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Maternity Wear For Summer

March 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm

For those who’ve made it through summer in their 3^rd – or even 2^nd – trimester, wearing high heels & a smile, I salute your poise & willpower. But for anyone who wants to scream, “it’s not a glow, it’s sweat!” a little style & some pampering can go a long way.

The only problem is that maternity style usually comes at a huge mark-up. And, as anyone who’s BTDT will tell you, don’t rationalize a price by saying you’ll wear it for another pregnancy since many womens bodies change post-pregnancy, not to mention you’ll rarely think this year’s splurge is chic 2, 3 or 5 years later … and that’s if it’s still in your closet. So before you blow your entire budget on a single item, here are some cute alternatives…

Lets start with jeans. Most women refuse to give up jeans & end up paying a steep price — $150+worth of steep — for the maternity version, but these Maternity Boy Fit M jeans by Topshop for $70 (35 pounds) in a lovely fade & brushed cotton are a stylish & comfortable alternative!

Quick style tip: if you’re not ready (or don’t want) to head to the maternity section just yet, & have a spare pair of low-to-low-mid-rise jeans that are a bit loose (think ‘fat-day-jeans’), a tailor can swap out the regular waist band for an elastic band, generally for less than $25, that will allow you to keep wearing them through the mid-stages of pregnancy (depending on weight gain & how low you carry), & this pair also lets you ease back into jeans post-pregnancy without the need for 3 pairs of Spanx.

But if you’re not a jeans person, or have a low tolerance for heat & know that anything tight will be unbearable over the summer, these comfy loose linen trousers with tie belt in WHITE or BLACK are perfect for a day at the office, a weekend in the country, lunch with friends or just running errands around town. Available at Topshop for $56 (28 Pounds).

And while some women won’t give up their jeans, if you’re like me, going from pretty bras to those industrial looking things can be devastating. An easy-on-the-wallet alternative are these pretty maternity & nursing bras from Topshop for only $28 (14 pounds): the Padded Maternity Bra is available in stripped pink; the Spot Maternity Nursing Bra is available in peach; & for something a little sexy the Geo Lace Maternity Bra in black is just the thing!

And the one thing everyone can agree on and can always use more of … PAMPERING! Manhattanite’s Haute Mama Skincare Section has 5 amazing selections priced from $30-$65, focused on what pregnant women want. And their Haute Mama Gift Section has some amazing, fun & useful items from cards to gift packs, “all out of” notepads, journals, massage lotions, & my personal favorite … the DIY Pregnancy Belly Cast Kit for $45!