Dressing For Pregnancy – How to Look and Feel Good – Series

This is my second post on the series How to look and Feel Good During Pregnancy. Multiple studies have shown that dressing good adds to confidence. The symbolism behind what you wear has more of an impact on your behaviour and self confidence than clothes themselves. The good news about having a pregnant bump is that you can get away with a lot during pregnancy, such as body-clinging tops (remember for once your body is firm not flabby). Experiment with styles, colours and clothes you’d usually avoid. Dressing the right way during pregnancy will definitely enhance your pregnancy glow.

Allowances for an expanding figure are usually incorporated into ready-to-wear maternity clothing and sew-at-home patterns so you can wear your usual size. Sweat glads and oil glands become more active during pregnancy. They contribute to increased perspiration and may cause chilling or overheating. Select fabrics in weights that maintain comfortable body temperature as they absorb and release body perspiration. On personal note I have seen people buying maternity clothes much before it is actually needed. This makes them feel foolish and disappointed as it might not fit. So my advise to all the newbie momies is – it is wiser to wait for a maternity wardrobe until you really need it.

TIPS FOR RIGHT DRESSING DURING PREGNANCY

Direct attention towards your face, away from your tummy. You can not hide your pregnancy and that’s not the intent. But if eyes are focused on your tummy, they won’t be focused on your face! Be creative with collars, necklines and yokes. They frame your face and can enhance simple elegance of any dress. Let the fabric flow over your body , you will appear less bulky. All this can be achieved with attention to each elements of design- line, shape, texture, colour and pattern. Lets discuss this one by one.

Line

Lines define shape of your body and your clothing. You may feel more attractive and comfortable if silhouette of your clothes are more dominant than silhouette of your body. Maternity coats, dresses and tops are generally more attractive and comfortable if closely fitted at the neck, shoulder and upper chest. Dresses and tops ties under the bust are not flattering as they drew attention to the tummy, add visual width and make you look bulky and cumbersome.

Maternity clothes should have enough ease to be comfortable. If they are slightly loose, they will be more comfortable. If there is not enough ease, fabric will be strained and pull into wrinkles, indicating poor fit.

Wear clothes which has straight or slightly curved lines as they balance enlarging abdomen. Avoid round lines as they visually enlarge a full figure. Wear clothes which has vertical lines as it creates illusion of slimness and increased height. Avoid wearing horizontal lines as it creates an illusion of width and decreased height.

Shapes

Shapes within a garment can emphasize or minimize your abdomen. Curved shapes repeat and emphasize the fullness of your tummy. Angular, straight shapes counter a rounded abdomen. Many divided areas of shape within a garment tend to increase visual width , decrease height and add visual weight. It is best to keep the style of maternity clothes simple. Size of shapes should be in accordance to the figure. Small to medium shape for short women, medium to large shape for tall women.

Texture

Texture refers to characteristics of a fabric that determine its suitability for style , occasion and figure type. Texture is important because the same style can appear to be different when made in fabric with different characteristics. Shiny fabrics reflect light and make your figure appear larger. Dull surfaced fabric absorb light, visually decrease size and are more wearable for maternity clothes. Avoid wearing thick, bulky, rough and heavy fabric though they conceal body shape but increase visual size an weight. Wear medium weight fabric as they hold the shape of the garment without revealing yours. Fabrics like crinkled seersucker, crepe, light weight corduroy, flannel and velvet have textural interest. When used in the upper bodice, hey lead the eye up.

Before purchasing a garment, try it on, evaluate how it falls over your figure. During pregnancy you feel warmer due to increased estrogen, increased blood volume and a higher metabolic rate. You may perspire more so avoid synthetics , wool or silk. A blend may be more comfortable.

Colour

Colour is the most memorable and stimulating element of design. When choosing maternity clothes consider colour. Try wearing bright colours as they get more attention and boost your spirit. Knowing how colour works is important if you hope to control the effect of colour in clothes. For example if you chose a light bright -pink outfit, you attract attention and appear somewhat larger. If you choose a darker, dull burgundy outfit, you draw less attention to your figure, yet appear warm and vibrant. You can actually control the effect of colour.

Using one colour to your maternity clothes is a good idea as your figure will not be divided into contrasting areas. the eye can travel up and down the outfit without any interruption, creating the illusion of decreased width and increased height. You can emphasize you own individuality and create a more memorable more attractive appearance by wearing colours that repeat some of your personal colours like your hair, eye and lip colour. Do not restrict yourself..if you like particular colour wear it. Making it look right on you depends on how you choose and wear colours to help you look your best.

For example

IF a colour is so orange and doesn’t not complement your complexion, choose a cooler version or pair it with a cooler colour.

IF a colour is so blue, and does not complement you,choose a warmer version or pair it with a warmer colour.

IF a colour is so light, washing you out, choose a darker version or pair it with a darker colour.

IF a colour is so dark, and makes you look pale, choose a lighter version or pair it with lighter colour

IF the colour is too bright, overpowers you, choose a duller colour or pair it with duller colour.

IF a colour is too dull and makes you look faded, choose a brighter version or pair it with a brighter colour.

Remember colour is easily altered by other colours around it.

Pattern

Pattern is the result of line, shape and colour woven or printed on a fabric. Patterns brings interest and variety in a wardrobe. Plain, solid-coloured fabrics focus more attention on your silhouette. Patterned fabrics can draw attention away from your silhouette and act as a camouflage. People tend to focus more on a print rather than pregnant figure.

Wear clothes with small patterns as small, all over pattern blends into uniform design and makes you look slim than larger scale patterns which increases the size and weight. Patterns with strong vertical direction visually increase height while patterns with strong horizontal direction add width. Larger border designs and circular shapes, such as polka dots and circles add width and fullness and decrease height.

Patterns usually emphasize the part of the body where they are placed and make it appear larger. Used in small amounts, patterns can draw attention towards your face and will not call for an undue attention to parts which makes you look large.

What outfit you wear can make a big impact on how you feel during pregnancy.  Keeping all the tips in mind but remember no matter what style you adopt or clothing you adopt, it is important for you to feel comfortable in your maternity clothing.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge #BlogaberryDazzle hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, happily sponsored by RRE STUDIOS and SHOWCASE EVENTS

Image Courtesy /Edits – Pexels /Canva

@SwatiMathur