The Fashion Statement: Baby Bumps and the Red Carpet
There is serious baby fever in Hollywood. Starting this Sunday at the Golden Globes, more baby bumps will be taking a turn on the red-carpet than you can shake a stick at. Victoria Beckham. Natalie Portman. Penelope Cruz. Gretchen Mol. Mariah Carey. Jewel. Pink. Jennifer Connelly. Rachel Zoe. And, just yesterday, Kate Hudson announced she had a bun in the oven. With so many expectant celebs, TV show Extra compiled a list to keep everybody's due date straight. We're, of course, more concerned with what they'll be wearing.
You might think this many women with child during awards season could foil a designer's grand ambition to see his/her couture gowns on the red carpet. Think again. Designers have pregnancy down. Remember Catherine Zeta Jones in 2003? The word "luscious" came to mind when the nine-months-pregnant star walked the Oscars in a low-cut chocolate-colored gown with beaded straps. And it was a coup for Versace.
My friend and colleague Amy Tara Koch published a book last year called Bump It Up and, in it, are great style tips courtesy of designers and fashion insiders.
"Half of pregnancy has to do with attitude," Filipa Fino, accessories editor at Vogue, told Koch. "I just refused to give in to feeling dowdy. And therefore, I did not look dowdy!"
Rachel Roy advocates a softly pleated, above-the-knee A-line dress layered with a loose cardigan jacket and a statement necklace for casual appearances like a movie premiere.
If you're in your first trimester and the invitation calls for black-tie, say, Isaac Mizrahi advises you to put up your hair in a chignon, add dangly earrings and step into a bias-cut dress with diagonal stripes (note: horizontal stripes are a definite Don't).
And what would maternity be without the empire waist dress? Donna Karan likes a ruffle tunic with an empire waist. "When you are done having your little one, use it as a beach cover-up or belt it as a mini dress." Adam Lippes agrees. Empire waist gowns made out of light silk/cotton voile -- or really anything athereal and flowing -- breathes easily and flatters changing figures. To wit: Angelina Jolie's appearance with her twins in Cannes in a green Thomas Wylde.
J. Mendel is all about a pale-colored three-tiered pleated tulle gown with beaded straps that draw attention to the decolletage. The design minimizes the bump and elongates the figure.
Other designers prefer the simple black LBD. Michelle Smith, designer of Milly, said that while she was pregnant she lived in knit jersey dresses that define your bust and and back.
If you're in your first trimester and the invitation calls for black-tie, say, Isaac Mizrahi advises you to put up your hair in a chignon, add dangly earrings and step into a bias-cut dress with diagonal stripes (note: horizontal stripes are a definite Don't).
And what would maternity be without the empire waist dress? Donna Karan likes a ruffle tunic with an empire waist. "When you are done having your little one, use it as a beach cover-up or belt it as a mini dress." Adam Lippes agrees. Empire waist gowns made out of light silk/cotton voile -- or really anything athereal and flowing -- breathes easily and flatters changing figures. To wit: Angelina Jolie's appearance with her twins in Cannes in a green Thomas Wylde.
J. Mendel is all about a pale-colored three-tiered pleated tulle gown with beaded straps that draw attention to the decolletage. The design minimizes the bump and elongates the figure.
Other designers prefer the simple black LBD. Michelle Smith, designer of Milly, said that while she was pregnant she lived in knit jersey dresses that define your bust and and back.
