Seeing as the entirety of pregnancy lasts about 9 months, the need for maternity clothes lasts at most the same length of time. Probably longer. D’oh. Why should you buy a whole new wardrobe to wear for a maximum of nine months, none of which will fit you after? The answer: You don’t have to! Maternity clothes are, for the most part, expensive and not very flattering. You do need to feel that you look as good as possible when you’re pregnant, though. No matter your sewing ability or willingness to search for inexpensive maternity clothes, you do have lots of options.
Summer is finally here! And it’s most definitely our favorite season. My family spends a ton of time getting wet–whether via sprinkler, pool, pond, lake, or water park. We practically live in our bathing suits from the moment it hits 65 degrees until September. And I have to admit, I have a thing for cute bathing suits. Maybe more than a thing… an expensive obsession?!? Last year, my one-year-old daughter had about six bathing suits. And I’m a sucker for anything retro.
But this year, I’ve found a way to step it up. Not just adorable bathing suits… matching bathing suits! Enter Moderne Child Shoppe and their super stylish Mommy and Me swimwear line. They sent me a pair of swimsuits for my daughter and I to sample and we fell in love!
Spring has certainly sprung across North America, but in my wardrobe—not so much. B.K. (Before Kids), I prided myself on keeping up with seasonal trends, but these days it takes an intervention before I realize that I’m still sporting maternity leggings and ratty nursing tanks. Rather than wait to be accosted by the proverbial Stacey and Clinton, I decided to get proactive and consult with some of my most fashionable friends, followed by an insane amount of “research” in the Pinterest hole. The good news? I’ve decided to share everything that I learned and thus have compiled this season’s ‘Must-Haves for Moms.’ That’s right—here are the crib notes on summer mom style.
Revised: We mistakenly published a piece on ‘Purse ‘n Boots’ by Elizabeth Anne Shoes, and our diligent readers made us aware of several issues with the company not fulfilling the orders. We have researched the company and would strongly recommend not having dealings with them. Articles/TV warning spots you can peruse about Purse ‘n Boots are as follows:
CTV
Better Business Bureau Complaints
Facebook Lawsuit
Facebook Complaints
Yelp
We apologize for our short-sightedness, and thank our readers who made us aware of the issues with the company.
Are you a women who experiences the impracticality of carrying a purse on a daily basis? Are you sick of pant-pockets being too small to fit your essentials? Elizabeth Anne Shoes, a Canadian shoe store, has invented Purse n’ Boots- “The World’s First Purse for Your Feet.” The shoes showcase patented secret pockets that are able to fit your cell phone, make up, credit cards, house keys, cash and passports. The pockets are hidden but the quality design and materials aren’t! Comfort and quality are emphasized in each and every design. These long-lasting, unique, stylish and practical boots are perfect for every women!
Are you a mom? On the go? Ha! (Trick question!) Code Vitesse is a Canadian designer with the goal of giving women the freedom to do as they please while remaining comfortable, yet stylish in their clothing. It’s awfully hard to find stylish and flattering back to work fashion. These versatile pieces are easy to pair up or down, and can help a busy mother easily transition from a work function to her kid’s play date.
Wrinkle free, cling-resistant and flowy, the Code Vitesse pieces allow moms to look polished in seconds. Just don’t forget the lipgloss as you run out the door!
I adore fall and winter. Not so much for the weather (I’m personally more of a summer gal) but for the fashion! Living in Vancouver, fall and winter fashion stretches all the way from fall to spring. Fall clothing for kids is just as fun (if not more) than the clothing for adults.
At Urban Mommies we are currently loving kids clothes from Noch Mini, a New York based children’s line designed by Jina Jang. Noch believes in protecting the environment and our children’s bodies by using only certified organic materials and low-impact dyes.
Check out the Noch Mini Fall/Winter 2014 Lookbook for great looks for your kids for the fall.
So I have a confession to make, I’m a complete colour geek. In fact, when Pantone announced their colour of the year for 2014 I actually stayed up until 1am to catch the news. It’s sad but true. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed because the colour they chose is gorgeous – Radiant Orchid.
“Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple – one that draws you in with it’s beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple, and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health.” – from the Pantone website.
Historically speaking Pantone’s colour of the year choices have made major impact on fashion, home decor, and even graphic design. (Remember Honeysuckle in 2011, and Emerald Green last year; Pantone called it). At the recent fashion previews for Spring 2014 Radiant Orchid was spotted on the runways at both Max Mara and Missoni, which almost guarantees it will trickle down to mass market fashions as well.
