Lots of mothers-to-be are excited to show off their blooming baby bumps, and the Duchess of Sussex would appear to be no exception.
Video of her recent public engagements shows how Meghan, 37, who is six months pregnant, uses a combination of clever wardrobe choices and ‘deliberate baby-bump-featuring behavior’ to ensure all eyes remain on her blossoming tummy.
Stylist Lucas Armitage noted the royal has largely eschewed maternity brands in favour of pieces from designer labels that fit snugly around her bump. She has also plumped for contrasting coat and dress combinations that highlight her blossoming tummy.
‘She is enjoying being pregnant and knows that that is what people want to see when she is at public engagements,’ Lucas explained.
Meanwhile body language expert and author Judi James pointed out Meghan frequently ‘flicks’ her coat away from her bump to ensure it is fully visible – just one example of the behaviour she consciously adopts to draw attention to herself.
The Duchess of Sussex, pictured at Mayhew Animal Home in London last week, uses a string of styling tricks and wardrobe choices to accentuate her blooming baby bump on public engagements, according to experts. Body language expert Judi James noted Meghan leaves her coat open and ‘flicks’ it away from her bump (as seen above) to ensure it remains in view
While the Duchess of Sussex has been seen in a handful of maternity pieces by the likes of H&M and Asos, she is largely following the lead of sister-in-law Kate, 37, who managed to keep wearing her favourite brands well into her most recent pregnancy with Prince Louis.
As a result, Meghan’s dresses often fit snugly across her figure, as they are not cut with the extra room needed for pregnancy.
Lucas pointed out the Duchess appears to be taking a similar approach when it comes to her winter outerwear.
Last week, Meghan was seen in a bespoke cream coat which she previously wore on a visit to Sussex in October, when she was in the early stages of pregnancy.
Stylist Lucas Armitage said the royal also appears to direct attention towards her bump by opting for coats that contrast with the dress underneath, ensuring the shape of her bump isn’t lost in a block colour. The clearest example of this has been Meghan’s outing to Merseyside last week (pictured) where she was once again seen brushing her coat from her bump
Meghan wore a grey coat over her £834 dress by LA label Brock Collection for a visit to the Royal Variety’s Brinsworth House last month, pictured. Body language expert Judi James said the exchange pictured above was the most ‘telling’ example of Meghan’s bump focused behaviour as she flicked the coat away from her bump twice while being greeted
Days earlier she made a statement in a vibrant £1,085 red coat from Canadian label Sentaler, which once again does not specialise in clothes for mothers-to-be.
The regular fit means Meghan often has to tie her coats loosely with a belt or leave them open entirely in order to accommodate her bump.
Lucas said: ‘I think as a lover of designer brands Meghan is struggling to find coats she likes that would work over a bump so instead is wearing standard coats and leaving them undone.
‘She is also obviously happy to show off her bump as she’s wearing fitted dresses under the coats. So it may be that she’s intentionally opting for coats that she can’t do up.’
Judi James agreed: ‘While many UK royals have often kept their bumps hidden under tent dresses or discreetly “veiled” by coats Meghan’s obvious pride and excitement at being a mum reflects in the way she just can’t stop touching, cradling and revealing her bump to share her good news with the public at every opportunity.
‘Her most telling gesture in terms of her glorious bump-behaviour being totally conscious came on her recent trip to Birkenhead.
‘Stepping out of and around her car it looked for one minute as though her open coat might mask the bump from the royal fans as she had to stop cradling the bump to shake hands with her hosts, but quickly and very deftly her left hand came up to flick the coat away to reveal all and she repeated this gesture more than once.
‘The cream H&M dress she wore [to Mayhew animal home in London last week] also made an emphatic feature of her bump and you can see her pushing the coat aside with two hands to ensure it does.’
The Duchess, who is six months pregnant, has largely eschewed more generous maternity labels in favour of flattering pieces from designer labels that hug her pregnant figure. Pictured, in a glittering gown by designer Roland Mouret at the Royal Albert Hall last week. Judi said the approach contrasts from other pregnant royals who have ‘veiled’ their bumps
Lucas also highlighted the way Meghan uses colour to keep her baby bump as the focus of attention.
‘For example with the red and purple [which Meghan wore on a visit to Merseyside last week], the colour clash really draws attention to the bump.
‘But if she picked one uniform colour for a whole look the bump would blend in more.
‘Someone like Kate would probably have worn the same colour under the coat not a clashing colour.’