Before officially announcing their pregnancy, Mariah was seen wearing many maxi dresses. Spotted in a rich brown dress paired with a soft sweater, she looked absolutely beautiful. Although maxi dresses work great as non-maternity dresses, they are a fabulous option for maternity. Very comfortable, they accentuate the smallest part of one’s body directly underneath the bust and flow perfectly over the rest of one’s body and curves. For a casual option, Japanese Weekend’s Maternity and Nursing Maxi Dress is a beautiful and versatile option. The V-neck creates an elongating look while its double layering provides easy and discreet nursing access. With a trendy tribal print, it is eye-catching and flattering. For an evening look in the same style, the Pleated Maxi Dress from Maternal America is perfect. We would love to see Mariah wearing this gorgeous gown. Its wide shoulder straps and V-neck create a sophisticated feel and the empire waist with pleating flows beautifully. Perfect for an evening out with Nick or a red carpet event, it is a stunning dress.

Over the holidays, Mariah and Nick attended several formal events, giving us an opportunity to see some more of her lovely maternity style. When she sang for the President in December, Mariah chose a deep red dress. Its long sleeves were so elegant and the shape of it hugged her beautiful curves perfectly. Longer sleeves are very popular, as they are sophisticated while maintaining a subtle sexiness. The Beaded Diamond Dress from Maternal America has some of the same similar features as Mariah’s dress, such as longer sleeves, a beautiful V-neck, and a flattering empire waist. The beading at the bust is the focal point of this dress, which is very slimming along the sides. Perfect for an evening out, a longer sleeve dress is a stylish option. Congratulations to Mariah and Nick and we are looking forward to meeting their twins!

Pregnancy is no different than non-pregnancy in terms of finding a great pair of jeans to take you through the cooler months, only this time it’s maternity jeans. Denim in a few different washes as well as your standard back leggings and/or stretch pants (or jersey pants if you prefer) will take you a long ways on the bottom half. In terms of the upper body, make sure you invest in a few stylish essentials such as cap sleeves that can be layered, ¾ sleeves which can take you through Spring and a few choice cardigans and long sleeve tops.

Fashionable maternity tops that double as nursing tops are a great way to get a lot more mileage from your investment. Japanese Weekend has an excellent selection of “During and After” tops than can take you from the office to the town in the evening. Check out Japanese Weekend’s D&A Sash Tie Nursing top in Teal, a new color for this season. This easy to fit and easy to wear jersey top works great for all venues with a clean stylish look that can be dressed up or down.

If you are looking for a little flair, then take a look at Olian’s ¾ sleeve V-neck print top with front tie strings. This fun blue, grey and black colored pattern is a signature Olian print. This stylish print maternity top is also made for easy nursing access. You can dress it up with a skirt or office pants, or opt for a more casual hip look with denim.

If you are in the market for a super comfortable long sleeve maternity and nursing top, take a look at Maternal America’s long sleeve cotton maternity/nursing top. This pretty top is make with cross over nursing access and built in faux cami layer for discretion. The empire waist provides a flattering fit while the long sleeves and gentle ruching at the wrist add unique detail.

Japanese Weekend’s cap sleeve cross over maternity/nursing top is a great year-round selection that you can layer under a jacket or wear alone. This versatile top is super flattering and stretchy for pregnancy and beyond. It is designed to hug your curves and stretch across your belly for a fitted look when you are pregnant. Hidden nursing access allows full discretion. This cap sleeve in an array of solid colors is great with denim or dressed up with a skirt.

If you are looking for a more casual look in your maternity or nursing top and prefer a top with built in bust support, then Bravado’s Nursing Bra Tank is an excellent choice. This tank top fits and supports like a bra with an extra layer for a stylish look and excellent fit. This tank’s front ruching is flattering across the bust and it also has adjustable straps for a perfect fit. Fitted by bra size and made extra long to cover both a pregnant and postpartum belly. This top is excellent for warm weather with shorts or a skirt and layered in cooler weather. This nursing bra tank offers superior non-constricting support that you can even wear for exercise. Breathable cotton fabric makes it an excellent year round choice for before and after the baby.

So take the stress out of shopping by starting early and investing in a few good essential maternity and nursing tops that can take you through your pregnancy and cooler weather this Fall.

Metallic

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!

One Shoulder

The one shoulder dress was popular on the red carpet, and for good reason. It creates a beautiful neckline, drawing the attention upwards, and provides plenty of bust support. Sigourney Weaver looked stunning in her red asymmetrical gown while Kate Beckinsale rocked the one shoulder look (in a metallic!) at an after party. For a modern yet comfortable look, the one shoulder dress is a great way to go.

Neutral/Nude

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.

Slits

Whether cut high or low, obvious or hidden, slit dresses were a popular trend at the Oscars. To showcase your legs in a sexy yet fashionable way, a slit dress is the way to go. From Meryl Streep’s demure slit to Zoe Saldana’s ruffled slit, a beautiful look is created. Slits are feminine and flirty and truly make a statement. If doing a high slit, make sure your dress does not have a low neckline. When showing more skin on the bottom you can be a bit more conservative on top, and vice versa.

Deep Blue

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.

All of these trends are fun and pretty, and a great way to spice up your wardrobe. Even though the majority of us will not be walking the red carpet anytime soon, we can still wear these looks in our daily life. Whether it is a casual maternity maxi dress with a slit or a one shoulder strap cocktail dress (in a rich blue) there are many fun ways to apply these red carpet trends to your daily life.

