Posts Tagged ‘fashion guide’

Maternity Guide to Special Occasions

Formal Wear

It’s summertime and we’re smack in the middle of prime wedding and party season. You might find yourself with a couple of special occasion invites around the corner, but with a growing a belly, nothing in your closet to wear.

Finding the perfect gown is a challenge no matter what, but even more so if you’re expecting. We see what’s on the market! We looked around at pregnancy fashion, and the typical “pregnant dress” doesn’t quite cut it.

Finding the right dress with a bun in the oven shouldn’t be a chore. With our tips below dress shopping should be a breeze.

  • Dress for comfort. If you’re dressing up for a special occasion, you’re also surely looking forward to enjoying your time. But it’s hard to have a good time if you’re uncomfortable in your dress all night. Avoid this by planning ahead! You know your belly’s going to grow, so look for dresses that you’ll be able to wear as you move further along in pregnancy.
  • Flaunt it, don’t hide it. Too often pregnant women try to hide their burgeoning bumps in a baggy outfit. This is a great idea for women who want to look like tents. It’s a bad idea for women who want to show off their new and temporary curves!. Your pregnancy is something to be celebrated! To flaunt your belly and stay comfortable, look for dresses that are supportive and snug in the bodice (snug, not tight!) and a loose skirt that’s free around the hips and stomach, like the Serena dress by Madderson London.
  • Keep in mind the length. This applies to your dress as well as your shoes. During the later stages of pregnancy, the body releases a chemical that relaxes and loosens the joints to prepare for labor. In turn, the risk of rolling an ankle runs higher than when you’re not pregnant. So now is not the time to break out the sky-high heels!. Make sure the dress you’ll be wearing has an appropriate hemline—not short enough to show your feet, not long enough to pool around your feet and cause you to trip! If you still want a bit of height, try for wedges, which offer more support for the foot than the traditional heel. Check out Kate Spade’s Kiki Wedge and our blogpost on pregnancy footwear.
  • And materials. It’s the middle of summer. If you’re headed to an outdoor event, it’s going to be hot. Stay away from synthetic non-breathable fabrics. Head to the dress aisle and turn your attention to lighter materials. You can pull off both casual and formal with lighter, cotton materials (Jennifer Lawrence proved it at the 2013 Oscars in her minimalistic long red tank dress ensemble). Expecting women who want the same simplicity can pull it off with Madderson London’s Saturday Dress.
  • Look for versatile pieces. Find dresses you can wear more than a couple times. A dress that you can dress up for special occasions and also dress down for everyday wear. Japanese Weekend’s Colorblock Maternity Dress is a soft, jersey-knit dress that is pretty, practical and fuss-free. Wear it out on the weekends, or dress it up with some statement jewelry for a nice formal look.
  • Consider renting versus buying. There are a few online companies that will allow you to rent dresses and save you the hassle of purchasing a dress you may never wear again. Try a dress from our friends at Borrow For Your Bump. Rent The Runway, Mine For Nine and Rent Maternity Wear are a few other options.

Fashion Friday - Our Guide and Top Picks for Buying Infant Clothing

Shopping for baby clothes for the first time can be extremely overwhelming for first-time parents. More often that not, you end up buying too many items that the baby doesn’t wear or that don’t fit and end up having to spend more money on clothes once the baby arrives. Earlier in the week, we spoke with Kristin Swati, the founder and owner of the Fawn Shoppe, an online children’s boutique on the topic of organic children’s clothing. Today, with Kristin’s help, we’ve put together a shopping guide for parents who are welcoming a little one soon.

NN: We know that parents or parents-to-be are thinking about their children long before they are born. What are your top tips for new parents who are shopping for clothes for their baby?

KS: 1. Indulge! There is nothing like a gorgeous layette to help one escape from the doldrums of maternity wear.

2. Shop Online for quick, convenient purchasing. It is certainly easiest to shop for baby once one knows the gender and well before the baby is born. But of course many parents keep the sex a surprise, and some cultures dictate that all shopping is done after birth. Online shopping makes it a lot easier to buy things once baby is here if parents prefer to wait.

