Tatyanna Wright's Haute Mama

Maternity Denim Trends

Many woman love to follow fashion, but are afraid to invest in a great pair of maternity jeans, here Lori Solomon of Veronique Maternity explains how a little fashion investment can take you a long way, and what denim trends to be on the lookout for this Fall/Winter.
 
HM: Designer denim can be pricey, is this really a must have item?
LS: It is absolutely worth spending the money on designer denim. With all the changes happening to your body it is reassuring to know that you don't have to give up a wardrobe staple. Designer denim keeps you feeling hip, cool and stylish while providing you with comfort. And because they are the staple of just about everyone’s closet they are an excellent investment.  You might be wearing your jeans 5 days a week from months 4 to 9. Eventually the cost becomes amortized. Invest in a versatile pair that can go from day to evening, pick a darker wash, and make sure they fit you. Stay with a straight leg, it is less obvious then wearing the same Bell Bottom all week long. If you have the option to buy a second pair, buy a more casual pair (or maybe this is wear you buy the “trendy” pair.)

HM: Are there seasonal trends in maternity denim and what can we see this Fall/Winter?
LS: The biggest “trend” item is the exaggerated Bell Bottom (this fit is for a small population). Very popular and still very much on trend right now is the Skinny; but again, it is not for everyone. The Straight Leg is replacing the Boot Cut for the everywoman. Black denim, and various shades of denim are the washes of the moment but that will be changing as we go deeper into Fall and on into Spring. In the Spring there will be more changes, the Legging jean will be the biggest. It is much more a legging then the Skinny and its fit and denim weight will reflect that. You will see this and the Straight Leg in regular denim, white and charcoal grey, and medium blue denim.

For most women, the best style (or bang for your buck) would be the Straight Leg or a smaller width Boot Cut in a medium to dark wash. These two styles flatter most body types and the color can take you from day to night. If you a re a petite girl, more then likely a 20 inch Bell Bottom is not the best look; but that is a generalization because there is someone who can do it. If you know your body really well, you will know if you can rock one of the trends.

To shop this seasons denim trends, visit VeroniqueMaternity.com

 

Maternity Denim

There's one thing I’m asked a lot, its “What’s the best maternity jean and when should I buy them?” My general advice is, when pregnant buy the brand you know fits your body. If you’re already wearing Citizens of Humanity or True Religion, then stick with it since you know that brand fits your shape. But for truly expert advice, I enlisted the insight of the very savvy Lori Solomon, owner and buyer of Veronique Maternity who’s fabulous “wall of denim” showcases designer denim labels J Brand, Juicy, and Paige Premium Denim amongst many other fabulous items.

Lori Solomon: Remember the number one thing to look for when buying maternity jeans is fit. Fit! Fit! Fit! Comfort and fit! Keep in mind that denim is the one item that is difficult to buy early and keep through your whole term because it has less stretch than most other fabrics. More than likely the first pair should be purchased during the fourth month.

HM: So what kinds of jeans are out there and how do you know what’s right for you?
LS: Comfort is key. Make sure you have enough hip space. Pay attention to where the denim meets the panel. The denim should fit a little snug on the legs and bottom. As, with all denim, it will stretch as you wear it. All the brands do denim differently, so be sure to try them on and figure out what works for you. For example Paige Premium Denim does a great classic boot cut, fits true to size and is good for virtually all body types. The Paige styles have a supportive over-the-belly panel for those who like the extra support. Juicy has a mid-panel that comes halfway up the belly and seems to be one of the most comfortable. They do a classic jean, a straight leg and a skinny. J Brand is a new entry into the maternity market and has a lower rise. The panel is cut into the sides of the waist band making it almost invisible. They offer a full range of leg options including: 22' Love Story, 16" Straight Leg and 12" Pencil Super Skinny. These are great post-partum when you want the look of a regular jean but the extra comfort of a maternity jean.

Through the course of your pregnancy your two most important purchases should be a great pair of jeans and a nice pair of pants; they will take you everywhere. Finally, when buying denim or any maternity item don't get hung up on sizes; they vary from style to style and brand to brand. If you don't wear jeans Veronique offers lots of options from dresses and skirts, to cords, leggings, and techno twills.

Visit Veronique Maternity online for fabulous fashion forward options. Be on the look out for Loris' follow up post on Maternity Denim Trends.

 

Haute Mama Style File - Fall

Click here to learn how to WEAR IT FOUR WAYS at the Haute Mama Style File
To purchase, visit the store section of hautemamaonline

Madison Rose: Affordable Maternity Wear and More…

Madison Rose is more than affordable maternity. It’s a boutique filled with both formerly loved and brand new gorgeous finds. Boutique owner Jilian DiChiaro has a natural easy sense of style and gifted eye for selecting fabulous pieces from previously owned maternity to a fantastic collection of hard to find (brand new) nursing pieces. Identifying a need in the maternity market place, Jilian set out to open her own boutique: “I noticed that many women were using online notice boards for buying and selling pre owned maternity clothes. A light bulb just went off and I thought that it would be great if women could come to one place. So I started collecting and buying clothes and started the business out of my house.”  

