I’m pregnant, and I feel a bit frumpy at work. I want to put on an outfit that makes me feel more confident and would like to invest in a few key items I might wear postpartum. They don’t have to be maternity-specific. Any recommendations for pieces that offer flexibility for growth and look sharp without necessarily shouting: “Look at me. I’m pregnant”? — Elise, Paris
There’s no question that dressing while pregnant is hard. It’s great and inspiring to look at Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and other stars showing off their burgeoning bellies in just-off-the-runway looks that they have managed to make work for them, largely by placing their unveiled stomachs front and center. But for most of us, that isn’t an option — especially in an office.
Instead, you are faced with staring into your closet, wondering which, if any, of the clothes that once defined you will still fit. And whether, in fact, they will ever fit again. Pregnancy, with all the life changes it implies, is disorienting enough no matter how excited you are for what it may bring. Throwing the clothing conundrum on top of that just adds to the confusion.
I understand both the desire to look like yourself, or at least some semblance of yourself, as well as the reluctance to invest in outfits with limited use — and there is nothing more seemingly limiting than pregnancy, when your body is changing size by the month.
Since no one understands the issue better than those who have experienced it, I did an ad hoc poll of friends and colleagues for their solutions. Three different approaches stood out.
The most obvious one is to take a page from Rihanna, et al., and avoid official maternity wear, which often seems to be either generic or oddly twee (not to mention expensive, given its somewhat captive market). And it’s never wearable postpartum. Instead, consider what non-maternity pieces might be adaptable to your needs.
