Young mothers to be
of the late noughties found more and more ranges
across the high street with dedicated maternity sections. Mothercare
was not the only place to find comfortable maternity wear. Dorothy
Perkins has sold a very fashionable maternity collection alongside its
everyday range for years, but now Next, Topshop, New Look and even Marks &
Spencers all have small ranges of maternity clothing.
If you like dresses there has been a revolution in maternity dress wear. Maxi dress have hit the headlines this year and you may like the maternity maxi dresses on this
maternity
maxi trends page here.
Right - Blue Maxi Maternity Dress - Isabella Oliver 2010.
Maternity wear has at long last become more attractive. Fashionable
styles in maternity clothes
have become more available since the 1990s. Now with the volume
silhouette back in fashion, the early months of pregnancies are even more
easily accommodated with normal clothes. Fashion hasn't favoured those
expecting babies for many years, since baby doll dresses were all the rage
in the 1960s.
Baby doll fashions and some loose baggy styles straight off the high
street ranges are great to wear during the early months of pregnancy.
But after 6 months, women always need to accommodate that ever growing bump.
This is where specialist maternity wear with generous waistlines, which can
grow with you and support baby, are essential for your comfort and morale. If
your clothes fit you, however heavy you feel, you will cope better and your
self-esteem will improve when you know you have made the best of yourself
that day.
This
lovely empire-line, baby doll, maternity dress is from Dorothy
Perkins 2006 range. (See picture to the right.) The dress is perfect for a summer's day when pregnancy can make a
woman feel even more hot and bothered than usual.
Look out for maternity wear with fabrics that are comfortable and which
will move with you.
You may also want to breastfeed after the birth so
think about how a garment will open for easy access for baby. This
white smock (right) also from Dorothy Perkins has every element of this
season's fashionable whitework look. Note how it also has an open front,
making breastfeeding an easier option than a closed top.
For
maternity wear, jersey knits are ideal. Maternity clothes can be
outgrown before you know it, so make sure that you buy the right size;
opting for a larger size if you are debating between 2 sizes. By the
final week of pregnancy you will be so glad you still have room to expand.
You may
feel rather large for some weeks
after the birth so
you can continue to make use
of the maternity wear until you can get your figure back. Those who
have Caesarean births may also want only loose clothes over the scar area until it
settles down.
Whilst in love with the idea of
motherhood, you may not be too thrilled about your enlarging waistline for
the next months. You want to sail through pregnancy looking as elegant
as always. The maternity fashions shown on this
page should help you assess the variety of practical styles available to you
in the high street. You can also browse the list of
UK,
USA and
Australian maternity wear specialists
below.
Remember
that little black dress can make you feel just as good during pregnancy as
you normally do. Just get the correct fit for your growing body. This one left is
from Dorothy Perkins.
One
idea worth considering if you have lots of friends, is to pool maternity wear.
Perhaps you could form a group with friends who have just been
pregnant and are thinking of another pregnancy soon. You may
have an event such as a wedding to attend, consider saving on buying a
garment and either hire an outfit or ask around other recently pregnant
mums. Just as some friends loan each other cruise wear for exotic 5
star holidays, so you can share during pregnancy too.
With
trousers easiest of all is the leggings or jeggings approach worn with an easy loose
tunic or dress. The right jeggings or leggings can offer some physical
support for your growing baby.
This pretty ditsy floral green maternity dress is from Mamas
& Papas Heritage Maternity Collection AW10. Right - Mamas & Papas Ditsy Floral Dress £40 Autumn Winter 2010 -
Stockist Tel: 0845 268 2000 or 1890 882 363 for Ireland. These jeggings
right are from Marks & Spencers or you could opt for cropped jeans like
these from Dorothy Perkins and shown near right. The adjustable waistline
means you can let out the waist and remain in fashion.
Buy maternity jeans for everyday wear to help you feel more normal and like
everyone else. Both Blooming Marvellous and Next do reliable maternity
jeans that have adjustable waistbands, which makes them longer lasting and
therefore better value.
Left - Mamas and Papas Limited Edition Maternity Boot Cut Jean £100.
One thing that is best bought specifically for you is the correct support
wear for both your bust and your baby bump, start planning from about 6 weeks into
pregnancy. Ask your local lingerie specialists for maternity advice on
bras and other support wear. Don't neglect this area however much it
costs. Supporting your figure at this stage will help maintain a
better shape after the event and reduce stretching of skin.
Underwear specialists Rigby and Peller, Bravissimo, Woods Online or Figleaves also feature maternity
lingerie products such as nursing bras as do most of the maternity stockists
mentioned on this page.
»
Maternity Shopping
These days you can take much of the hassle out of trudging round stores
for basic items by shopping online, you can browse a wide range of maternity
fashion suppliers including Next, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Emma Jane and
isabella.oliver.com.
Here are some suppliers (in no
particular order) for you to check out. Many sell all types
of related maternity and new baby products, but some especially feature a specific type of
maternity garment and I've tried to mention this briefly.
You are reading an original maternity fashion article by Pauline Weston
Thomas at www.fashion-era.com
"The Maternitywear Exchange Ltd is the UK's largest maternity clothes
Dress Agency and Clearance outlet and has been running since 1999. Save
£100's off your maternity wardrobe.
If you have surplus maternitywear for the future season:
•In good condition
•In perfect repair
•Cleaned and pressed
•Not more than 4 years old."
So if you have maternity items particularly in sizes 8 and 20+ read the
Maternity Wear Exchange website for details on how to sell items. They
prefer items for autumn/winter sales to be received before September; whilst
spring/summer items should ideally be received by February. For % payment
details check out their
how to
sell to page. Please do not contact fashion-era, contact the
http://www.maternityexchange.co.uk/ dress agency second wear clothes for
maternity directly.
http://www.apeainthepod.com/
designer denim, designer maternity clothes, lovely cocktail dresses, long
dresses and ranges such as Diane Von Furstenberg etc, coats, shorts, career
wear.
You may also like to see how the 6 Way Dress works as a great solution
for part of your maternity wardrobe. The 6 Way dress can also be comfortably worn as a skirt in several styles either under or
over the belly as well as styled as a dress with several halter neck
options, as a strapless, baby doll, cowl neck or cap sleeve variation.
See my page on the 6 Way Dress here.
You have been reading an original maternity fashion article by Pauline
Weston Thomas at www.fashion-era.com
See Marks and Spencer New Spring Collections online
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Fashion-Era.com looks at women's costume and fashion history and analyses the mood of an era. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values. Homelife and politics also
contribute to lifestyle trends, which in turn influence the clothes we wear. These are the changes that make any era of society special in relation to the study of the costume of a period.
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Perhaps you could form a group with friends who have just been
pregnant and are thinking of another pregnancy soon. You may
have an event such as a wedding to attend, consider saving on buying a
garment and either hire an outfit or ask around other recently pregnant
mums. Just as some friends loan each other cruise wear for exotic 5
star holidays, so you can share during pregnancy too. 
With
trousers easiest of all is the leggings or jeggings approach worn with an easy loose
tunic or dress. The right jeggings or leggings can offer some physical
support for your growing baby.
