Stylish maternity wear tips

There was a time when pregnancy meant the end of fashion, for nine months at least, with women given the equally uninspiring choices of unflattering muumuus, oversized sweats or trying to avoid purchasing maternity clothes altogether.

Then Séraphine’s Cecile Reinaud came along and made maternity dressing an exciting adventure, allowing women to embrace their changing shapes, and enjoy styling their baby bumps – for work, for weekend, for weddings.

With Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, recently revealing her pregnancy news, we know we can expect some fabulous maternity fashion moments in the months to come. But what about the rest of us mere mortals who don't have stylists on hand to ensure our pregnancy style is on point? Cecile Reinaud, founder and CEO of Séraphine, who has dressed bumps from the Duchess of Cambridge to Jessica Alba, gives Culture Whisper the inside scoop on her maternity style tips.

A gap in the maternity wear market

‘When I first launched Séraphine, it was over 15 years ago and pretty much everything was missing from maternity wear. There were only very basic pieces, very basic trousers and dresses. We were one of the first to come up with a complete wardrobe for pregnant women.’

Séraphine offers everything from casual wear to red carpet options, providing clothes for us actual humans as well as celebrities and members of royal families. The brand is focusing a lot on the development of nursing wear, creating clothes that can be worn during pregnancy and that also extend to nursing.

Séraphine's number one fan

You may recall the Duchess of Cambridge looked sensational in each of her three pregnancies, and Séraphine's easy, elegant pieces played a key role. Kate Middleton's maternity style was much like her non-pregnant style: sophisticated and unfussy, with plenty of rich colours and nonchalant prints. Kate Middleton wore the Natasha cashmere-blend maternity coat on multiple occasions (so important to remember that if you're pregnant through the autumn/winter months, you will need to invest in some outerwear), as well as the Marina maternity coat. Kate Middleton has also chosen various day-to-night dresses from the label, like the tailored maternity dress and Phaedra woven maternity dress.

Help! I'm pregnant. What clothes do I need to buy?

‘I would say invest early in maternity clothes because some women will resist and be uncomfortable in non-maternity clothes, and in the end they will need to invest in those clothes anyway,’ Cecile tells Culture Whisper. She recommends getting clothing at the third-month mark, which is when regular clothes typically start to feel uncomfortable, and suggests purchasing:

• A good pair of jeans
• A good pair of trousers
• A couple of versatile dresses that can do day to night and that can be dressed up or down

How do I look my best when dressing for Christmas party season when pregnant? Any advice?

‘I recommend that people draw attention to their empire line, which shapes the bump. There is also a tendency to dress all in black but I tell people not to shy away from colour. Highlighting with curves and highlighting with colour can be very flattering.

‘I always tell people to stay true to their pre-pregnancy style. If you were a trousers person, wear a pair of trousers and a very nice blouse. If you were a dress lady, there are plenty of special occasion dresses. And Séraphine has a luxe range for those special occasions like Christmas parties, which can also work post-pregnancy. They’re nice investment pieces.’

Any other maternity labels I should check out?
In addition to Séraphine and the usual high-street suspects like ASOS and Topshop, which are great in terms of bang for your buck and getting one-off trendy pieces you can't seem to resist. There are some other maternity labels worth checking out for your stylish bump wardrobe:

• US label Hatch Collection is full of ultra-wearable separates and hip day-to-night dresses in a range of silhouettes, from fitted to smock. The Penelope mock turtleneck dress is our pick for every day in pregnancy (or every day in non-pregnant life): form-fitting, flattering and so easy to wear.

• Clary & Peg is a vintage-inspired maternity label designed in England. Go there for fabulous prints and amazing jumpsuits – from casual to formal.

• Isabella Oliver is the UK brand that has the Hollywood set swooning – Gwen Stefani and Reese Witherspoon, among others, are fans, and we can see why. The label is especially strong when it comes to dresses, including tailored shifts, form-fitting cocktail frocks and red-carpet gowns.