| In theory, pregnant women are supposed to
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| | of your bump. Be sure to strap on the
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| radiate some sort of special glow and our
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| | pillow and check out the side view in the
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| bodies are supposed to, as they say,
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| | mirror before you even think of
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| "blossom". In reality, that glow is often
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| | purchasing that shirt! Chances are, it's
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| created by the sweat from our hot
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| | going to look bizarre.
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| flashes, and the word we might use to
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| | The one exception to the stripe rule is
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| describe our bodies -- especially after
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| | a top with a chevron stripe whose
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| 30 weeks or so -- would be "ballooning."
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| | horizontal lines meet at a point over the
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| Regardless of how we thought we'd feel
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| | center of the belly. That type of stripe
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| about our baby bumps, the challenges of
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| | is indeed flattering from any angle;
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| dressing a pregnant body sometimes seem
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| | unfortunately, most striped maternity
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| more difficult to bear than the child
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| | tops don't fall into this category.
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| itself. But luckily, in the past decade
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| |
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| or two, maternity designers have really,
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| | 4. Accessorize, accessorize,
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| er, delivered. Thanks to changes in the
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| | accessorize!
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| way the pregnant body is viewed, even the
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| | No matter the difficulty of finding
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| most pregnant mamas can look fabulous
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| | suitable maternity wear, there is one
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| with a few little tricks.
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| | thing we don't have to compromise on --
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|
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| | accessories! Yes, at some point, we may
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| 1. If you've got it, flaunt it!
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| | have to buy new, roomier shoes with lower
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| When our mothers were pregnant with us,
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| | heels, but there are still earrings,
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| maternity clothes were little more than
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| | necklaces, belts and bags -- the great
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| an offshoot of the tentmaking trade.
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| | equalizer for women of all shapes and
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| Nobody could tell what was going on
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| | sizes.
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| underneath the big top until the main
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| | When your feet plump up like sausages,
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| event was imminent! While body-hugging
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| | take that opportunity to buy attractive
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| fabrics may seem frightening at this most
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| | footwear from a shoe store such as
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| weight-sensitive of times, fitted styles
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| | Naturalizer or Aerosoles that specializes
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| are actually the pregnant woman's best
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| | in comfort. For optimal comfort, doctors
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| friend -- no matter what her size.
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| | recommend something with a low heel
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| It sounds counterintuitive, but clothes
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| | rather than a perfectly flat shoe. Our
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| that cling to your curves create a more
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| | grandmothers may have worn clunky
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| slender silhouette and draws attention to
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| | orthopedic shoes, but we don't have to --
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| the baby belly. (Conversely, baggy
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| | many of today's comfiest shoes are nearly
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| clothing creates the illusion of overall
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| | indistinguishable from fashion footwear.
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| hugeness.) Especially when you are
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| | No matter what your personal style,
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| heavily pregnant, highlighting rather
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| | jewelry and bags are the perfect way to
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| than hiding the baby bump draws attention
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| | complete your look.
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| to your pregnancy rather than your size.
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| | In the second trimester, when you are
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| If a shirt that is fitted throughout is
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| | sporting a smaller baby bump, nothing is
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| too daring for your taste, consider
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| | a cuter counterpoint to a fitted tee than
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| empire-waist tops that are fitted through
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| | a funky, low-slung belt or two under the
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| the shoulders and bust -- and pass by the
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| | tummy. And if your belly is beyond huge
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| baggy oxfords, shapeless tees and blousy
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| | at, say, 41 weeks, a monochromatic outfit
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| dress tops.
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| | accessorized with a striking, chunky
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|
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| | necklace draws the eye up and away from
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| 2. Do it with flare
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| | the possibility that you could deliver
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| Tapered pants are unflattering on all
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| | right here, in this very spot (because
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| but the skinniest of figures, and yet for
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| | you know this is running through the
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| some reason, maternity stores continue to
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| | grocery checker's mind!).
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| sell them. The result is the "Tomato
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| | And, last but not least, by all means
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| Effect," in which the poor fashion victim
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| | indulge in cute little bags while you
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| looks like a big round tomato on little
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| | can. Because for quite some time after
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| stick legs.
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| | your little bun comes out of the oven,
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| Don't buy tapered trousers just because
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| | you'll be toting around a diaper bag by
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| they're on the rack! To balance your new
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| | day and dreaming at night of tiny satin
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| top-heavy look, shop for a pant with
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| | handbags.
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| flared legs. A boot cut looks great with
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| |
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| almost any shirt and counteracts the
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| | 5. Keep it natural
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| extra weight you're carrying in the belly
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| | Last but not least, one of the best ways
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| and butt. A pant that makes you look like
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| | to feel good about how you look is to
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| a million bucks is worth the extra
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| | wear what you love. It's a bit harder
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| shopping time.
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| | when you're pregnant and the stores are
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|
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| | all selling the same style of maternity
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| 3. Change your stripes
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| | wear (which may just be too frilly, too
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| One of the worst things a pregnant woman
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| | strappy, too frumpy or too bohemian for
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| can wear is stripes -- of any kind.
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| | your tastes), but it's still doable. Why
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| Horizontal stripes are out for the
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| | change your entire look just because
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| obvious reason that they create a
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| | you're having a baby? Instead of limiting
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| widening effect on an already bulky part
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| | yourself to one or two stores, check out
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| of the body. This may work in the second
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| | the maternity sections in places you
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| trimester when your bump is tiny and
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| | might not ordinarily shop. Look online
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| cute, but by the time you are ready to
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| | for fashions that aren't available in
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| deliver, it can be a bit frightening to
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| | your area. There's something out there
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| behold even if you are the tall and
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| | for every expectant mother -- rocker
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| willowy type.
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| | chick, fashionista, preppie or princess.
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| But lest you leap to the seemingly
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| | Finding clothing you're confident in is
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| logical conclusion that if horizontal
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| | key to looking and feeling like a sexy
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| stripes enlarge, then vertical stripes
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| | mama!
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| are slimming, consider this: That
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| vertical-stripe top may be cute on the
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| | Copyright 2006, Heather PhillipsHeather
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| rack, but where will those stripes lie
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| | Phillips is a longtime journalist,
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| when they are draped over a 45-inch
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| | fashion devotee and founder of the
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| belly? From the side, you are going to
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| | maternity and baby website She lives in
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| have layer upon layer of striping, with
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| | the Pacific Northwest with her husband,
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| yet more stripes appearing along the rise
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| | children and longhair cat.
|
