With Child, With Style

It used to be that two lines on the pregnancy test strip meant nine months of frump. Muu muus, overalls and redundant message tees ("Baby on board") were all moms-to-be had to choose from in wardrobe options. Today, women go full term without skipping a style beat. So, who's to thank for the change? Celebrities and their high-profile pregnancies.

"It used to be that celebrities would kind of stay inside for nine months, not to be seen," said Rebecca Matthias, chief creative officer of A Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity and Motherhood Maternity. "Now they're at center stage."

And stealing the spotlight, too. Katie Holmes, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez all managed to wear their pregnancies as well as they would a curve-clinging cocktail dress, pre-pregnancy. It certainly didn't hurt matters, either, when Angelina Jolie graced the cover of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue in her third trimester.

It's gotten to the point that the non-maternity fashion industry has taken note. Jamie Vanmeetren, owner of Bellies and Blossoms in Henderson and Summerlin, notes several designers who've jumped on the bump bandwagon: T-Bags, Notice, Sweet Pea, Seven For All Mankind, Serfontaine and Paige Premium Denim. Even Diane von Furstenberg has joined the industry with garments exclusive to A Pea in the Pod.

With the popularity of empire waists, babydoll dresses and tunics in the non-maternal fashion industry, it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other. But special features like longer front hemlines and drawstrings give the maternity garments away.

Vanmeetren has a plethora of grandmothers-to-be enter her store to shop for their pregnant daughters. They never fail to drop their jaws in utter disbelief of the change the industry has undergone since their day. That's the kind of thing that the store owner relishes as it proves she's accomplished her goal: "I just want women to dress the same way they did before they got pregnant," she said.

Contact interim editor Xazmin Garza at xgarza@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0477.

great expectations

Here's a look at some of the most recent celebrities to influence the way pregnant women dress.

Mother Earth: Angelina Jolie favored long, flowing tunics to accommodate her twin-bearing belly.

Sexy Mamacita: Christina Aguilera didn't let her bump rid her of the high hemlines and snug fits she's known for.

Trendy Mommy: Jessica Alba refused to let go of trends like belts, scarves and strapless tops.

Non-maternal Instincts: Halle Berry swore she'd never wear maternity clothes but eventually caved.

strong jeans

You don't have to go several months without wearing jeans just because you're expecting. A bevy of designer brands have crossed over into maternity and the maternity industry has made great strides with denim, too. Here's a look at some of the more successful lines and why they do so well.

1. Maternal America: The only denim line with belt loops.

2. Momzee: Fit Pregnancy magazine voted its button fly bootleg jean the most like your pre-pregnancy jeans because they're super low and stretchy.

3. Mama Black: This line finishes with a button (most don't) so it looks like a real jean and the panel goes completely over your belly for super comfort.

4. Habitual: This designer line has an elastic string on the waist.

pure jeanious

This nifty little pregnancy accessory, the BellaBand, works wonders for the jean-loving mom-to-be. Here are its various functions:

• Use it to keep your pre-pregnancy jeans unzipped and unbuttoned instead of the dreaded rubber band.

• Use it in the early stages of pregnancy until maternity jeans fully fit.

• In the 7th-8th month the belly feels heavy. You need support. Double up the BellaBand and roll it over to wear under the belly.

• Use post-pregnancy during your transition back to your pre-pregnancy clothes.

• Layer it to peek out from under your shirt as a fashion statement.

post-pregnancy

You've demonstrated dynamite dressing for nine months. Don't kill the streak with a stork-stained diaper bag. Instead, let it make the same statement your handbag would. Here are a few that let you maintain your fashion identity.