Maternity wear has come a long way from the flowered tents of
yesteryear. Whereas once even
the word “pregnant” was taboo in the media and polite society, now the
watchword is basically if
you’ve got a baby on board, flaunt it.
And though this can be taken a bit too far, creating a new
life is definitely not something which needs to be hidden away under
yards of fabric.
Fortunately, nobody knows that better then the department and specialty
stores that are selling
maternity wear these days. Though
you will still find some downright ugly dresses, for the most
part the emphasis is on comfort, convenience and stylishness. One thing you should remember
as you shop for maternity wear however is to accept your changing body
and dress accordingly.
You are not “fat,” with all of the negative connotations our society and
ourselves place on that
word. You’re pregnant, and you
naturally have to accommodate the fashion needs of that second
person you’re carrying around inside you. Trying to squeeze into too small or otherwise
restrictive clothing will be a battle that you can’t win, so why even try. Enjoy your pregnancy as
much as possible along with the changes your body is going through, and
use it as an opportunity
to develop healthier eating habits, if necessary, as well as getting
regular exercise.
In addition to specific maternity wear, such as “empire” style dresses
(which are fortunately
becoming fashionable again) for special occasions, you can also find
business and professional
wear. Maternity pants with
elastic panels in front to accommodate a growing baby, longer coats
and tunics which lengthen the body, t-shirts, shells, elastic waist
skirts and stretch fabrics that are
already popular and stylish can all help you look neat and accommodate a
pregnancy. Unless
you have a specific reason for not doing so, informing your coworkers is
always a good idea, not
only for advice and tips they may have but also because, frankly, you
may need a break now and
then in terms of dressing a bit more casually if necessary. Remember, when it comes down to it,
it’s also about how you feel, because your perception of how you look
may be skewed by the
dramatic changes you’re going through.
For non-professional situations, leggings and big shirts (raid your
husband’s closet) can provide
easy outfits for shopping or just around the house. And if you attend a lot of formal occasions,
consider supplementing your wardrobe with outfits that may have only
been worn once or twice
available at your local thrift store or women’s exchange. You may find you want to put some of
your own maternity outfits there as well once the baby arrives. With
maternity wear, which can be a little bland or monochromatic, accessorizing is
even more
important. Give yourself a
maternity makeover, with a new easy care haircut and color. Shop for
diaper bags as well as totes and bigger handbags to accommodate all the
things you’ll need to
carry. Don’t forget shoes and
underwear, even if you’re a dedicated thong and Jimmy Choo kind
of person, you’re going to need some sensible underwear and some
stylish, but flat soled shoes
once your pregnancy progresses and for some time after the baby is born
as well. And have your
partner keep up a steady flow of jewelry, watches, hair-wear and the
like, there’s nothing like a
little gift of fashion to lift your spirits as well as enliven wool
leggings and a cashmere sweater.
Finally, don’t forget basic black (and other neutrals and basics from
navy to cocoa to winter and
summer whites.) Whether you’re
dressing for work, for a formal occasion or just knocking
around, an elastic skirt, a pair of elastic waist pants, short or long
sleeved shell and a long
deconstructed blazer, coat or tunic can form the backbone of a stylish
and not overly expensive
maternity wardrobe which you can then supplement with more fun pieces,
items borrowed from
friends and relatives or thrift shop finds. Just remember to buy yourself one outfit (and
American
designers like Donna Karan are moms’ best friend) that makes you feel as
fabulous as you are.