3. Purchase basics in 3- and 6-month sizes. On sizing, we recommend buying up to size 6 months on basics with the heaviest concentration in the 3 months size initially. Smaller babies may stay in the newborn (NB) size for up to the first month but larger ones may wear size 3 months from birth. Though it’s hard to know, family size is a decent predictor. When unsure, size 3 months is a good bet for the bulk of your layette. Oh..and to be clear, size 3 months may also be quoted as size 0-3 months by some designers.

4. Pay attention to indoor temperatures. Don’t forget that baby will be inside most of the time in the beginning. Therefore, the temperature of your home is the relevant one and not the temp outside. This actually makes buying easier because certain pieces like long-sleeved onesies will be great no matter the season. Layering is also fantastic for babies on the go.

5. Watch your baby to see if he/she is comfortable. Rules like “dress your baby in one more layer than you have on” don’t apply to every baby. Far more effective is touching the baby’s hands, feet and neck to feel if he is the right temperature. Of course sweating means to remove clothing right away. Common sense.

NN: What are the must-have clothing items that expecting parents should purchase for their baby?

KS: On our list of must-haves are:

1. Gowns. Yes, boys can wear them too. Most modern ones really don’t look like actual gowns anymore but more like a onesie that doesn’t end and is open at the bottom. For the first few weeks nothing makes changing easier than a gown. Pull up; change diaper; pull down. Nine Naturals Pick: Striped gown from Giggle.

2. Onesies. Loads of them. We love kimono button style in particular for healing bellies. And sleeves with hand covers are nice. Clipping newborn nails is a little nerve wracking for most new parents. Nine Naturals Pick: Kimono-style onesies from Giggle.

3. Leggings. To go over the onesies if temperature dictates. Layering is key. Nine Naturals Pick: Leggings from babylegs.

4. Socks. Bundles are great. Dryers like baby socks more than anything else so buy a lot. Nine Naturals Pick: Sock sets from Trumpette.

5. Swaddle blankets. Even if you never quite figure out the swaddle or your baby hates it, you will use these for everything from cleanup to nursing cover to impromptu sunhat. Trust us. Nine Naturals Pick: Organic Cotton Swaddle Cloth from aden + anais.

6. Footies. Not as easy for changing as the onesies and gowns but the built in socks make them well worth the multitude of snaps. Nine Naturals Pick: Footies from Paige Lauren.

7. Weather specific needs. Depending on season, you’ll want a couple of sunhats, a snowsuit (yes, strollers sometimes have these built in…but we liked the suit for baby wearing purposes once baby hits 3 months or so), and plenty of warmer hats. Nine Naturals Picks: Organic Sunhat in Keyhole Print from Feather Baby, Cuddle Me Infant Snowsuit from Barefoot Dreams, and the Cable Hat & Booties Set from Egg Baby .

Fashion Guide - Pregnancy Swimwear

swimsuit, celebrities, shiri appleby, kim kardashian, swimsuits, pregnant, maternity

Sunny days, warm sand, and clear blue waters. It’s that time of year again to break out the bathing suit and hit the beaches. But for some, especially pregnant mothers, this might warrant a couple of concerns.

But no worries! There’s no reason you shouldn’t feel and look amazing at the beach this summer. So rest assured, we have a couple of tips to help you find the best maternity swimsuit.

  1. A larger swimsuit does not equate to a maternity swimsuit. Many pregnant women make the mistake of choosing a larger swimsuit, mistaking it for the equivalent of a swimsuit appropriate for pregnancy. Try to pick a swimsuit that fits and flatters your new and growing shape instead.
  2. Tankinis. Tankinis are the perfect compromise between the convenience a two-piece bikini provides and the cover of one-piece, if you don’t want to bare too much. If you decide to opt for a tankini, just make sure to pick one that’s fitted and not too billowy.
  3. Don’t be afraid to flaunt it. If you’re feeling bold, why not go ahead for a bikini? Don’t be afraid to flaunt what you’ve got. Plus, most bikinis are pretty budget friendly and won’t force you into the realm of pricey specially made maternity swimwear. Just make sure to pick a bikini with lots of support and bring along a sarong if you decide to cover up later on.

Check out our Pinterest for resort wear inspiration!