About a month ago, I was heading to NYC by train and brought along Amy Koch’s new book, Bump It Up.

Putting it lightly, I couldn’t put it down.  Amy’s book is absolutely PHENOMENAL! Here I am, not even pregnant and I read it cover-to-cover. She’s witty. She’s a true and utter fashionista. She’s honest. She’s real. And she’s there to help, keeping you in style week by week. If you’re pregnant and/or know someone who is… you (they) will love, love, love this book. It’s the best maternity style resource book I have ever read. I just love Amy… so I was so excited when she said I could interview her for Mom Generations. Enjoy this amazing style-mama!

1. Bump It Up is filled to the brim with priceless information for every expectant mom. What made you want to write Bump It Up?

BUMP IT UP is an outgrowth of my own experience with pregnancy. Like all women, my first instinct, was to hide in my “fat pants” when trimester one poundage accumulated. The result? I felt frumpy, dumpy and bore a strong resemblance to my Belarusian farming ancestor. Not pretty. I flipped through the glossies and tabloids and went to a chain maternity store in search of the striking looks worn by my favorite pregnant celebrities. Huh? Where were the delightful shifts and empire waist dresses sported by Gwen and Heidi? Then an epiphany: celebs were not miracles of nature. They had simply mastered the high art of mix and match fertility fashion; a combination of must have maternity with easy civilian silhouettes that embraced and enhanced their bump. I may lack Gwyneth’s gene code, but a decade of covering fashion shows and interviewing beauty gurus gave me confidence that I, a scrappy 5’4” editrix, could eschew pregnancy’s frump factor and step up to the fashion plate. I knocked back some Tums and got down to the business of reworking my existing wardrobe. Skinny jeans, skimpy tops and anything that made me look and feel like five pounds of bologna in a one pound bag were packed away; empire waist dresses, tunics and other bump friendly silhouettes were positioned front and center. Lycra (from my mom’s Jane Fonda days) became my second skin. Big baubles were my new best friends. And, eye catching accents–vintage jackets, exotic reptilian bags, capes and shawls colorful thigh length sweaters, hardware laden oversized totes, were my joie de vivre. I cast Pucci-esque innerwear as outwear, skirts as dresses and chain belts as necklaces. I revisited seasons’ old wrap dresses and off the wall knits from storage. I raided Grandma’s closet for Jackie-O scarves and quirky accents dress shirts to belt with leggings. Later, when my bump materialized for the whole world to see, I purchased only in core maternity items that could be accessorized for every occasion. I took the fashion phrase “God is in the Details” to task and had a blast “super accessorizing” The key to preggo chic? Creativity. Effort. And the commitment to pushing the sartorial envelope even as you feel your breakfast rising in your throat.

2. What was your “Bump It Up style?

My style is about mixing and matching compelling accent pieces, not piling on expensive brand names .I Created a uniform of multi-functional, fade into the background basics that can be dressed up, reworked and “super-accessorized” day in and out. Neutrals are fashion chameleons which take on the mood of whatever garments they are layered with. Thus, your neutral (mostly black) basics can be mixed and matched to “work” for anything from a cocktail party to a trip to Wal Mart. The formulaic philosophy diminishes the inherent stress of pregnancy dressing and saves you money. Once you have your uniform, ADD ONs and WOW FACTOR are the style elements which add zip and groovify basics. Of the utmost importance is mastering the art of accessorizing. In pregnancy, accessories are tools that can elongate your frame, cover unsightly bulges, create a focal point (long neck grazing earrings, for example, take the focus to the neck and shoulders where pregnancy weight does not manifest) and add shape to baggy silhouette. Belts-thick and thin-give drapey clothing shape and can supply an illusion of a waist while you are camouflaging a burgeoning belly. Scarves add verticality and cover the belly. Larger bags balance out proportion. And jewelry-the bigger the better-is what will make a basic outfit pop.
PAY ATTENTION TO PROPORTION Nothing frumpifies more than oversized clothing and lack of proportion. If it’s big on top, it should be narrow on bottom. If it is narrow on top, you can add some volume with a skirt or wide legged pant. Skirts and dresses should be above the knee or sweeping the ground to elongate the body. Big blouses are countered with fitted skirts or tapered trousers. Tailoring is critical.

3. Why do you feel style is important to keep in mind when you’re expecting?

All women feel overwhelmed by weight gain. Set the tone for your day by denying the urge to hide in your fat pants.Pulling yourself together is the key ingredient to looking and feeling great during pregnancy. The proof is in the triple chocolate fudge pudding.

Try this little exercise on for size:

LESSON 1: TRAIN WRECK A LA MODE
Wake up and dress to reflect your emotions: train wreck a la mode: sweat pants, sneakers and your comfy college sweatshirt. Then, without so much as glancing in the mirror,
run out to do some errands….How does your dumpy demeanor impact your body language?
A) Do you saunter sexily down the catwalk of life, head held high a ala Giselle Bundchen?
B) Do your feet drag? Do your shoulders sag? Would you rather crawl back into bed with a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts than get dressed and face the day?
C) Do you look up in surprise when someone in the supermarket asks if you are available to clean her house next week because her cleaning lady is on vacation?

