The outfit in my profile pic (and pic #5) I consider my "signature outfit"--it's one of the first wardrobe revamp outfits I bought (at NAS 2011) and my favorite outfit I analyzed (with mrseccentric's and all of your help) last year to come up with my primary style persona: Demure Bombshell. (Here was the fascinating style persona analysis thread: http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....on-persona and the signature outfit thread: http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....ure-outfit).
I really like the combination of the boho luxe style mustard pussy-bow blouse and tweed and leather pencil skirt and red T strap pumps...kind of retro ladylike with a 1940's secretary vibe in my mind, which I love. It's my go-to power outfit...I even wore it for the professional photos for our office website (see #6--I'm the only female doctor in my group, so I kind of stand out among all the guys in suits).
Unfortunately, pregnancy really throws a wrench in my waist-defining bombshell persona! I tried to squeeze into the tweed skirt but it was way too tight and looked ridiculous with the bump straining at the seams. I tried on the blouse and it's oversized enough that I could wear it as a tunic. But I don't really like waist surrender looks--it feels very un-bombshell. I really wanted to wear my signature outfit though! Not to be deterred, I took that on as a challenge and improvised.
I swapped out the tweed pencil skirt for a Vince Camuto stretchy midi tube skirt that I bought early on in pregnancy (Kari also has this one in green). I got somewhat negative reviews on the K/R and I agree, it's not the best for apples because there's no structure and it shows every lump and bump. I couldn't wear it first trimester because it would have shown too much. But now, it's a perfect substitute pencil skirt--stretchy enough to accommodate a growing waistline/bump. I tucked the blouse and added a black elastic Forever 21 belt to mimic the black leather waistband of my favorite skirt. And swapped out the red Clarks pumps for the B Makowsky Heist leopard with red trim heels to amp up the bombshell quotient (plus it bookends both the mustard blouse and black skirt). I also swapped the small green handbag (which looked even tinier compared to my huge bump) with the red Fossil tote so I could carry my laptop to work, and to echo the red trim of the heels and my glasses (and red is another signature bombshell touch). And of course I added my Kate Spade black trench with the flirty ruffles. (Sorry for the poor picture quality--I was in a rush to get to work this morning).
So, what do you think, did I pull off Preggo Demure Bombshell? Hard to create a bombshell waist and curves when you're a pregnant apple (esp when my waist circumference is now larger than DH's!), but I think this is a reasonable approximation!