One of the big differences between Madison Rose and other maternity re-sale stores is that Jilian buys the items directly from the seller rather than consigning them. “This way our clients do not have to wait until the item sells to see their reward.” Assessments are done by appointment only.
The other difference is Jilian works with vendors to get closeout items or overstock, enabling her to offer brand new items at a lower price. In addition to seasonal pieces, Jilian sources “ from all over”, which means she can offer off-season selections like a bathing suit for that winter vacation. With price points to match every budget you can find pieces from Diane Von Furstenburg and Anna Sui to Liz Lange and Target ranging from $49-150, and designer denim (Citizens, Juicy, Seven, Earl, Rock n Republic etc) averaging $90.
Madison Rose’s other appeal is nursing apparel, an area I’ve found difficult buying. But on this occasion I picked up a couple of fabulous breastfeeding items from Milk. It was great to actually try on the items and see how functional they are and how they work with my body. Fit is really important particularly post birth, when you’re body isn’t anywhere close to its former self. Nursing items are something you’ve got to try on, since you’re bust size will increase, the way clothes fit will be very different. Madison Rose offers hard to find comfortable yet elegant pieces. Some of the best I’ve seen in stores.

Madison Rose is also involved with charity Safe Horizons who’s mission is to provide support, prevent violence, and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities. “We often get many clothes we are not able to use. We felt that women in crisis could benefit from these donations, so we work with Safe Horizons".

Madison Rose is located at 313 Court St. Brooklyn, New York. Visit madisonrosematernity.com for more information.

June Style File - A-dapt Dress Wear It Four Ways

To view how to Wear It Four Ways, click here. To purchase, visit the store section of hautemamaonline
Coming next month…the A-dapt pant.

Haute Mama Style File - May

Click here to learn how to WEAR IT FOUR WAYS at the Haute Mama Style File

Haute Mama Style File - April

Click here to learn how to WEAR IT FOUR WAYS at the Haute Mama Style File

Spring Looks For Pregnancy

To find out more follow our link to the Haute Mama Style File for the best in how to dress pregnant.

 

Dressing For Pregnancy On A Budget

Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on an entirely new wardrobe. On the contrary, there are several ways to get the most from your looks during pregnancy. Consider what you already have in your wardrobe. Is anything stretchy like jersey or a cotton/modal blend? Do you have any skirts or leggings with an elasticized waistband? Over the past fashion seasons we’ve seen many tunics, sweater dresses, long empire line sundresses and lengthy tees and tank tops that can easily be worn over your belly. Luckily, all these trends can offer you current maternity style.

If you really want to buy maternity, but are a little price-conscience right now, an excellent solution is consignment maternity wear.
Krista Faro, founder and CEO of InStyleBelly created her company for the fashion savvy expecting mother working to a financial plan.  Faro feels it’s not practical to pay top dollar for clothing that will be worn for such a short amount of time.  Her mission is to provide expectant mothers with stylish, designer maternity wear at very affordable prices (some items below). And on the flip side, if you happen to already have a fabulous collection of maternity clothing you’re not going to wear again, why not make some extra cash for items you don't want or need?

To shop InStyleBelly’s vast apparel selection from designers like DVF, Juicy Couture, and Isabella Oliver, visit: instylebelly.com

The Adapt-A-Dress

Last September I had the pleasure of meeting hip Berlin label MissingLingLing during my visit to Germany. A mutual friend thought one of MissingLingLing’s designs would make for a fabulous dress to wear pregnant and introduced me to one of the designers. Our friend was right.

The dress is called A-dapt, and quite simply was designed to do just that - Adapt to your figure, needs and lifestyle. The inspiration for the A-dapt design came from commuting. The designers spend a lot of time in planes as they both come from the southern hemisphere but live in the northern hemisphere. “We always had trouble with what to take on those short business trips, and long trips to visit the family or just a weekend away.  Due to the luggage limitations traveling lightly was important to us. We wanted to have one classic design we could adapt to the differing climates, moods or situations”.

The dress is made from a vicose/lycra blend making it easy to care for. Due to the nature of the fabric and design the A-dapt fits most body types, and is very flattering - one of the reasons I felt this dress would make for a fabulous edition to our Adaptable Apparel Collection (launching soon). You can wear it before and during pregnancy, as well as to breastfeed. Take it on a trip and style it four ways. “This is the new utility chic wear for all women whether you are a mother, businesswomen or traveler” says designer Lingling.

The A-dapt will be available exclusively through HauteMamaOnline.com
We are taking pre-orders via email now. And, coming soon to Haute Mama – The Adaptable Apparel Collection featuring the exclusive A-dapt dress amongst other adaptable apparel.