Jacinta Cleary at her store Mum and Bump, in Sturt Street. PHOTO: JUSTIN WHITELOCK.
AS I walked into Mum and Bump, I was greeted by a beaming baby on the knee of mum Jacinta Cleary. Jacinta has owned and managed the Sturt Street store for two years, helping local women from "I found out yesterday", to "I was due a week ago", find clothes to fit their growing belly.
Having studied fashion and worked in high-end retail stores, including London's Harrods, Jacinta has picked up a few gems of advice for mums-to-be.
We often see celebrities wearing figure-hugging pregnancy wear. Must pregnancy clothes be tight-fitting to look stylish?
Figure-hugging clothing isn't for everybody. Why would someone choose to wear shapely clothing during pregnancy if they didn't beforehand? During pregnancy, it is all about feeling as comfortable as possible. A beautiful loose tunic or dress can look just as stylish over leggings as skinny jeans and a fitted top.
What are your tips for pregnancy-wear?
Longer tops are a must to avoid showing skin between the pants and the top. Elastic-waisted pants are also a great idea to ensure all-day comfort.
What are some tips to get the wardrobe through the nine months?
Buy some basics in terms of pants, jeans and a few tops - these can go from work to casual wear. Then add in a couple of feature pieces - a great top can double as a breastfeeding top post-birth.
Are there any tricks with clothes?
Change to maternity pants/skirts early on for comfort. Maternity clothes will grow with you, so what you buy at three months will fit at nine months with normal weight gain. You can also buy pant extenders, which will give you a little bit of extra room in normal pants.
What should pregnant women avoid?
Wearing larger size, regular clothing may work with some items, but most pieces will still look too big as they're not designed to accommodate the changed body shape. All pregnant women are beautiful and this should be celebrated, not hidden under poor-fitting clothes.
