Kerry is a PR consultant and owner of KL PR + Communications. She also writes about fashion and style for a number of clients including Fashion London magazine. She is expecting her first baby this April.
I’ve even surprised myself: it’s taken seven months of pregnancy for me to finally give in and shop for maternity clothes! My growing bump, coupled with constantly tugging at my slipping waistband and too-short tops, has made me realise it’s time to invest in some proper clothing for the remaining months of this pregnancy.
I’d always been a little reluctant to do this – the words ‘maternity wear’ filled my head with images of shapeless smock dresses and baggy jeans in apologetic colours. I also wasn’t thrilled with the idea of buying a whole wardrobe of outfits that would only be worn for a matter of months.
But after being introduced to some great brands through my work, including Seraphine, I’m actually excited by the prospect of refreshing my wardrobe while being able to stick to my own personal style. Here are my pregnancy style saviours…
Over-bump skinny jeans
In my non-pregnancy state, my style tends to gravitate towards skinny jeans, tucked-in tops and whip-thin belts. My bump has forced some reassessment of that silhouette – but, surprisingly, not as much as I imagined. My black Seraphine Maternity Treggings give a great skinny trouser look and, best of all, they are super comfy with their over-the-bump band, and I balance them out with more voluminous tops.
Stylish flats
I’m so glad that my favourite shoe type – the flat pump – is back in fashion this season. Heels can be a challenge at the best of times, and in pregnancy (when sometimes all you want is comfort) I’d rather avoid them (although my recent trip to the Brit Awards required a pair of heels, my legs did not thank me for it!). My favourite flats look sharp and were bought second hand, but the current trend means I’ll be able to pick up lots of styles on the high-street too.
Long-line tops
I’m no fan of a crop top so imagine my horror when almost all of my regular ‘to the hips’ tops and blouses began sitting just above my waistband… I’ve discovered the need for a suite of long-line tops and tunics to pair with my treggings and jeans so I’m extra pleased with my Seraphine Zip Detail Maternity Tunic which works perfectly with them. Another bonus is that the shoulder zips are perfect for breastfeeding – its dual purpose nature definitely appeals to my frugal side as I will be wearing it for several months post-birth.
Draping
Some people look great with a bodycon look during pregnancy (Seraphine fan Gwen Stefani certainly fits this camp) but I prefer a sharper look (skinny trousers, blazers) softened with draping. My floaty blouses are great at dressing my bump without being clingy or tent-like. I’ve also chosen Seraphine’s ruched maternity top to wear with blue jeans and am eyeing up all of the cowl neck tops and tunics (also great for wearing through the nursing phase).
Accessories
This is one area that doesn’t depend on how big your bump is, so I can carry on reflecting my personal style through necklaces and scarves. I’m lucky in that one of my clients is stylist Jennifer Aston of leading image consultants Aston + Hayes – she recommends that pregnant women go by the mantra of ‘big is beautiful’ in their mid and latter trimesters and not to be afraid to go for it with bold prints and accessories. She also suggests the later weeks are the best time to pep up your complexion with extra colour around the face, so I’ll be hunting out a statement necklace in my current favourite colour of acid yellow – it is almost Spring after all!
Other Articles You May Like:
Dressing my bump – by Fabric Magazine editor Liz Skone James
Hello Mag editor Rosie Nixon’s video guide to maternity jeans
Pregnancy style Q&A with Sunday Times Mag Features Editor Laura Atkinson