywhere, including nonmaternity stores.

— During the summer, look for lightweight, all-natural fabrics that can be layered. "Don't get involved in anything that doesn't help you breathe," Beck says. For example, try a cotton halter top paired with a cardigan for the office. It's a cool look, and the halter cut flatters almost everyone, she says.

Elleni Vorvis, 28, and Dina Igoe, 29, owners of Apple Seed (www.appleseedboutique.com).

IF YOU BUY ONE THING:

Find a showstopping accessory. Many pregnant women focus on buying basic pieces, such as pants and skirts in solid, plain colors for maximum versatility. That's fine, Igoe says. Just add bright earrings or a chunky cuff bracelet to jazz up your look. "You can wear the same top and put a different necklace with it — it can really change an outfit," she says.

TIPS

— Mix it up. Just because your nonmaternity wardrobe was all suits doesn't mean you need to invest in five new ones now that you're pregnant. Apple Seed carries more clothes for working moms than the average maternity store, Vorvis says, including a handful of suits, but they aren't necessarily the store's biggest sellers.

"Originally, we thought people wanted suiting, but that's not really the case," she says. A lot of women want separates to mix and match, so they'll buy one or two collared shirts and a couple of pencil skirts, she says.

And though some women always like that suited-up look, if you don't, don't worry. Many women can get away with a slightly more casual style at the office when they're pregnant, Vorvis says.