How to Style Your Bump

How to Style Your Bump

The good news is you can still look fabulous at every point in your pregnancy (even if you don’t feel it). …without sacrificing comfort!

It feels like there has been quite a bit of baby fever going around. With friends’ pregnancy news, influencers putting together gorgeous (and comfy!) outfits and watching beautiful journeys to parenthood (how magical were @annstreetstudio photoshoots?), I wanted to put down some thoughts about maternity dressing.

At the start of my pregnancy, I browsed through many blogs and articles for maternity outfits inspiration (and created a Pinterest board of course). I discovered that many women I turned to for ideas did not shop for maternity-specific pieces but rather experimented with their regular pieces.

I am a firm believer in making my wardrobe work for a variety of situations and occasions, and that approach seemed great. Pregnancy was another style challenge I was up for! When thinking back to my style choices during pregnancy, I found it helpful to break it down into trimesters.

First trimester – Disguise the bloat

While you might not be showing, there is a chance that you are not feeling all that great. Morning sickness, new aches and pains, and a crazy sense of fatigue are the new normal.

You also have to get used to a different pace of things and your changing body. You might find that your breasts have gotten bigger and you have to do some emergency underwear shopping (me!), or you can’t be bothered dealing with high-maintenance outfits, so crease-free, fuss-free basics have to come to the rescue (also me!).

At this stage, you can make your regular wardrobe pieces work, but opt for those that make you feel comfortable. Your body has enough to contend with that chances are the last thing you feel like is squishing yourself into restrictive tops or diggy-in (new term!) pants that drive you crazy long before 5pm.

Wrap dresses could be in heavy rotation at this time, particularly during sticky summer! The good news is, you can continue to wear these throughout your pregnancy, especially if you opt for styles that can tie above your bump and have some stretch.

Images credit: theoutnet.com

Second trimester – hello maternity jeans

You typically feel better (not always!), and your bump is starting to show. It’s such an exciting time. You have probably shared the news with your friends and family at this point and have a lot of plans for this next chapter. I found myself reading stacks of books on pregnancy, baby’s first month, breastfeeding and many more. You might be designing the nursery and be wrapped up in all the things it entails.

This is a great time to invest in a pair of maternity jeans. Your regular jeans will feel stiff and uncomfortable, whereas maternity ones have an internal elastic tummy band that can be adjusted as your belly grows.

Buy a few flowy tops from your favourite brands: you could make them work post pregnancy by wearing them tucked in or with a belt to cinch in the waist.

Additionally, recovery shorts can help with pregnancy back pain but have the added bonus of acting a bit like shapewear under your everyday looks. Mine were by SRC, but there are other brands out there. SRC shorts are also great post pregnancy to help your body get back in shape, especially if you have a C-section.

Images credit: theiconic.com.au

Third trimester – Show off the bump

Your maternity pieces are in full rotation by this stage. Invest in t-shirts that can stretch over your bump, some roomy tanks and a blazer that has some movement or stretch in the fabric.

Your pregnancy tees can be worn tied up to get longevity out of them post-pregnancy. If you have to dress for a corporate job, a bodycon dress or a maternity skirt paired with a blazer would serve you well.

Pregnancy is one of the only times I confidently embraced tight fitting tops and dresses. Usually I dress to cleverly disguise my lumps and bumps, but during pregnancy the goal is to highlight the bump, especially in the third trimester.

Images credit: popsugar.com.au, target.com.au, glowmama.com.au

I found that no matter how prepared you think you are, there will still be things during your pregnancy that you didn’t expect – that’s life. I hope these tips for maternity style will help you make one area of your pregnancy easier and stress free.

Main image credit: https://fustany.com/

My All-Time Style Hero

My All-Time Style Hero

If there’s one piece that’s the hero in my wardrobe it’s the ever-reliable navy blazer. It’s such a staple wardrobe piece. It’s the piece that works hardest (along with its close cousin the black blazer) and can complete a look for the office, the weekend, a romantic date or a girls’ night out.

CLASSIC & MODERN

The navy blazer is the perfect middle ground between classic and modern. Navy works for all skin colour types (unlike black, which isn’t as great for warmer or fairer skin tones), and is a versatile colour in that you can match it with lots of other colours and styles. 

OPTIONS FOR EVERY SHAPE

The best part? There are lots of navy blazer options for different body shapes. Whatever your size, the navy blazer has you covered. From double-breasted with wide-lapels (great for triangles, aka pear shape bodies), to lapel-less (great for inverted triangles, aka carrot shape), to cinched-in structuring through the waist (great for hourglass and rectangles, aka banana shape), to ‘boyfriend style’ or duster coats (great for ovals, aka apple shape).

CELEBRITY STYLE

A few years ago Kate Middleton’s sighting in the Smythe navy blazer caused it to repeatedly sell out. While some might say ‘it’s just the Kate effect’, a quick search brings up hundreds of other celebrities rocking a navy blazer.  Even the Wall Street Journal calls it a no-nonsense building block of the wardrobe and ‘a new beacon in the sometimes stormy and hyper-trendy sartorial waters. Now I don’t think I need to convince you any longer. Here are a few of my favourite ones to shop now.

OUR FAVOURITES

This Theory Gabe stretch wool blazer is a perfect example of this wardrobe staple. It’s very understated and would be on heavy rotation in your office outfits. Wear it with jeans and runners and you’ve got yourself an easy off-duty look.

This ASOS luxe for less number is a lighter shade of blue, which makes it more trans-seasonal. The padded shoulders add volume on top so this blazer is a great option for triangle shapes.

The gold buttons on the Mossman Signature Blazer are a throwback to the blazer’s history, as it was transformed from military uniforms. If you choose to wear it unbuttoned, make sure you accentuate your waist under the blazer.

Finally, my personal favourite; the Camilla & Marc Marguerite Blazer in ink.

With such a variety of cuts and shades of blue, you will be sure to find something that works for your body type and colouring. Comment the link to your favourite blazer below and tell me why you love it!

Main image credit @martinyorkboutique

Footnotes:

  1. Navy Blazer from Toronto-Based Label Smythe Gets Repeat Wear by Kate.” 2011.The Canadian Press, Jul 06. https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/docview/878638437?accountid=13552
  2.  “Not Your Ordinary Navy Blazer.” 2015.Details, 10, 77.
    https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/docview/1718081458?accountid=13552

 

Pin It on Pinterest