Fashion Tips from the Belly Trenches

For me, one of the best things about being pregnant — besides the whole creating life thing — is not having to hide my damn annoying belly anymore, or at least for as long as this growing baby makes it all big and taught and obviously pregnant. Sadly I know that once the baby is in my arms, I’ll be struggling once again with the big belly blues, but this time around I have learned a few more things about accentuating my positives and hiding my negatives.

Here’s the first thing: empire waist looks like crap on anyone who actually has a belly — whether it’s from genetics, cake or a growing baby. But for some reason it seems to be the go-to fashion pregnancy trend and I have to say it looks dumpy and dated. To me, all those pregnant empire waist ladies look like sausage casings. Now I mentioned this to my sister-in-law and she disagreed saying that her wedding dress was an empire waist. Actually, so was mine. And my sister’s! And YES, empire waists look amazing on skinny brides who haven’t been eating properly for months.

Here’s an other thing: I was wearing what’s pictured above and my four months post-partem skinny sister-in-law said to me, “I want that shirt you’re wearing!” Really? You want my maternity shirt?! But here’s why: it almost hides my belly which at almost six months with a third child is pretty much a ‘friggin miracle.

These flowy pregnant shirts are a Godsend to the belly challenged — pregnant or not — because they have lots of fabric around the tummy, but tight on the arms and not too long. I find that in the plus size world, when you can find a shirt that hides your tummy, the arms and chest tend to be too loose and then it just looks like you’re wearing a tent. Also what’s even better is when they’ve got some stretch in them so they’re tight around your bosom and arms — accentuating the assets — and billowy where they need to be.

So, moral of the story? As long as a I have a belly, pregnant or not, I will be frequenting the maternity shops of the world that don’t feature empire waist shirts and I highly suggest this to anyone else who is belly challenged!