As a leading style guru and mother of two, Amy Tara Koch knows what she’s talking about when it comes to fashion, especially maternity fashion. In her new book, Bump It Up: Transforming Your Pregnancy Into the Ultimate Style Statement, Amy demystifies the world of prenatal fashion. She’s right; you don’t have to sacrifice style in lieu of dowdy maternity duds. Forget revamping your closet with sweat pants, over-sized men’s shirts and muumuu dresses! Just buy a few key maternity staples, and for the rest, stick to your favorite designers—albeit in bigger sizes. Don’t worry that you might be buying an eight instead of a six, these larger items will come in handy when you’re slimming down post baby. Plus, these oversized fashions will bring back sweet memories of your pre-baby days.

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO & founder, Citibabes

Don’t miss Amy’s “Bump It Up” event this Thursday, June 17th at the W Hotel at 49th & Lexington in NYC.

In the beginning there were skinny jeans. Body-skimming knits cavorted with tailored trousers and thigh-grazing dresses in the streams and valleys. Silky g-strings and non-industrial-sized support bras tilled the fields. Stilettos roamed the earth. And, all was good.

Nicole…Heidi… and scores of other uber-chic, perfectly-proportioned pregnant celebs swagger through NYC making the pedestrian preggo feel like an elephant amongst a herd of gazelles. Miracles of nature? Hardly. These bump savvy women have simply mastered what I call “fertility fashion,” a clever combination of maternity must-haves with drapey “civilian” silhouettes. My new preggo style bible, Bump It Up: Transforming Your Pregnancy Into the Ultimate Style Statement (Random House) shows the rest of the world how to achieve maternity moxie without spending one’s unborn child’s college tuition on a dowdy wardrobe with a shelf life. Yes, you need the basics: maternity jeans, a maternity pencil skirt, a long, ruched, lycra tank top; but, the rest of one’s wardrobe can be supplemented with flowy fab pieces that do double duty as maternity wear. The name of the game? Fashion longevity. With the right accessories, these pieces will work during your pregnancy and well into your merry Mom-dom!

Some maternity must-haves:

Alexander Wang tunics: deconstructed dresses by Jason Wu, Marni, Stella McCartney; Mcqueen scarves.

Zero+Maria Cornejo: The doyenne of drape’s fab bubble dresses are perfect for pregnancy and beyond.

James Perse: Cotton tunics, tank dresses, elastic waistband maxi skirts that can be yanked over your chest and transformed into a trapeze dress.

Calypso: Floaty tunics, airy sleeveless sundresses, drapey light-as-air knits, and colorful scarves to artfully mask your mound.

American Apparel: Leggings, layering tank tops and t-shirt dresses

Resurrection vintage: DVF wrap dresses, Pucci-esque prints, Chanel accessories, flashy flip flops and kitten heels.

DKNY: The miracle garment—the Cozy

H&M: For an inexpensive dash of flash, try H&M’s gold pendants, hoop earrings, and bangles.

CHEAT SHEET: TIPS ON ELONGATING YOUR BODY

• Add verticality. Longer, open cardigans, dangly scarves and/or a loose shawl will make look taller.
• Shorter hemlines, especially for shorter women, accent the legs and add height.
• Darker colors are more slimming.
• An open neckline—V necks, scoop necks, and plunging necklines—slims an explosive bust and gives the illusion of a longer neck.
• Knee-high boots (not calf-length) slim and give the appearance of lengthening the leg.
• Longer pants or trousers (that partially cover the shoe) impart a slimming, vertical line.
• If you are wearing baggy clothes, reign in extra fabric with a belt and/or long layered necklaces.
• Heels lengthen the legs and glamorize most looks.
• Pointy toes make you look taller.
• Long necklaces lengthen the torso. Chokers make the neck look short and squat.
• Avoid shiny fabrics; they attract light to all the wrong places which adds pounds.
• Wear tights that match a dress and boot.

By Amy Tara Koch, Author Bump It Up