THE BELLY FILES
MATERNITY FASHION’S HOTTEST HOUSES TALK SHOP-PING
Looking and feeling pretty, oh so pretty, isn’t always easy when your belly is
a-swelling.
A lot of times mamas-to-be resort to oversized (read: frumpy) clothes
(read: their husband’s), feeling as out of touch with the latest styles and how to
wear them as they do with their growing bodies.
THE FAMILY GROOVE is here to say that you don’t have to sacrifice style for the next nine-plus months
—and you don’t have to spend a fortune to stay stylish, either. Each month, we’ll give you the skinny
on the hippest bump styles à la mode straight from the maternity wear tastemakers of today.
“What can I wear?”—it’s the marquee question of a woman’s life. And when you’re pregnant, that question takes center stage as the drama du jour for just about every mama-to-be, especially during the holidays. As your body shifts shape and your hormones run amok, dressing well just might be the most important thing next to taking your prenatal vitamin. Looking good makes you feel good, so why not invest in your happiness with a few key pieces of fabulous maternity wear?
Here, we get the latest scoop from maternity style maven Anne Marie Burroughs of the super-chic Now Showing Maternity, the online and brick-and-mortar destination (with a store in Virginia Beach, Va.) for all your bump-watch needs. Carrying everything from pregnancy skincare to maternity wear must-haves from the hottest designers to fabulous accessories, diaper bags, baby gear and more, Now Showing Maternity makes sure that you are ready for your closeup this season and beyond.
Says Anne Marie: “Rock that not-so-little-anymore black dress and be the star of any party this season! Yes, I am serious. You can do it! There are so many great fashions out there now for moms-to-be that even in a not-so-little-anymore black dress, you can look fabulous—and still be comfortable. I know what you’re thinking: ‘I still don’t believe you.’ But it’s true; it can happen. Just follow my tips below and you’ll look (and feel!) beautiful and fashion-savvy all season long. Mocktail not included.”
SIZE MATTERS
“First and foremost, it’s important to know your size, especially when it comes to party dresses. In most cases, you will still wear your pre-pregnancy size. So, for example, if you were a size 6 pre-pregnancy, you will more than likely still be a maternity size 6. Maternity designers know that certain body parts will be changing, such as your hips, thighs and, yes, your butt, so they give you more room in those areas. But, do not get discouraged if you have to go a size up. At some point in every woman’s pregnancy, she will have to wear a size bigger than she is used to before she embarked on this life/body-changing experience. There are a number of reasons for this size change and everyone is different, so try to just find what fits you best. Don’t even look at the size; it doesn’t matter as long as you look and feel fabulous!”
|
 |
BEST ALL-AROUND
“Find a dress that can be worn on multiple occasions. The best way to make your dollars stretch is to find a frock that can be worn not only with flats to lunch, a daytime get-together or a bout of holiday shopping, but also with heels, a cashmere wrap and dressy jewelry to a cocktail party or romantic dinner with your husband. This embellished cotton-blend dress from Maternal America looks like a million bucks but doesn’t cost it. It’s as perfect for a work party as it is for a reunion lunch with old friends.”
|
 |
THE UNDERWORLD
“Undergarments! Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you should have VPL. Visible panty lines are a no-no at all times. Hanky Panky makes a great non-maternity lace thong that is one size fits all—and trust me, it does. They come in low rise, perfect for those under-the-belly jeans, and the original rise for when you’re just feeling like you want some more support. Speaking of more support, MamaSpanx are unbeatable. They can help smooth the rear-side while supporting your ever-growing belly. For those new moms making their way back into the social world, the Belly Bandit is your new best friend. It helps your abdominal muscles come back together and provides you C-section mamas the support that your abs just don’t seem to want to give you right now.”
|
 |
HUE GO
“Don’t be afraid of color. If your favorite color is red, don’t be afraid to wear it with confidence, even if you feel like you could pop at any minute. The more confident you feel, the more beautiful you will look, and people will definitely notice you and not your growing belly. Cobalt blue is huge this fall/winter, and this Liz Lange number will have people complimenting your style and not asking you how you are feeling, have you been sick, blah blah blah!”
|
BE GOOD TO YOURSELF
“Last but not least, pamper yourself. The best way to get ready for a party, after you’ve found the perfect outfit, of course, is to treat yourself to some pampering. Whether it’s a blowout and a pedicure at your favorite salon or just a walk around the block to clear your head, do what makes you happy and you will be ready to rock any party this season.”
|
STYLE GUIDE
“Let us help you find that perfect party dress, a great pair of jeans or the sexiest maternity bra around. Go to www.nowshowingmaternity.com or call 757.200.8301.”
What the heck does "Special Section" mean? Well, it means that these businesses paid a small (like, pretty darn small) fee to be included. THE FAMILY GROOVE strives to support mom and pop businesses by giving them a venue for their super cool sites, ideas and products—and, quite honestly, we strive to pay our bills, too. So we've taken seven articles a month (out of 25+) and made them fun and exciting ways to promote the next best thing, much like in the way a publicist would. We believe in the companies we feature. We research, vet, scrutinize, analyze and obsess over every single solitary company that is included in this section to bring you the grooviest of the groovy. We're all in this brave new world together, right? And so we've got to support each other in any and every way we can. We hope you dig our finds as much as we do.
HOME | ABOUT TFG | CONTACT TFG | FREE TFG | ADVERTISE TFG | SHOP TFG | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS
