Style Icons – Imelda May’s Maternity Style

My second focus in my style icons series is the Queen of rockabilly, the incomparable Imelda May. Imelda, who channels vintage glamour and red lips at all times, didn’t let the little fact of being pregnant throughout most of the year dampen her style. She decided that pregnancy called for animal print…and lots of it.

I adore Imelda, I love that she maintained her same high standards of glamour and sex appeal throughout her pregnancy, a time when many women feel it is OK to wear anything as long as you are comfortable. Like Imelda, I wanted to keep my usual style during pregnancy, but even four years ago when I had my child there seemed fewer options if you were already naturally curvy. Today, most of the High Street are producing maternity ranges, and these are not just about jeans with belly bump elastication or combat trousers.

Pregnancy shouldn’t mean that you have to embrace your natural tastes, your natural style and your personality, you should be proud of your bump and continue to wear exactly what you want. Nenah Cherry showed this way back in the 1980’s when she style wore crop tops and leggings whilst performing on Top of the Pops, whilst the All Saints girls stick to their uniform of combats and vests.

Embracing your bump has never been easier, you don’t even have to buy actual maternity wear, but could just go one or two sizes up in your usual choices. Imelda didn’t even abandon her belt, she just wore it a little higher. So what’s stopping you from wearing what you want?