Pregnancy is so Fashionable

Is it my imagination, or are pregnant women today more fashionable than ever before? I’m not just talking about Hollywood celebrities either. Last weekend I went to my friend Melissa’s baby shower and she looked stunning in a simple, black knit sleeveless dress. Three weeks before her due date she just glowed. I was admiring her dress—wondering if the style would look as good on me—when I had to remind myself I’m not pregnant!

Yesterday I was sorting through some old photographs when I came across pictures from my own baby shower. I was wearing linen pants and a printed blouse that I specifically recall spending big bucks on at A Pea in a Pod . After all, it was my baby shower! I needed a pretty outfit. Why not spend $135 on a single blouse? Throw in the pants and the bill was well over $200. It was an outfit I think I wore a total of two, maybe three times.

And then I gave the outfit to a pregnant friend.

Maternity clothes have come a long way since the days of big, tent-like tops adorned with bows and the bib overalls. Today’s clothes look like something straight off the runway in Milan. Even at Target, you can find stylish maternity wear designed by Liz Lange. The Gap and Old Navy offer basics like t-shirts and jeans. Web sites like Babystyle offer transition wear, clothes that will work for you early in pregnancy and again early in motherhood.

If you’re feeling like you’re starting to outgrow your regular clothes, don’t rush out to the maternity shop just yet. Chances are, even the smallest maternity clothes will feel too big during your first trimester. What is worth doing, however, is buying a few pairs of comfortable pants that are a size (or two) larger than what you normally wear. This is a worthwhile investment because chances are you’ll wear them into your second trimester. You’ll wear them again after the baby is born.

Elastic-waisted pants, skirts and shorts, are also must haves early in pregnancy. So too are tops and dresses with empire waists. Seriously, there are so many fashionable tops out right now that I can’t wear because I’m afraid they will make me look pregnant when I’m not. But you, expectant one, can wear them to work and play with no worries!

And while fashion comes at a price, there are two little tools that cost next to nothing and will keep your wardrobe working for you a bit longer: safety pins and elastic bands. Stash some in your purse and in your desk at work, too. You never know when you’ll want to undo that button and let your belly hang out.
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