How a bare baby bump became fashion's hottest accessory: It was risqué in the '90s, but now stars can't resist flaunting their blossoming tummies after Rihanna made it 'acceptable'

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Pregnancy fashion used to be about loose frocks, huge shirts, stretchy trousers, and any other clothes that might help conceal a woman's growing baby bump.

But celebrities like Margot Robbie are among the growing number of stars opting for garments that showcase their pregnant figures, rather than conceal them - which, according to stylists, has made showing off your bump seem more socially 'acceptable'.

The Barbie actress, 34, was recently snapped taking a boat trip on Lake Como while on holiday with her husband Tom Ackerley.

She opted to wear a cropped white t-shirt with low slung loose black trousers, showing off her small but growing bump proudly.

The celebrated actress is not the first high-profile person to show off her blossoming curves as she awaits motherhood: the celebrity trend for showing off baby bumps started several decades ago.

Margot Robbie was recently pictured showing off her baby bump while holidaying on Lake Como 

Sienna Miller (pictured) showed off her baby bump while attending an event in London in September 2023

Stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: 'I think showing off their baby bumps became popular back in the early 90s and I think that Demi Moore was one of the first people to show it off for a magazine cover. I feel it was one of iconic moments that has slowly grown in popularity.'

Meanwhile, Rachael Wood, managing director of Chinti & Parker added: 'The celebrity trend of publicly flaunting your baby bump can absolutely be traced back to the late 90s and early 00s, most notably a couple of high-profile public moments that set a new standard for maternity fashion and celebrity culture.

'The first of these is Demi Moore’s 1991 Vanity Fair cover shoot, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Moore - who was seven months pregnant at the time - posed nude for the cover, making a powerful statement about pregnancy and beauty and smashing traditional norms, sparking a widespread discussion about body image and maternity.

'The second high-profile moment came from Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in the early 00s. 

'These two pop stars were constantly in the public eye, especially once they announced their pregnancies - something that the media just couldn’t stop covering. 

'Both Spears and Aguilera often turned up to public events and photoshoots with uncovered or highlighted baby bumps, both normalising and glamourising visible pregnancies.'

She continued: 'Leading on from this, the rise of social media - particularly the aesthetic-focused Instagram - has given celebrities more control over their public image (whereas historically this would sit with a publicist), and celebrities have been able to share personal milestones directly with fans. 

'As a result, pregnancy announcements and baby bump updates have been shared in abundance, and on their own terms.'

She added that perhaps the notable of these in recent years has been Beyoncé, noting that her two 'highly publicised pregnancy announcements' were 'particularly influential on the visible baby bump trend'. 

A heavily-pregnant Rihanna is pictured attending Paris Fashion Week with Asap Rocky, showing off her baby bump

Singer Mel Blatt of the 90s girl group All Saints shows off her bump while performing at Capital FM's Party in the Park in London's Hyde Park in 1998

'The first came in 2011, when Beyoncé revealed her pregnancy during a live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. 

'Fast forward to 2017, and Beyoncé uploaded a floral photoshoot to announce her pregnancy with twins, which quickly became the most-liked photo on the platform at the time,' Rachael added.

Both stylists agreed that it is becoming more acceptable, with Rochelle saying: 'With many celebrities being proud of their bumps and showing up at 

'Red carpets and shows with them on display it is really part of the norm and becoming a look that many are becoming comfortable showing it off. 

'For example, Kylie Jenner hid her first pregnancy for whatever reason, but with her second, we saw more pictures of her and her bump, as I feel she became more comfortable as it was more normal.' 

Rachael agreed, adding: 'Absolutely - and this can be attributed to three main factors:

'There's an almost constant influx of high-profile celebrities showing off their baby bumps - like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Chrissy Teigen - and their visibility and the positive reception they receive have helped make it more acceptable for others to do the same.'

She added that maternity fashion 'has evolved significantly, with many designers creating stylish and body-positive clothing for pregnant people'. 

Rachael said: 'This has made it far easier for expectant parents to feel confident and fashionable, encouraging them to embrace their changing bodies, and even show them off if they feel like doing so.

'There has been a stronger emphasis on health and wellness during pregnancy, pushing a greater focus towards prenatal care, fitness, and overall wellbeing, which means those expecting are more inclined to share their experiences and celebrate their pregnancies.'

When it comes to how to wear maternity wear, and how to make yourself feel good, Rochelle said it depends on the person's personal style. 

'Rihanna is known for her mix of street style, oversized and also fitted items,' she said.

'I would say, stick to what you know you feel comfortable in. You can recreate you style with either maternity designed garms or sizing up. 

'So, you can still look stylish and not feel that you have lost who you are. 

'I would say, well-fitted items always look better (nothing too tight that makes you feel uncomfortable). 

'T-shirts, leggings, tracksuits, maxi dresses usually go down well and agree with most people.' 

When it comes to whether celebrities are making a statement by showing off their baby bump, Rochelle added that she feels they 'aren't necessarily making a statement but actually just embracing their bumps and who they are'. 

'I think that times have changed and there is no shame in showing it off. It's a natural thing and something that some people are very proud of and what to show,' she concluded.