This May marked the fifth anniversary of Alisa Donner and Anna Getty’s Pregnancy Awareness Month; an organization committed to inspiring and educating women about every aspect of pregnancy. As one who celebrates maternity moxie in print, tv and my book BUMP IT UP: TRANSFORM YOUR PREGNANCY INTO THE ULTIMATE STYLE STATEMENT, I was delighted to, once again, take part in the PAM kick- off event in Los Angeles. From pre-natal exercise and nutrition to eco-chic products for the nursery, this event draws all type of organizations devoted to a healthy, happy pregnancy. I, of course, focus on style. My mission is to make women look and feel their best during one of the most fashion challenged time in their lives.

This year, I joined forces with Viacord to present the VIACORD BUMP IT UP STYLE LOUNGE, a chill out area (complete with sofa and snacks) where women could score one on one style sessions with me. Topics du jour? How to look like a long, lean baby making machine and strategically lengthen one’s silhouette with accessories. Women swarmed the lounge to learn how to “bump up” their wardrobes and transform nine months of potential frump and dump to jaw dropping fabulosity. Of course, you cannot have fabulosity without flattering fashion. On hand was the maternity brand Ingrid & Isabel, a celebrity favorite known for perfect dress-them up/dress- them- down basics. I styled our mannequins with two of my favorite dresses-the Athena and the Waterfall – to illustrate the concepts of silhouette “elongation”, “garment rotation” and “layering.”

Our lounge was a celebrity magnet. We had visits from Lisa Loeb (clad in a gorge Ingrid & Isabel dress), Ali Landry, Disney Channel’s Tiffany Thornton and Catherine McCord. Once they gleaned style tips, women headed over to Viacord to learn about a topic that I am passionate about: cord blood banking.

Fashion is fun but being educated about the health of your baby is critical. Viacord collects and stores the stem cells found in your newborn’s umbilical cord, which are used in the treatment of nearly 80 life-threatening diseases including a wide range of cancers, genetic diseases, immune system deficiencies and blood disorders. Essentially, storing your baby’s cord blood gives new parents peace of mind. It is an awful thought. But, should there be a need, your baby will have a source of stem cells that is an exact match, with no risk of rejection. There is also a strong possibility that his/her siblings will be a match as well. I did it with my children and strongly recommend that moms to be do too. Viacord offered valuable information and a copy of my style bible BUMP IT UP. Book in hand, guests then plopped down in our welcoming sofa to read and nibble on Sprinkle cupcakes and Godiva chocolate.

I recently partnered with luxe mom subscription service CITRUS LANE to develop a pregnancy pampering kit featuring my book and some of my favorite products. We raffled one kit off per hour which was a massive hit with the crowd.

What else can I say? It was a bumptastic day.

With the bevy of celeb baby bumps  flooding the airwaves, I wanted to offer my take on BUMP IT UP babes to watch.

Go ahead, steal their style!

T

TORI SPELLING

The Look: Prints Charming

Love the empire waist dress with kimono sleeves and great upbeat print



Get the look: Check out a similar kimono caftan dress at Rachel Pally and get stacked with great wedges from COACH

TINA FEY

The Look: Classique

The funny gal keeps it long and lean in graphic, black and white stripes, unstructured blazer and skinny jeans

(Note-Former SNL cast member joined other pregnant SNL alum, Maya Rudolph, for some preggo parodies on last week’s episode)

Get the look: Bump up the urban nautical  look with a sequined blazer and striped tee from Isabella Oliver then balance your bountiful belly with a Tory Burch kitten heel

JANUARY JONES

The Look: Blonde Ambition

Rocking her bump in a non-maternity Preen dress accented with a belly hugging knot

Get the Look: Invest in a Gap wrap dress or the Pouch versatile dress, which can be worn at least 5 different ways!

IVANKA TRUMP

The Look: Black Magic

Who’s afraid of some sass and a pair of bunny ears?  Not Ivanka, who poses for Bazaar looking like a sexpot avec bump.

Get the Look: Don’t want the bunny look? Get the best basics at Ingrid & Isabel

SELMA BLAIR

The Look: The Bold and the Beautiful

Selma has looked great in her colorful, drapey dresses paired with funky hats and chunky jewelry.

(Note-Selma has been seen in Isabella Oliver and Nicole Richie’s line, Winter Kate)

Get the look: Copy Selma’s color scheme with an inexpensive Old Navy sun dress 

KATE HUDSON

The Look: Boho Babe

Kate uses her bump to boost her signature urban gypsy/rocker look

(Note-Kate has been spotted wearing Elizabeth and James’ cardis, Theodora and Callum scarves and a form fitting Robert Cavalli gown)

Get the look: Kate goes boho in Elzabeth and James and get a similar maxi from T-bags

JESSICA ALBA

The Look: Flowing Fabulista

Jessica’s Versace empire dress drapes in all the right places to create a streamlined look that emphasizes her neck and decolletage with a statement necklace

Get the Look: Look just as beautiful as Jessica in an Isabella Oliver wrap column dress that was recently featured in Vogue

VICTORIA BECKHAM

The Look: Fierce Mama

The always severe looking Posh Spice struts through Heathrow airport in a leather accented mini of her own design.

Get the Look: Create drama with an ASOS sexy, classic black mini dress

CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY

The Look: Le Parissienne

France’s First Lady c’est chic in (non-maternity) white tweed Chanel couture dress paired with black tweed Chanel couture jacket and black Louboutins kitten heels. Is she really 43?

Get the Look: Look and feel like royalty in any Chanel ensemble

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Natalie Portman was glowing and gorge at last night’s SAG awards. In my book, the divine Ms N wins in the “most improved” category making up for her Vicktor & Rolf Golden Globes fashion fiasco. Still, there is room to bump it up and really make a statement for the Oscars. With her belly busting triumphantly from restraining waistbands, Natalie needs to think about how to use accessories as tools to both glammify her look and leanify her silhouette.

 Natalie Portman in Azzaro at 2011 SAG Awards

Natalie Portman in Viktor & Rolf at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards

First up? The 2 million dollar Tiffany earrings were pretty but had zero va-va voom factor.

EARRINGS

 
Nat should wear longer drop statement earrings to put the focus upon her gazelle-like neck. Why? A few resons:

• Longer earrings draw the eye downcreating a sense of verticality that elongates her shape making her look longer and leaner
•  Pregnancy weight does not manifest on the graceful curve from neck to shoulder so it is an excellent body part to emphasize
• Neck grazing baubles will draw attention to her face and away from her bugeoning butt, bust and thighs

• Oversized drop earrings are super sexy. They proclaim to the world “I am and will remain a HOT MAMA for years to come!” 

Flat Drop Rock Crystal Earrings, Kara Ross 
 

 
Geometric Amethyst Drop Earrings, Kara Ross

CUFFS

Proportion is key to pregnancy style. Translation? A Huge belly requires huge jewelry. Again, Natalie’s bracelets were ok. But a pair of dramatic cuffs would have been explosively stylish. Next month, when her bump is more watermelon than honeydew, she should wear an impressive cuff on one or both wrists to balance out her look and amplify the glam quotient.
 

White Jade Cuff, Kara Ross 

Rock Crystal Cuff, Kara Ross

CLUTCH BAG

Finally, an eye catching evening bag is a key ingredient to high red carpet style. To me, the bag must be elegant, exotic and unexpected. A python pochette or structured gem encrusted wood bag would fill the bill to a tee.

Hand Painted Python Clutch, Devi Kroell

Small Crystal Wooden Clutch, Devi Kroell