Don't get left out in the cold.

Personally I hate the winter.  It almost makes me dislike the joys of fall because I know it means winter is right behind it.  Sometimes I even resent spring because it never gets here quick enough.  Yes I know that summer brings mosquitoes, sunburn, upper lip perspiration, swamp crotch and fuzzy hair, but I will always prefer being warm to cold.  I hate being cold. We're in the depths of January and my 5 day weather forecast isn't giving me much cause for optimism.  I have been forced to give up my imaginary spring wardrobe planning for the immediate necessity of warm and water proof footwear.  As much as I love Brooklyn, I am always almost seduced by living in different hemisphere this time of year.

The origins of this avid seasonal dislike might come from my Scottish childhood.  We lived in a beautiful old farm house without upstairs heating or modern windows.  It was not unusual to see your breath in the morning when you woke up.  Actually there was one radiator.  You would find my sisters, brother and I huddled around it every morning getting dressed.  We would very carefully divide up the radiator into equal sized sections, place our clothes on top to take the chill off and quickly get dressed. I probably do my childhood a huge disservice telling that story.  It makes it sound like I had a frigid and bleak childhood - it was nothing of the sort.  It was an unbelievably rich, happy, almost idyllic one, but it was certainly cold.

Putting on a brave face with my daughter.

I was my own worst enemy though.  Mini skirts and skimpy blouses didn't really cut it.  It took moving to New York in my 20's to teach me how warm weather dressing is done. New York women just know how to do it every season, every year. 

So how do you do it when you are pregnant?  There are some perks to being pregnant in the winter - your body normally runs much warmer with all the extra blood flowing around you body.  The winter of 2006 and 2008 were definitely the warmest I've ever spent that is for sure.

There is sadly a distinct lack of good down coats out there  that will accommodate a bump or a baby, but here are some current options that we love.

Menonove Puff Coat

Harvest Open Cardigan by Line

Ian Cardigan by Line

Even if Kennedy and subsequent male politicians have found hats a challenge to their masculinity, if masculinity isn't something that concerns you, be grateful that a hat is just another wonderful self expression opportunity, and a warm one!  I was told once that you loose up to 50% of your heat from your head.  It is not a statistic I have any way of proving, but I do know hats have improved my winter comfort enormously.  They also almost always make me feel happier because they can be glorious, absolutely glorious.   

  

My friend Lisa Battaglia is an amazing milliner.  Her hats shouldn't be worn if you are feeling particularly shy because you will be inundated with compliments if you wear one of her creations.  Her incredible collection has actually made me almost look forward to feeling a chill in the air. 

"Swinger" by Lisa Battaglia

"Brooklyn" by Lisa Battaglia

Fashion serves as a pick-me-up in my life.  If you are like me it might be time to invest in something that raises your spirits while you wait - patiently - for the temperatures to go up.

 

The Argument for Maternity Clothes

It will come as no surprise that as one of the owners of a maternity boutique I would write a blog post touting the benefits of maternity clothes.  In my defense though if I didn't believe in the value of maternity clothes, I would never have set out to make a living selling them - it would be like a vegan opening up a steak house.  I will endeavor not to make this post a shameless plug for Bump, but the reality is it will probably be about as 'fair and balanced' as Fox News.

I wasn't fortunate enough to have Bump during my first pregnancy, over 5 years ago.  I made a lot of mistakes, many of which definitely influenced my decision to open Bump.  Like a lot of other women who fought buying maternity clothes I found myself 8 1/2 months pregnant and utterly miserable because nothing fit, I had completely lost my identity in how I dressed, and everything made me feel uncomfortable.

So based on my experience as woman with 2 pregnancies under (and over) her belt and 3 years as the co-proprietress of a maternity boutique, here is my argument for maternity clothes.

"Nothing fits any more.  Maybe I should just buy clothes that are a couple of sizes bigger than I normally wear."

Yes you could buy clothes that are a couple of sizes too big or to even start shopping in the men's department (really, please don't) but there are a couple of problems with this solution.  First of all, the waist is probably the only place they will fit.  Secondly you aren't saving money.  If you are going to buy something new, at least buy something that will fit your entire body and flatter your shape.