Throughout her pregnancy, whether she was running errands around town or walking the red carpet, Kourtney’s style was impeccable. In November, Kourtney was seen on a lunch date wearing a super cute flowy top, a boyfriend blazer, and leggings. For an expectant mom so close to her due date, this outfit is a great option. The leggings are stretchy and comfortable, ensuring you will not feel restricted throughout your busy day. A cute flowy top draws the attention upward and also balances out the tightness of the leggings. A good rule of thumb: if you are wearing something tighter on the bottom go looser on the top, or vice versa! This breaks up one’s look, ensuring that the overall appearance is not too tight or too loose. A blazer adds structure and shape to the outfit, and truly pulls the look together. (From leggings to jeans, from casual to sophisticated, a fitted blazer adds structure to any outfit and is one of my favorite ways to pull an outfit together). For a finishing touch she adds a gorgeous statement necklace and some cute boots, and the look is complete! This is a great look for the day when paired with ballet flats, or can easily be dressed up for evening with more jewelry and different shoes!

When walking the red carpet during her pregnancy, Kourtney looked equally as stunning and fashionable. One of my favorite red-carpet looks of hers is the gorgeous Grecian inspired maxi dress she wore to the Emmys. Just three months before her due date, she looked radiant posing sideways in her gorgeous empire waisted dress. An empire waist dress is always a great choice for expectant mothers, particularly as they get farther along in their pregnancy. It creates a gorgeous shape, emphasizing the smallest part of your body yet celebrating your baby bump. The sweetheart neckline and intricate twisted cinching under the bust add a special look to her dress. Although with her hair worn down the dress looks strapless, there are actually thin straps to ensure comfort. The extra support of the straps is a great idea so that you will not be concerned about your dress moving around. The final aspect of Kourtney’s dress which I love is the length. The maxi dress, with a high empire waist, elongates the line of the body, creating a more streamlined looked. It also skims the body, creating a feminine flowing look, and will provide endless comfort.

Whether she was walking the red carpet or relaxing around town, Kourtney Kardashian’s pregnancy style was stylish yet comfortable and her insistence on being truthful about her post-baby shape is admirable. From comfy leggings paired with a fun, flowing top to gorgeous dresses, she rocked fashionable and flattering clothing perfectly. I am looking forward to seeing what her nursing and post-baby style will be!

When you are pregnant, suddenly your shape and size are changing daily. What looks used to work well and flatter your figure may suddenly look ridiculous or unflattering on your evolving frame. This can be particularly challenging around the Holiday Season or for more dress-up occasions when you really want to look your best and not let pregnancy get in the way. Here are some general guidelines to dressing when pregnant according to you shape:

Generally When Pregnant
When you are pregnant don’t be afraid to show some skin. A pregnant body can be very sensual and you still have great assets. So don’t be shy about showing off great legs or pretty arms, shoulders or going strapless. Be sure to define your shape the way your like it. You want some definition to you pregnant belly without going uncomfortably skin tight. Grecian can be flattering as it can drape over your curves to show off the gist of your belly without showing your belly button in detail. However, too big equates to baggy which only makes you look bigger. An empire waist looks that are more contained look great on almost any pregnant body type. Belting dresses beneath the bust can create this look. Deep shades like teal and plum that are popular this season are flattering on pregnant shapes, particularly if you are further along than busy patterns or metallics

Busty
If you are the busty type you are probably three times more busty when you are expecting. Your body has taken on new dimensions and everything you try on seems to be accentuated by your pronounced cleavage. A good look to try to de-emphasize the chest is a flirty dress in one shade. By sticking to one shade of color your figure becomes elongated and you look much leaner and slimmer.

Also going with a more tailored or structured dress that gives you a clear silhouette, you better define your shape. For example, instead of going hippie chic, go with better bust support and strong vertical pleats. A hemmed and pleated knee length flirty dress with a structured chest and wide straps will do wonders for your figure. Finally, always look to support and lift. Forget strapless or backless dresses as you will never find the level of support you need. Always look for a dress or top with wide enough shoulder straps for a supportive bra.

Hippy
A skirt or dress with inverted pleats keeps hips looking narrower. An A-line skirt is also a good choice for camouflaging hips. Even just a flared hem de-emphasizes the hips. Again choose structure in defining your silhouette so you show off a small empire waist and don’t get swallowed in something loose and baggy. Remember to show off your best assets, so if you have pretty shoulders, flaunt them with a sleeveless bodice dress, strapless or one shoulder style. Draw attention to your best body parts up high – look for a jeweled neckline or brighter colors around the face or neck. Even wearing some bling jewelry will keep the gaze upwards.

Petite
If you are petite and you don’t want to tower in platform shoes or stilettos when you are pregnant, there are some other tricks to add some length to your frame. If you have great legs, then show them off. Go for shorter hems and sheerer hose to elongate your shape. Show off some skin somewhere- arms and necklines are a great place to start. Pleats and bubble hem can work well if its not overdone – you want to add some volume without looking like a powder puff. Accessorize smartly. A few well chosen pieces that don’t weigh you down is all you need to add some height.

Tall
If you are tall, then you have a lot of choices. Tall frames can get away with prints and patterns, horizontal stripes and all the usual hazards most women need to avoid can actually be more flattering when tall. Do make sure your clothing fits you well. Beware of cuts that tent out and make you appear bigger than you are or that miss your curves. Sleek and fitted always looks better no matter how far along you are in your pregnancy. Do be careful with super short hemlines and minis as they can make you look like a giant whose clothes got shrunk in the dryer. Otherwise, have fun with accessories as you can get away with more to wear as you have more space to fill!

So whatever your shape, find some maternity clothes that fit and flatter your figure and make you feel as beautiful and sexy and as you truly are. Bottom line, if you feel great in the clothes you are in, then you will project that to those around you.