first off, i like jersey material. jersey knit, that is, not cotton. i have a ton of tops and a number of shift dresses in that fabric.

strangely though, i couldn’t stand wearing jersey when i was pregnant, especially jersey dresses. i had some issues with dresses that clung snugly onto or skimmed along my hips and thighs. which was a minor challenge since fashionable maternity dress choices in fabrics other than jersey were not easy to come by.

aside from that, i thought jersey was too casual for work or strictly formal affairs, and i didn’t want to be an “exclusion” to the rule just because i was pregnant.

one of the more apparent problems i encountered with maternity dresses not made of jersey is many designs seemed so dowdy and, well, exaggeratedly wide. of course, i understand the rationale behind making these dresses bigger, being fabrics that don’t stretch, but i hope retailers keep in mind that maternity clothes are not tents. an expectant mother would love to feel sexy now more than ever.

so if you are like me as a pregnant shopper, you might want to check out www.apeainthepod.com, one of my favorite maternity sites that offers styles such as these fabulous maternity dresses:

flutter-sleeve dress in silk and chiffon

sleeveless white dress with collar and pleats in sateen

ruched empire waist dress in denim

kimono style dress with baroque print

formal dress in velvet

sleeveless formal dress in charmeuse

work wear in knit and tweed

all photos lifted from www.apeainthepod.com.

indulge me: what is your guilty pleasure when you’re bored at home? mine is watching infomercials. actually, i watch infomercials even when i’m not exactly bored at home. i just do.

i wonder if you recall these infomercials about the infinite dress. it’s a dress made of soft jersey material which you can twist, drape and wrap in over a hundred ways. designed and demonstrated by lydia silvestry, i always thought it was such an ingenious way to conserve an outfit.

the infinite dress has never gone away, in fact has even taken on other forms in other brands.

this is the signature jersey from butter by nadia

butter by nadia's signature jersey

cap sleeves style

one shoulder style

strapless style

eco forever dress by bermuda babies made an infinite maternity dress from the same concept.

halter style

strapless style

goddess style

i was fortunate enough to buy an “infinite blouse” from penshoppe some years back. using the same idea behind the infinite dress, the blouse i got can be converted into various styles. you can have cap sleeves, asymmetrical, backless, halter, etc. you can even wear it as a skirt. sometimes i’d wear it one way in the morning, then another way in the afternoon.

if you’d like a convertible jersey dress of your own but haven’t found any in local stores, rostitchery provides instructions on how to make one, including patterns and ways to style the finished product. you can take this to your friendly neighborhood seamstress and i’m sure this is going to be a breeze for them.