Maternity Must-Haves: Top 5 Items
So, you're pregnant, and you cringe at the idea of giving up your designer jeans and Prada bag for frumpy maternity pants with a belly panel the size of Texas and a Winnie the Pooh diaper bag. Don't fear! There is very stylish and flattering maternity wear out there. In fact, you may not want to give up these great wardrobe pieces after you have the baby. There are so many styles these days that you can wear during and after pregnancy. The main thing to remember is to start your wardrobe with key pieces you can build from, just like your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. Pick versatile and timeless maternity pieces that are interchangeable. But don't be afraid to add trendy and funky pieces to your basics. After all, you're only going to be pregnant for nine months, so you don't run the risk of something going out of style in such a short time span. Think of pregnancy as a perfect time to express your uniqueness. We've picked five must-haves for every maternity wardrobe.
The Little Black Dress
Whether you're pregnant or not, a woman's best wardrobe friend is the little black dress. It's perfect for just about any occasion and because of its color, it has great slimming effects. There may be nothing little about a maternity little black dress, but it's all about picking a flattering dress for your body type. Play up areas of your body that you want to flaunt and hide the areas that you don't. For example, if you now have the bust you always dreamed of, buy a dress with a heart shaped or scooped neckline. If your hips have gotten a little wider than you'd like them to be, look for an A-line empire waist dress in a more forgiving fabric.
A Convertible Piece
Many maternity designers offer convertible and reversible pieces that you can wear in several different ways. Some convert from tops to skirts, others from a dress to a skirt. Reversible pieces often have a solid on one side and a print on the other. These are great maternity pieces to have in your wardrobe, especially if you're looking to save a little cash. You'll get a lot more wear out of the item if you can wear it to the office as a black skirt one day and wear it as a printed shell under a blazer later on in the week.
The Tunic
A tunic is longer than a maternity shirt but a little shorter than a knee-length dress. Tunics come in all different colors, patterns, and styles. A maternity tunic is flattering on every body shape and size and can be worn in just about every season. Pair it with leggings or opaque tights and tall boots in the fall and winter or wear the tunic by itself in spring and summer with some cute ballet flats or gladiator sandals. The tunic is a definite must-have for all maternity wardrobes.
Favorite Pair of Jeans
Maternity jeans are just like pre-pregnancy jeans in that each brand fits a little differently. Unlike the tunic, there isn't one particular pair of jeans that will look great on every pregnant woman. The key is finding a great jean that looks and feels great on you. The best place to start is by looking at the tags on your favorite pairs of pre-pregnancy jeans and finding out if they make a maternity jean. Chances are if you love the way a certain pair of jeans fit now, you'll like their maternity version too. Denim designers like Citizens of Humanity, Paige, and Chip & Pepper are just a few brands that offer maternity styles as well. If your favorite pair of jeans is not offered in maternity, there are some wonderful jeans offered by designers who specialize in maternity wear. A lot of expecting women prefer jeans made by an exclusive maternity company because of the research these companies put into making jeans that fit a pregnant woman's body. Maternity denim designers such as Noppies, Maternal America, and Elly B by Olian offer great fit and flattering styles.
The Wrap
Wraps can accompany just about any outfit. They are the perfect addition to the core maternity wardrobe. You can convert that strappy summer top into a fall ensemble by pairing it with a wrap. Since wraps tie just under the bust or can be thrown over the shoulder, you don't have to worry about growing out of them. By investing in a couple different colored wraps, you can stretch your last season pieces much farther into the next season. Throw on a wrap on cool evenings or put it over a strapless dress for more coverage. The options are endless with a great wrap.
We believe these five maternity staples are the perfect building blocks for any couture mommy's wardrobe. Add your own touch by accenting with bold jewelry and a few funky tops and you'll be in style your whole nine months.
