Maternity That's Becoming
BEN AVON (August 17, 2009) — Dedicated to ridding the world of your mother’s frumpy maternity wear, Ben Avon entrepreneurs Jennifer and Michael Bett celebrated the fifth anniversary of Becoming Mommy. Becoming Mommy, Pittsburgh’s premier upscale designer maternity boutique, has opened a second location in Ross Park Mall. This newest location is located on the upper level in the mall, directly across from Nordstrom’s and joins their existing location on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.
Owner Jennifer Bett proclaimed that “Becoming Mommy’s mission is to bring the styles of Europe, Los Angeles and New York to Western Pennsylvania’s pregnant and nursing mothers. Just because you are pregnant or nursing, doesn’t mean that you can’t be becoming, you can.” In fact, many of the items you’ll find at Becoming Mommy are the same ones featured in Pregnancy, Fit Pregnancy, In Style, and American Baby worn by your favorite celebrities.
At both the Squirrel Hill location and the new Ross Park Mall location, Becoming Mommy carries a full line of career, special occasion, casual and swimwear, as well as maternity and nursing bras, maternity support, body care, diaper bags, baby slings, baby carriers, nursing tops, and gifts for baby showers.
Some of the innovations that have been made in maternity clothing are nothing short of astounding. Leading maternity designers are choosing more and more fabrics that are eco-friendly and sustainable such as bamboo and organic fibers, without sacrificing beauty and comfort. These fabrics grow with you; the clothing is designed to be worn before, during, and after your pregnancy. You no longer need to pack away your maternity clothes after the baby is born. And frankly, with fashions so beautiful, you won’t want to…so you'll always be a becoming mommy even if you're not pregnant or nursing.
The large selection of beautiful clothing at Becoming Mommy takes you from fun and flirty tees that are just right for the weekend, to suiting from Jules and Jim that is commanding in the court room. Becoming Mommy even sells the "oh so comfy Perfect Pants." These pants are so comfortable and stretchy, once you put them on, you'll never want to take them off. They do double duty as career trousers and lounge wear. Jennifer Bett notes that “Our customers will try them on in the store and end up wearing them home.”
To stretch your budget, Becoming Mommy features designers like Japanese Weekend, known for their convertible fashions. Their popular 2 in 1 Dress/Go Skirt can be worn as either a dress or a skirt. This is a perfect way to extend your wardrobe or to pack light for out of town events. Innovative designer Pouch has created the Versatile Dress which can be worn, whether you are expecting or not, five different ways including as a Grecian halter, a strapless or one shoulder dress or even as a skirt.
Local designers have also created unique pieces just for Becoming Mommy and are showcased at both locations. For instance, Natasha Nagpal, creator of Mélange, lives in Murrysville and has fashioned a stunning Fall line using natural silk and satin fabrics in a bold array of prints and colors. “I joined with Becoming Mommy to show that women can be beautiful and feminine during their pregnancy. My pieces are versatile enough to continue to be worn long after their pregnancy is over,” comments Natasha Nagpal. For example, this stunning Mélange blouse is a perfect example of how Melange can go from during to after.
And don’t forget that when your newborn arrives, whether you choose cloth or disposable diapers, you’ll need a chic, well made diaper bag to carry all of baby’s diapers, gear, as well as your personal belongings. Gone are the inelegant vinyl bags of yesteryear. Today, a large variety exists from “Daddy Bags” that even the most macho man would proudly carry to “Mommy Bags” available in the latest fashionable prints. These are the same bags that your favorite celebrities have been spotted carrying in New York and Los Angeles. Most recently Jessica Alba (Dark Angel, Sin City and Fantastic Four) was spotted strolling out with her baby carrying the popular StorkSak Dori bag. And just like the fashions that you find at Becoming Mommy, these diaper bags are so beautiful and practical that once your little one is out of diapers, you'll continue to use and enjoy your bag for years to come whether as a hand bag, travel bag, or even a gym bag.
Babywearing makes it possible to carry your baby while keeping your hands free and eliminating the need for bulky strollers. Babywearing is far from new and has been practiced for centuries around the world. In the industrialized world babywearing has been gaining popularity with the recent recommendations of such experts as Dr. William Sears. Unlike more recently designed harness-type carriers which carry your baby in a very unnatural position, baby slings and soft carriers allow the baby to be cradled against mother in a natural and loving position. While harness carriers can put a significant strain on a mother’s back by the time baby is as little as nine months old, slings and soft carriers such as the Maya Wrap and Ergo Baby Carrier are a far superior choice. They are designed to carry baby from newborn up to thirty-five pounds when your child is typically around three years old. And with these soft, supportive slings and carriers you can front, side, or back carry your baby. In the front carry position, you can even discreetly nurse. Plus baby slings carriers come in a wide choice of prints and fabrics making them compact and easy to fold into a diaper bag. Try that with an old fashioned harness carrier!
Another local designer working with Becoming Mommy, Valerie Davis, has patented a nursing blanket, the My Bonky Blanket, which comes in adorable prints and won’t fall off the mother’s shoulder while nursing in public. “All mothers should feel comfortable breastfeeding in public” says Ms. Davis. “My blankets allow mothers to nurse discreetly while offering functionality and ease of use. Becoming Mommy has been such a big help in the development of my product, and I hope that new mothers will love the My Bonky Blanket as much as I do.”
Becoming Mommy is located at 5833 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, across from Little’s Shoe Store and on the upper level of Ross Park Mall across from the entrance to Nordstrom’s. Our Squirrel Hill phone number is (412) 421-9600 and our Ross Park Mall number is (412) 369-9606. You may also visit them online at www.BecomingMommy.com or send an e-mail to CustomerService@BecomingMommy.com.