Help! I’m pregnant and don’t want to look like a circus tent

Help! I’m six months pregnant and really don’t want to look like a circus tent.

On the fashion map, maternity wear is nestled in obscure territory, somewhere between plus-size clothing and children’s wear, marooned on a clothing continent rarely acknowledged on the catwalk. It’s as if designers are still stuck in some pregnancy-denying era (remember that I Love Lucy episode from 1952 – “Lucy Is Enceinte” – where Lucille Ball’s character was unable to use the word “pregnant” because it was considered vulgar?)

Mercifully, maternity wear has evolved from the floral, lace-trimmed tents that Ball was sentenced to wear, with exponents of the body-positivity movement – come on down, Rihanna – coaxing baby bumps into red-lace catsuits and ribbed activewear. This is great if you’re still interested in hitting a nightclub or Pilates studio in your third trimester, but less appealing if you’re simply grabbing a takeaway decaf latte from your local cafe or catching up with friends for a mocktail.

Fortunately, we have Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Lawrence to show us how it’s done. Earlier this year, while heavily pregnant with her second child (with husband Cooke Maroney), the star took a break from tripping over Dior gowns at awards ceremonies to prioritise comfort over sexiness, stepping out in a series of cosy yet stylish outfits.

As she demonstrated, statement coats, blazers and jackets in a wild print or bold colour, layered over roomy sweaters or boxy T-shirts that skim, rather than hug, the belly, are your friend. Also, embrace the baggy-jeans trend, using a hair elastic when buttons struggle, or look for styles with strategic elastic panels in the front. Most importantly of all, take a break from heels – you’ve nothing to prove – and invest in sneakers or flat boots with a bold silhouette; these will be your most loyal servants in the weeks and months ahead.

Got a style conundrum? Email damien.woolnough@nine.com.au

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