Archive of ‘Style tips’ category

How to dress that bump – Maternity Fashion Must Haves

When organizing a capsule wardrobe for pregnancy, it’s important to think of items that will suit the season of your pregnancy. Here are my Maternity Fashion Must Haves if you have a baby in Winter.

The most basic item any pregnant gal can invest in is a pair of maternity jeans or two or three! I found my Szabo Jeans purchased from Glow Mama to be comfortable and flattering. Upon hitting the 27 week mark though , my belly ‘popped’ and they felt a bit tight, so I invested in a pair of Jeans West Dark Denim jeans and they are just as comfortable and flattering and half the price tag of Szabo!! Jeans are a great staple through pregnancy as they are so versatile with the ability to be dressed up or down. They are the most flattering maternity fashion item that can make you feel slimmer than what you feel.

For maternity sleepwear Big W has a small limited range but the prices are economical. If you are having a winter baby(like me), you want long sleeve pyjamas or nighties that accommodate the bump and have easy access for night feeding. If you are like me, looking drab at hospital is not on the agenda list so these pyjamas are worth the investment, even if you only wear them a short time.

For shoes, Kumfs are comfortable and have come a long way from being the shoe that only grandmas wore to having a fashionable edge that I am not ashamed to walk in, but they are pricey and with your feet swelling, who knows if you will need them after you’re pregnant? Due to swelling and my feet growing longer (I was a size 9 and now I fit into a 10!) I invested in a pair of Homy Peds that are available at most chemists and half the price of Kumfs but with the same comfort. I got mine from Terry White as I found they supplied a greater range. Hush Puppies and Diana Ferrari ballet flats have been wonderful for my swelling, sore feet and are a bit more edgier worn for going out at night or dressing up for dinner.

When it comes to accessories, the sky is the limit when you are pregnant. Now is the time to experiment with accessories as you won’t be able to wear them much when the bub is born as they can be a hazard to you and the baby. The layered look for accessories is the ‘must have now’ look this winter. A long draping scarf with layered necklaces can draw the eye down making you look longer in the torso which is the illusion most pregnant women want to achieve. Sussan and Witchery have some beautiful scarves this season, but don’t be limited by these stores as most high street fashion stores have a gorgeous range of scarves. For necklaces, Diva and Equip have always lead the way, but Portmans and Sportsgirl also have beautiful unique pieces that can really make a statement.

The trench coat is the classic piece that will never go out of fashion so it is an item well worth investing in. I love my Purple Burberry trench which I bought in Paris last year and thankfully it still fits me when worn open, not done up. To give the trench a bit more shape and so it doesn’t look like an open tent, loop the belt through the hoops and tie into a back tie instead of the front and you will find it will cinch the jacket to give a beautiful silhouette shape.

These are just a few of the basic tips for Autumn/Winter maternity fashion for 2010. If you want more tips or are struggling to get a maternity wardrobe together, why not fill in the contact form on this website and organize a styling session. You will find that it will be one less thing to worry about so you can focus on preparing yourself for the new addition to your family.

Maternity Fashion – How to dress that BUMP!

Being pregnant has opened my eyes to the lack of fashionable maternity wear that is easily accessible. I have found especially in Brisbane that majority of the good quality boutique maternity stores are on the North side AND your major shopping centres don’t even have one single maternity store. While there are some great boutiques around and fabulous online stores, some of the items are quite basic and can often hint on ‘mumsy’. Maternity fashion has however come along way as I often hear comments from my mother’s friends that back in the day when they were pregnant all they could wear were tent dresses that ‘hung’ over the bump.

While we are blessed to have some fabulous maternity designers, which the majority of our boutique maternity stores supply, the prices can really break the bank – especially if it is your first pregnancy and you have a nursery and baby gear to think about purchasing. I can say that I have spent approximately $2000 on a maternity wardrobe including new underwear, bras and size 10 shoes due to swelling in my feet.

Who said pregnancy was all about the glow – and looking and feeling fabulous?? At the moment at 33 weeks pregnant I’m the size of a tank and I have a depreciating bank balance as each month it feels like there is something I need to purchase as I no longer fit into the maternity clothes I purchased at 12 weeks.

