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There are lots of exciting things about being pregnant but maternity wear isn’t often one of them. Whether you’ve experienced it first hand or not, despite the amount of brands offering maternity wear nowadays, mums-to-be are often faced with a sea of dark stretch-jersey. It’s true though, isn’t it: maternity wear has a tendency to be mindnumingly generic.

It’s something Adriana Chryssicopoulos and Tatiana de Boisanger both encountered when they were both pregnant four years ago. Lovers of designer fashion, the pair struggled to find the type of ready-to-wear pieces they would usually gravitate towards from their favourite designers that would actually work with a bump. Their shopping routine became a vicious cycle of buy, try and return.

As a former fashion buyer, Chryssicopoulos had a knack for editing through designer collections for pregnancy-friendly pieces but, on the whole, the pair resorted to maternity wear for their first pregnancies because ‘we thought that’s what you had to do.’ That’s a thing of the past though, as the pair, who first met on a number 70 bus and later worked alongside each other at Net-A-Porter, have just launched Nine in the Mirror, the ultimate destination for carefully edited designer ready to wear you’ll love during and after your pregnancy.

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‘It’s so serendipitous how we met,’ says Tatiana. ‘We lived so close to each other and would take the 70 together every morning. It was by coincidence that a mutual friend introduced us one evening seven years ago. We both did a double take and realised, ‘hey, you’re the girl from the bus!’ she continues. ‘At the time we were both pregnant with the same due date and our first borns were born one week apart; our second children were born within 10 days of each other.’

The pair left Net-A-Porter just over two years ago to turn their idea into a reality. ‘We saw that in the world of e-commerce or in women’s luxury retail in general, there wasn’t any player doing what we envisioned to do: offering expectant women an edited selection of contemporary and high-end designer RTW in shapes and styles that would suit pregnancy,’ Adriana explains. ‘The irony with Nine in the Mirror is that we are not asking luxury brands to produce maternity wear. On the contrary, we’re offering style-savvy women the opportunity to continue dressing as themselves in non-maternity, finding pieces from their favourite brands that can work for their evolving shape.’

The one thing you can’t run away from, Tatiana explains, is maternity denim and underwear so they offer those but the lion share of the site’s fashion offering is key pieces from designer brands that run from Valentino, Alexander Wang and K-Mid favourite Emilia Wickstead to more contemporary, accessibly priced labels like Joseph, Maje and Sandro. The mix means the website truly caters for every occasion, from an off duty day to a wedding or cocktail party. ‘We wanted to dress a woman from morning, evening,’ says Tatiana, ‘from the school run to the boardroom or ballroom.’

The thing with Nine in the Mirror is that we are not asking luxury brands to produce maternity wear. On the contrary, we’re offering style-savvy women the opportunity to continue dressing as themselves in non-maternity, finding pieces from their favourite brands that can work for their evolving shape.

Clothes are sized according to trimesters and rather importantly, you can see how each item looks both with and without a bump. The idea isn’t to offer you things you can only wear while you’re pregnant, they tell me. ‘It’s simply an extension of your style and your wardrobe that just happens to work during and after your pregnancy.’

Naysayers should be assured that everything is tried and tested. Adriana, a mother of three, and Tatiana, who has two children, take bumps to all buying appointments, putting it on a fit model or themselves to try pieces on for comfort. ‘We do all appointments with them,’ Adrianna confirms. ‘We do that with every item we buy to ensure we stand by what we recommend.’

Less than a year in, the site is already gaining a cult following among expectant women in the know. ‘Women have said they wished we existed when they were having their babies and others tell us they forward us to all their girlfriends,’ Adriana says. ‘The reaction we have gotten from expectant women gives us inspiration every day.’

MIROSLAVA_DUMA_PREGNANCYFeeling stylish at a time when your body is changing isn’t always easy but to guide you in the right direction, Adriana and Tatiana have rounded up their top tips for navigating your pregnancy in style.

Every expectant woman should not only have the perfect pair of jeans but also a great trouser. What we love about the offering in the last couple of years is that you can find a great pair of elegant trousers with an elastic wait or hemmed cuffs. The 3.1. Phillip Lim textured cable jacquard trousers can be worn with slip on sneakers or casual flats for day or paired with an embellished top and statement heels for night either making you feel put together but comfortable.

Another must have is a failsafe cocktail dress. Though one can get away with a casual ensemble for day, there will inevitably be the occasion to step out and celebrate. Turn to a timeless lace number in a figure flattering shape or an elastic waisted dress that beautifully accentuates your growing bump, in either a long or short sleeve version with Sandro or American Vintage. With solid colours and clean-lined designs, play with accessories to either dress it up or down depending on the occasion. A crystal-encrusted necklace would look fitting over the red American Vintage whereas a longer chain necklace, possibly with charms or ribbon would accentuate the sportier aesthetic of the Sandro number.

There have been so many best-dressed expectant women lately. At the very fashion forward end of the spectrum, there’s Miroslava Duma who’s wardrobe is envious pregnant or not. What’s most inspiring about her is that since she’s been pregnant, she hasn’t been afraid to take risks with her wardrobe. She doesn’t shy away from colour or volume and her outerwear is often bold and printed, which is super chic. We love the way Rosamund Pike dressed when she’s pregnant, keeping her look timeless and clean to match her cropped hair and flawless makeup.

It’s so important to stay true to your style, especially as there are so many changes going on in your body already. Don’t shy away from things you would normally wear before you were pregnant. There’s no reason not to try a pencil skirt above a bump; there’s no reason not to layer either – a long cotton tank top looks great worn under shorter tops; and definitely invest in appropriate fitting outerwear. These are pieces you’ll want to keep and re-wear time and time again.

Final tip: work with your bump when it comes to proportions. A skinny trouser looks great with a voluminous top and a loose fitting trouser can look great paired with a body-hugging sweater. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Photography by Paul Whitfield for The Lifestyle Edit