"Why spend money when it is just for 9 months?"

Most of us have an official or unofficial seasonal budget for new clothes.  New seasons roll around and whether it's through wear and tear, new trends, or the simple pleasure of retail therapy, we add in a new pair of jeans, a summer dress, a winter coat, a great little cardigan or a cute new accessory.  It is rare that any of us will let 6 months pass without buying anything new. So treat your pregnancy like a new season and allocate yourself the same budget you would to any other season.

Secondly the reality is, it's not just 9 months.  It would be nice to go straight back to our former bodies and favorite old pieces of clothing after we give birth but isn't normal or natural.  While our bodies are adjusting enlarged boobs and readjusting to no longer housing our babies we need clothing that is kind to our bodies. 

"I'll just find something cheap/on-sale/consignment that will do, after-all it is only 9 months*."

This was my initial reaction 5 years ago so I went out and bought a pair of black maternity from the pants from The Gap on sale.  I forgot years of standing in fitting rooms trying on pair upon pair of Gap jeans and pants only to finally accept that their pants just don't fit me very well.  But they were $40 so I would make them work.  But they didn't work,  I didn't return them and wore them once.  $40 for 1 day - not a good equation.  Now if I had just bought the pair of amazing jeans I wanted for $180 I would have worn them at least 40 times at much better rate of $4.50 at a day.

Of course if you can find items you love cheap/on-sale/consignment then cha-ching!  But really, don't sell yourself short on something that "will do" when you can find something that you'll love and works for your sense of style and body shape.

*See above.

"I have lots of things in my wardrobe that work already."

This one is actually not something I would disagree with.  With the addition of a bella band and a muffin top stopper for your pants & skirts, a lot of your pre-pregnancy wardrobe will grow with you happily throughout your pregnancy and prevent you from having to re-invent your wardrobe.

It might sound incredibly superficial, but I really do believe in the power of fashion.  It's a way of expressing ourselves.  It shouldn't be all that defines us, but it is one piece of a unique and varied puzzle that we create for ourselves.  When you are pregnant you should absolutely not abandon that, and you certainly don't have to.  Pregnancy and parenthood is such a pivotal time in our lives that it's good to feel grounded in anyway we can.  Clothes are part of that grounding.  So even when you are giving up wine, caffeinated coffee, sushi, unpasteurized cheese, hot dogs (not necessarily a huge sacrifice unless you go to Bark) and 8 hours of sleep, you don't have to give up fashion...or comfort.

www.bumpbrooklyn.com

The Case of the Missing Waist

The first thing to go when you're pregnant is your waist.  Unlike your tonsils or appendix, when you're waist goes you actually miss it.  It is the natural dividing point of your body.  It's where separates separate.  

During the first trimester you may feel, well...lumpy and downright undefined.  I know I longed for the days when I would actually look pregnant so I wouldn't have to endure those questioning looks wondering if I'd just been putting on weight in unusual places.

Here are some tips to stay ahead of the curve at every stage.

FIND SHAPE ELSEWHERE 

Just because your waist has developed a mind of its own, it doesn't mean that you can't find shape elsewhere and create a waist alternative.

  

Empire waisted blouses and dresses are a great option.  Cut just under the bust it elongates the body and draws attention away from your actual waist. 

If you find that your blousy loose fitting clothes are leaving you feeling like a tent rather than enveloping your body, you can create an empire waist with a scarf or belt.  Go for muted or blocks of color if you are wearing prints, or enliven a simple dress with a splash of color.

T Bags V-neck Blouse

Bec & Em Brush Print Dress

Japanese Weekend Retro Print Dress

Woo Mable Blouse

If you're wary of your bust and drawing attention to it try styles that tie under your bump or on your hip like this beautiful style from Woo.
 

GO WITH THE CURVES

Olian Dania Dress

Once you feel sufficiently comfortable with your new curvy form it is well worth investing in at least one piece that highlights your pregnancy. This beautiful dress from Olian is a great example of using a print to accentuate your bump.  They have incorporated a gorgeous print to a simple black dress that wraps itself around your body highlighting your pregnant curves.  

