For yummy mummies

Maternity wear can be super chic and stylish too

There was a time maternity wardrobes involved loose, ill-fitted dresses, lots of elastic waistbands and inevitably, little style glory. Maternity needn’t be shapeless and simplistic. Over the years, pregnancy clothes have seen a subtle change and modernisation from the conventional dresses and billowing tops, that do nothing to flatter the body. Who says you have to sacrifice good style during your pregnancy?

Thanks to a swing of the prominent media-friendly faces and Bollywood celebrities, pregnancy style has been transformed like never before. It’s almost been like a revolution of sorts. Let’s take Kareena Kapoor Khan for example; she really upped the ante with her fashion choices throughout her pregnancy.
Following the current trends, sharper colours, tones and graphic prints have become more popular and the slight bohemian influence of the more fluid silhouettes and comfortable athleisure are the go to this season.

In those nine months, a woman’s body undergoes constant change and dressing up can get slightly tricky. For new moms-to-be, the first prerequisite is the comfort and style comes later. I have rounded up some incredible maternity wardrobe dos and don’ts to make ‘bump fashion’ a whole lot easier.

Dos & Don’ts

Keep a bold colour palette or a strong graphic print that can reinvigorate the plain-jane maxi look, making it contemporary. Some must have colours for the season are — ultraviolet (Pantone colour of the year), the pungent oriole orange, citrus yellow, warm raspberry and bodacious dusk pink. These shades complement the Indian skin tone and add a strong pop of colour to one’s ensemble.

To enhance any plain maternity dress or top-pant set, you can team it up with a statement blazer, jacket or bolero with embellishment or 3D detailing with a metallic tinge. Metallics have created a strong presence this year — silvery grey, rose gold, copper and muted liquid gold.

Try experimenting with different silhouettes such as high-waisted flare pants and breezy tops, loose short rompers, tie-up sarong skirts and crop tops. Work with different necklines such as off-shoulder, one-shoulder and strapless. In dresses, the lengths can be played with such as high-low, asymmetric hems or side-sweep drapes.

Don’t mix and match too many prints and colours keep one pop element and balance that with a muted tone. Try and avoid working with maternity jumpsuits as they draw more focus to the midsection making one look broader.

Avoid too many accessories with maternity wear like oversized jewellery. Work more with delicate accessories; toe the line with ‘less is more’ when it comes to this.

Always work with skin-friendly fabrics and lightweight ones such as crepe-de-chine, georgettes, light poly blends and cotton blends.

Get the basics right
A specially designed maternity bra is key. Your size is going to change throughout those nine months, but it all starts with getting your inner wear right. A pair of black maternity leggings come handy, especially when being comfortable is the top priority.

Comfy-chic
When it comes to pregnancy fashion, one should ideally take comfy-chic to the next level. Sleek bodycon dresses and oversized jackets is a great look — accentuating your belly is what makes this look cute and so easy to pull off.

Use your regular clothes
In your first and second trimester, you can easily reinvent key pieces from your existing wardrobe — oversized shirts, flowing maxi dresses, long-line tops, yoga pants, etc. Try and avoid shopping during the first few months of pregnancy.

Shop for separates
Apart from making leggings a wardrobe staple throughout your pregnancy, a good pair of maternity jeans is also a must buy. Also pay attention to building an assortment of tank tops, t-shirts — they can be used for layering. Separates come with the added advantage of the quality of styles, giving you the chance to put together your own unique look.

Bring the glamour
Learn to create the right kind of pairing. Team loose-fitting shapes with strategically placed belts. Accessorise with simple yet statement pieces. These subtle nuances can give comfy maternity wear a smart finish.

Quirk it up
Keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Embrace a quirky sense of style with fun prints, cute yet comfy shoes, hair accessories, etc. Don’t let your body limit your options to look fashionable.

The little black dress
The LBD is by far the most versatile piece of clothing in every woman’s wardrobe. Pregnancy shouldn’t change that. It’s all the more reason to invest in an LBD when pregnant. It makes for the perfect go-to outfit for a formal dinner, engagement party or any other dressy event. That one dress can be styled differently every single time you wear it.

Midis, maxis & kaftans
These three dress styles flatter all body types and are the most comfortable no matter how big you get. Choose solid colours for midi and maxi dresses. Opt for fun prints for kaftan-style dresses.

Lastly, no matter what, stay true to your personal style. Following trends and wanting to ace pregnancy fashion is one thing but staying true to your own sense of style always goes a long way. Irrespective of the occasion, don’t compromise on your comfort, because if you feel good, you look good!