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Finding Your Fashion Groove During and After Pregnancy

Magazine photos of celebrity moms who do not miss a fashion beat during their pregnancies and after they have their babies should be outlawed. I don't know about the rest of you, but my sweats and a baseball cap were my best friends for several months during all four of my pregnancies and after giving birth. Who has the time or energy to take a shower, let alone shop for clothes that will fit the body upon which this little being has wrecked havoc?

By Josi Wert and Julie Burton

Magazine photos of celebrity moms who do not miss a fashion beat during their pregnancies and after they have their babies should be outlawed. I don't know about the rest of you, but my sweats and a baseball cap were my best friends for several months during the end of all four of my pregnancies after giving birth. Who has the time or energy to take a shower, let alone shop for clothes that will fit the body upon which this little being has wrecked havoc? It took me a while to even care about what I was wearing, or how I looked after having those babies. If I couldn't find a pony tail holder, I was in real trouble for the day.

Former women's boutique owner and fashion connoisseur, Josi Wert, knows about fashion as well as being a mom. Josi has sold women's clothing for over 20 years, 11 of which she owned her own store. She has helped thousands of pregnant women and new moms work their way through efforts to stay fashionable as their bodies are taking on new forms. And Josi has experienced these changes herself. She gave birth to twin girls in 2001.

Josi gives the following recommendations to women who want to find their fashion groove during this somewhat awkward time without spending a lot of time, money or energy:

1. The Return of the Scrunchie
Remember that old Glamour-don't, the Scrunchie? Well, I say Bring it Back! The scrunchie has been long overlooked and under-rated as the style-star for the long-haired gal. I have been using this luxury hair tool non-stop since it's inception in the '80's, and I stand by it completely. Nothing else has the power to get all that hair up and out of your face and off your shoulders, which really makes your face appear slimmer and often makes you feel a lot lighter. Other ponytail holders are too tight and can make that spectacular face of yours seem pulled out of whack. Scrunchies can be worn high or low, and with a little practice can make your hair look non-greasy and bed-kissed, while giving your face the frame it deserves. Just no Scrunchies on wrists, and PLEASE stick to neutral colors! No fuchsia, white or (gasp) taxi-cab yellow.

2. Easy Outfits for Moms-to-be and/or Moms Who Want To Wear a Sign “I JUST HAD A BABY:
This past fall, I told all of my pregnant customers, as well as the ones who had just had their babies, that they were in that “different” body-shape at the BEST time! Though they all looked at me with doubt, I explained that while I had to go through MY pregnancy whilst all the cool-chicks were bouncing about in their TINY little velour track suits, THEY were lucky enough to be growing at the same time as the popularity for leggings, tunics and bubble shapes. And the good news is: it's still happening for Spring '07! So, go forward with your tunics, and when the time comes (post-baby) that you can actually catch a glimpse of your waist again, go ahead and belt those tunics. But for now, rejoice in the fact that a tunic and leggings are not just acceptable forms of fashion, but downright FASHIONABLE!

Okay, Okay, I know that while it IS a look that is in style, previously pregnant moms are dismayed by anything that remotely reminds them of their pregnant-wardrobe (which usually consists of about four pieces by the end, right?). So, when you are ready and feeling confident, you can ease up on the bubble theme by adorning your leggings with a longer tee shirt with a top over it that's a little bit shorter. In other words, there is a lot of flexibility in today's fashion world, and you can almost always go with a "variation of a theme."

If leggings are just not your thing, try a pair of yoga pants or some soft athletic pant (the kind with the stripes down the side are cute). These paired with a cute “Henley” tee shirt (tee with 3-5 buttons going down the chest) are a really comfortable and pretty stylish way to run around. Other choices for a top include any tee or top without a high crewneck neckline. A high neckline tends to accentuate the fact that you are carrying a little more weight on top, whereas wearing a top with a little scoop-neck or a v-neck really goes a long way in balancing your new-found fuller top with your other half. A neckline that drops a little bit does a tremendous job at pulling the eye down, making your torso and entire silhouette appear longer. A high neckline tends to stunt you and can even make your chest appear shelf-like. Don't want that!

In my opinion, ballet flats are the only way to go with leggings but if you go the yoga or athletic pant route, you can choose footwear from sneakers to boots.

It's really a good time to be a person who wears, whether by necessity or by desire, what I like to call "Comfy Clothes." The thing is, you can be comfortable and cute at the same time AND make it a look all your own. And let's put a moratorium on those velour, matched sweat-outfits that nobody ever sweats in, shall we?

3. When You HAVE to Go OUT (and you can't get away with wearing your “comfy clothes”
Nothing is less appealing than having to get "dressed up" for some fancy event when you are "poofed-up" by pregnancy. Whether you're on your way up or on your way back down, the weight that comes with your little bundle of joy can leave even the glammest of fashionistas struggling. My advice: less is more. You are already feeling MORE so skip the ruffles, bows, and pleats. My favorite choice for a dressy evening is the A-Line dress. This style of dress works for all pregnant and post-pregnant bodies, and you can determine the length by what state those legs and ankles are in. By all means, go tastefully short if you can, but a longer silhouette does beautifully as well. Tall or short, poofy or Snake-That- Swallowed-The-Basketball, the A-Line is sure to taper your figure and give you a nice clean line.

And last, but certainly not least - Accessories! This is where you can really have some fun. Pearls seem a little matronly at this time, so I'd say make a hip fashion statement with multiple necklaces of differing lengths or some really gorgeous, bigger-than-you-usually-wear earrings. But not all at once - remember to keep it simple and you'll look fresh and pulled together (even if that's NOT how you feel).

And the “beyond-the-clothes” fashion advice from Josi and Julie is: We know there will be days that you will feel completely self conscious and frumpy no matter what you put on, but try to keep in mind that your growing (or slowly shrinking) belly, and voluptuous chest are reminders of the blessing of motherhood (and all that it entails). It takes a long time to “get there” and will take a long time to get back, but the product of the process is well worth it! Just look in your baby's eyes…..

Photo by Jonathan Willmann