Maternity Fashion Do's

Your hair is lush, your skin luminous, your wardrobe… completely unwearable. From the fashionista that you always are, you are terrified of the maternity styles that you see a lot of women wearing. The shapeless t-shirts and enormous overalls are fine for some, but you have a style to keep! Don’t fear – Eve Alexander advisor is here! With our simple recommendations, you will look as sexy now during pregnancy as you always have. You won’t have to spend a fortune either, just strategic investment into the wardrobe your girlfriends will envy and your man will swoon over! Note: They say that it takes 9 months to gain weight and another 9 months to lose it. Even if you are one of the few lucky women that walk out of the hospital in her pre-pregnancy jeans (very few women are that lucky!), you will not have the time and energy with the new baby to go shopping for a new wardrobe immediately after giving birth. If you are planning to breastfeed trips out of the house during first couple of weeks will be timed (and you will have two – three hours at the most at any one time). The baby and her needs will take up a lot of your time and energy, so you will not necessarily have the time it takes to shop your heart’s content. We recommend investing into some versatile styles while pregnant, and her is what we suggest:

Tops
No matter how much clothes you have, there is always room for another cute top. That’s true in maternity, too, but be smart when shopping. Stay away from unusual colors and prints, unless it’s something you absolutely adore and will get a lot of use out of. Stick to basic solid colors that you can mix and match with skirts, pants, jeans. Long-sleeve tees are flattering and versatile, you can wear them with pj pants around the house, with jeans to run errands, or with trousers and a scarf to the office. Eve Alexander fashionista would invest into a black one (a must), white one and a fun color one (pink or red, or whatever color looks best on you). This holds true for short-sleeve form fitted tees if your pregnancy falls on the warm months. While you may be using the same tops for office and home, go for more form fitting for out, and more casual for home. Let your budget and taste dictate the number of shirts you purchase. One thing for certain: a lot of women can take advantage of the new beautiful cleavage Mother Nature gave them. Finding styles that enhance it and tastefully hug your newly-found bosom is a pregnancy must!

Pants
Getting a great pair of flattering jeans is another must for maternity closet. You will get a lot of use out of them running around town paired with a basic tee or a sweater. Dress it up with a pretty top and accessories for an evening out. Black dress trousers and a pair of khakis that sit comfortably below or over your belly are another staple of maternity clothing. These you can wear to the office with a basic top or a smart blazer. Coupled with a sexy top, it will make for great going out look. If your lifestyle allows it, go for several pairs of versatile stretch gauchos, pants and capris that will let you be comfortable and depending on the outfit would serve as simple or sophisticated coordinate.

Loungewear
No matter how cute and comfortable your maternity clothing jeans, slacks and tops are, you will always opt for something super comfortable when being at home. We recommend choosing several maternity yoga pants and gauchos that would sit well under your belly. Matching or contrasting tank tops, camis and tees will give you many varying outfits to sport around the house. Best fabric for loungewear is poly-rayon blends and modals, both are buttery soft and smooth fabric that will melt next to your skin. Another good and eco-friendly alternative is going for organic bamboo blend with stretch. More and more companies are offering GREEN alternatives, and maternity styles are no exception. Feeling good in your new maternity clothing and about these styles for pregnancy are wonderful! The most important thing for your loungewear is comfort; a close second is style. Sweats are something of the frumpy maternity clothes past. Stylish, well-fitted smart and comfortable outfits are all the rage! When buying loungewear, choose things that you could see yourself comfortable enough to wear to bed, but also if a neighbor stops in, you wouldn’t feel like you have to run and change. Look for loungewear that is fitting for maternity and into nursing.

Robes
You will need at least one robe that you can adjust for wear during pregnancy and after delivery. Easy wrap robes are the best for maternity and into nursing, as they will give your baby easy breast access. Think of a dress that would be comfortable and pretty to wear around the house, not something old-fashioned and tired-looking. Fabric for robe should be soft and flowy, draping your pregnant belly and later flattering your changing body. Best length for a robe is mid-calf and ¾ length sleeve. This versatile style can be worn year-round, as maternity clothing and long after.

Activewear
Going to the gym can be a challenge during pregnancy: you may be uncomfortable doing something that usually is easy, you may tire more easily, and you may hate answering everyone about your due date, the gender of your baby and all of these other questions. Dressing for the gym may be an unexpected challenge. Stretchy fabrics are perfect for working out. Select formfitting outfits, not oversized t-shirts. Pants should be ankle length, capris or shorts. Versatile for yoga or walking, these lengths will protect you from tripping over the long pants that come all the way down to the floor. Be sure to wear a good supportive maternity sports bra. Your breasts are larger than normal and the hormonal changes and preparation for milk production make them more tender and sensitive. Protecting them from unnecessary bounce is important for your long-term breast shape.

Shoes
Rule number one in maternity shoes is stability. The last thing you want to have as a pregnant woman is a twisted or worse, broken ankle as a result of falling on uncomfortable shoes. During pregnancy your balance shifts because of the belly. Take care of your feet with moisturizers, pamper yourself with an occasional pedicure. If you are lucky (or unlucky, depending on your view) to be pregnant during the summer, flip-flops and light sandals may be a comfortable option. During the colder season we recommend clogs and various open back shoes that you can wear with warm socks. Slip-on sneakers are great for the later stage in the pregnancy when it’s difficult to bend down – you can wear them even to the gym. Toward the end of the pregnancy, avoid any kind of shoes that are have complicated fastenings, laces and buckles. Opt for styles that are easy to wear and easy to put on and take off. You will appreciate it when you save yourself from bending down all the time. When your feet are swollen toward the end of the pregnancy, you will need the extra comfort. The beautiful thing about shoes during pregnancy, no matter how comfortable but plain they are, is that your feet will be back to normal soon after delivery, and you will be able to wear fun heels and pretty styles in no time.

Accessories
A great way to accessorize your tops is with short cardigans or vests, which may not even necessarily be maternity. They give you another look, and are comfortable, soft and warm for the colder months. Scarves are perfect for use as sashes to complement your basic maternity styles or to play around with some of your stretch non-maternity clothing. You can wear them above or below your growing belly, like framing it in a pretty shiny colorful fabric! Belts give a great accent to your beautiful belly – wear them on top of longer tunic tops to accentuate the new curves! Pick belts with satin tie ribbons or stretch elastic, and like scarves you can wear them under or over your bump – people will notice!

Hair and make-up
Let your natural beauty of pregnancy shine in your hair and make-up. It’s a great time to take advantage of the natural enhancements Mother Nature offers you during this time, namely radiant skin and shiny thicker hair. Opt for natural hair colors and styles that are easy to maintain. Investigate if organic hair colors are right for you. Make-up should not be drastic and dramatic, opting to natural shades and soft textures, emphasizing your best features, for example sensual lips or the bright eyes.

Sizing
Like in the fairy tale, maternity clothing should be “not too big, not too small, just right.” Resist the urge to buy thing that are too small thinking that tight and uncomfortable is sexy. If you are falling out of your low wearing jeans, you will be even more uncomfortable in them later and will end up spending more money one another pair. If you buy into things that are too large, you will perhaps eventually fit into them. But is it worth it for you to have something unflattering hanging on you for weeks before it fits? Better invest into something stretchable that will work for you for the longest time during the pregnancy. Maximize the time you will be able to wear that clothing, but don’t wear anything that makes you feel like you are in your mother’s maternity clothing (i.e. muumuus and tent-like sailor outfits). Let the world see how comfortable you are with you new body and how beautiful the curves are. You will feel great and because of your example you will help other pregnant women feel good in their skins.