So what can you do to prepare your wardrobe for pregnancy? Here is what I have learned and found to be great investments so you can learn from a fashionista like me and keep your bank account intact! This article will be written in two stages. Stage one – every day maternity wear and Stage two jeans, sleepwear & intimates and shoes!

Firstly, be prepared to purchase items as you go along your pregnancy because if it’s your first, like mine is, you have no idea how far or where your body will expand . Secondly, maternity fashion is the way to go – not always the case for some girls as they can wear the next size up and still shop at their normal clothing stores. I, however, needed maternity clothes as I found them more comfortable and accommodating for my growing bump.

Glow Mama at The Grange and Mama’s Home at Windsor are fabulous boutiques for fashionable up to the minute maternity ware. While the items are pricey, they stock most of your fashionable brands like Soon, Ripe Maternity and Szabo. Szabo and Ripe would have to be my picks as I have lived in my Szabo Cargo pants in black and khaki and my Ripe maternity tights have been a godsend for the cooler months.

For basics like ¾ and long sleeve t-shirts that are rouched to the side to accommodate your belly, Kmart and Big W have a great range and fab prices too. Don’t cross them off your list of shops to visit as the great thing with basics is that you can dress them up with vests, scarves and accessories like layered necklaces that are in right now.

If you want to avoid the designer price tag but still want to invest in some designer maternity wear, I can’t recommend enough the online store Bump Baby and Beyond. I spent approximately $150 at this store online and got five items – three Ripe long sleeve shirts and two Ripe maternity dresses. Unbelievable prices and fabulous service as I got my order within three days of ordering. My picks from this website are the Ripe Potion Maternity top in Grape or Charcoal RRP $79.95 down to $29.95. These tops are perfect colours for winter 2010 AND have the shoulder detailing that is in fashion right NOW. The Ripe Fantasy Maternity dress also at $29.95 is a great investment for winter worn with black tights, boots and a trench coat.

If you find that you are having issues in putting pregnancy outfits together, give me a call as I would love to help you. Shopping for maternity clothes can be fun, but it also can be draining as you work out what you are going to need to tide you through your pregnancy. There is nothing worse than getting out of bed and not having anything to wear because you don’t fit into anything OR you haven’t purchased enough clothes to put outfits together to last you a week or two weeks at a time.

Fashion styling for pregnant women

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in your life as a woman. The increase in hormones make your nails grow and your hair shine and you radiate a ‘glow’ that is only natural through pregnancy. Despite this special time for a woman, it can often be a nightmare working out what to wear and what clothes suit your new body shape and protruding baby bump. Many women struggle with this prior pregnancy let alone during and after.

Many of you are reluctant to spend a lot of money on a maternity wardrobe when, let’s face it, you are only going to wear it for nine months. Yet, your pride in appearance still wins over and the question gets asked – do you really want to wear track pants and baby doll dresses for 9 months? If the truth be told, you want to look yummy as a mummy-to-be, and why not, when your body is glowing with health? The service of a fashion stylist, like myself, will be of much help to your wardrobe needs for the 9 months of pregnancy and thereafter. Unless you have a super trainer and celebrity diet like Angelina Jolie or Jessica Alba, you will be wearing these clothes 12 months or more after pregnancy.

Fashion is an outlet for expressing your creative side. What kind of look do you want to achieve as a mum? It’s also important to consider clothes that are breastfeeding friendly and avoiding accessories that could harm you or your baby. Chandelier earrings ripping your ear lobes or an outfit that needs to be completely stripped off for breastfeeding are things that you want to avoid, and with the help of a fashion stylist, they most definitely will.

I offer fashion styling for pregnant women so you can get the most out of your maternity wardrobe. The services of a fashion stylist are valuable and a good investment for this moment of time in your life. Why not consider calling me today and I will show you how to create fabulous, practical outfits specifically for you during pregnancy and after. Pregnancy and post-pregnancy is a wonderful time to discover how to dress for your new body shape and to avoid feeling ‘fat and frumpy’. Give me a call on 0432 945 610 to book a personal styling session and shopping expedition today!

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