LESSON 2: GOING GLAM
Deny your inner hausfrau and make an effort towards your appearance. Wear a flattering loose, belted black dress, fun earrings and some glamifying mascara and lipstick. Add some height and a soupcon of glamour with a pair of mid range heels. Pop on some cute sunglasses and out you go. How does your pulled together, well proportioned look impact your body language?
A) Light and airy—like a member of the plus size division of Elite Models
B) Upbeat and attractive. Like myself, but bloated
C) All of the above

4. What are 5 maternity items you (personally) could not live without? Must haves?

Maternity jeans, black leggings, black bias cut jersey (breathable, does not wrinkle!) dress, an extra long black lycra top (Ingrid & Isabel), and a black maternity stretch pencil skirt (Noppies). Mix in flowy non maternity tunics, shift dresses and empire waist dresses.

5. It’s the summertime. It’s not easy to stay cool and stylish when you aren’t pregnant! What about for all those mamas out there expecting?

EASY, BREEZY SUMMER STAPLES
For the pregnantista, summer poses a sartorial challenge. How to look cool when external temps and hormones push your internal thermostat to full throttle? It’s all about pieces that offer you, my fertile friend, easy, breezy style. The best part about these pieces? Fashion longevity. Once you bid adieu to your bump, these garments can be can still be worn in style.

6. What are must-have summer staples??

MULTITASKING SKIRT
Ingrid and Isabel’s ultra soft knit maxi skirt is a summer staple. It can be dressed up with a flouncy wrap top or worn with a white ribbed tank to the beach.

THE MAXI
The maxi dress (Nom’s tiered Cece) embodies the three C’s essential for summer style: comfy, cool and chic.

THE TUNIC DRESS
The au courant combination of bold coral color and fluidity which ebbs and flows over expansive boobs, butt and bump make Rosie Pope’s silk knit dress a winner defines effortless summer style!

The Strapless Dress
There is nothing more alluring on sweltering summer days than a whisper thin strapless dress.

THE VERSATILE “EVERYTHING” DRESS
This universally flattering empire waist dress underscores the BUMP IT UP philosophy of maximum style, minimal maternity specific investment. The hanging “apron” ties can be worn 7 different ways (strapless, Grecian halter, halter, skirt, knotted halter, one-shoulder, plunge.. so it is extremely versatile.

7. What if you you’re on a -budget? Still possible to look and feel good?

If you cant spend the big bucks on maternity clothing, fret not. Maternity moxie can be had at every price point. First step? Get creative with existing pieces in your wardrobe. THE PREGNANTISTA CAN CREATIVELY REWORK EXISTING WARDROBE STAPLES into something entirely new and groovy. And, Test drive these shopping tips for high style on a low budget:

THE POOR (WO) MANS VERSACE A distant cousin of ready-to-wear, swimwear is home to explosively colored, blouson friendly apparel. Less flashy and far less expensive than ready to wear, these no- name bathing suit “cover ups” can do double duty as pregnancy apparel. Filene’s Basement is filled with tunics that feel like Matthew Williamson and bejeweled linen caftans that smack of Tory Burch. Marshall’s swirly, candy colored Muu-Muu was a dead ringer for Versace.

INNERWEAR AS RTW: Underpinnings give major look for minor dough. A bias cut slip layered with a belted cardigan and funky jewelry offers Desperately Seeking Susan meets Mrs. Robinson cache. Bias cut long nighties, especially those with interesting swirls of color or prints, make glam cocktail frocks. Little Pucci-esque robes can be belted and worn with a heel.

BELTS AS NECKLACES When shimmering chain belts can no longer circle your girth, pop them over your head for flashy Versace looking necklaces. Tie belts can also be worn as lariat necklaces.

SKIRTS AS DRESSES My bodacious bod gave me a sense of wild abandon. Case in point? I had been wearing my favorite heather grey DKNY maxi skirt below my belly with a men’s white “wife beater” tank top. The tank became too small (or, I became too big) but I was not ready to 86 the soft skirt from my fashion repertoire. I yanked it (it had a stretchy waistband) over my engorged boobs and found that I was now in possession of a swingy new trapeze dress. I layered on beads (it was summer) and wore that skirt as dress throughout my pregnancy and well into Merry Momdom. This hiked- over- engorged-boobs concept can be applied to any too- tight skirt with an elastic waistband.

RAID GRANNY’s CLOSET: Granny’s (or the wackadoodle Auntie Mame in your family) are a gold mine for pregnancy gear.As you tell Granny (weekend tote in hand) what an iconic matriarch she has been to your family, swoop as many eye catching accents—brooches, belts(think Dior and Gucci from the 70s) , reptilian bags, lurex -into your bag.. Ethnic touches like, say, Masai beaded bracelets, Indian bangles and massive beaded necklaces are unadulterated global glitz.

READ ABOUT AMY.