Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio walked the catwalk this week while five months pregnant. The majority of the outfits were nothing to write home about, but one ensemble stood out as a practical look for any pregnant woman to achieve. Brazilian designer, Colcci, sent Ambrosio down the runway in a pair of short beige shorts (possibly leather) and an oversized knit sweater. The look was completed with wine red accessories.
If you don’t want to shell out any cash for a new sweater, you can probably borrow one from the closet of one of the men in your life. Pair with short shorts (any khaki drawstring shorts can work) and accessorize with matching gusto. If you feel like shopping though, here are some relatively inexpensive items you can use to recreate the look:
Ladder Sweater in Olive - $95
Maternity Full-Panel Twill Shorts from Old Navy - $22.94
Call it Spring - $27.99
If you prefer flats try: Indigo by Clarks - $35.97
Magenta Clutch - $51.99
What do you think of her outfit?
Alessandra Ambrosio: five months pregnant and still on the catwalk [TelegraphUK]
Jennifer Garner made an appearance on the Tonight Show in her best maternity outfit to date. The outfit is simple, comfortable and flattering. Pairing a red chiffon dress with black tights is an easy way to look incredible during your pregnancy. Here are a few inexpensive pieces you can use to replicate her look:
For the alluring red color and the beauty of chiffon, try the Asos Midi Dress with Belt - $62.67
If you prefer the cut of the chiffon dress but don't care for the red, this Maternity Dress with Wrap and Chiffon Sleeve in Berry is your best bet - $44.76
If you really want to save some bucks, try the Merona Twist Wrap Sweater Dress at Target - $20.98
Black Maternity Tights from Motherhood Maternity - $7.98
She’s wearing heels like these: Black Pumps from DSW - $69.95
…but you might be more comfortable in flats like these: Black Glitter Ballet Flats - $49
Scattered Stone Gold Pendant from Bloomingdales- $50
Brass Bracelet - $22
Oval Stone Ring from Loft - $24.50
Dusky Orchid Long-Sleeve Top from Gap - $24.95
Luichiny Scarlet Platform Pump - $50.04
Or for a lower heel,
Anital Maribel Wine Calf Tumbled Nubuck - $89.99
Gray Drawstring Hobo Bag - $59.90
Gold Filigree Pendant Necklace - $16.95
Round Cubic Zirconia Earrings - $35
Philip Persio Wrist Watch from American Apparel - $48
Grey Secret Fit Stretch Skinny Flares from a Pea in the Pod - $99.99
Or for less money,
1969 demi panel long and lean jeans from Gap - $39.99
photo: Christopher Peterson
Pregnant Hilary Duff gave a video interview from her home this week and dished on becoming a parent, her skin care routine and more. Here are some highlights:
On Skin Care: I think the most important part is drinking water, lots and lots of water – too much water. You think you’re drinking too much – you’re not. It’s definitely a way to keep your skin glowing from the inside out …sticking to a skincare regimen. I don’t want to mention the products I use because I constantly am switching. I get bored very easily and I’m a bit of a product junkie but stick to a regimen. Wash your face every night, wash your face every morning, do the same steps and your skin kind of goes through boot camp I think with putting it on a schedule and sticking to it.
After the Birth: After the birth of my child, you know, I think I’m up for whatever comes my way movie-wise. For a while I was really focused on doing independent movies because I could show a little bit more range and you know, you’re kind of testing the new waters out – I was in a big transition phase in my life and my career, but I would love to do mainstream movies again and before that I think, you know, I’m gonna be spending a lot of my time in the studio working on a new record.
On the baby’s gender: I think a lot of people know this already, but we’re having a little boy and I’m super excited. It’s just girls in my family, so I’m not sure what I’m gonna do with a little boy but I’m very excited and I think deep down inside I kind of wanted a boy.
As soon as you see that positive pregnancy test, the idea of drinking with friends quickly falls to the wayside. It’s not much fun to hang out with a lot of people who are drinking when you can’t. It can be extra difficult on a holiday when avoiding parties isn’t really an option. However, with a little planning, a batch of mocktails from home can help you feel a part of the fun. Here are a few of our favorite winter mocktails (single-serving):
Hot Spiced Cider – Whisk together in a saucepan: apple cider, a lump of brown sugar, and dashes (to taste) of allspice, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Bring to a simmer. Then serve with cinnamon stick for garnish.
Pomegranate Citrus Juice – Mix 2/3 c. pomegranate juice and equal parts grapefruit, orange and tangerine juice. Finish with a spritz of lime.
