suede boots – Helen's Life & Style

Photos: (from left) Stephanie LaCava & Kate Middleton; Courtesy of tumblr.com, instyle.co.uk.

Photos: (from left) Violaine Bernard & Stephanie LaCava; Courtesy of garancedore.fr, vogue.com.

After 20 weeks, my belly literally grows every single day. I once sworn that I would never buy maternity clothes, but after hours of desperately searching and reworking in my closet, I finally gave up and realized that I need at least two maternity pieces: a pair of comfy maternity jeans and a basic black maxi dress (and I laughed when I read Garance Doré’s post)

Besides new clothing, I also need more maternity style inspirations. In case some of you moms-to-be have the same needs, I picked four of my favorite outfits (above) that cover dressy and casual occasions. For more ideas for formal occasions? Check out my previous “Pregnancy Style” entry here!

First two outfits from Stephanie LaCava and Kate Middleton are bright cheerful options. They are also great examples of how to rework the old pieces in our closet: The fit-and-flare lemon Roksanda Ilincic dress covered Stephanie LaCava’s baby bump; The dress-like red Marni coat (similar here & here) that Kate Middleton worn almost 7 years ago still fits her growing belly.

Dress: Vero Moda (50% off now; add a belt for post-pregnancy wear)
Bag: See by Chloe (more casual version here)
Shoes: Steven Triummp (on sale!)
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Jewelry: Gorjana & Griffin Kingston wrap & leather triple wrap

Coat: P.A.R.O.S.H (similar here)
Jeans: J Brand
Shoes: Munro (on sale here!)
Jewelry: vintage brooch

The following two are more casual, everyday outfit ideas that we can easily recreate. I love the way they use accessories to brighten up the monochrome look and make boring maternity pieces more interesting, like the cute beanie, blue Oxford on Violaine Bernard and printed floral wrap on Stephanie LaCava.

Top: J.Crew (great designer version here & here)
Jeans: J Brand
Shoes: ModCloth (such a great price! also adore this pair!)
Beanie: Asos

Clockwise from top left:
Target maternity dress (maxi version here)
Cara ‘retro flower wonder’ wrap
Topshop stretch maternity dress
Ralph Lauren silk scarf

Photo: Hanneli Mustaparta at Paris fashion week; Courtesy of vogue.com, hanneli.com.

Cheerful coral and sunny yellow are two of my favorite colors for spring. Perhaps because they are associated with my childhood memory: that beautiful common bombax flower and Jasminum nudiflorum blooming in my backyard every early spring.

These two colors go great with this year’s hottest palette: black and white. Especially for romantic coral, the high-contrast black and white color combination toughens up girly, romantic coral, giving it a modern, chic vibe. The juxtaposition is bold and attractive, just like what Hanneli Mustaparta’s latest look (above).

Inspired by this combination, I paired four outfits for different activities in the new season: A bright coral coat and ankle trap booties are great for early spring, this timeless striped bag makes the coral even more eye-catching; A draped coral dress, paired with a nice structured handbag and elegant heels (like this pair), can take you from desk to dinner; A high-waisted coral gown is a perfect choice for wedding, and for an intricate, graceful dress like that, nothing is better than a sleek clutch; A coral sundress is great for warm weather getaway, and the simple silhouette creates the perfect canvas for this romantic tote.