Pregnancy: How to stay fabulous with your maternity style

From maternity style to classic photos of ‘The Bump’, fashionable mama of two SK Boey shares her tips on how to be fabulous in pregnancy

Being pregnant is one of the most important milestones in a woman’s life. It is an amazing nine months of growth and change in nurturing a new life inside the body. Each and every pregnancy is different but special nonetheless.

Once you are able to get past the first trimester, whereby the pregnancy is more stable and the dreadful morning sickness (or all day sickness for some!) finally subsides, a modest baby bump may start to show. It is a time when the hormones kick into high gear and some lucky women get the coveted “pregnancy glow”. Even if you don’t, it is about time to feel great and look gorgeous. Whilst pregnant, I felt even more beautiful than I did on my wedding day.

Gone are the days of wearing boring curtains to cover the growing belly. There is a whole new range of different possibilities to dress in stylish threads ranging from bespoke designer garments to flea market finds. The key is to be confident, mixing and matching regular clothes with maternity-friendly items.

I strongly recommend that all pregnant ladies embrace their changing bodies confidently and show off their baby bump. Be comfortable, original and eclectic in dressing up.

My number one shopping portal was Asos, offering affordable high street fashion, multi-label designer clothing and an entire maternity section with regular on-going sales and specials for women of every size. What’s best is they offer free worldwide shipping with a low minimum spend.  For more high end designer wear, websites like net-a-porter and Matches Fashion often have flash end-of-season sales and massive reductions.

If you are thinking of getting a bespoke piece, invest wisely and choose a design that works post-pregnancy as well. I got a custom-made cheongsam from local designer, Ong Shunmugam for my baby shower and had it re-tailored after delivery. Support local desginers!

Five tips to looking absolutely fabulous:

• The Basics: I swear by “over the bump” leggings for casual wear, as they provide great support and go with anything and everything. Solid colours like camel, black, grey and navy work for most skin tones.
• It’s all in the details: Midi or Maxi length, colour blocking and feminine floral prints are very flattering for most body shapes. Choosing dresses with well-placed ruching or draping will help accentuates those curves.
• Mix & Match: the double denim or even “stripes on stripes” used to be a faux pas but it is currently in vogue.

• Recycle what you’ve got: Regular clothes work if they’re one to two dress sizes up from your regular size. Think either form-fitting or loose fitting, such as bodycon dresses or shirt dresses. Culottes are very on trend this season and perfect for ladies on the go. Choose sensible shoes and put those killer heels aside for now.
• Lingerie Makeover: The inside is just as important as the outside! Update your lingerie collection to accommodate your growing bustline and get good support shapewear. I am a huge fan of Hot Milk and Cake Maternity’s gorgeous lines of lingerie and sleepwear. Amongst others would be Emma Jane, Mamalicious, and Bravado. Aussie brand Lovable have got practical everyday designs.

At the same time don’t forget to moisturise that awesome body with rosehip oil and cocoa butter to keep those stretch marks at bay. Perhaps you can pamper yourself with a well-deserved pedicure or foot massage. It is all about feeling good and looking great!

Maternity photography is now almost a must-do, at least for first-time pregnant mamas. A lot of women are now requesting to pose nude or experiment with editorial shots. Usually the best time for maternity shots would be past the 33-week mark so do make a booking and plan your wardrobe in advance.

There is a huge selection of photographers specializing in maternity photography. My top 3 picks would be:

• Hart from Tomato Photo
• Dan from White Room Studio
• Vincent from Koji Photography

There are also the occasional Groupon deals on that may surprise you with great outdoor or studio photography packages. Alternatively, have fun with DIY Bump photography.

So to all the pregnant mamas, stay fabulous! It is worthwhile getting some photographs taken, professionally or otherwise, as it is truly a very special time.