BY NANCY CHUNG HOOPER  

With months of pregnancy and a baby on the way, the last thing you want to fret about is what you're going to wear. But you do. While the obvious solution is to run to the nearest specialty maternity store or outlet, today's roomier "regular" fashions also lend themselves to the pregnant physique. With so many options, what works well for you will depend on your personal taste, work and lifestyle.

Mothers-to-be have a love-hate relationship with maternity stores. Although maternity shops obviously cater to the expecting woman, they don't always measure up to expectations. "Having a baby is a very feminine, womanly experience," says Martha Gregg, pregnant with her second child. "But when maternity stores offer little girl jumpers with pinafore collars, it's a complete contradiction to how you feel and want to dress." The tide is turning with stores like Mimi Maternity, Mother's Work and Pea in the Pod, that offer a variety of fashionable casual and professional maternity wear.

Amy Evans, a finance manager, needed to retain a polished, professional image while she was pregnant. To update her wardrobe, Amy relied on Mimi Maternity for stylish attire that "didn't force her to wear something I wouldn't normally wear." She bought a black crepe blazer and a pleated skirt with coordinating tops, 2-piece knit suits and tailored dresses for work days. At a black-tie optional wedding, Amy wore a cream-colored knit suit with a double-breasted jacket, dressed up with along, flowing scarf and jewelry. "I've always accented my outfits with accessories," Amy says. "But while I was pregnant, I really used them to draw attention away from my belly."

Of course, what's in stock and in style while you are pregnant can make all the difference. "When I wasn't pregnant, I would see Chanel couture outfits in the maternity shop windows," says Fiorella Massa-Corso, also pregnant with her second child. "Then, when I was pregnant, they rolled out the terry-cloth dresses."

As the U.S. vice president of an Italian television network company, Fiorella adjusted her wardrobe to include velvet leggings and billowy, easy-care silk in Heremes-like prints from The Limited. She finished the look with a boxy, bright-colored blazer or a silk baseball jacket. As her waistline grew, she simply cut the elastic on her leggings. For a softer look, Fiorella chose long culotte-type dresses that alllowed her to sit comfortably and wear knee-high stockings if she wished. One of the outfits that she will certainly recycle is a brown and white polka dot culotte dress a la Julia Roberts in the movie Pretty Woman.

Fiorella didn't avoid maternity stores altogether, though. She purchased a robe that "fit the circumference" of her body and maternity bras and underwear in soft, pima cotton. She also discovered a brand of maternity wear called Japanese Weekend, available at many specialty maternity shops and department stores. Its line of coordinated separates in 100% cotton and cotton/lycra blends offer a unique waistband designed to support the growing belly. Especially popular are Japanese Weekend's versatile cat suits in solids and prints for all seasons.

In many cases, you can find designs similar to those at a maternity store in your favorite shop. Baby-doll dresses, big T-shirts, flared tops, princess line dresses, dresses with empire waists, long, crinkled skirts and even overalls can be worn throughout your pregnancy and afterwards. In addition, regular lines of clothing that feature elastic waistbands and long, fuller tops can make the transition from pregnant to mom much easier. Check out Joan Vass, which specializes in comfortable cotton knits, and CP Shades' pajama-like rayon and cotton separates.

Stores that carry clothes for the larger woman, such as Learners, can be a gold mine as well. Lora Placik, an interior designer who normally wears petite-size clothing, "found the clothes to be stylish and much cheaper than buying similar outfits at a maternity store." Martha also found large woman departments and stores to meet her desire for clothes that didn't make her "look" pregnant. She bought form-fitting stretch pants and full, palazzo pants, and long vests over which she wore her regular blazers, unbuttoned. When her blazers no longer fit, she switched to cardigans and over-sized sweaters.

Husbands can help, too. For an authentic menswear look, Lora borrowed her husband's shirts and jackets and layered them over leggings. After she had her baby, she wore her husband's jeans cinched with a belt. "If it fit and had flair, I wore it," she says.

Supplement your wardrobe with shirts and blouses a size or two bigger than your regular size. If you choose to breastfeed, you will want to make sure that these tops allow you easy access and discretion. And, if you aren't sure how big will be big enough, bring along a small pillow to put under clothes while trying them on.

Finally, don't forget to check with a friend who no longer needs her maternity clothes. Chances are she will be more than happy to lend you a few pieces that she loved during her pregnancy but, quite frankly, never wants to see again.

Pregnancy may be synonymous with change, but it doesn't have to cramp your style. With stores full of soft, fluid, unstructured clothes and low-heeled shoes, comfort and fashion are coexisting at last. Good news for all of us – pregnant or not.

Nancy Chung Hooper is a writer and communication consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the day, she moonlights as a swing pusher for her two children. She can be reached at (415) 927-7739.