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Pregnancy Tops: When Tighter = More Flattering
June 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM by Guest Editor - Comments (7)
Photo from American Apparel Imagine a baby bump there.
I'm an editor at Lucky Magazine -- which is all about great, accessible style -- and I'm also a mom: I have a two-year-old son, and I'm pregnant with my second, due in September. As my belly has gotten bigger, I've been obsessed with finding cool, affordable clothes...ones that aren't necessarily from the maternity department (am I the only one who thinks it's criminal that designer maternity jeans cost just as much as the regular ones?). So this blog is going to be about all the stuff I'm loving, in both fashion and beauty.
My first pregnancy I was pretty conservative, style-wise: I swaddled myself in trapeze tops and flowy dresses, and avoided anything that might cling to my rapidly-expanding bump. It's just what seemed more appropriate, at the time. But then I went to all the trouble of getting back to my pre-pregnancy shape (well, pretty close)...and almost immediately decided to get pregnant with no. 2. So this time around, I'm feeling less inclined to wear a tent -- I just don't want to retreat into big clothes again. And it sounds like most of you don't mind flaunting your belly bump either.
Here's the thing: I've also become convinced that a tight top actually makes most pregnant women look way better than a voluminous one does. A blouse that's narrow through the shoulders and slim through the sides gives you a leaner silhouette: you look big in the front, where your bump is, not big all over. So I've stocked up on these long, ribbed tanks from American Apparel, up one size from my usual. They have a scoop neck that isn't too low in real life, and they're nice and long, so you don't risk them riding up and showing skin.
I pair them with a fun necklace, so they don't feel so sporty -- check out these statement necklaces (all under $50) from Anthropologie. I wear them alone (on the weekend), or under jackets or cardigans (at the office or when out and about).
A bonus? When my belly isn't hiding behind a yard of fabric, that lazy 20-something guy in the suit is far more likely to give me his seat on the subway, without my having to stand there and clear my throat for five minutes.
What do you think: Too tight? Too bare? Or just right?
Please ask me questions in the comments section: Are you looking for something in particular? Do you need advice about how to wear a certain piece? If I can't answer them, I know a whole office full of people who can!
FILED UNDER: maternity clothes
Comments:
i have yet to buy maternity shirts. I still wear the clothes i were before i was pregnant. i love showing my little bump. And i dont mind people coming up to me wanting to touch it. I really like this article.
Last time, I did the same thing! HUGE shirts, that covered a foot more than necessary! This time, I've figure out, the longer the better, and the tighter the better. Just because we're pregnant doesn't mean we don't have a waist anymore!
I'm so glad you agree! RanaAurora, you make a great point about getting tops with stretch-- it's totally key. I'll keep on the lookout for cute inexpensive ones for you guys....
--Meredith
I think with maternity (or normal tops in a bigger size) tops it is pretty key to have them more fitted in the shoulders and bust, just not so fitted that they can't grow with you!
I'm pregnant with my second and once again I'm carrying my extra weight pretty much everywhere. So I like to go for tops that are a tighter fit up top and with a little bit of give around my belly. If I go with a more fitted all the way through tee or tank, I have to make sure they aren't too long or else they make my butt and hips look suuuuuuper wide. But then again at 5'0 I have to be careful with the length of almost everything. No cute maxi dresses for me!
check out forever 21 for the same style long ribbed tanks.. i got a bunch for $3.50 each!
Yep - I have not bought the first maternity top. Im 33 weeks into it this week. Stretchy stuff with cotton/Lycra mix has worked great. I just buy XL or lately 2XL. I also find that black is really the most slimming color to wear. When I wear black tighter fitting tops, sometimes people dont even notice my huge bump (how I just dont know LOL)
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I think that if it's not at least a little tight around the boobs, especially underneath, it ends up looking like a tent. It's nice if it has a little stretch so it follows the contours of the belly back up against your body on the underside as well.
RanaAurora Jun. 11, 2009 at 7:49 PM