Dress for your body type: Pregnancy clothes

Looking great all the time is as simple as knowing how to dress for your body type.

Melissa’s body shape

Melissa is six months pregnant and is finding it difficult to find clothes that don’t make her feel too frumpy. We chose a selection of outfits to make Melissa look and feel great.

Look for:

• Vertically striped garments
• Empire or A-line skirts, dresses and tops
• Bold accessories
• Dark-coloured wide-legged or flared pants
• Below or to the knee skirts and dresses

Avoid:

• Horizontal stripes
• Ankle straps
• Tapered or gathered pants
• Mini skirts or crop tops
• Tiny bags
• Chunky textures

Casual
United Colours of Benetton shirt, $129 at Materna Moda; Egg camisole, $74, and pants, $139; S by Senso shoes, $179; Nicola Cerini bag, $210.

Neckline: Don’t be afraid to show off your décolletage.

Layering: Visually flatten the chest by wearing a dark camisole underneath a lighter coloured kaftan top.

Pants: Cropped white pants look fresh for summer.

Bag: Draw attention away from the body with a patterned bag

Smart casual
Egg top, $139.50; Materna Moda jeans, $129; Marcs bag, $299; Bevilles Jewellers earrings, $59.95; Emma Page bracelets, $66 each; Tony Bianco heels, $89.95 at Mathers.

Top: Accentuate your femininity with a pretty satin top.

Bracelets: Delicate bracelets draw attention to slim wrists and forearms.

Jeans: Denim is still an option – many labels now do maternity jeans.

Shoes: Open-toed shoes are forgiving on swollen feet.

Dressy
Oxford bolero, $345; Fertilemind 6-way dress, $230 at Materna Moda; Emma Page earrings, $55; Williams the Shoemen bag, $39.95, and heels, $59.95.

Earrings: Draw attention to the face and neck with drop earrings.

Jacket: Conceal the upper arms with a cropped evening jacket.

Dress: A black dress will flatter a larger body.

Shoes: Make a simple outfit more formal with jewelled sandals.

 

Want a makeover?
For more about this makeover and how to apply for one yourself, check out the Noticeboard on at Notebook: forum.

 

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Styling: Nicholas Sholl & Jackie Shaw. Hair & make-up: Kenneth Higgins & David Novak-Piper.