LET YOUR WARDROBE BLOOM JUST LIKE YOU
“THE MORE CAPACIOUS AND VERSATILE THE ITEMS YOU ALREADY OWN, THE EASIER IT WILL BE”
FULL DISCLOSURE BEFORE I START WAXING LYRICAL on maternity wear. I’m not expecting and I don’t have kids... yet. I am, however, of an age where my sister, and many colleagues and friends have gone through pregnancy and I’m constantly reminded of the style challenges they face. How does one conceal a bump in the first trimester? What brands will help to extend your wardrobe? How can you mix and match so you don’t end up in the same pair of jeans every day?
The age-old rule of only buying maternity clothes has long been debunked, as has the idea of spending money on clothes that you’ll only wear for a three to six-month period. Savvy investment clothes that defy preconceptions make a lot more sense. Challenging the idea of stereotypical bump-emphasising wear are international brands like Hatch and Clary & Peg – both founded by mothers who felt ostracised when they fell pregnant. Vintage-inspired, maternity-friendly dresses, dungarees and skirts are the focus at Clary & Peg (claryandpeg.com) that can be worn with a burgeoning bump and long after you give birth as well. Founder of Hatch (hatchcollection.com) Ariane Goldman’s aim, meanwhile, is to create collections that don’t make you feel like a different version of yourself – clothes that are flattering, interesting and, more importantly, can be worn again. Flanking these labels are brands like Mango, Asos and Topshop, who have all launched maternity wear with inclusivity in mind. Mango’s capsule maternity collection is an adapted version of its jeans and basics ranges, while the Topshop and Asos ranges merge your maternity and non-maternity wardrobes – the antithesis to the generic offerings you find on the high street.
Remember, the more capacious and versatile the items you already have in your wardrobe, the easier it will be to mix and match maternity wear with your favourite pieces. It never hurts to simply go up a size either. Maternity wear in general has a tendency to be cut in a style that time forgot so often less structured, stretchy fabric dresses, longline jumpers and loose kimono-style outerwear look much more flattering. A clever trick too for increasingly tighter pants and jeans as you get bigger is to loop the elastic on the waist through the button hole to offer a few more inches. Beyond the third trimester, tunic and smock dresses, slouchy jumpsuits, and chic oversized woven and linen shirts will fit and flatter, and can be dressed up or down accordingly.
‘You know what I love most about being being pregnant?’ my sixmonth expectant sister told me this week. ‘It makes me experiment more with clothes and push the boundaries.’ I’m pretty sure that while carrying a tiny human around, battling swollen ankles and exhaustion, that has to count for something.