Minna J. Apostolovic: Pregnant and Expecting in Style!

If you love to have fun with fashion, you'll relate to this taste-maker's style; even with a baby bump, Apostolovic has managed to maintain her go-to fashion formula...a look that's balanced polished and feminine.

In our little chat with Minna, she shared with us her maternity style essentials, and told us top tips every woman with a beautiful baby bump would want to know.

The perfect capsule maternity wardrobe should include…

I’m all about dresses and even during the pregnancy, I’ve had fun playing around with my flared, empire waist, body-con dresses that compliment the belly. A great pair of maternity jeans and leggings are a must. I also find it really comfortable to wear loose shirt dresses, and I prefer if they are embellished or embroidered to add a bit of spark. Important thing to remember, is not to go overboard with maternity wear. Try make use of what you have already and if you’re buying, then buy pieces that you can wear post pregnancy too.

Which pieces from your existing wardrobe can you still use during your pregnancy?

I’ve recycled a lot of my existing outfits. I believe maternity wear is temporary wardrobe and most tend to be overpriced for the quality. I wear a lot of loose fitted dresses, they have come handy over the last few months. I pair a lot of my tight dresses with different types of coats or kimonos. My leggings were all good until the start of my third trimester, so I gave them up for maternity leggings instead!

The most stylish pregnant celebrity of all-time is…

Definitely Chrissy Teigen. Her maternity style has been on point. I love that she hasn’t shied away from embracing her belly. She had the chicest red carpet outfits and pregnancy didn’t compromise her signature looks. And that woman rocked heels all the way to the third trimester, respect!

Three maternity styling tips/tricks every woman must know…

1. Don’t be stuck wearing black! Play with colors, prints and feel free to experiment with different cuts and designs. Pregnancy doesn’t mean changing up your whole wardrobe. Embrace and acknowledge your body and play around to find out styles that best suit your growing belly.
2. I missed wearing heels, so up until my third trimester, I paired my outfits with wedges especially in the evenings. If you’re comfortable with your center of gravity, then I would recommend wearing a fashionable pair of wedges since they’re comfortable and give you that extra, stylish posture!
3. Even if you’re not in the mood for life on some days, make effort to do your hair or your make up if you’re going out. Or get out and do a mani pedi - Zoya nail polishes are pregnancy safe by the way!

Body-con dresses during pregnancy; a do or don’t?

Absolutely, why not! Although a tight dress might sound like a terrible idea when you’re pregnant but I think there are lots of ways to wear it right. For example, you can style a body-con dress with a long coat if you’re conscious of other areas of your body. It’s a great way to feel stylish and sexy without feeling uncomfortable.

If you had to pick one maternity clothing item to invest in, what would you go for?

A really beautiful gown or cocktail dress that you can wear for events/weddings, and which can also be flattering post pregnancy.

Mums-to-be struggle to find the perfect pair of jeans, so can you recommend your favorite?

Stylish maternity jeans are everything. Citizens of Humanity make some of the most flattering and comfortable jeans. One my favourite is their distressed Racer Ultra Maternity Skinny Jeans that are low waist with elastic pockets that stretches, and it’s available on Shopbop.com.

Maternity eveningwear can be a bit tricky; can you tell us some tips for the ultimate look?

During this pregnancy, I attended quite a few cocktail evenings and I did struggle to find the right outfit. Everything fit, but nothing zipped. So my first advice would be avoid anything with a zipper! Wear something that can be pulled over the head. Personally, I find dresses are the classiest. It’s important to know which area you want to cover and which area you want to flaunt. An ultimate evening look for me would be Aline and/or empire dress, it suits most pregnant bodies and it’s perfect combination of style and comfort.

Embracing a stylish baby bump helps with pregnancy mood swings. True or false?

Absolutely true! Looking good makes you feel good, and feeling good means you already have a better attitude and energy about life and pregnancy in general.

Can you share with us your beauty routine during your pregnancy?

My usual routine is cleansing and moisturizing, and that hasn’t changed during my pregnancy. During my first trimester, my skin broke out a lot so I started to use Effaclar Duo which helped clear that out. I also swapped my regular shampoo and conditioner for organic, paraben-free products from Neal’s Yard, best decision ever! In addition to that, I put lots and lots of Bio Oil on my belly to prevent stretch marks and so far it has worked. And most importantly, drinking lots and lots more water!

Photo Credits: Instagram: @MinnaJoseph