Unless you live on Planet Zarg, you probably didn’t miss the flurry of excitement yesterday over the appearance of the Duchess of Cambridge in a pretty wrap dress, perfectly accessorising a burdgeoning Royal Bump.
It came as no surprise to see her choosing a maternity wrap dress. At Babes with Babies London we’ve seen our Magic Dress fly off the shelves this year and it’s had rave reviews from our customers.
A well-cut wrap dress does wonders as a maternity wardrobe staple. Here’s why:
Six reasons why a good wrap dress is a maternity wardrobe hero…
1. It’s fabulously flexible. You can wear it in the early stages of pregnancy, just as other things are starting to dig in. You can also pop a camisole under a good one and wear it when you’re the size of a bus and about to pop. And, what makes it a brilliant investment piece is that it’ll then be perfect postnatally (and easy to breastfeed in).
2. It’s comfy. A dress is a godsend in pregnancy – doesn’t ride up or down, doesn’t dig in. And, no matter how much you want to look good, it’s important to feel comfortable as well as you cope with the not-insignificant task of growing a new human.
3. It’s very versatile. A cute little wrap dress can be worn by day, with strappy sandals in the summer or toughened up with boots and a biker jacket in colder weather. It can be smart enough for work, teamed with neutral accessories but it can be dressed up for a party or special occasion with statement jewellery and some look-at-me-shoes.
4. It’s shape enhancing. The beauty of the wrap is that it can be tied to give you a shape (bow above the bump later) rather than the ‘marquee’ look of some more tent-like dresses. It can allow your bump to be on display in a pretty, flattering way.
5. It’s bust beautifying. The wrap dress can also help stop a bigger bust looking like a shelf and gives a good shape to a bigger-than-normal décolletage.
6. It’s elegant but still a little foxy. Accessorised well (see tips below) the wrap dress can be the sort of dress that will please the mother-in-law because it’s non-tarty and a pretty frock… while also being feminine and foxy enough to stop you feeling frumpy. It shows off Kate’s gorgeous legs as well.
Accessory-watch: The beautiful personalised ‘You are My World’ necklace from Bb is perfect with the neckline on a wrap dress.
WARNING!
There are two risks with wrap dresses. Be careful not to choose a cheap, badly cut one. Too thin material/too badly cut and you’ll show all your lumps and (non baby) bumps and end up feeling a bit too exposed.
There is also a danger that wrap dresses can be a little, well, mumsy.
Although at Bb London we like florals in the right place and in moderation, we’d recommend steering clear of les fleurs with a wrap dress to avoid looking like you should be making tea at the village summer fete.
Top tips for finding a non-mumsy wrap
a) choosing a cool print a la Kate
b) going for classic jet black – it’s a winner for slimming and gives it a tougher edge. Plus, it makes your choice even more versatile (great for work or nights out)
c) rocking this seasons hottest trend – monochrome and choosing our black and white ‘Happy Dress’.
The Happy Dress: Black and white and gorgeous all over. Add a cool leather bracelet or a necklace similar to Kate’s, a little cami and a big smile. It’s a wrap!
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‘Your bottom’s got bigger? I hardly noticed, so distracted was I by your crazy legwarmers and scarf!’
