Dear ESB,
My fiancée and I are getting married in a small ceremony at the old Orange County courthouse in Santa Ana in exactly one month. I purchased my dress a few months ago and absolutely love it, a simple cream lace sheath with a nipped in waist. However, about 3 weeks ago I found out that I am pregnant (which we are over the moon excited about, by the way).
I will be exactly 3 months along on our wedding day. I won’t be showing by then, but my breast are growing rapidly and I anticipate a little extra in the middle at that point. I need recommendations on a simple, chic dress that won’t make me look frumpy.
We won’t be telling anyone but close friends in the meantime since it is generally considered best to wait until after the first trimester to make the announcement. I don’t necessarily need to conceal what’s going on, I just want to look beautiful and feel comfortable on my wedding day. Help?
Thanks,
Preggo Bride
*****
How bout this lil Malene Birger dress?
Feel free to tell me I nailed it.
(In case you need convincing, here are some photos of my favorite preggo bride.)
At top: Valentine Fillol-Cordier styled by Jennifer Eymere and shot by Alexei Jay for Jalouse March 2012 via Fashion Copius
At top: Valentine Fillol-Cordier styled by Jennifer Eymere and shot by Alexei Jay for Jalouse March 2012 via Fashion Copius
wear with a badass jacket
ReplyDeleteNo. She is pregnant, not 12 years old.
DeleteWell what do you suggest!
DeleteI like this one WAY more than the one ESB posted.
DeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteAnd I like Malene Birger and I like this dress, but I worry it might make you feel like you look just a little thickwaisted, as the waistband hits at your waist-waist rather than slightly above.
I loved how I looked during pregnancy (because I'm obnoxious) after I looked pregnant, but until then I just felt a bit heavy and uncomfortable. So I would recommend something with a v-neck, to flatter any boob growth and with a raised waistline.
I think this Temperley would skim a bump while still showing off your arms and shoulders.
I also like the caftaniness of this Matthew williamson
You could also do, I think, a short sixties sort of shift and look amazing if you like your legs (I had a friend marry in a NY courthouse in a white lace, longsleeved sixties shift and 4month bump and look just INCREDIBLE).
I love reading The Rummey Bears! Anna and her family are too cool, especially her scooter/skateboard/surfing two year old!
ReplyDeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleteThat's my favorite up-the-duff bride, too! I'm a little concerned about the waist on the dress you suggested. Does it go over or under the bump? I might go for a more relaxed, open shape. Something like this (in nude) or this.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a bump at three months? I mean, I have a bump all the time, but if she doesn't think she will be showing, perhaps her stomach was kind of flat before she got pregnant, and thus no bump yet?
Deletelove that Erin Fetherston!
DeleteI like the Fetherston too!
Delete(and yeah, you might have a bump at three months even if your stomach was flat before. In fact, perhaps more so as smaller changes are more visible. Unfortunately, it might also be the type of "bump" that doesn't look like a definite pregnancy belly yet rather than just a heavy burrito lunch belly. I think Nicole's concern is pretty sensible. )
Good point,ladies! I like Nicole's second choice the best.
DeleteNicole, can you help me find a rehearsal dinner dress? You are GOOD. Dang good.
DeleteThese look like nighties.
Delete@alycia i had a relatively flat stomach before having a baby. never in a million years would i have thought that i'd be showing at 3 months... i was in maternity jeans by 10 weeks. apparently, showing early coincides with being short (which i am), but you really never know.
DeleteI attended a wedding last fall when I was twelve weeks. My boobs had gone up a cup size, and my waist had thickened just a tiny bit - but I felt self-conscious about the fitted shift I was planning on wearing and wore a blousy number like above - it was comfy but made me look much bigger in the photos - wish I'd worn the shift! So go with a shape that normally flatters your figure and buy a great new bra.
DeleteAs someone with big boobs, who carries her weight in her mid section (aka the shape of someone 2-3 months pregnant) I've got to disagree. This is actually the very worst shape on me. The billowy top will drop off from your boobs, completely hiding anything resembling a waist, and making you look like a wide, frumpy rectangle.
ReplyDeleteThe waist line on the bride in the photos is at her actual natural waist and there isn't so much extra fabric at the top, which is why that dress looks so stunning.
what aboutthis?
simple, with the right amount of structure here
lacy?
for a flowy, flower-child vibe
this
or this shape will be stunning?
or if budget is not an issue
Sorry you guys, ESB nailed this one. I'm not even gonna bother looking for a better dress.
ReplyDeleteI also love ESB's!
