Leia Sfez’s top tips for flawless maternity style

Leia Sfez’s top tips for flawless maternity style

From ‘dad’ jeans and boyfriend shirts to the handy elastic technique, Parisian model LEIA SFEZ – who is currently expecting her third baby – shares her pregnancy style secrets

My third child is due at the end of February. I can’t wait to meet him. And, while I must admit that it is much easier to dress when not pregnant, there are some pieces I have been wearing as a uniform – and tricks that I have learned – that have made getting dressed much easier.

For me, it’s very important to stay as close as possible to my natural, non-pregnancy style, but just take into consideration a belly that is growing day by day. There are several women whose style I am continually inspired by – Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Jean Seberg and Joan Didion being my top three – and I have continued to emulate their elegance and timelessness while being pregnant. The first bit of advice I can give is to ask yourself what you would like to wear if you weren’t pregnant. After visualizing the outfit, try to adapt it to accommodate your bump. I found it far more useful to find style solutions that work for me rather than searching “outfits for pregnant women”. It means you don’t have to change your dressing habits too much.

In this vein, I have worn as much of my existing wardrobe as possible. I always wear very oversized tops or jackets anyway, so I can wear those without a problem during my pregnancy. It’s important to me to find ideas for dressing in non-maternity items – so that I don’t fall into the trap of purchasing too many pregnancy pieces I’ll only wear for a fleeting moment. I’ve been sticking to large sweaters and my men’s jackets, as well as classic shirts, trenches and oversized coats. I’ve not taken off my Prada boots, which are quite wide and \end\] below the knee. They’re so comfortable, and [boots look very chic with any outfit. And I still love accessorizing – I’ve been carrying my Gucci ‘Jackie’ bag. I don’t wear crossbody bags at the moment, as I find them uncomfortable.

The real problem I have found is knowing what to wear on my legs, as I’m such a pants-and-jeans girl. I quickly realized that leggings and ‘dad’ jeans were my only solution! I did buy some black maternity leggings – they are an essential, I would say. They look very chic with a big shirt worn over a black turtleneck. I style them with a pair of loafers with wide soles, or, for something more off-duty, I wear them with a white T-shirt and a pair of sneakers to go for a walk with my children.

Denim has been the most difficult challenge, as jeans are the item I wear most \[when not pregnant\]. I found a pair of dad-style jeans and bought them four sizes too big to be able to wear them throughout my pregnancy – towards the end I will use the elastic-band technique around the button. \[When you can no longer fasten your jeans, loop a rubber band or hair elastic around the button, pull it through the buttonhole, and loop back around the button to secure it.\] This is a great tip for all fellow jeans addicts.

Knitted dresses are another fail-safe garment for good maternity style… My pregnancy has made me more feminine in terms of what I wear

If you are going to buy something new, make sure you can wear it after your pregnancy, too – buy for pleasure rather than necessity. I’ve bought a large coat from Jil Sander Homme that is very elegant and practical, both with my belly and without it. I have also bought oversized cashmere sweaters from Loulou Studio, which I wear a lot, and I know I will be happy to wear them afterwards. I’ve also bought the large ‘Maude’ bag from Khaite to carry all the baby’s things.

Knitted dresses are another fail-safe garment for good maternity style. It means you don’t have to spend ages looking for a beautiful outfit combination – they are so easy to wear and so practical. I’ve found the woolen dresses from Khaite and Totême to be extraordinary during pregnancy, as they highlight our forms without revealing flaws. My pregnancy has made me more feminine in terms of what I wear.

Like everyone else, I do have days at home when I’m just in loungewear. I’m obsessed with sweatshirts and joggers from Sporty & Rich, as well as silk pajamas from Asceno. They’re two completely different styles that I am comfortable in at home, but I can also wear outside under a coat for off-duty days.

It’s nice to stick to a good skincare regime, too. It helps me to boost myself and still feel like me, and my children come home from school and see that – it’s important to me that they see me as mostly unchanged. I like to use Tata Harper’s cleanser and a Susanne Kaufmann serum – her Stretch Mark Oil is very helpful for my bump, too. I don’t wear much makeup at the moment but, when I do, I like to use Charlotte Tilbury’s blush to top up that pregnancy glow.

Is it safe to do a core workout during pregnancy?

How to care for your skin when you’re pregnant