Being pregnant is a unique experience for every woman. As someone who hasn’t been pregnant, I can only look at the women who are and have been with awe and admiration.
Sometimes, we need to stop and remind ourselves how incredible the female body is. We can grow whole humans inside of us. It’s wild.
But maternity clothes often don’t reflect just how incredible pregnant bodies are. Often, they aim to hide the body’s changing shape, rather than to flaunt and celebrate it.
In a May 2022 interview and cover shoot with Vogue, Rihanna said that she’s “hoping to redefine what’s considered ‘decent’ for pregnant women”, by dressing to celebrate her bump, her body and herself.
We asked three pregnant women how they felt about Rihanna’s maternity style, and about their own bodies throughout their individual journeys.
Jade
Jade is nearing the end of her third pregnancy, and she’s feeling more confident in her body than ever. She says that it has a lot to do with wearing clothes she wants to wear, regardless of her being pregnant.
“Rihanna is a QUEEN! I love that she’s celebrating her body and not dressing “maternally” — she’s being unapologetically herself.
“I personally hate maternity wear and gravitate towards clothes that feel like me, so pregnancy dressing has always been about finding shapes that accommodate a growing body and sizing up as needed. I think wearing clothes I love and don’t feel ‘mumsy’ contribute to that. Weirdly, I’m also showing more skin than I usually would!
“I feel very grateful to be pregnant and celebrate my body for all it has done.”
Lyndsey
Our very own Entertainment Editor, Lyndsey Rodrigues, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy two weeks ago. Although a large portion of her pregnancy took place during Sydney’s lockdown, she found that she felt most like herself in flowy maxi dresses.
She did, however, feel a bit limited by what she could buy clothing-wise while pregnant. “Maternity clothes in Australia are just not chic at all, and if they are, they cost a fortune for something you won’t wear for all that long. I think there’s a real gap in the market there.”
“I think Rihanna’s maternity style is fantastic! Rihanna has always been someone to be unapologetically herself and to push boundaries when it comes to style, so I loved seeing her continue to do just that now she’s pregnant.
“It’s a great reminder that being pregnant doesn’t have to mean sacrificing who you are or how you express yourself sartorially. I think that her maternity style sends the message that as long as you feel comfortable, you should dress how you want in pregnancy and show that beautiful bump to the world.
“I, personally, think that pregnant bodies are so gorgeous and love to see women embracing the bump, but I also think it is deeply personal and always up to the individual how they want to dress (at any stage of life, not just pregnancy!).”
Amie
Amie also just gave birth to her first son. She found that being pregnant actually gave her more confidence to wear whatever she wanted and flaunt her body off, than usual. We love to hear it!
“I absolutely loved dressing up with my bump all out for the world to see, I felt incredibly proud of what my body was doing.
“In recent years, I’ve felt quite insecure of the extra weight I carry on my lower abdomen and my hip dips, which used to really impact what I wore — but being pregnant gave me the confidence to pull all of those tight skirts and fitted dresses out of my wardrobe!”
“I must also admit, that I really enjoyed the extra attention I received, not only from friends and coworkers but random people who would strike up conversations with me on the street. Strangers would ask about my pregnancy, what I was having, how far along I was and share in my excitement, which was so much fun and rewarding. I loved dressing to show off my body and I missed my bump as soon as it was gone.
“I’m personally loving Rihanna’s pregnancy style, she is really embracing and celebrating her new body.
“I think many women when they are pregnant feel like their time to be sexy has passed and now is the next phase — “mum time” — I know I have felt this way. But seeing Rihanna celebrate and feel sexy in her pregnant body was pretty inspiring to me. It honestly makes me wish I still had my bump so I could get it out more.”
