Something in Neha Gandhi Binjrajka told her she was ready for motherhood and the day she found out she was pregnant, the feeling was one of pure bliss. “I was really happy. It was exciting and special,” the soft-spoken Neha told us when we met her for this special pregnancy fashion shoot, a first for t2. “I couldn’t have looked more round than this! I was fitting into most of my clothes, the loose ones, and suddenly there are no clothes for me anywhere! Anyway people don’t make maternity clothes easily. You also don’t want to buy a new wardrobe and at the same time want to look good. My main motivation for not shopping is I want to get back to my original size as soon as I can. So, when we started discussing this, I thought this would also give me an opportunity to create new pieces. I realised there was this void,” said Neha.
For the shoot, Neha picked statement pieces that were both easy-breezy and stylish. “During pregnancy, there are days when you are just too tired. It’s always one day at a time. There are days when you just want to be in your night suit. I wanted to do something comfortable and glamorous. Pregnancy is not as glamorous as they show in films, and there are days when you need that uplift. These looks are for those days,” she said.
Into her eighth month when we met her, Neha said she was mostly in her loose kaftan or a cotton dresses at home. “You feel very hot when you are pregnant. You don’t want to wear layers or anything that hugs your stomach. On some days, I really miss dressing up and it is nice to have that opportunity and also a few statement pieces,” she smiled.
On her bye-bye list for the time being were jeans, heavy accessories and big bags. “They can all wait. In fact, I stopped wearing jeans in my fourth or fifth month,” said Neha.For the shoot, we roped in hair and make-up pro Prasenjit Biswas, who is like family to Neha. He opted for a light look and simple DIY hair.
A ribbed dress made it to Neha’s list of top investments for a stylish pregnancy. “It takes the shape of your bump and you can click great pictures! I never ended up taking them though, besides this shoot!” she laughed. She also suggested a slip-on dress and good shoes. “A good pair of flats or block heels, whatever you are opting for, make sure they are comfortable. You might not be comfortable with closed shoes because your feet start expanding in the eighth month. I have worn flats throughout my pregnancy,” she said. As she did for most of this shoot too. Take a look.
Neha chose this green slip-on dress from her label NGB, for a dinner party or a lunch or meeting up with your girlfriends or even someone’s else’s baby shower! “It has no zip and I wore it with block heels and nice earrings. You don’t want to accessorise too much either. I have been wearing it since the fourth or fifth month and it’s taken the shape of my body,” she said.
This was a work look for Neha. Sporty and cool, a ribbed black dress styled with a white satin shirt, a chain watch and a ponytail. “This was basic and minimal styling,” she said.
The red and black cropped top and skirt, from NGB, had a bit more glamour to it. Neha’s pick for a night out.
A slip-on dress, from NGB, to take you from “day to night”. “I think our generation wants to be active. These are the kind of outfits I have worn throughout my pregnancy. I liked having the jacket on. It made me more comfortable,” she said.
Neha’s pick of super moms-to-be and new moms...
Chrissy Teigen.Masoom Minawala: She’s really empowering to women when you look at her. I know she is at it and working, but I know how it feels for working women. There are some days you are down.
Kareena Kapoor Khan: I have stalked her (pictures) during her pregnancy. She was so comfortable.
Sonam Kapoor: She carried off so many looks with so much ease and you always feel comforted knowing that there is someone else in it with you!
And, I have superwomen around me, friends who are pregnant or have just delivered. Everyone’s pregnancy is different and everyone is handling it in a different way. They are rocking it and they have been huge inspirations too.
Hair and make-up: Prasenjit Biswas
Assisted by: Sumana Biswas
