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Summer Pregnancies

Hot Tips for Staying Stylishly Cool

By Kelly Burgess

Summer and pregnancy: two words that can make any woman break out into a sweat.

But chill out: there are plenty of ways to keep cool, show off some cute summer fashions and turn that sweat into a glow.

Designer Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity, was pregnant with both of her children during the summer. She thought that made her everyday life just that much easier.

"Summer is almost an ideal time to be pregnant because it's easy to get dressed and look good every day," says Lange. "From a fashion perspective, the changes we make to our makeup and wardrobe in the summer are particularly flattering when you're pregnant."

Lange may preside over a maternity fashion company, but she says maternity clothes aren't a requirement for pregnant women, especially earlier in their pregnancies and thanks to today's attractive and versatile fashions. This holds true in the summer with the proliferation of loose, lightweight shifts and dresses. She also likes the peasant skirt style with elastic waists that can be worn with a sleeveless top.

"Many pregnant women hesitate to go sleeveless because they think their arms look heavy," says Lange. "In fact, your arms tend to look smaller in contrast when you're pregnant, and this is a style that helps you stay cool."

Smocked peasant tops are also very stylish at the moment and can be worn well into a pregnancy. Empire-waisted tops, with tight, smocked bodices, are all the rage, but your belly doesn't have to be hidden.

Robin Elise Weiss is a childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, doula trainer, lactation counselor and the pregnancy guide for About.com. She's also expecting her seventh child, so she speaks from experience when she says baring the pregnant belly is becoming more common.

"Pregnant women want to stay as close to their non-pregnant style as possible," says Weiss. "As you see more non-pregnant people baring their belly, you'll see more pregnant people baring their bellies as well."

Just as with non-pregnant styles, clothing that fits, rather than clothing that is two sizes too big, is much more flattering. This allows for more wardrobe versatility, especially in bathing suits.

Weiss says one of the best ways to stay cool and ease some of the swelling that occurs in your legs and feet is to get in the water. And you don't even have to trade in your cute, pre-pregnancy two piece suit, Lange points out. Because bathing suits are naturally stretchy, they will probably fit through the entire pregnancy.

Want to see more?

• Beauty Procedures and Pregnancy: What's Safe and What's Not?
• Weight and Wardrobe: Managing a Plus-sized Pregnancy
• Professional Moms-to-Be: The Key to Smart Maternity Dressing
• Talk about it!

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