Mirth, Girth, & Birth: Brief Funny History Of Maternity Wear
Rick London
Though the history of maternity wear dates way back to the middle-ages, it is not clear if there really was such a fashion, apart from other fashions, during that time since all clothing was loose fitting so as not to show the female figure.
It was not until the mid 19th century that maternity wear received it's "handle" and was marketed and worn as such. With puritan men running the show, it was still considered a bit taboo to even let someone know they were pregnant, much less wear clothes advertising such.
Dating from the Georgian and Regency period you can find a lot of dresses or combinations that were simply so adaptable that they would "grow" with you, and were also quite practical for nursing, which, inspired by reformers like Rousseau, became increasingly en vogue among the upper classes again during the Regency period. These dresses are not labeled as "maternity dress", but they would fit during every stage of the pregnancy, and, like the Adrienne, also when you were not pregnant, which must have made them extremely economical. Even with these radical changes of public appearance, they were for the upper-class only and the rest continued the baggy attire haute' couture. It was truly not until the late 20th century that the social hierarchy regarding such fashion closed and all women were accepted in the same maternal clothing. Today, the market bears all kinds of specialty maternal wear. Some women want "funky" some want "cartoony some want "colorful" and some want "slogans". There are some that "grow with you, with a special stretch function built-in. In the past, since most people hadn't a clue as to the type of clothing and other creature comforts we could afford today, in the past, it was all based on necessity and keeping the public happy. Today women are seen in public way up into the ninth month of pregnancy. In the past, women stayed in bed for the last few weeks and at least four weeks after giving birth, due to medical limitations. To do otherwise would have been considered child abuse.
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