Bhavna Jhingan offers custom-made apparel for expectant mothers; Pic by Rashbehari Das, (above) Uzazi’s denim capri jeans come with stretchable side panels that ensure the perfect fit

Are you debating whether or not to flaunt your baby bump? Being pregnant these days doesn’t imply that you switch to dowdy mode — and slip into outsized clothing. Try this for size: a tunic or kurta with jeggings are still great for a casual day out. Then again, a fitted tee teamed with maternity capris or jeans is all about comfort dressing and dungarees paired with a T-shirt can make you look smart and super cool — despite the baby bulge.

There was time when women concealed their baby bumps under XXL outfits, gowns, stoles or whatever else they could lay their hands on. Today, showing off one’s pregnancy is a hot fashion trend globally, and a number of brands right here in India are vying with each other to give expectant moms a wardrobe that’s stylish and elegant. So, goodbye ungainly days.

Now expectant mothers can pick special maternity designs and silhouettes from brands like Mothercare, Mom & Me, Appleofmyi, Morph Maternity, Uzazi and more.

“These days women are comfortable flaunting their baby bumps with stretchable denims or Lycra tops and even with T-shirts that scream slogans declaring their pregnant status,” says Minal Joshi, owner of Pune-based maternity apparel brand, Uzazi. There are tees that read: ‘Eating for Two’, ‘I’m pregnant, what’s your excuse’ and ‘Pregnant, not fat’.

Brands like Uzazi and Mothercare offer a range of bump-flattering dresses, under-bump jeans which sit below the bump, trousers that fit snugly for different stages of pregnancy and even nursing tops for new moms.

“Maternity clothing today is fashionable as the idea is to celebrate one’s new curves in style and not hide them under layers of clothing,” says Pooja Dhawan, who heads the UK-based brand Mothercare’s business in India. The brand retails out of Shoppers Stop outlets in the country.

Morph Maternity specialises in ethnic maternity-wear like kurtas, churidars and cholis; (above) tops and dresses from Mothercare come in wrap styles that make for convenient wear

Dhawan says pregnant women look for garments that are designed to work through all stages of pregnancy and beyond. Mothercare offers a burgeoning range of specialised, well-fitting maternity and nursing bras, lingerie, loungewear and nightwear. There are jeans that have jersey fronts or side panels, adjustable button-waist details and deep-stretch waistbands while tops and dresses come in wrap styles, ruching on the sides and empire line cuts.

Calcutta-based designer Bhavna Jhingan’s brand Emphasize meanwhile creates custom-made maternity wear for expectant mothers. The fast-movers by Jhingan include trousers, capris, skirts and dresses and nursing tops.

Similarly, Uzazi’s denim capris come with high-waisted stretchable side panels. “In place of side-pockets these have side stretchable panels and side- adjusters to ensure a perfect fit during pregnancy,” says Joshi.

Maternity wear has also gone ethnic. Bangalore’s Morph Maternity specialises in kurtis and kameezes which offer not just a great fit for the growing belly but also have discreet openings to nurse the baby.

According to Deepa A. Kumar, CEO, Yashram Lifestyle that’s behind Morph Maternity, easy silhouettes and comfortable fabrics are the special features of their collections.

“We prefer using 100 per cent cotton fabrics for most lines except eveningwear,” says Kumar. Morph Maternity uses Indian traditional printed fabrics like mangalagiri, ikat and fabrics with kalamkari work that use vegetable dyes and which are completely safe and have no side-effects. Radhika Jumani of Bangalore-based kids wear and maternity store, Appleofmyi, says that while pregnant women prefer the comfort of cotton, they like the strechability of Lycra in leggings and tights that are easy to wear and very comfortable.

Minal Joshi, who was into the business of manufacturing sportswear, began designing maternity wear when she couldn’t find anything appropriate to wear during her own pregnancy. Today, her brand Uzazi retails lines in different categories like casual wear, active-wear, sleepwear, nursing-wear, formalwear, eveningwear and even swimwear — all for pregnant women.

Joshi’s collections are replete with long tunic tops, empire line tops, dungarees and formal shirts in woven cottons, knitted fabrics and even flowy fabrics.

That’s not all if you want to be a stylish mother-to-be these days. “Expectant mothers can layer loose cotton tops or blouses with a pair of denims, dresses can be paired with jeggings and leggings — these provide support to the bump and are a modern alternative to wearing tights,” says Dhawan.

According to Jhingan, pregnant women can wear anything and everything like anyone else. So, just pick from styles, colours and lengths that are meant to flatter your pregnant figure rather than disguise it.