Starstyle maternity wear
Forget the Fendi Baguette bag, the chicest accessory to be seen with this season is a bump. And as celebs like Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Liz Hurley have shown, pregnancy is no bar to looking gorgeous, wearing the latest designs and projecting starstyle glamour.
There's no excuse for that overgrown smock top and unflattering leggings. These days, dedicated maternity wear companies are springing up all over the place, ensuring that ladies in waiting look as radiant and fashionable as ever.
Celebrity bumps
 |
 |
 |
 |
Stateside company A Pea in the Pod's website lists more than 50 celebrities, including Madonna and Liz Hurley, who have plundered the online boutique, which stocks designs by Tibi and Lilly Pulitzer amongst others. A Pea in the Pod specialises in using bright colours, luxurious fabrics and hip styling to bring the fun back into maternity wear. Indulge in a sexy cocktail dress for evening or some great maternity jeans with 'stretch bellies'. The online boutique stocks a good range of basic trousers, suits and underwear as well as items for special occasions, and shipping to the UK can easily be arranged.
L'Attesa is another US store which supplies mums-to-be in the public eye. Well-loved for their range of flattering trousers, the store is best known for having supplied Catherine Zeta Jones with her trademark leather trousers in the drugs thriller Traffic.
Best-dressed bumps
 |
 |
 |
 |
If you're looking for the very trendiest maternity wear, head for fashionista's favourite Marc Jacobs, who has designed a pair of maternity jeans for his many adoring, but pregnant, fans. And if you can bear to part with a serious amount of cash, Manolo Blahnik's range of flat-ish shoes are a must-have. Designed with his muse Sarah Jessica Parker in mind, who resolutely refused to give up wearing fabulous footwear - even when she couldn't see her feet, no fashionista should be without a pair.
When PR guru Angela Chew fell pregnant, she was frustrated at the lack of stylish maternity clothes, and so MommyChic was born. Since then, ER's Alex Kingston, Cate Blanchett and Uma Thurman have all invested in Chew's Jacki O inspired designs for day and splashed out on intricately beaded evening wear.
As an ex Fashion Editor on American Vogue, Liz Lange knows a thing or two about clothes, so when she launched her maternity line she focused on delivering items which have a great cut to flatter bumps. Liz has dressed Catherine Zeta Jones and Cindy Crawford, and her clothes were featured in Sex and the City throughout Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon's) pregnancy. Her designs are ideal for working mums-to-be, like Miranda, who need to look businesslike throughout their pregnancies.
Funky bumps |
 |
 |
 |
For more casual celebrity mums-to-be, the unofficial uniform consists of low-slung Maharishi trousers topped with a tight t-shirt, and bump proudly displayed in the gap between the two. All Saint Melanie Blatt, Madonna and Davina McCall all popularised this look during their pregnancies. Maharishi's trousers aren't specifically designed for pregnant women, but are baggy and comfortable enough to accommodate a few extra pounds. London store Maternus stocks a range of baggy trousers and quirky slogan t-shirts if you're in search of this look, and a catalogue is available for mail order.
For lovers of the boho look, Naissance Maternity is the only place to shop. With ranges for 'funky divas', 'groovy mamas' and 'hip chicks', you're guaranteed to stand out from the crowd. And with Elle MacPherson Intimates lingerie on underneath your funky clothes, you'll feel a million dollars!
Star shopping list
- A Pea in the Pod
- L'Attesa
- MommyChic
- Liz Lange
- Maharishi
- Maternus
- Naissance Maternity
- Elle MacPherson Intimates
Want more star style?
Read all about star pregnancies:by Marion Turner
Where to next?
- Enjoy some star-style pampering
- See our top 10 pregnancy relaxation tips
- Pregnant? Check our health and wellbeing section
- Read our feature on mother and baby spa breaks
