Why Are Women in Such a Hurry to Ditch Maternity Clothes Post Baby?

SYDNEY - April 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Even when the evidence tells us that those maternity jeans are flattering, trendy and are so not obviously maternity wear, why do we cringe at the thought of wearing maternity clothes when not pregnant?

Maternity fashion expert Danielle Stitt said a lot of women are hanging on to their maternity clothes post baby but feel uncomfortable admitting it.

“The truth is many women do keep selected pieces of their maternity wardrobe – we just don’t talk about it,” Ms Stitt said.

“An online discussion thread from a mothering community started with a mum tentatively asking if she was the only person still wearing maternity,” she said.

“The response was an overwhelming ‘no’ with pages of mothers coming out of the maternity closet and admitting that they too still wore some pieces they loved.”

Ms Stitt has the following theories as to why maternity and chic just don’t seem to work in the same sentence.

• Women’s attitudes are still stuck in the last Century:

Admittedly maternity wear a few decades ago was woeful. We have all seen the pictures of peter pan collars and muumuu proportioned dresses. ‘Embracing your bump’ would have had more to do with a Grecian nose than a pregnant belly.

But take a look at what is available in today’s maternity styles and it’s a different story. Maternity designers know what’s trending in Paris, New York and Milan and cleverly adapt it for mums-to-be. They also know women want to wear their clothes longer, into breastfeeding and even beyond.

• Celebrities don’t help:

We have all read about the celebrity who stated she didn’t wear maternity clothes with an implied “eeww”. However, behind the scenes we discover she did have access to a team of seamstresses and high-end designers happy to modify their creations to accommodate her growing belly. Or perhaps like Jessica Simpson they go on to launch their own maternity range having convinced us that there are no other worthwhile options. Is it cynical to think that’s just a good marketing spin?

• We underinvest in our maternity wardrobe:

Yes, pregnancy is a relatively fleeting time and it can be a challenging time because our body shape is so unfamiliar.

We all know that how we look on the outside can have a big impact on how we feel about ourselves. Put on a great outfit and chances are you’ll feel great. Clearly your partner’s t-shirt and elasticised shorts don’t fall into the ‘great outfit’ category, nor does buying larger sizes of non maternity clothes that may fit your bump but give you armholes down to where your waist used to be.

Ms Stitt said perhaps what we need is a louder voice for those that cleverly incorporate maternity wear into their every day wardrobe. It makes sense from a style point of view and it makes sense from a budget stretching point of view.

Pregnant women who wanted help with developing their maternity wardrobe strategy could download Ms Stitt’s free e-guide "Maternity Styling Tips" available at http://www.highstreetmama.com.au.

About Danielle Stitt

Recognising the lack of fashionable and affordable maternity clothing options available during her two pregnancies, Danielle Stitt launched online maternity boutique, High Street Mama. She uses her keen eye for fashion along with her passion for helping pregnant women feel great about themselves to source maternity clothes from around the world and offer them in Australia.

ENDS

Interviews and high res images available on request

Media Contact:

Danielle Stitt

Ph: 0416 043 520 or 1300 655 141

Email: ds@highstreetmama.com.au