Maternity clothes are hipper, sexier
By Eunnie Park
The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)

Your belly is the size of a small planet. You haven’t seen your feet in five months. The only men who notice you are the ones hurrying to get out of your way.

You’re pregnant, and the last thing you want to wear is something that resembles a potato sack.

Well, you don’t have to. Maternity clothes keep getting hipper, sleeker, and sexier – not to mention more affordable. And thanks to the parade of hot, recently pregnant celebrities like Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Jessica Parker, the rest of the world’s appreciation for the unabashedly large bellies is growing.

So flaunt your bump, and use the expanding waistline as an excuse to buy a new outfit, often. Here are some basic tips for shopping for two:

Where to go:

Old Navy. As expected, the new maternity line at Old Navy provides wardrobe staples at affordable prices. About $32 for a wool sweater, $38 for jeans. Oldnavy.com.

GapMaternity. Just like The Gap, only cut for your new shape. About $48 for a lamb’s wool sweater, $58 for jeans. Gap.com.

Liz Lange. A huge collection of maternity clothes, from workout gear (Liz Lange for Nike) to bridal wear. If you can think of it, Liz Lange probably has it. About $20 for a cotton sweater, $27 for jeans. lizlange.com and Target.

Lauren Sara. She is the Donna Karan of maternitywear – simple, classy, and high-end. Her client list includes Faith Hill, Jennifer Connelly, and Demi Moore, and prices range from about $195 to $2,000. Call (888) 233-7226 for a catalog or request online at laurensara.com.

Old favorites. Mimi Maternity, A Pea in a Pod, Motherhood Maternity, I-maternity. Reliable, fashionable, and reasonably priced. Maternitymall.com.

Internet. You should bookmark eMaternityclothes.com, a comprehensive maternitywear site associated with amazon.com. Expectinginstyle.com; frankiematernity.com; bellydancematernity.com; and babystyle.com are also worth checking out.

Other options:

You’re not limited to maternity clothes. Consider regular designers, but just going up a size or two in stretchy fabrics, says Allison Dickson, style expert and contributing writer for thea-list.com, an online fashion and trends resource.

Men’s clothes. Raiding your husband’s closet may be a bad idea, but shopping in men’s departments can do a lot for your work wardrobe. Men’s dress shirts are longer, and therefore better to wear over a protruding belly, Dickson adds.

Old clothes. A tailor may be able to convert a favorite pair of jeans into one that you can wear throughout your pregnancy.

Styles:

One of the latest trends is showing off your pregnancy – not hiding it, says Susan Straccia, a representative for Old Navy Maternity. Stay away from shapeless sacks and move toward low-rise pants (with expandable panels) and a slim top.

Be proud of your cleavage. Some of you are getting it for the first time, so show it off, Dickson says. Low-cut tops (think sexy, not sleazy) can also draw some attention away from a massive belly.

Accessorize. A pair of sparkly chandelier earrings can make even a plain, casual outfit look fun for an evening, Dickson says. Fun scarves, bracelets, and cute (yet sensible) shoes can be equally effective.

Avoid:

Traditional empire waist. Although comfortable, this style only makes you look bigger than you are, Dickson says. Ditto for frumpy muumuus.

Prints. If you must wear them, wear small ones. A pattern larger than three inches will look too big on a big tummy, she adds.

Research:

“Expecting Style” by Lauren Sara. Great tips on looking good and feeling good. Excellent shoe guide on Page 126 that tells you how long you can last wearing what.

“Liz Lange’s Maternity Style: How to Look Fabulous During the Most Fashion-Challenged Time” by Liz Lange covers everything from conception to postpartum. Includes style tips from celebrity moms.

“Pregnancy Chic: The Fashion Survival Guide,” by Jody Kozlow Gardner and Cherie Serota. From the makers of “The Pregnancy Survival Kit” – a four-piece wardrobe in a box – comes a book about staying comfortable and looking chic. Some practical tips on stretching your wardrobe.

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