How To Master Maternity Style For Any Occasion With Allison Bornstein
From the importance of accessories to the polished pieces that will serve you through pregnancy and beyond, these are the fail-safe maternity dressing tricks that the LA-based fashion stylist, wardrobe consultant, author and creator of the Three Word Method℠ swears by
Stay true to your signature style
“I would describe my style using three words: classic, ’70s and elegant. During my pregnancy, I’ve been holding on to those words because there are so many changes, and so much that is out of your control. While I’m trying to embrace the changes, it feels nice to have a landing spot for myself and my style, so I don’t feel so far from what I feel comfortable in.”
Embrace new proportions
“It’s interesting because the things I like haven’t changed, but the things that look good on me have changed a bit. So, while the pieces I buy are the same, the silhouettes and the proportions are slightly different. Right now, I’m into structured T-shirts – like The Row’s long-sleeved style – and I like them to be longer. Before, I liked them to hug my body a little bit and sit right at the top of my jeans. I’ve always liked a big, oversized blazer, and that’s still working nicely for me, but I’m also loving cropped jackets that hit above the bump.
“I’ve collected a ton of drawstring pants since being pregnant. I have The Row’s ‘Gala’ pants and Toteme’s linen drawstring pair that luckily still fit. I haven’t been wearing jeans as much, but the trick is not being afraid to go up as many sizes as you need to, maybe even one more than you think, because you want to be able to wear them for longer, but then also looking for ones that are low-slung or low-rise to sit below your bump. I prefer low-slung because they usually have a longer rise, like the Agolde pair I wore for this shoot, which gives that cool, slouchy, modern look.”
Complement your bump with oversized accessories
“It feels like I’m wearing the same thing every day, so having a long necklace adds depth and that ’70s spirit. I like Sophie Buhai’s jewelry; she feels like a modern-day Elsa Peretti, who I love. I’m not somebody who wears a ton of color, but as it gets summery again, I like the idea of adding some beaded necklaces and maybe adding some color through accessories, too.
“Because I have this big bump, I’ve been going a lot bigger and slouchier with my bags – proportionally, I think it looks good to have a really big bag as opposed to something dainty and small. I love the Valentino Garavani one from the shoot, or something with fringing.”
Play with loose and fitted silhouettes
“I recently wore a brightly colored kaftan by Khaite to a wedding. I felt like I wasn’t at that place where something fitted looked as good, and I liked the idea of a kaftan skimming the body. When you’re a little more pregnant, I think it looks amazing when you wear something super-fitted, especially if that’s not your normal style. That’s why I’m excited to wear something sexy and super-tight and have the bump out – because I’m not somebody who usually likes fitted things.”
Invest in pieces you’ll wear after your pregnancy
“I think it’s important to invest in clothes you can wear postpartum if you can. I understand not wanting to spend a lot of money, but if you are going to splurge on something, make sure it’s something you’re going to want to wear after. It also helps you stay true to your style without feeling like you’re a totally new person for the next nine months – because it already feels like so much change.
“My number-one tip would be to think about the way you define your style when you’re not pregnant and try to figure out how you could translate that when pregnant. So not getting so far away from yourself and your style, but still being willing to try new things and new silhouettes and tailoring those to this different body.”
Discover our alterations service, powered by The Seam
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“The Seam supports a future for fashion where clothes fit well, are cared for and made to last,” says Layla Sargent, founder of The Seam. The service is dedicated to encouraging a more conscious relationship with our clothes, supporting alterations, repairs or made-to-measure projects that will extend the life of our pieces so that we can treasure them for longer.
“The service allows customers across the UK to access repairs for their clothes, shoes and accessories, as well as garment alterations (currently available in London only). The technology we’ve built provides a seamless experience for customers to care for their items in just a few clicks,” adds Sargent.
Find out how to extend the life of your clothes and accessories with our Repair & Rewear service, powered by The Seam
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