Guest blogger ERICA HANKS, Charlotte stylist extraordinaire and our favorite local fashion maven, talks us through some of her trade secrets on looking your best during pregnancy.
As a woman who has had to deal with this dilemma not once, not twice, but three times in my life, I am here to say yes, there is such a thing as cool maternity style and yes, it can be done. From my own experiences and struggles I’ve picked up a few tips to share. Also, the key here is to find items that reflect you and your usual style. Since there is actually a ton of options available to you now, let’s take a looks:
1. Show off that bump.
You don’t have to look mumsy during the most memorable experience of your life, and it’s the only time acceptable to let your belly be the focus of your look. Larger tops that have a lot of fabric will make you appear larger than you are. The best look on a pregnant woman is a close fitting top or dress that shows the bump from month 4-7. And if you can get away with wearing regular clothes with your bump, even better.
2. Invest in good basics that fit your body.
My first maternity buy was a great pair of Joe’s jeans. Out of Gap, Old Navy, J Brand, etc., they fit the best with my lack of hip size. Find a great pair of jeans, tops, shorts, and a great basic dress to start off your maternity wear, and remember quality over quantity. Gap is my top pick for overall basics like tees, button-downs, leggings and dresses to get your maternity style started, and you can build on top of those basics.
3. Accessories are your best friend.
Just like a regular outfit, the right scarf, jewelry and shoes can take an ordinary look and make it on trend. So when your non-prego friends want you to go shopping with them, don’t moan about not being able to shop with them; you’re shopping at the same stores but differently. Even a fab clutch can take your look to the next level. Think outside the clothes box and your possibilities are endless.
4. In the home stretch, comfort can be stylish.
At 7-9 months, you don’t want to wear anything much less try to pull an outfit together! Your belly REALLY drops and goes from the cute phase to the “whoa momma are you carrying twins?†look. This month and next, if you will be at your biggest, a great way to be stylish while in your last trimester in caftans and easy floor length dresses. Ciara recently wore a Naeem Khan caftan to her baby shower and the look not only was super comfortable for the time in her pregnancy, but the print was stunning as well. Here is a gorgeous floor length dress perfect to dress up your bump from Pickles and Ice Cream.
5. Designers know babies.
DVF, Free people, JCrew, BCBG, French Connection, J Brand, Rebecca Taylor, TopShop, and Vince are just a few of the non-maternity brands out there that design maternity wear. What a great way to still feel like you are in the style loop, by wearing your favorite brands altered for your body! I’m dying over these 7 For All Mankind printed jeans. Put a navy tank and with a tailored white blazer to finish the look for the perfect summer date night outfit.
Erica Hanks is a wardrobe stylist whose work extends beyond her group of professionals, athletes, and well-known men and women across the country, to commercial and editorial wardrobe styling for corporate companies, national campaigns, catalogs, local TV segments and magazines. Her personal clients have been featured in the Huffington Post, Vogue TV, Marie Claire, ESPN, and the UK’s Daily Mail to name a few. Erica has been named by SouthPark Magazine as one of the “Women to Watch’ in 2013, named by SouthPark Magazine in 2014 as Charlotte’s “Best of The City”, as well as being featured in Southern Living Magazine in 2014.
Find Erica on INSTAGRAM HERE and TWITTER HERE.
