At the Academy Awards this past weekend, expectant mother Paula Patton looked absolutely stunning. Co-starring in the Oscar winning film “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”, in which Paula demonstrates her incredible acting abilities; she rocked the red carpet at seven months pregnant. Married to her high school sweetheart, singer and songwriter Robin Thicke, they are expecting their first child (a boy to be named Julian!) in May. This entire awards season Paula has looked gorgeous in every gown she chose, with her maternity red carpet style being impeccable at every event.
At the “Keep a Child Alive” gala in November, Paula wore a gorgeous and modern cocktail dress. Still at the beginning months of her pregnancy, she chose a visually interesting abstract dress. The abstract design makes an otherwise simple dress modern, and the shape of the dress fit her beautifully. The longer sleeve is sophisticated and also draws the attention upwards. With a simple, pulled back updo, Paula truly looks stunning. For a similar look that can be dressed up or down, try the Beaded Print Dress from Maternal America. The abstract pattern and ¾ length sleeve mirror Paula’s flattering look. A v-neckline elongates the neck and frames the face beautifully, while the bead detailing at the bust creates a great shape and visual interest. From day to night, this dress works for many occasions.
In January, Paula was seen at many red carpet events, looking equally gorgeous at every one. At the People’s Choice Awards she wore a gorgeous LBD (little black dress) which was very figure flattering and a great choice for expectant mothers. The deep v-neck creates a longer and leaner look, while the gathering underneath the bust accentuates the smallest part of the body while still flattering the baby bump. For a similar style but more casual look try the Organic D&A Maternity/Nursing Dress from Japanese Weekend. A v-neck and empire waist is figure flattering. Like Paula’s dress, small cap sleeves are cute and trendy (and great for those with smaller shoulders, as they balance out the body). For a great night out look, Maternal America’s Beaded Diamond Dress provides the same great neck and bust line, creating an elegant yet sexy look.
One of my favorite looks of Paula’s many gorgeous red carpet appearances was at the Golden Globes in mid-January. Her dress absolutely wowed me! The strapless gown accentuated her shoulders and created a beautiful neckline. The cinched empire waist drew attention to the smallest part of the body, above the natural waist, and then gracefully skimmed her body, creating a long and lean look. The sparkling of the dress, combined with the gorgeous jewelry she wore, really made a statement. A similar red carpet look is the Sleeveless Maxi Maternity Dress from Olian. Although not strapless, the intricate strapped design draws the attention upwards, creating a beautiful neckline. A delicate empire waist gathers just underneath the bust and drapes beautifully to the ground. Adding bold sparkling earrings and a great bracelet create the jeweled look of Paula’s Golden Globe worthy gown.
At the Academy Awards just last week, Paula hit another high style note with her beautiful red gown. At seven months pregnant, she looked radiant and stunning, celebrating her baby bump and accentuating all her best features. A wide v-neck elongates the neck and shows off her gorgeous shoulders. With the added ruffle at the neck (a hot spring trend!) a visually interesting neckline is created. Since there is more skin showing on top, a longer dress is the perfect way to go, as it balances out the entire look. I love that Paula chose to wear red. It makes a statement, looking classy and subtly sexy in one. Paula has her hair pulled back, which is always a great option when wearing a dress with an intricate neckline. Also, if your shoulders or collarbone are one of your favorite features, it is a great way to show them off.
Throughout all stages of her pregnancy, Paula has looked stunning on the red carpet. With her growing baby bump, she demonstrates great ways to wear maternity fashions. Although most of us will not be walking the red carpet, certain aspects of her gowns work well for any occasion. A gorgeous neckline, an empire waist, or some funky jewelry looks great for many maternity clothes. Congratulations Paula and Robin! We can’t wait to see baby Julian!
The metallic trend was huge this year, seen on stars such as Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, and Kate Winslet. Metallic dresses look great on the red carpet, as they ensure one will stand out and not get lost in the crowd. Both the gold and silver metallic look is stunning, with some designers even starting to blend gold and silver tones together. When wearing a statement metallic dress, it is important to keep the rest of your look simple. By wearing little to no jewelry with a simple hairdo, an elegant look is created. These actors got it just right!
Shades of nude were seen throughout the evening as stars arrived, with each dress looking equally as stunning as the one before it. Anna Kendrick looked beautiful in her pale pink draped gown and Demi Moore was flawless in a nude strapless ruffled dress. Shades of nude, whether a cocoa color or a light pink, are fashionable and gorgeous! By choosing a dress with some draping or ruffles, a beautiful silhouette is created. To really showcase a nude dress, pair it with neutral colored accessories, such as black or brown, so that the dress becomes the focal point.
Gorgeous shades of jewel toned and deep blue were seen on the red carpet, taking the place of the usual go-to black dress. Kristin Stewart wore a beautiful midnight blue while Gabourey Sidebe had a lighter but equally rich blue gown, adorned with stunning jewels. These rich shades of blue look great on all skin tones and make a strong statement. Easily paired with gold or silver accessories, a deep blue is a great change if you want to switch up the black.
With The Real Housewives of New York starting its new season this week, Bethenny Frankel will once again be showing off her great style and fun personality each Thursday evening. A trained natural foods chef, author, television star, and weekly contributor in many health and fitness magazines, Bethenny’s schedule seems incredibly busy and fulfilling. However, at thirty nine, she is gearing up for the most important moment of her life: becoming a mother. Expecting her first child in June with fiancé Jason Hoppy, Bethenny looks happy and healthy. As her baby bump grows, I cannot help but notice her great maternity style. From cute work out gear to gorgeous dresses, her pregnancy looks combine comfort with fashion. She knows how to rock that baby bump!
One of my favorite looks of Bethenny’s is the red dress she wore to the Heart Truth Show this past month to kick off Fashion Week. Strutting the runway in a ruched knee length dress, she looked fit, trendy, and happily pregnant. One gorgeous aspect of this dress is the detailed neckline. With a wide, one-shoulder strap, a beautiful and interesting frame is created for the face. Ruching on a dress is not only trendy, it is also figure flattering. It camouflages any bloating you may feel while creating a gorgeous figure. If you are ready to show off your baby bump, this is a pretty and trendy way to do it.
Back in August, Ellen Pompeo was spotted on a day outing wearing a similar style. Her thinly striped dress looked comfy and trendy, perfect for going out to lunch or running errands. When paired with cute flats or sandals, an instant stylish outfit is created.
A structured blazer would look great with this outfit as well, and adding some gorgeous jewelry will take your look right into evening. These small touches can really change the look of an entire outfit. In another evening look which demonstrates a great way to wear stripes, Jenna rocked an asymmetrical striped sweater dress on the red carpet in October. The asymmetrical stripes provide a trendy look while elongating your upper body.