DISTRACT

Show off your pregnancy glow with a dusting of bronzer and a vibrant lip color and always leave room for accessories!  Raid your jewelry boxes, explore a local flea market and throw on chunky bangles, layer chains, add bold beads, tie a fabulous scarf, pull your hair back and put on your favorite earrings.  They never go out of style, shouldn't add any costs to your wardrobe, and will delight your inquisitive child after you've given birth - the earrings especially!

Bump Brooklyn

Fashion Week - mother of 2 style

It never quite makes sense to me that I can be awake at 6am yet still struggling to get out the door by 9am. I should be washed, groomed, dressed, caffeinated and fed, with time to spare to read the newspaper. You'd think.

So if getting out the house on any given morning can be a challenge, getting ready to attend the New York fashion trade shows is quite another story. They are attended by some of the most stylish, elegant and well put together women you'll ever meet. A daunting crowd to spend a Sunday with.

Standards have to be set.

I would say that as a rule of thumb, if you can't remember when the last time was you washed your hair - it's time to wash it. Washing, however, is the easy part. What to wear is the big question. When in doubt, I always reach for black. My black skinny pants however are lying beside the bed, where I left them 2 days ago, and our grey & white cat is sleeping on them. A lint brush would be nice but packing tape will have to do. My black cardigan is still smeared in my daughter's dinner. My glasses, which take much frantic searching to locate, have fared just about as well as everything else and are covered in little sticky finger prints.

Yet somehow at 9:10 I am out the door. I turn back to see my blueberry pancake covered children have their faces pressed against the sitting room window, still in their pajamas, waving goodbye frantically and blowing kisses. It makes up for the fact that the brown boots, patchy black pants, shirt and navy blue coat aren't really the outfit I was hoping for.

I always get excited by New York Fashion Week. An occupational hazard I suppose. We always look at the non-maternity styles first for Bump. At the very beginning when we were envisioning Bump we always planned on fusing non-mater nity fashion with maternity styles. During our first pregnancies (pre-Bump) we both wore a lot of contemporary fas hions and believe that our customers would appreciate buying styles from us that cad a wardrobe life that would extend after pregnancy. For us it has become a fundamental component for store.

We saw some absolutely beautiful styles that we're excited to bring in for fall and winter. Exquisite fabrics that drape beautifully - pregnant or not. Soft grey, camel, blue and purple tones. Less bold prints than we've seen this year with the exception of Daughter of the Revolution, a fabulous line from California that we adore (pictured).

Next we will be looking at maternity styles. We will continue to hand pick styles that stay true to next seasons trends while offering the best maternity fit. Our goal, as it has always been is for our customers to be able to give up wine, coffee, sushi - not fashion.

www.bumpbrooklyn.com

The great jean debate

Skinny, straight, boot cut, boyfriend or wide? With jeans dominating our wardrobe as much as they do, picking the right pair when pregnant is a daunting task. It is also often also one of the most expensive purchases. Factor in the weather for 9 months and an unpredictable expansion of your waist (not to mention thighs and rear end) and you might want to skip denim all together.

The general rule of thumb with jeans - as with all maternity clothing - is don't dress out of character and don't lose sight of your own personal style. It will help you feel grounded when so much else is changing in your life.

Ok, so pep talk aside, the current trend is definitely on the skinny side. Some pregnant women will look at us with a distinct look of horror when we suggest trying on a skinny jean. We understand. But here's the skinny on the skinny - when you balance a skinny leg with an abundance of curves elsewhere the effect is a knock out.

Our best selling jean by far currently is the Maternal America skinny jean (pictured). If you're on the fence about getting a skinny jean, we have found that this jean is a great option. The fit (not skin tight), comfort (stretch and super soft underbelly waist band) and price ($104) make for a great combination.

Not convinced. Don't worry - we've got straight, boot cut, boyfriend and wide leg too!

Bump Brooklyn