| There is little doubt that maternity clothing has | | | | consumers, fashion designers and labels became the |
| evolved greatly in the last ten years, there are a | | | | icons of the age. This led to the pregnant mums to |
| variety of factors which have contributed to this | | | | be of this time becoming more demanding of their |
| development - some of which will be highlighted in | | | | maternity fashions - although for the masses many |
| this article. However, it can't be denied that there is | | | | of these styles remained unobtainable. The second |
| still a definite stigma which still exists around | | | | prime factor which has brought trendy maternity |
| maternity clothes, particularly from newly pregnant | | | | fashion to the mainstream has been the rise of the |
| mothers-to-be. | | | | so called 'fast fashion' retailers, who were able to |
| The Generation Gap | | | | quickly manufacture and adapt the designs inspired |
| This fear is completely understandable if we take into | | | | by high end fashion designers and get the clothes to |
| account what it is primarily based upon - memories of | | | | the high street for affordable prices. |
| our parents and grandparents. We are sure that like | | | | Maternity wear today, Peacocks UK |
| us you remember your mother, pregnant with a | | | | A prime example of the fashionable maternity clothes |
| younger sibling, being forced to wear some truly | | | | available on today's High Street comes from UK |
| unflattering maternity clothing. Maternity 'fashions' of | | | | retailer Peacocks. They offer a range of maternity |
| the 1970s and early 1980s were practically | | | | wear which is typical of some of the best ranges |
| non-existent, you merely bought some bigger clothes. | | | | available. Their range of maternity tops has a great |
| We have some very strong memories of dungarees | | | | variety of style - including vests, long shirts, blouses, |
| and bland ponchos, looking at old photos of our | | | | printed t-shirt style tops, cardigans and a lot more - |
| parents during this time illicit a huge wave of | | | | certainly more flattering than a plain poncho. Similarly, |
| sympathy - the main word that comes to mind is | | | | there are also a wide range of maternity jeans and |
| 'frumpy'. Things get even stranger when we see | | | | trousers available from Peacocks - instead of being |
| what our grandparents had to deal with when | | | | just a slightly bigger size, these trousers are now |
| pregnant - they almost look like they've been | | | | styled - for example the Harem style maternity |
| squeezed into larger gents tweed suits. Thankfully | | | | trouser has grown massively in popularity. Similarly |
| things have evolved somewhat from these dark old | | | | the range of maternity jeans offered has now |
| days. | | | | expanded considerably, you can even get skinny |
| Change had to happen | | | | maternity jeans now. If you add these to the |
| There is no doubt that things had to change in | | | | differing styles of dresses and skirts available there is |
| maternity wear, and thankfully a confluence of | | | | now no reason to lose your style when pregnant. |
| factors came into being which aided this evolution. | | | | Maternity fashion is now a legitimate sector in its |
| Firstly, from the mid to late 1980s there was a | | | | own right, and styles are continuously evolving - our |
| marked rise in fashion consciousness amongst | | | | parents and grandparents must be very jealous. |