"In the family way..."

[GingerDoll]

Hello Ladies!

I'm seeking your wise advice. I've recently found that my love and I will have a little addition to our family come April. Now that I'm about 10 weeks along, and thickening through the middle, my cute vintage skirts are going into cold storage (except for the Dancestore.com stretchy dance skirts) and I'm trolling E-bay for vintage maternity wear as well as inspiring patterns and images. But drat!, there are so few preggo's in golden era film that I'm high and dry for inspiration.

So far 50's style swing jackets look tempting, but I'm afraid I'll look as big as a house!

Any tips for looking retro-maternity-fabulous? I can't be the only doll in the family way!

[Canadave]

Hey, congratulations! Good luck with your search.

David

[Renderking Fisk]

Congrats. Next to getting married to my bride: The Fisk Boys are the best thing that's ever happened to me.

.... That, and finding the Fedora Lounge.

[LaMedicine]

Congratulations, GingerDoll!

Now to answer your question. (Boy, the guys are no help with this...)

I'm not into e-shopping, so, I can't say anything in that area, but I would suggest that you look up reproductions of the Sears catalogues. I have a couple on hand, one from late '50s, the other early '60s, and both have a few pages of maternity wear. Basically, they are two piece affairs, the tops coverning your hips, and skirt or pants. If you don't want to stress your growing waistline, then I would also suggest high-waisted dresses. The high waist and belt will draw the attention away from your full figure, and the loose skirt will be easy on you also.

I was in the family way a few decades ago, and for the most part, I don't think maternity wear has changed all that much. You should keep in mind though, if you find style and practicality is at a conflict, this is one time in your life that you should be practical first, for the coming baby and for yourself, so you can get your figure back easily after you've introduced the new member to the world.

Good luck, and here's to a cute mom-to-be, and the baby- to be!
LOL LOL

[Matt Deckard]

I have a 1936 Sears catalog and will try to get some scans of their maternity wear up for you.

*Congratulations*

[Quiet Place]

Sorry I'm late with this, GingerDoll! I had to wait to be admitted to this fine group! LOL

Congratulations! I would love to hear more about your pregnancy, how far along, have you had an ultrasound yet? I also am pregnant (with my third child), but I am only 5 or 6 weeks along.

I wanted to answer your question about what pregnant women wear. I read an article last year where women were confessing to their favorite things to wear while pregnant. One woman said she loved to wear large vintage slips, bias cut, because they were very comfortable and sexy, too. You might want to try it, but I never could see wearing such a thing in public.

Right now you may be concerned about what makes you like "big", but girl... eventually you'll just worry about feeling good. Near the end of my pregnancies (past) I've always worn the same dress over and over. It's lightwieght, high waisted.

So:
Large vintage slips for a sexier feel,

Large dresses, light weight, with empire waist.

COMFORTABLE SHOES!

Good luck!
-Quiet Place

[Canadave]

Welcome and enjoy, QP!

David

[Kentucky Blues]

Pardon me, gents, but what the **** are we doing in the powder room?

Oh yeah, congratulations

[GingerDoll]

Hello again and thank you all for your good wishes and advice!

Congrats, QP, on your good news. I'll be 15 weeks along as of 10/21. I'm an OB/GYN myself, so I have nearly constant access to an ultrasound machine. It's taken a great deal of self control to limit myself to ultrasound-ing the bean no more than once a week or so. We are 85% certain that it's a boy.

As for fashion, (sigh) I'm willing to accept comfortable, functional, miracle modern stretchy clothes for now. I did manage to find images of Rita Hayworth during her pregnancy (in 1945, caught on film in Tonight and Every Night), so now I'll focus on staying very healthy with a postpartum goal of looking like Gilda.

Oh yes, and can anybody explain to me those vintage maternity skirts with a big U cut out in the front? Did ladies really wear them with a big (naked!) belly just covered by the long tunic top?

Thank you!
Zoe

[LaMedicine]

Oh yes, and can anybody explain to me those vintage maternity skirts with a big U cut out in the front? Did ladies really wear them with a big (naked!) belly just covered by the long tunic top?

At least. that's what the explanation in the Sears catalogue reproduction says...
"Leaving the enlarged belly exposed"...
Now that you mention it, it does sound kind of weird, considering you certainly would want to protect and support the belly as it gets bigger and heavier.
I'm going to have to ask my mother if she recalls anything...