Getting over the Christmas bump
BEING pregnant doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style and this season’s party dresses offer you the choice of being both glamorous and comfortable throughout the festive season.
Voluminous maternity smocks are a thing of the past and styles are now designed to grow with your bump. Experiment with the variety of styles on offer to find the most flattering ones.
It’s not necessary to break the bank either, dresses form key pieces of a capsule maternity wardrobe, team with boots for lunch with friends, or dress up with some sparkly jewellery for a night out.
“I really enjoyed my pregnancy and felt the key was to embrace the changes that are taking place in your body. Although I love all aspects of fashion, I did struggle at first to dress my new shape, particularly for events I had to attend. It was quite the learning curve,” says model Sohaila Lindheim, new mum to Ziggy Leon.
So how do you dress your bump for the festive season and still look stylish?
Here are Sohaila’s top tips:
1. Check it out: “The key is to take in a selection of dresses and find the right style for you. Key styles include: empire-line maxi dresses, v-neck with a ribbon or a belt tie separating the bust from bump, faux wrap dresses and round-neck dresses, but only if they have two colours breaking the dress up.”
2. Right foundation: “Correctly fitted maternity underwear is a must.”
3. Keep it simple and accessorise: “Too much pattern is unflattering and busy. A little black dress can be jazzed up with a piece of chunky jewellery, colourful tights and a light shrug. Finish with a stylish clutch, a manicure and some lippy and you’ll be the most stylish bump in town.”
Marie O’Donovan of JellyBean in Douglas, Cork, says: “Steer clear of loud prints and satin — it’s not very forgiving — choose solid colours to flatter your changing shape. As your shape starts to change, so will your back and bust size, so getting properly measured and investing in a good maternity bra can dramatically change your silhouette.
“At this time of year, with more occasions to attend, dresses offer versatility and it’s easy to change your look from afternoon to evening with accessories. Good quality materials, like a heavy jersey, will hang smoothly and neatly over your growing bump so you’ll will feel comfortable and glamorous whatever the occasion.”
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