DeleteI like everything about this dress except for the undershirt-style (I refuse to use the term "wife-beater") slip you can see underneath the top layer. But maybe with the right accessories–specifically a cool necklace that would kind of cover that neckline up–it would improve.
ReplyDeleteJust a few suggestions, from someone now 16 weeks pregnant. There's a really good chance you won't be showing/really won't need maternity clothes at 12 weeks; I was still buttoning up my jeans and wearing my regular wardrobe. Is there any chance you could just leave a little extra room in the waist on your sheath dress? I think that style sounds like it could actually be quite flattering for the extra 3-5 pounds you may have gained in the first trimester (that's all I gained).
ReplyDeleteIf not, I love ESB's rec. Just be careful about the neckline. I almost immediately had to buy a new bra — a big, ugly, supportive, comfortable nursing bra. So my one concern with ESB's dress is that the neckline would by no means conceal my big, ugly, totally necessary and functional bra. (I bought this one, if you're in the market, and it's doing the trick just fine.)
And now here's my own slightly off topic question for ESB's imminently wise readers: Where to find non-hideous maternity wear? I'm up a creek.
Second the request for good maternity clothes! All bloggers seem in love with Hatch, which looks nice, especially the silk, but there's an awful lot of pricey polyester mixed in there too.
DeleteIn the UK, ASOS has a not too hideous selection. How about second hand on eBay?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deleteyes, ASOS has a great selection online (USA too). Otherwise, I just looked for forgiving shapes in regular clothes. And the Bellaband was my best friend (now I use it as a strapless nursing bra).
DeleteI was a house, so flowy maxi dresses were the most comfortable for going out.
I've had some luck with TopShop Maternity and flowy long tops from Aritzia. There are some great maternity lines out there (like aforementioned Hatch), but man, they are EXPENSIVE. But I still want to feel like me, not some cowl-neck long-sleeved t-shirt and cords wearing creature, so I've been seeking good looking clothes at good prices. I've also bought tops 1 or 2 sizes up with some luck. Today at 29 weeks, only my jeans are maternity (I will admit, GAP) - boyfriend shirt and blazer are just a size up. Good luck! H&M has a very limited maternity line, quality is a bit squiffy, but I did pick up black jeans there...I've also been using my tailor to nip and tuck tops and bottoms so they really fit me, with good success. Good luck!
Deletei'm 3 months and, yeah, my boobs are expectedly ginormous. and my tummy definitely has a tiny bump to it... but what i didn't expect was the HIPS. god the HIPS. just keep that in mind, if you're having a girl you may expand exponentially width-wise, and fast.
ReplyDeletethis happened to me for sure. and they never went away. womp womp woooooomp.
Deleteugh. i'm getting the worst flashbacks.
Deletei fourth this. & if you're short? short girls show FAST. my boobs grew from a healthy D to a painful F by 5 weeks. all of my non-stretchy-waistline pants/jeans/shorts were out of the question at 10 weeks. three quarters of my shirts were out of the question (looked like belly shirts or showed my newly acquired back pudge) by 15 weeks
Deleteesb nailed it, just check up on the return policy in case you don't feel 100 in it.
p.s. all of these changes happened as i mysteriously LOST 3 lbs in my first trimester (morning sickness, etc.)
Deletei lost 7 pounds my first trimester ... because i stopped drinking ! YIKES.
Deleteno worries, folks. i gained it all back. :-)
I had to attend a wedding at 11 weeks pregnant and I definitely didn't want to wear anything with any kind of fixed waist. I wore a loose dress which I belted with a looser belt slightly higher than normal, but no one would have noticed (and they didn't). Also, I felt pretty ill at that stage and wouldn't want that sort of elastic fixed around my waist. Sadly, as it's a pretty dress, but I don't think it would do any favours to your writer-in.
ReplyDelete(no actual helpful suggestions though I'm afraid)
nailed it.
ReplyDeleteLots of good options here, but some seem pretty expensive for a second dress/expectant parents, though who knows? What about this?
ReplyDeleteThis one looks like it could camouflage a bit of belly, though might not work in the bust.
Lace sheath?
This seems forgiving if you have great legs.
This seems forgiving too.
ooh I'm 7 months pregnant right now. At 3 months it was my ribs and waistline that had changed - I'm an hourglass with a very small waist and pretty skinny normally. I was out of all my normal clothes at 3 months because my ribs were so much wider and my waist thicker. I think a shift dress with a low neck sounds good. My legs are all I have left right now. Love, house-sized person
ReplyDelete