Editorial by Katie Tagliavia, Owner of 9 Months.
Buying maternity wear for the first time is a "leap" for most women. It is often the moment of realization that this bloated feeling is more serious that a bad period. This bloated feeling is pregnancy and ladies; it is only going to get bigger!
I often talk to women about their core purchases. These are items that are not "fashion" pieces, the things they are often attracted to as each new season pops into store windows, but rather the staple pieces that will get them through the next 6-9 months.
The top 10 items for a core collection are:
- a great pair of jeans
- black trousers
- brown or khaki trousers depending on the season
- a classic dress
- tees
- 3 work appropriate tops, 1 solid, 2 prints
- a simple cardigan
- coat (seasonal)
- swimsuit (seasonal)
- undergarments
Most maternity garments in today's market are sized on a pre-pregnancy size. This may sound strange, and you may feel bigger in more than one area, but follow that rule. With good designers, a garment should take the average woman from 14 weeks through roughly 6 weeks post partum. A true maternity garment takes into account the classic changes, like hips and breasts, while remembering that the rest of you is relatively unchanged, and cuts accordingly. When it comes to budgets, invest in core wardrobe items and leave the "fashion" pieces for the lower-end labels. This goes without saying; you will wear your black trousers twenty times over your cute party top and quality reigns in those cases.
And last but not least, embracing your new shape is the most important piece of advice I can give. Being stylish throughout your pregnancy means accepting the changes your body is going through and finding pieces that are comfortable and flattering. A well-dressed woman is a confident woman. And a well-dressed pregnant woman is a beautiful woman.
