FOR weeks, my fashion dilemma nagged at me: What does one wear to a wedding themed “a whiter shade of pale”?

My dear, effervescent girl friend was getting married and wanted a party with guests dressed to the nines in alabaster shades.

Sifting through my wardrobe, I realised that, at six months pregnant, I was: a) too big to fit into any of the few white formal dresses I own; and b) likely to look as big as a house in demanding, blanched shades.

Now, if a pregnant woman moans that she’s got nothing to wear, you better believe her. After all, one of the dangers of impending motherhood is that a woman might well spend a good part of nine months in shapeless sacks or cutesy baby- doll dresses embellished with big bows, hideous checks and gaudy polka dots.

Caftans in interesting prints are always good bets. I get mine for under $30 from places like This Fashion chainstores and Top 20 in AMK Hub.

But there are only so many you can wear before you start feeling like you’re in pyjamas all the time.

It is fortunate, then, that there have been an increase in chic, maternity sartorial options in recent years.

This season, fashion’s obsession with architectural shapes is good news for those of us who have ripe-to-the-point-of-spilling figures.
And, besides, it’s fun to look at non-maternity fashion and find inspiration there.

Autumn 2009’s key looks include cropped, leather biker jackets from the houses of Alexander Wang and Roland Mouret, which are truncatedly perfect for zipping up over a baby bump.

And designers like Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta did soft, drapey and ruched evening numbers that flatter and accommodate all kinds of curves.

But prices for Donna Karan’s gowns start from $5,000 at its boutique here at Hilton International, while ready-to- wear Oscar de la Renta is sold from US$1,990 (S$2,873) on website www.oscardelarenta.com

Still, it was delicious to contemplate the strong, sharp, 1980s shoulder, everywhere from Antonio Berardi to Balmain. That distracts from extremely rounded proportions elsewhere.

On www.net-a-porter.com, Balmain’s jackets range from £1,870 (S$4,455) to £6,578.

But, you may ask, where does a pregnant mum go for more affordable fashion?

At one of my favourite haunts, Topshop, I often cruise the maternity racks for everyday staples. Recently, I found a fab black jersey pencil skirt that pulls up over my swollen stomach, and can be converted into a tube top. That little piece cost me less than $30.

And the tent dresses that sparked off a million celebrity- pregnancy rumours – Eva Mendes, Sophia Bush and Hilary Duff all sported the look – a few seasons ago are still much in evidence. I picked up a strange, silk version that had three arm-holes (about $200), which I figure could be worn loose while I’m waiting to pop, and cinched with a belt as nursing wear later.

Over at Zara, forgiving trapeze-shaped tank tops and other T-shirts (from $29.90) cut forgivingly wide make this mama’s day. I recently found a black tiered dress on the sale rack ($59.90, after discount) that was cut long in front to give the illusion of a sleeker tummy.

Incidentally, the bold-shoulder look favoured by Berardi I mentioned earlier will soon be available at Zara

and Mango, if their catalogues of styles for autumn/winter are anything to go by.

But back to my white wedding “woes”. Unable to find anything suitable for this particular occasion at my regular shopping places, I turned to Maternity Exchange – a maternity boutique at Marina Square that lets pregnant women either rent or buy outfits from their inventory.

I was shown a variety of special-occasion dresses to rent, ranging from empire-line, chiffon dresses in ivory, to a pale-grey tent dress.

In the end, I fell in love with a soft, stretchy cream gown with a pearly sheen. It skimmed my belly to fall gracefully to the floor, and could be fastened at the top in multiple ways – from Marilyn Monroe-esque halter-neck, to Greek goddess twisted straps.

Aptly, its name is The Wedding Dress (probably a bestseller for shotgun marriages). It costs $234.50 to buy and $81.90 to rent.

So, the glasses clinked under the stars, the champagne flowed, and the sporting bride – in lacy Vera Wang – and her adorable groom performed the infectious dance steps from Korean hit Nobody by the Wonder Girls.

Sitting among the sophisticated, white-clad wedding guests in my borrowed dress, and receiving more than a few compliments on it, I was blissfully and comfortably enjoying myself.

Best of all, there won’t be a white elephant in my wardrobe the day after the wedding. And now I know that there’s affordable fashion for pregnant me to be found everywhere.

Mummy-friendly stores

DONNA KARAN
THIS United States designer’s glam gowns might not be made specifically for mothers-to-be, but the gorgeous drapery certainly works in disguising those baby bumps. But be prepared to pay – gowns start at $5,000.

Where to buy: Donna Karan, #01-11/12 Hilton International, 581, Orchard Road.

Tel: 6735-8891

OSCAR DE LA RENTA
IT AIN’T maternity wear, but this renowned designer – born in the Dominican Republic and who is now a United States citizen – has, for the past few seasons, offered evening numbers that flatter and accommodate all kinds of curves. Prices of ready-to-wear Oscar de la Renta pieces start at US$1,990 (S$2,873).

TOPSHOP
AH, BLESS High Street fashion. At Topshop, I’ve found many things, including a fab black jersey pencil skirt that converts into a tube top for less than $30. Seek out other great mummy-to-be-friendly finds there too, from tanks to tent dresses.

Where to buy: Visit www.topshop.com for locationsWhere to buy: Website www.oscardelarenta.com

ZARA
THE strong, sharp, 1980s shoulder is everywhere now. And good news – such details distract from extremely rounded proportions elsewhere. High-end designers (from Antonio Berardi to Balmain) are enamoured with the look, and shops like Mango and Zara will be carrying look-alike fashions in their autumn/winter collections.

Where to buy: Visit www.zara.com and www.mango.com for locations

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