Trying to stay stylish whilst pregnant is not always the easiest thing and I get asked a fair bit about tips on how to flatter the bump either during or post pregnancy.

I’m 8 months pregnant with my second baby at the moment (I already have a two-year-old daughter) and I have to say I struggled a bit with my style first time round. I bought quite a bit of “maternitywear” from ASOS and H&M but it never felt quite like me. Sadly, pregnancy to a lot of brands means frumpy and if you’re working during pregnancy  you can struggle to look professional too. A lot of labels help accentuate your bump, which although is of course beautiful, can be a bit much for the office!

So, this time round I took a different strategy. I looked to some of my favourite high street brands, like Zara and & Other Stories, and bought 2-3 sizes bigger or a Large instead, to allow room for growth. I went for styles which are meant to be loose fitting, such as the shirt dress (which ended up being a wardrobe staple!) or A-line dresses and teamed them with black leggings and pumps. My legs often look quite bloated at the end of the day, so black leggings would still slim and flatter.

I also ditched my handbag for a rucksack, which helped even out the weight across my back (I’m pictured with an Aspinal of London rucksack here).

TOP PREGNANCY STYLE TIPS

• Look for styles that hang, rather than skim the body (this goes for post-pregnancy too!) and when your tummy eventually goes down you can just cinch in with a belt, so still wear them.
• The key is don’t go for silhouettes that accentuate your middle, such as a fifties fit and flair style or a belted dress, as this will just make your waistline look bigger.
• Invest in a beautiful autumn/winter coat, such as a brightly coloured cocoon shape – it will lift any outfit.

• Don’t be afraid of colour! A quilted bomber is a big trend this season, so go for a bold primary colour and have some fun. (I’m pictured here in a red bomber from Urban Outfitters).
• Have some fun with hair and make-up too. If you don’t want to draw attention to your bump, draw attention to your hair and face instead. Try out some cool styles you wouldn’t normally wear, paint your nails or sample that bright red lipstick you’ve always wanted to try.