Girl About O-Town

This past weekend, I accompanied a very good friend of mine on an important shopping mission. 

This is not the first time I’ve been enlisted as her style coach, but it is the first time she’s been in the market for maternity clothes, so of course I was glad to go along.  Those days are long past for me, but having been through the experience, the thought of going with her to help was definitely worth a giggle.  

You see, this very smart and sophisticated friend of mine is still just a wee bit in denial.  She – like me back when – can’t quite fathom life with a little one, nor can she imagine her circumference in just a few short months from now!  At this stage though, it’s just one step at a time, and her regular clothes just weren’t cutting it anymore. 

After a week of missed connections, this was the message I received last Friday in my inbox.  I quote:

“I don’t want to harass you about shopping, but I am going to have to put
something on my body soon.”

If these aren’t the words of someone ready to spend, I don’t know what are!

Back in my day, all of seven years ago, there weren’t any options at all.   I had a “big” job and needed to look professional, but the best I could do were some mail order Gap pants, a few good quality men’s button-downs from the thrift store, and a blazer or two left wide open in a feeble attempt to tame the unavoidable tent effect.  According to witnesses at the time, I somehow managed to pull it off with “a glow”, but trust me when I say it wasn’t much fun getting dressed every day.

Fast forward to this past weekend.  WOW!

With one swift Internet search, we turned up a variety of maternity shopping options, but none so sweet as HauteMama.   This Canadian online retailer offers wonderful, wearable and stylish apparel for those currently expecting, and caters to local customers with a by-appointment-only boutique located in Kanata.  Established four years ago (yup, you do the math) by mother-daughter team Suzanne and Shannon, HauteMama is exactly the kind of place to take the uninitiated for their first foray.  

Suzanne’s patient good humour, her stellar sensitivity and her undeniable expertise made for a fabulously fun experience.  The store provided an excellent selection of both casual and professional clothes, even some at sale price, so my friend finished all her shopping in one fell swoop.  Success!  She has happily reported since, and I quote:

“By the way, I have the purple shirt with jacket and wide leg pants on today. I look really, really good!”

I’m pretty sure you can appreciate the feeling, pregnant or not! 

To shop online or to book an appointment, visit HauteMama.

HauteMama is moderate to expensive, and carries maternity clothing from BOOB, Hatch Maternity, and  MoodyMamas among others.

Photos by Nathasha Moine, via HauteMama.