Liz Steinberg Lange, recently married and now pregnant, makes it a point not to go into maternity stores anymore.
“The styling seems odd to me, as if women themselves are babies and not having babies,” Lange said. “I hate the bow idea on pregnant women, and the awful clips and polyester crepes.”
The 31-year-old fashion designer so disdained the maternity clothes on the market that she started her own line.
Introduced last October, Liz Lange Maternity offers stylish clothes that women would consider wearing even if they weren’t pregnant. Her slimming cigarette pants, A-line dresses, wrap-skirts and swing jackets use fabrics such as Italian, feather-light wool, silk jersey, cotton and Lycra. She experiments with such colors as apricot, navy and red, featured in her twin sets of lightweight cashmere and silk.
“I don’t think pregnant women should try to follow the trends because they’re often unflattering,” Lange said, noting that the now-popular drawstring pants accentuate pregnancy while fitted Capri pants, minus the usual waist panels, seem to lighten the load. “Many women like to keep the rest of their limbs as skinny as possible.”
Lange’s second collection, introduced this spring, includes “sexy silhouettes designed to bare more body.” Prices range from $90 for a sleeveless man’s-style stretch-cotton shirt to $450 for a long swing jacket. (Mail order 888-616-5777 or www.lizlange.com)
OTHER TRENDY, NEARBY AND AFFORDABLE MATERNITY LINES
M by Lauren Sara:
Considered by some the “Armani” of maternity wear, Sara’s collection includes professional wear as well as dressier fare, worn by celebrity clients such as Deborah Norville and Demi Moore. Prices range from $150 to $500. (Mail order 212-730-0007)
Mothers Work:
Owner of local retail outlets for Maternite, Pea in a Pod, Mimi Maternity and Motherhood clothing lines, Mothers Work offers casual, professional and evening wear for moms-to-be throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Prices range from $11.90 for leggings at Motherhood, the low-end line, to $400 for a suit at Pea in a Pod, the upscale line. Call 800-291-7800 for store locations or go to www.motherhood.com)
Garnet Hill
Known more for its home furnishings than its maternity clothing, Garnet Hill uses all-natural fibers and fabrics, particularly linen and the soft-to-the-skin Danish green cotton. (Mail order 800-622-6216)
Pitterpat
Women who don’t want to spend a lot on a temporary wardrobe can choose trendy and casual clothing from Pitterpat, including such basics as tunic T’s ($22) and overalls ($58). (Mail order 800-294-7580)
