Annabel trained in costume, and worked in television and stage design before moving into fashion styling. She worked as Fashion Editor of a national newspaper for 15 years from age 21, and now primarily styles celebrity clients, editorially, for television, and personally.
I have been a fashion and celebrity stylist for 15 years and a mum for five of those, with two children and a third due in just a couple of months. So I have had to maintain my own style while pregnant at the same time as styling pregnant celebs for shoots and on the red carpet. Not always easy (!) but I have gathered tips along the way, and it does get easier with practise…
Tess Daily is one of my favourite clients, who looked gorgeous all the way through her most recent pregnancy. During one season of Strictly Come Dancing we successfully disguised her pregnancy for nearly 20 weeks! Tess taught me a few things about pregnancy dressing: She picked this dress herself for an awards ceremony when she was seven months pregnant- interestingly the ruffles actually detract from the bump, plus the length shows off her amazing legs. My top celeb pregnancy outfit choice.
Celebrities tend to fall into a few key style camps when it comes to maternity dressing, any of which can work well for the rest of us. I find the most successfully dressed celebs stick as closely as possible to their trademark look when pregnant.
STYLE 1: QUIRKY COOL
FEARNE COTTON
Fearne Cotton is the recent queen of quirky cool pregnancy dressing, favouring cute dresses that show off her legs, and daring to go bright with colour and prints, something we often avoid while pregnant. A key element of her look: the statement coat, which attracts attention whilst simultaneously covering the bottom, and various other areas we’d rather keep hidden. This swing coat from the Seraphine Luxe collection is gorgeous and fits the current 60’s trend perfectly. (Plus A/W 2013 is all about the oversized statement coat so you’ll look fashion forward too.)
STYLE 2: CLASSIC CHIC
VICTORIA BECKHAM
A timeless maternity look, favoured by Victoria Beckham (fourth time around) and the Duchess of Cambridge amongst many. Key items for achieving this style are a flattering poncho or cape (this version from Seraphine was a favourite of Sienna Miller) and some slim maternity jeans like these super skinnies. I also love the Seraphine collection of super soft knitted pashminas that double up as nursing scarves. This is a grown up, effortless looking maternity style that aims to make us all feel (if not look) like Angelina Jolie.
STYLE 3: ROCK STAR GIRLFRIEND
NICOLE RICHIE/MALIN AKERMAN
A current favourite with celebrities, the rock star girlfriend look sounds a little scary but is a surprisingly wearable maternity trend. The key items: Denim hot-pants or leggings (depending on how happy you are with your legs) worn with loose tunic tops, in a ‘oh I forgot I have an 8 month pregnancy bump under there‘ way. For those of us who don’t live in LA, team shorts with black opaques and biker boots. I haven’t taken these Seraphine denim shorts off since I bought them, great with a rock tee and a military jacket. This look is good for making you feel youthful while pregnant, plus a return to grunge is heralded for A/W 2013.
STYLE 4: SEXY GLAM
LARA STONE/KIM KARDASHIAN
The sexy bodycon approach to maternity dressing will always have a strong celebrity following – Lara Stone and Kim Kardashian are current bodycon loving pregnant girls, and my client Tess Daly was partial to a figure hugging dress while pregnant. It may seem an unrealistic option (surely celebrities don’t have body insecurities like the rest of us?) but actually its perfect for showing off how the rest of you looks so much slimmer when juxtaposed with that big pregnancy bump. I love this bodycon Seraphine dress, which flatter but also maintain sex appeal, a pregnancy novelty!
So, the best advice I could give from my experience of dressing pregnant celebrities and myself? Test out elements from all these celebrity maternity styles, and see which works for you best. And keep the following tips in mind…
- Don’t be scared of mixing up colour and print
- Invest in a couple of statement coats you can wear after pregnancy.
- Make your maternity skinny jeans and leggings your friends
- Don’t be scared to experiment and wear sexier pieces.
- When all else fails killer accessories will distract attention away from any parts you’d rather keep hidden.
- Remember celebrities never try to blend into the background, even when pregnant.
Good luck!
Annabelx
Fashion and Celebrity Stylist and Consultant
Find me on twitter @akermanstylist
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