Nine Months of Fashion: Maternity Fashion Tips

Congratulations, your baby is on its way. But now your jeans are tight and aren't fitting so well, and you can't wear that shirt to work because it is showing your belly. So what are you going to do?

It is time to invest in some maternity clothes.

Do I hear you groaning? Most women think of pregnancy clothes as being huge, shapeless sacks, baggy trousers and lots of elastic waist tracksuit pants. But it doesn't have to be!

The good news is that these days there are lots of stylish and sexy maternity clothes. Stylish and sexy aren't words you linked with pregnancy clothes in the past, but this is a new era for maternity wear.

Regardless of how fashion-conscious a woman is, the fact is that she is only pregnant for nine months, so she also should be practical and finance conscious while shopping. Purchasing maternity clothes as soon as possible in the pregnancy is the best option. The fit of maternity clothes these days has changed, and many are made to last from early pregnancy to accommodate the increase in abdominal size and to the postpartum period. Most maternity clothes are equipped with adjustable waistbands, rather than the old-fashioned panel, which allows the clothes to grow with the pregnancy. Ladies do not forget that “Comfort is the watchword during pregnancy as far as clothes are concerned”

Fitted clothes are important in pregnancy so the woman doesn't look big all over. Treating yourself to some nice clothing along the way is one way to pick up your self-esteem if it's struggling at times.

Don’t Forget Ladies: You don't need to spend a fortune on new maternity clothes.

During the first trimester invest in a few long singlets or camisoles in basic colors such as white, black, grey, red, making sure that they are extra long length.

It’s now time to invest in maternity wears during the second trimester due to the expanding belly. Here are few essential maternity items can last the whole pregnancy and afterwards: Stretch pants, Slim Fit Skirt, A Dress (preferably black), Maternity T-Shirts, A Tunic Length Sweater for cold weather, A Button down Shirt and Maternity Jeans. Ensure you have the right accessories to complement your look and spice you up.


















Ditch the 4 inch, stiletto heels and stick to lower heels, flats and wider shoes. Stick to slip on shoes or sandals because you won't want to be fiddling with straps and buckles by your third trimester when your belly is so big you can’t even reach your feet anymore!












Wear comfortable bras and underwear and adjust as your breasts, hips and abdomen increase. Invest in maternity underwear which billows out and covers your entire abdomen and maternity bras, which have several rows of hooks (at least 5 or 6) to accommodate the changes in your rib cage and also have adjustable cups.


By the third trimester you'll be filling out your maternity clothes nicely and they might be a tight squeeze by the end of the third trimester.

Comfort is the most important thing now because it is not too long from now. So if you feel like wearing baggy jeans flip flops, what are you waiting for??

Common Fashion Injuries

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SACRIFICE COMFORT FOR STYLE.

Below are some fashion accessories that if used inappropriately can be harmful.

High Heels
High stilettos make us look sexy, but they can cause a lot of damage too. You can easily sprain an ankle or develop heel pain and plantar fasciitis. "We see heel pain often when changing from high heels to flats, but you can avoid this by doing stretching exercises after wearing heels," says a podiatrist. Podiatrist recommend limiting heel height to 2-3 inches, and buying shoes with a rubber sole or pads in the ball of the foot.



Oversized Purses
Oversized purses are very popular because they can house an endless amount of stuff. But toting around a heavy bag can lead to postural imbalance and other back-related ailments. What you lug in your purse and how you carry it makes all the difference.




Large Carry-All
"A large bag slung over one shoulder is a neck problem in the making," says a chiropractor. To combat this you should continually switch shoulders and look for bags with adjustable straps. "An adjustable strap is great because you can carry it on either shoulder or across the body. Doing this will use different body muscles and reduce the likelihood of aches and pains from overuse,"



Small Tote (worn at the elbow)
Another common trend is to hold your purse perched at the elbow. Doing this can cause a lot of strain on your forearm and you can exacerbate tendonitis of the elbow, which can become very severe if not treated. Avoid holding your bag this way.



Dangly Earrings
Wearing heavy earrings can damage the ear lobes and, in some cases, lead to tears and surgery. "Any dangling type of earring that pulls down on the earlobe--especially if it distorts or lengthens it--is too heavy to use," You can use dangling earring as long as they don’t cause you pain.



Please use your fashion items in moderation.