By Chiara Atik
There is no better excuse than pregnancy for elastic waistbands and loose-fitting shirts. Unfortunately for Jennifer Garner, who is expecting her third child in February, stylist Rachel Zoe has something else in mind for her.
“Rachel Zoe is so determined to not put me in maternity clothes,” the actress told InStyle recently. (Interestingly, Zoe declared Garner her celebrity mom style icon last month).
Indeed, unlike fellow pregnant stars Beyonce or Jessica Simpson, who have lately taken to flaunting their baby bumps, Garner has been seen at events wearing dresses that non-pregnant starlets might also wear on the red carpet.
At the AFI screening of Butter in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, Garner wore a loose, asymmetrical Lanvin mini-dress, paired with thick black heels and a whole lotta leg. The previous Saturday, she wore a tightly-fitted black lace dress with towering bronze heels and a black tuxedo jacket at The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Next Generation Reception.
Of course, while Zoe may dictate Garner’s red carpet look, daytime is a different story. In the past few weeks, Garner has been repeatedly photographed out and about in Los Angeles, wearing comfortable clothing that much more closely resembles the wardrobe of an expectant mom: loose fitting jeans, leggings, flats, and maternity tops.
And as for red carpet looks for the duration of her pregnancy, Garner hasn’t given up hope of maternity-wear.
“I have four months to go," Garner said. "Sooner or later, [Zoe] is going to have to put me in a maternity dress. Eventually that is going to happen, but so far she has gotten her way.”
How can one attempt Garner's chic wardrobe on a budget? Rosie Pope, maternity fashion designer and star of Bravo's "Pregnant In Heels," uses TODAY.com's Katie Quinn to showcase the best fall and winter trends for new moms and moms-to-be.
Chiara Atik is a New York based writer who loves to watch 80s sitcoms and read Italian Vogue.