Pregnancy can’t really be termed as just a phase or a condition. It’s an entire lifestyle, one that demands you to make changes. You don’t only have to alter your eating habits, but you also have to revamp your wardrobe.
Talking about changing your wardrobe, there is not a single approach to pregnancy clothing that can be followed by all and sundry. Our bodies change differently. However, there are certain tips to maternal styling that apply to almost all us women.
These tips center around comfort, and the right fit along with meeting set fashion standards. If you’re about to be a mom, we’re pretty sure you’re spending your nine-month term wondering about what you should and shouldn’t wear.
To help you out we’ve compiled a list of tips. You don’t need to stress about this. It’s going to be a worthwhile experience. And you’re going to do it while looking stunning as usual.
Embrace your new body
Moms-to-be often frets so much about a bulging belly and their overall growth in size that they start worrying about it. Don’t tense up and hide. You’re probably looking cuter than you think you are. While in this phase the styling mistake most women make is that in their need to cover their body, they wear oversized clothes and hide all skin. Loose shirts with awfully long sleeves become their go-to items. As a result, they end up looking like hobos.
The trick is to show a little skin and embrace your bump. Eve Thomas, mother and fashion director at outnet.com says, “Overly loose pieces often swamp your frame make you look bigger than you are. The key is to show off the parts of you that are still slim – an elegant wrist peeping out from a bracelet-length sleeve or a flash of ankle beneath a pair of cropped pants can make all the difference.”
Don’t say no to comfortable jeans
Maternity is an industry worth $2 billion so don’t be surprised to know that there are special collections and brands that cater to the fashion needs of pregnant women. Because the key factor of your pregnancy style should be comforting, don’t hesitate in investing in maternity denim. Maternity clothes are obviously cozier to be in since they are specifically designed for the purpose. Normal jeans can never be as comfortable.
Co-founder of The Tot, Nasiba Adilova, says, “Pregnancy jeans and leggings are the best piece of clothing to add to your wardrobe while pregnant: They fit exactly the same as regular styles but have the support to stay comfortable as your body grows.”
Avoid smaller prints and accessories
When you wear smaller accessories as a big person, they tend to get lost. We’re not in favor of huge ones as well but a moderate size that is in proportion with your figure will do. From your handbags to your scarves and jewelry pieces, go for things that bring attention to your beauty. For instance, don a red lip shade. Or wear vibrant colored tights to shift the attention to your legs. In case of prints, go for ones with bigger patterns. Those wouldn’t put the focus on your form.
Stylist and co-host of TLC's What Not to Wear, Clinton Kelly, suggests, “Like your accessories, prints need to be proportional.” While the safe choice is to go for neutral hues and more plain clothes, pregnancy shouldn’t stop you from experimenting.
Wear the right shoes
Comfort shouldn’t only be your priority when dressing. Your shoes also should be comfortable. Since swelling in feet is a common pregnancy symptom, know that you might have to go for shoes that are wider than your usual size. Avoid going for complicated shoes that have a lacing system or require you to bend for long when you put the strap on. The soles of your footwear options should also be firm, soft and comfortable. Your shoes should also offer good arch support. We recommend going for sneakers or sneaker mules, flats, and flip-flops. Avoid high heels, particularly, pencil heels.
Jennifer Taylor from momtricks.com says in her article, “Sorry, but you’re going to have to skip the high heels, at leave them for special occasions.” She further continues, “Of course, sometimes you can’t avoid wearing heels. If so, try to at least stick to shoes with a small heel to be on the safer side.”
Go for breathable fabrics
During these nine months, you will already feel a good amount of hot and flushed. It’s a better idea to keep yourself cool. Don’t go for clothes that are made of fabrics that don’t allow your skin to breathe. Even when it is cold outside wear breathable fabrics and add layers of clothing to keep yourself just warm enough. It can be tricky to maintain the right temperature during pregnancy. Go for cotton. Polyester is a no-no.
“Light, natural fabrics like linen and cotton are ideal because they allow the skin to breathe. Synthetic fabrics create a barrier against the skin, creating a kind of ‘greenhouse effect’, and that can cause you to overheat,” says fashion expert and founder of JoJo Maman Bébé, Laura Tenison.
Pregnancy styling doesn’t have to be tough. It doesn’t mean that none of your old clothes will fit you anymore. However, as you come toward the end of the nine-months, you might need to invest in maternity clothing. Don’t toss these in the store as soon as you’ve delivered your baby. You might need them for the next six months after pregnancy until you are back to your pre-pregnancy size.
Remember, comfort is king.
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