Pregnancy Style Guide

So many women come into Room For Two and ask us how to look and feel great during pregnancy and breastfeeding that we thought we would put together a style guide.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to come and visit us...

I am only three months pregnant and I don't even look pregnant, when should I buy maternity clothes?

If you still fit into your normal clothes but they are getting little tight and uncomfortable it may be time to come in and buy your BellyBasics kit.  This kit lets you comfortably and discreetly enlarge the waistline of your current clothes like jeans, pants and skirts. 

Four months is often the time when pregnant mothers 'pop out'.  Often at this point normal clothes become too tight and start to ride up.  At this time it would be a great idea to come in and let us fit you out with some basics, like a great pair of maternity jeans and some tops, or fit your properly in corporate wear like a fabulous white tailored shirt, pants and a jacket.  This can really help boost your confidence!

I am so nervous about going to a maternity store.  Aren't all pregnancy clothes meant to make you look frumpy and older?

No, no no!  Times have changed.  The days of wearing tent dresses and men's shirts are well and truly over!  We stock a huge range of flattering, sexy, youthful maternity clothes.  The cuts and designs are contemporary and flattering your shape.  What we are trying to say is that we can make you look like a yummy mummy, easily. 

In the last ten years, there has been a lot of headway in maternity design as designers are recognising that pregnant mothers are young people, usually between the age of 20 and 40 and that it is a high priority for them to still feel young, sexy and vibrant while they are pregnant.

The sexiest clothes are clothes which fit well and we stock a huge range of sizes to fit every growing belly.  There is a lot of variety in the clothes we stock and a huge range of colours to choose from.  We also stock clothes in fabrics you would normally wear like comfortable cottons, thick knits and even sexy silks.

I don't want to spend a lot of money on clothes that I won't wear after the next nine months, what could you recommend?

A small range of maternity basics.   A basics wardrobe may be a pair of pants, a few tops, a cardigan or jacket and a dress.  This may be enough to get you through the nine months.  We can help you choose pieces that you can mix and match according to your mood.  We'll also help you accessorise your outfits to make less seem more. 

We know that women often don't have a large budget for maternity wear, so we pride ourselves on stocking very affordable, good quality clothes that will last the distance. 

We have many mothers who come back to us for their second or third pregnancy.  Some of their maternity clothes are still in good shape from their last pregnancy, so they just choose a few more items to complement these. 

I'm putting on weight in other areas apart from my tummy, for example my behind seems to have grown as well?

This commonly happens and I know we all get a little shocked by this.  Don't worry too much, with a good diet and exercise, you can return to your pre-pregnancy shape.  In the meantime, however, we have plenty of little styling tricks to help you look leaner and feel sexy.  There are plenty of tricks to make legs longer, minimise bust, minimise a very big belly.

I am getting more and more uncomfortable as my tummy gets bigger, do you have anything to help support my belly and pelvic floor?

Yes, we do.  We stock great products to help support your belly, lower back and pelvic floor.  We are more than happy to fit you with SRC support shorts or tights, to provide you with added comfort.  Of course, we also recommend that as soon as you get pregnant you start to do frequent Kiegel exercises to support your pelvic floor.  Pregnancy yoga and water aerobics classes are also great for maintaining muscle tone while your belly is growing.

I have a formal occasion to go to, can you make me look gorgeous?

Without a doubt.  We have formal dresses that will fit over your baby bump, hide other flaws and make you look extremely glamourous.  Whether it be a sexy maxi dress or a short silk mini dress, we will style you.  We also sell a range of jewellery to finish your outfit.

What are some other ways to look great during my pregnancy?

Here are our top tips for looking amazing while pregnant:

1. Confidence.   Carry yourself with pride at your growing bump, knowing that you are growing a little person inside.
2. Colour.  Wear colours which flatter you.  There is no need to stick to a plain black wardrobe when pregnant.  Come in and try pastels, bright colurs or jewel colours, whichever make you glow.   Often wearing an outfit in the same colour is very flattering to the pregnant body.  For example pants and a jacket in the same colour with a crisp white shirt help make your body look streamlined.
3. Cut.  Find clothes which make the most of your best pregnant assets and minimise your 'perceived' flaws.  There are many styles to enhance or minimise a growing bustline, for example.   Wearing clothes which fit you well always looks better than squeezing into a too-tight tee shirt or skirt.
4. Style.  If you are a corporate high flyer, there's no need to dress down while pregnant.  Maintain your dress standard by wearing tailored shirts and skirts.  There's also no need to dress older while pregnant.  If you are a sporty, yummy mummy, there's no need to dress any differently while pregnant.  Or if you pride yourself on being the fashionista, we can help you to keep up your style while growing a baby.
5. Quality.  Choose quality fabrics to wear.  We stock quality cottons, denim, knits, satins and silks, which will not easily distort with your growing belly.
6. Accesorise.  Wearing great accessories can help keep your spirits high.  Great scarves, necklaces, earrings etc can all help to make you feel fabulous.  They can also be used to hide certain areas and enhance others. 
7. Stick to your own style.  Usually by the time a woman comes to be pregnant, she has developed her own style.  If you prefer to dress casually and feel stunning in pair of jeans, a casual tee, a ponytail and a pair of flats, there's no reason to change your style.  Come in and we will help fit you in an amazing pair of straight leg jeans and a funky tee.
8. Comfort.  There is never a time when it is more important to dress for comfort than when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Your body is undergoing some pretty big changes.  Opt for natural fibres, good quality clothes, which fit well but are not too tight around your waist.  A pair of good-quality yoga pants and a comfy shirt is the favourite everyday wear for many pregnant ladies.

Someone told me that when I have the baby I won't lose the weight straight away.  Is this true?  

Yes, you may be a little shocked to know that your body takes a little time to go back into shape.  Don't be disappointed if you are still wearing maternity clothes when you leave hospital.  With our large range of maternity yoga pants, noone will know the difference, but they will be more comfortable.

We can also fit you for recovery shorts which will help to pull your stomach back into place and support the muscles while your body readjusts.  Women all over the world swear by these shorts.

The most important thing to do post-delivery, is to give yourself time to get back into shape and love every minute you are spending, bonding with your newborn.

I am from the country, not interested in looking really fancy but more interested in buying good quality clothes, can you cater for me too?

Yes.  A huge part of our clientele are from Country Western Australia.  Many pregnant ladies come into the store when they are in Perth visiting the maternity hospital for check-ups.  We have a huge range of well-priced, durable, casual clothes which keep our country clients more than happy.  

I am a bit stressed thinking about breastfeeding in public.  How will I breastfeed discreetly?  Can you help?

Yes we can.  We have a huge range of breastfeeding singlet tops, tee shirts and long-sleeved tops.  The singlet tops come with comfortable built-in bras to provide you with support.  They are all designed to help you breastfeed -discreetly, minimising your discomfort.  We have a large range of tees and long-sleeved tops to help you to establish breastfeeding.

We also carry breastfeeding wraps which go over your neck, allowing you to tuck the baby inside and breastfeed out of view.  Come in and let us show you how it's done.

 


If you have any more Pregnancy Style Questions, please visit us at 324 Barker Road, Subiaco.  Our job is to make you look and feel fabulous!!