Featured Retailer: Belly Maternity

Contribution by Guest Blogger Sloane Di Croce:

Lets be honest, the shape of a square is flattering on virtually no human being, unless you are a six-something, under one hundred pound supermodel and even then- a possibly frightening sight.  So when a woman receives the exciting news that in nine months she will welcome a new little life into the world, I’m sure she cannot help but feel the anxiety of her body transforming into somewhat of a block- as wide a she is tall, or for me, as short.  Thankfully, today’s maternity wear designers are celebrating the baby bump and in some cases showing it off with tight fitting tops and dresses.  Say goodbye to the muumuu and the circus tents that so often expecting mothers drape over themselves, and say hello to the rare opportunity to let the belly out.

So often today, women are turning to the pregnancy trends that embrace the baby bump, going so far as wearing bikinis at the beach.  Pregnancy is the perfect time in a women’s life to break all those fashion rules like horizontal stripes, and boat neck tanks, because the bottom line is whatever one finds comfort in is when one is happy, and no one wants an uncomfortable and angry pregnant woman. I must back track a little and rephrase my comment on the circus tent, because although wearing something that makes you look bigger is beyond my rational thinking, pairing a light flowy top with skinny belt between the bust and belly, or hanging it low on the hips for a drop waist, brings the look out the 60’s and makes it modern.

I had the pleasure of speaking with adorable and luxury maternity wear savvy Eva Salem, owner of Belly Maternity, located on Mount Pleasant road in Toronto.  The boutique has been open for eight years and is expanding to the online shopping world this fall.

Salem threw every fear I had about maternity wear out the window explaining that pregnancy does not mean that your own style has to suffer, and put it simply- whatever your style was pre-bump should carry on for the forty week journey. In general, one’s style should not change and fortunately today, the cuts are more gratifying and body conscious in terms of really finding pieces that fit certain body types.

More and more designers today are coming out with complete maternity lines, and the trends for maternity wear are mirrored off all the ready-to-wear collections from designers; patterns, bright colours, tastefully done eyelet cutouts. And best of all you can wear your favourite jeans when you’re pregnant because popular denim companies such as J Brand, 7 For All Mankind, and Citizen for Humanity have a spandex panel to accommodate the belly.

Whether your style is classic, modern, conservative, or trendy, maternity lines allows every woman to feel themselves during what can be a tiring time in her life, but her wardrobe does not have to be.

Designer brands carried by Belly  Maternity include:

Olian Maternity
Ripe Maternity
Maternal America
Boob Nursing
Noppies
Paige Jeans
Line Knitwear

For more information about Belly Maternity:
BELLY { maternity }
Canada’s premier maternity boutique.
615 Mount Pleasant Rd in Toronto.
416-440-1734
www.bellymaternity.ca
bellymaternity@rogers.com