Personally I’m loving this new hue, it’s about time that we see something fresh and vibrant hit the fashion scene as opposed to the deep jewel tones and heavy makeup that has been popular for the last few seasons. A nice bonus; purple is one of the most universally flattering colours out there, so this really is a trend that everyone can participate in. If you have fair skin, lean towards cooler lilac based colours, and if your skin is darker pick a deep rich shade of orchid.
So what’s the best way to wear this new hue? If you are feeling bold you can wear it all-over, but I will probably lean towards a few statement pieces in Radiant Orchid. I’m already envisioning skinny jeans, with a light orchid coloured cardigan, and a cluster of vintage broaches (maybe a beehive too?). Or maybe I’ll get a nice cross-body bag in a deeper orchid shade and pair it with my spring/summer dresses. For me the key to participating in a trend is to balance my investment. A good bag will be with me for a long time so I can splurge, if I decide to go for Radiant Orchid pants though, I’ll probably get a budget friendly pair.
Not sure what shades play well with Radiant Orchid? You are safe working with navy, brown, or even a deep violet. If you want to create a real statement with your outfit consider pairing it with teal, turquoise, or last year’s favourite; emerald.
If you still aren’t convinced or ready to go all out with the trend, how about starting with your makeup? This is a great colour to wear on your lips or tips – in fact you might be able to do both for a polished monochrome look. However you style it, do give this trend a try, and then tweet us a pic – we’d love to see what you came up with!
When people ask me what do for a living, I usually say, “I’m a fashion writer and blogger”. More often than not, this is followed up with, “oh, you are a mom blogger?” The thing is, being a mom isn’t what defines me or my dress sense. I’m an entrepreneur and fashion blogger, and I happen to be a mom. To me being fashionable doesn’t stop being an option when you have kids. If you had a sense of style before, it’s still there, just a little dormant now.
It goes without saying that being pregnant places demands on your wardrobe that your existing clothes likely can’t meet. Dressing your pregnant belly shouldn’t be dreaded or seen as something that’s difficult but should be embraced as an opportunity to rise to the challenge of dressing your new shape. Pregnancy in the summer may be seen as easier to dress with maxi dresses and loose t-shirts but believe it or not, there are some easy tricks and trends to implement for fall pregnancy wear. This fall, there are some key maternity trends and modified runway trends to keep you and your belly always looking stylish. Here are the UrbanMommies pregnancy fall winter fashion trends.
Tailored pieces. Though it may seem easier to hide your belly under loose sweaters and baggy pants, that can actually make you look bulkier. It definitely doesn’t make you feel as pretty as a nicely tailored pair of jeans or jacket will either. If staying fashionable is super important to you, you could go for a pair of maternity jeans that hits below your belly, though these will be a little more uncomfortable. If you’re OK with wearing real maternity jeans, find a pair that fit you perfectly and have a nice tailored look. If you can’t find a pair that fit you exactly right, get the pair that fits your belly best and then get the pants tailored at a seamstress. Jackets for maternity wear this fall should also have a structured look to them. Jackets are often the item that gets overlooked during a fall pregnancy but with the tailored trend this fall, the maternity jackets look great on everyone. The jacket trend for this fall in maternity wear combines timeless and classic cuts to create a tailored jacket that will keep you warm and flatter your growing belly. Just remember—get one size bigger than you need if you’re buying before the third trimester!
Colored Condiments. If you’re a fan of colors but like to stay in earth toned hues, then you will love the color trend for maternity wear this fall. Olive greens, mustard yellows and brick red (like ketchup!). These colors really match the fall colors that surround you and generally look good when mixed together and with most skin tones.
Leather pieces. This is one fall runway trend that can be taken into maternity wear! Even though pregnancy might not allow you to wear leather pants or a skirt, you can wear tops with leather pieces. Leggings now come in stretch leather which would look great with a structured jacket or mustard sweater. Keep in mind whenever you’re buying something with leather, to try it on, make sure it’s comfortable and that it will expand with your belly.
Prints and Details. Another trend that was translated from the runway to maternity trends for this fall is prints and details on different pieces. Matching prints is the thing right now but if you feel that draws too much attention to your bump, then add just a splash of print to an outfit for some interest. Details added to clothing such as appliques, zippers or beaded detail adds great emphasis to an empire waist.
Use these fall maternity trends as inspiration to spice up your maternity wardrobe this fall but always remember to invest in pieces that are stylish and comfortable!
Allie Samborn is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, BC. She has covered a wide range of topics from fly fishing destinations to annual makeup trends. She has her BA in English Literature and a diploma in Fashion Merchandising.
