pregnant women have defied the odds – they have style and are fashion conscious. They are looking as sleek as ever in their stylish and various maternity outfits. This is a clear indication that they are abreast of changing times.

Today’s pregnant mothers are looking different as most of them are seen clad in the modern varieties of hipsters, body tops, mini-dresses and soccer jerseys that has flooded the city boutiques while toddling around with heavy bellies.
“We are more particular about our looks, appearance and wardrobe,” said Spiwe, a mother of two from Glen View. This trend, which is growing by the day and taking most women to some certain levels has raised serious ethical criticism in as much as the maternity dressing code is concerned.

Some fashion admirers say the 21st woman should be elegantly dressed whether pregnant or not. South African women believe that pregnant women should put on whatever they feel is good to their bodies.
This view has also been supported by urban groover King Shaddy with his song “MaUniform anoshatisa vana”. The song exhorts women to teach their daughters to dress properly and not put on these baggy kinds of clothes.

Most Hollywood celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lopez, who popularised skinny and leggings for pregnant women, can be seen clad in these latest outfits, a clear indication that this kind of dressing has taken the fancy of their personalities.

Queen Bee had this to say about skinny dressing during pregnancy: “Skinny jeans are here to stay (at least for a while) and they are the perfect staple piece to mix up with the long flowing tops that are in style at the moment (another God-sent if you are pregnant!). The bad thing about skinny jeans is that they require the wearer to be . . . well . . . skinny!”
“Wave goodbye to the hideous elasticised waists that look like they have been cut out by a five-year-old and stitched to the top of a pair of grandma jeans! The best thing about jeggings is that non-pregnant people wear them too! That’s right – even runway models are rocking the jeggings look so if you are feeling out of the fashion loop with the old nine months hiatus, jeggings are the perfect way to slide right back in,” she added.

Locally we have a number of celebrities taking the grasp of these skinny jeans, leggings and fancy dress tops during pregnancy which are believed to be more chic, modern and stylish. There are both casual and formal versions. They vary in style depending with season.

Some do not like the maternity wear citing reasons like they do not look beautiful as before. They need to remain looking attractive, youthful and even more presentable.
There were some traditional reasons for wearing maternity dresses and this was to prevent constricting oneself as it was said to possibly cause some health complications and the other reason was to show that the women were pregnant.

“I feel very free when wearing the old maternity dress,” said a mother of six from Kuwadzana only identified as Mai Kudzi.
“I can even feel I am not carrying anything, I just felt normal despite heavily loaded with a bulging belly. Things are just changing as I can see most modern pregnant women are attired in skinny jeans and T-shirts,” she said.

But the truth is that the tent dress has been relegated to the ghettos of fashion where it is only worn by women of certain religious sects and those with strong rural backgrounds who still subscribe to the idea that trousers are for men.

Some of the latest dresses are fit for special occasions and they can be worn at work without breaching the formal dressing boundaries.
Some elderly people are failing to come to terms with the vision of heavily pregnant women prancing about in body defining clothes.

“I do not see any reason why our daughters are risking their lives and dicing with our tradition. The issue is when a woman is pregnant especially at the period of more than six months she has to wear a maternity dress which is ever free and even more loose-fitting. The belly at this stage does not need to be constricted as the pressure from the tights can cause complications during birth or make breathing difficulties,” said one woman who requested anonymity.

“It seems we have lost our culture and traditional customs to the latest foreign trends,” she added.
Even the traditional flat shoes that women used to wear when expecting have been replaced by trendy heels. At the end of the day, clothes are about the wearer rather what the world thinks.
So say goodbye to the tent dress and say hello stylish maternity outfits!

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