Fashion 101
By Lauren Levin Pelissier
Okay, by now I know I'm pregnant. At this point, I guess I'm about two months along and already I am noticing just the slightest bit of tightness in my favorite pair of jeans. But at a our recent family get together, no one seems to notice, not even Grandma who's always telling me I'm too thin. "Okay," I think, "maybe it's all in my head. I can't be gaining weight yet." And so it goes...
Yes, I was already getting bigger. As a matter of fact, my stomach was twice the size it should've been at 4 months. While most pregnant women can probably stretch their pre-pregnant clothes for a good few months, I was hurting for a new wardrobe at about 2 1/2. My plan? Pack my husband in the car and off to the store.
The moment I stepped foot into the maternity section, I knew I was going to fall into the grasp of fashion-victimitis. I was going from tight little tee shirts and hip-huggers to dresses with huge honking sunflowers! This was a joke right? I mean, just because I was pregnant, all of sudden have to wear uniforms with an oversized belly. With prints on them only a child could love. This was far from sexy, indeed. So much so that I could barely resist the urge to run screaming from the dressing room.
Now, my husband, who tries very hard to understand pre-pregnant female nature, had no clue as to how to handle this. Everything I tried and wanted his opinion on, got the infamous, "Well, do you like it?" No help from him. No help from Calvin Klein! And no relief coming in the near future.
My view on all of this is simple: Pregnancy, in my opinion, is one of the sexiest times of a woman's life. But a lot of women tend not to feel pretty anymore with all of the sudden changes happening to their once "perfect" bodies. At least the clothes we buy should help us out. I understand, obviously, that things need to be a tad larger but only in certain places. Any clothing made to accommodate the body carrying a little life, could and should be made to show that amazing body off. I'm not talking about tight leggings and a halter-top, but I see no need to want to walk around in a maternity sailor suit, either!
Unfortunately, the fashion industry hasn't caught on to this philosophy yet. They continue to design primarily flowered, frilly, baby-doll-looking blouses and coveralls for the captive audience of moms-to-be. So what's a pregnant woman to do? While you may not find the most appealing maternity wardrobe, keep in mind how beautiful you look, regardless of what you are wearing. Remember the remarkable thing your body is doing, keep in mind the natural flush in your cheeks. And rest assured that in less than a year, your polka-dotted dress days will be over. It may save you a lot of purely hormonal anxiety attacks.
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