Sparkling Apple-Ginger – Cook at medium-high heat a six-inch piece of ginger, two cups of sugar and enough water to cover ingredients. Allow to cool. Strain out the ginger after cooled (this is your ginger syrup). Fill glass with sparkling apple cider. Add one tbs. ginger syrup. Stir and finish with a sprinkle of fresh-grated ginger and a cinnamon stick.
Sparkling Cider and Orange Punch – Grind up a small amount of crystallized ginger in a blender. Rub the rim of a glass with lemon juice and then dip in the ginger granules. Mix equal parts fresh-squeezed orange juice and sparkling apple cider and pour into the prepared glass.
Apple Sangria – Combine equal parts apple and orange juice in a glass with ice. Add 2 tbs. lemon juice. Finish with one part sparkling white grape juice and stir. Top off with very thin slices of apple, orange and lemon.
Mulled Cranberry – In a saucepan, heat cranberry juice, cinnamon stick, and whole clove to boiling. Cool to drinking temperature and pour. Garnish with candied cranberries on a decorative toothpick.
Sparkling Cranberry-Grapefruit - Combine equal parts grapefruit juice and cranberry juice in a glass with ice. Add a splash of lime and stir in mineral water.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate – Heat milk or soy milk with 2 tbs. powdered chocolate, 1 tbs. chocolate chips and a couple broken pieces of candy cane. Garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows or a peppermint stick.
Cocktails [MarthaStewart]
There were a lot of pregnant celebrities this year but the maternity fashion was definitely hit or miss. Nevertheless, there were some standout maternity outfits in 2011, even among those celebrities who never seemed to get it right. Here are the top ten best maternity outfits of 2011:
10. Alyssa Milano’s a Pea in the Pod Polka Dot Dress. Our favorite sitcom star was a natural at maternity fashion, but she kept it safe, wearing mostly black dresses at red carpet events. We were happy to see her rocking some black and white polka-dots in 2011. The outfit was fun, sexy and eye-popping.
9. Natalie Portman’s Viktor & Rolf Rose Dress. Love it or hate it, Portman's pink and red rose gown was one of the most unusual maternity dresses that we had ever seen. Portman always looks gorgeous but we give her extra props for daring to wear such an interesting design.
8. Jessica Alba’s Baby Shower Outfit. Sure, Jessica Alba did a couple red carpets during her pregnancy and looked pretty great. However, it was the cute outfit that she wore to her baby shower that really hit the mark. It was cute, flirty and well put-together.
7. Jennifer Garner’s Pink Valentino. Jennifer Garner is pretty good with maternity fashion, especially when she hits the red carpet (although, I suppose we have Rachel Zoe to thank). We had a hard time deciding which look of hers deserved to be in the top ten. Nevertheless, the shiny, pink Valentino she wore early in her pregnancy was adorable and gorgeous all at once.
6. Selma Blair’s Blue Lanvin. Selma Blair might as well take the crown for the best dressed pregnant lady of 2011, because she looked flawless almost all the time. However, her best look was one of her simplest – a blue color-blocked, empire waist dress made by Lanvin and accessorized with two Lanvin cuffs.
5. Beyonce’s Orange Lanvin. Beyonce debuted her pregnancy in this gorgeous, Grecian-style orange dress. It was so on trend and looked gorgeous on her. Many people would put this dress at number one on their maternity fashion lists, but it wasn’t as risky as some of our top choices.
4. Tori Spelling’s Loose Silk Mini-Dress. Tori is generally very good at dressing during pregnancy when she avoids colors that wash her out. She almost nailed it with a warm-colored silk dress that really accentuated her pregnant glow. What's even more incredible about this look is that the dress isn't maternity at all. A little less chunk on the shoe would’ve sent her to the top of the list.
3. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Pink Lanvin. We didn’t see Bryce Dallas Howard that often during her pregnancy but when we did it was usually pretty spectacular. The red-haired beauty was absolutely flawless in a Grecian-style Lanvin in 2011.
2. Natalie Portman’s Raspberry Rodarte. It's hard to top the memorability of Portman’s rose dress, but the raspberry-hued, off the shoulder gown she won an Oscar wearing was flattering in every way. Add those gorgeous Tiffany & Co. earrings and you've got a fashion dish.
1. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Kate Spade. The final time that Howard color-blocked during her pregnancy was the best. With a dusty blue skirt, a salmon-colored bow and a white top, this dress was festive, flattering and gorgeous. After much deliberation, we decided that her dress was risky but she pulled it off and that it really celebrated her pregnancy.
Which look was your favorite?
Christmas may be over, but the after-Christmas sales are just beginning. If you've resisted treating yourself as you shopped for others, now's the time to cave. Here are a few sale items we found that would be great to indulge in:
Tops
Bottoms
Dresses
Outerwear
Happy Shopping!