I have fielded numerous emails this fall from pregnant women looking for the perfect maternity trench coat. For some reason, it doesn’t seem to exist this season, which I do find strange. I am actually in possession of one myself, but I purchased it in 2005 at the Liz Lange store on Madison Avenue and as we know, Liz isn’t doing high-end maternity fashion anymore. Every woman, including every pregnant woman, needs a great trench coat. And the trench is very maternity-friendly, as long as you recognize the fact that those buttons are for show only and you’ll need a sturdy sash to actually keep the thing closed.
I’ve been forced to come up with an alternative, but I do think this is a good idea for all of you out there desperate for a trench this winter. Look at this gorgeous red velvet trench, it’s ideal for the holidays. 
You can wear this coat on its own with your skinnies and just about nothing else and you’ll be the most festive, stylish person at the holiday party. And both this Calvin Klein knee-length trench and this Michael Kors short trench are instant classics. Obviously, these are non-maternity pieces, but both of these trenches happen to be available in “Women’s Apparel” sizes, i.e. plus sizes larger than size 14. The cut of Women’s sizing is conveniently wider from top to bottom, and even without extra length in the front for your bump, your shoulders, arms, and bustline will have extra breathing room. Use the sash across the top of your bump for a maternity-friendly coat at least into the start of the third trimester. And, of course, both of these coats will also be extraordinarily useful during those postpartum weeks. Hey, if maternity designers aren’t going to respond to all of our needs for a chic trench coat, then go ahead and create your own.
All of these coats are sold exclusively in online department stores, so you can’t go wrong with trying this red velvet number on for size (i.e., you can easily return it). The red velvet trench is available here at Neiman Marcus for USD $525, the Michael Kors trench is on sale at Saks for a very reasonable $146.99 here, and the Calvin Klein trench is on sale for USD $119.25 at Bloomingdales here.
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So London was cold and icy and Leighton developed a nasty ear infection within several hours of our arrival…but it was still fabulous and injected me with a good bit of holiday spirit. On Sunday night, there were even Christmas carolers at our door! Due to the ear infection, we did not get to see Santa Claus at Harrod’s or Selfridge’s. We did, however, see Santa Claus in duty-free shopping at Heathrow airport and Leighton was so utterly terrified by him, I realized that waiting in line at Harrod’s or Selfridge’s would have been a complete waste of time.
Just a quick note to let you know that J Brand has expanded its maternity collection to include a maternity version of its popular straight-leg corduroys. The waistband it already uses for its maternity denim collection is the same–the elastic is built into the waistband on the sides, providing a very discreet, under-the bump fit. Because of the very subtle way that the elastic is incorporated into the waistband, J Brand’s maternity collection is a must-have for the postpartum weeks. J Brand’s straight leg corduroys are currently my favorite pants and I bought them in several colors and wear them just about every day. I know, how boring. But they are so comfortable and work well with boots or with flats. J Brand’s decision to make a maternity version of their stretch corduroys is great news.
I am happy to say that you all may finally put away/give away/burn your Juicy Couture maternity hoodies because I have discovered an equally priced, yet infinitely nicer substitute at Nuka Maternity. If there is justice in the world, pregnant women will no longer feel compelled to buy those brightly colored, slightly aggravating velour Juicy hoodies because they have no other options. Instead, they will all head straight to Nuka Maternity 
Also, be sure to peruse Nuka’s entire collection while you are on the site. I also like the Nuka Peasant Top, which is made from a cotton/jersey blend and is a comfortable option for the first or early second trimester when you aren’t yet at the stage where you really need an empire waist. The lantern sleeves are a great touch and this looks really nice with jeans or even your most casual maternity sweatpants. It is available 
But during my wonderful tour of “A New View Maternity” in New York City at the end of July, I was able to go through samples of Pure T’s Fall/Winter 2009 line. Without a doubt, the Short Sleeve Soft Cowl Turtleneck was one of the top 5 items I saw that day. Both my sister and I tried it on in this gorgeous “Sa-fire” color pictured at left and added it to our Fall 2009 must-have list. If sa-fire isn’t your first choice, the turtleneck is available in seven other colors, including the lipstick color pictured here and the more neutral black and vanilla colors. 
This top is made from very high-quality cotton and just feels very comfortable and cozy when you put it on. It is extra long, ensuring it will last through all three trimesters. The sleeves are sufficiently long enough to cover the upper arms and the neckline is quite flattering. I am not usually a lover of turtlenecks, but this one is quite loose-fitting.
The late summer sales continue and if you are going to splurge and add an “investment” piece to your maternity wardrobe, now is the time to do it. I can’t think of a better investment piece for a pregnant woman than a beautiful maternity trench coat. You can wear it buttoned and tied while you are still trying to camouflage your pregnancy or when you have only a cute little bump. Once you are quite obviously pregnant and the buttons are in mild danger of popping off, you can simply tie it above your bump. And you can wear it throughout those postpartum weeks when covering your physique with additional layers seems a very, very appealing idea.
Just one little footnote…the Rosie Pope sale also includes her luxurious White Silk/Cotton Maternity Trench, which is reduced from USD$675 to USD$350 
