Staying stylish in pregnancy has never been easier with these simple yet effective styling tips from award winning personal stylist Samara Prentice, founder of Evolve by Samara Personal Styling Consultancy.
Congratulations! You are about to embark on the most challenging yet rewarding journey of your entire life. Dressing in pregnancy is about embracing your changing body which doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your own sense of style.
Here are some professional styling tips to use when #stylingyourbump…
During pregnancy, it can be very tempting to simply size up in your regular clothes. However, wearing a larger size will mean that whilst your bump and bust are catered for, the rest of the garment will be oversized. This will add unnecessary volume to arms, shoulders and back. Maternity pieces are specially designed to allow for growth in the tummy and bust area whilst fitting the rest of the body correctly. When buying maternity clothes, always choose your pre pregnancy size.
The secret to clever dressing in pregnancy is choosing fabrics that work in harmony with your “temporary body proportions”. Selecting fabrics with fluidity that provide comfort and are breathable against the skin is essential during those precious nine months.
Make a professional bra fitting a top priority early on in pregnancy. The changing bust line needs to be well supported. Maternity and feeding bras are readily available and Opium Boutique in Armagh carry a good range and the team are extremely knowledgeable.
Building a small capsule wardrobe made up of several key pieces, in the highest quality you can afford, that reflect your current lifestyle, will ensure you stay true to your own sense of style during the emotional rollercoaster that is pregnancy. Investing in denim, wrap style tops and dresses, v neck maternity t shirts and camis, all of which can be used in the weeks and months following birth too.
Adding in a few statement pieces can transform an outfit, especially if you find yourself wearing the same pieces again and again. A printed jacket, kimono or simple necklace or scarf will add another dimension to your maternity wardrobe ensuring that you don’t tire of it too quickly.
Don’t be tempted to turn to darker shades during pregnancy. Instead choose colours that truly compliment your natural features. Colour opens up so many possibilities and can be a real mood elevator. Don’t be afraid of mixing complimentary colours together. Reds and pinks, greens and blues, lilac and lemon are all great options for the warmer weather.
Layers are a great choice in pregnancy. Layering cardigans over simple tees or camis can elevate your casual style. Opt for tops with v neck, scoop or bateau lines as these will frame the face and elongate the neck whilst also flattering the bust line and balancing out your body proportions.
Maternity denim is a total minefield. Comfort really is key here. A great fitting pair of jeans can make you feel fantastic in pregnancy and can make daily dressing so much easier. A dark colourway will be most versatile. Freddy jeans (local stockists are Style Gallery in Lisburn or Cuba in Omagh) offer great fitting skinny maternity jeans in both navy and black. They’re over the bump style is designed to offer comfort and the clever customised silicone band ensures the jeans shape and sculpt the waistline while keeping the jeans up and in place.
A great alternative to the jean is the coated trouser. They are easily dressed up for date nights or dressed down with trainers or mules for lunch with the girls. The Pod Collection (www.thepodcollection.com) offer a very chic take on the coated trouser called the “Vogue legging”. With a higher waistband at the back and a clever band at the front to cradle the bump, they are incredibly chic.
For high quality maternity workwear that will last for the duration of your pregnancy, Isabella Oliver (www.isabellaoliver.com) offers an excellent selection of dresses and tailor wear suitable for the office as well as corporate functions. The “Balcombe dress” in Petrol blue and the Dora trousers have been firm favourites amongst my maternity styling clients because they still felt so effortlessly stylish.
If you would like to learn more about how you could #stylemybump or if you would like to showcase your stylish bump after following these top tips, head on over to www.facebook.com/evolvebysamara or www.instragram.com/evolvebysamara for more information.
By Samara Prentice
Evolve by Samara
Personal Styling Consultancy