Our friends over at Blogging Baby remind us that just because a woman is pregnant doesn't mean she has to stay at home in maternity sweatpants while everyone else is out partying this Holiday season. They have found three dresses, all of them black, naturally, that are great for the cocktail partying (well, maybe not quite the cocktail part) mama-to-be: strappy empire dress by Liz Lange at Target, strapless lace dress at Due Maternity by Maternal America, and black formal maternity dress at Nicole Maternity Wholesale.

So ladies, don't let a bit of a belly bulge keep you at home. At least, don't let the availability of cute maternity evening wear be the reason you stay home. If you feel like staying home and watching a DVD laying in the fetal position on the floor, well that's another story.