Maternity fashion tips: Tall, petite or plus size maternity styles and how to wear them

Finding styles that suit our shapes can be difficult at the best of times, especially if you're tall, petite or plus-size. 

Just as we've found those perfect staple pieces, that positive blue line comes along and challenges us all over again, especially once that precious bump begins to grow.

We decided to wave our magic wand to give you some maternity fashion advice on how to dress your body type.

Tall maternity fashion
Thankfully a range of designers and high street stores are waking up to the fact that tall women don't want to be left with chilly ankles when they pull their jean bump band up to where it should be, with Dorothy Perkins and Jojo Maman Bebe just some offering maternity jeans with 34" and 36" legs.
Team up with wrap shirts or empire line tops that will elongate your figure and show off your bump. Longer style cardigans or knitted maternity jumpers also ensure your bump remains covered.

Plus size maternity fashion
According to Baukjen de Swaan Arons, the Founder of Isabella Oliver, going up a few sizes to fit your bump will swamp other parts of your body, creating an unflattering look.

A ruched design, like this from Isabella Oliver, will create soft fitted pleats across your bump with extra fabric that can be adjusted as your body changes shape.

Wrap tops and dresses, clinched at the waist, will let you show off that new cleavage as well as allowing the rest of the fabric to drape effortlessly over your curves.

Petite maternity fashion advice

Tiffany Rose, a designer of evening and daytime maternity wear advises keeping it simple.

"Choose form-fitting styles with a smooth silhouette and choose fabrics with some stretch to give you the best fit.  Knee length is great for petite figures.  Avoid large or busy prints and opt for tonal colours, blocking or stretch lace," she said

"Emphasise the narrowest part of your body - your empire waist - by adding a contrasting sash.  Open necklines such as scooped and cross-over will flatter your décolletage.  Draw the eye up with a beautiful necklace," she added.

Also take advantage of the 60s turn up trend, opting for standard length jeans, which can be turned up to channel this, while maternity tops, made for "average" sized ladies, can also be worn as dresses.

Lara Stone announces she's pregnant and we pick some key pieces for her tall and stylish maternity wardrobe.

We were thrilled when David Walliams announced that his supermodel wife Lara Stone was pregnant.

Taking to Twitter last week, the Little Britain star and Britian's got Talent judge, told his followers: "Some wonderful news. My beautiful wife Lara is pregnant.

"We are having a baby! It is due next year and we both couldn't be happier."

The couple later on released a statement claiming they were "very excited" to be expecting their first child.

We've always loved Lara's laid back, yet fierce style and we can't wait to see what her maternity wardrobe will be like.

However, until then we've decided to put together a little fantasy maternity wardrobe for the model.

For practicality,  5'10 Lara should look at styles that will show off her tall figure as well as fit her bump. A wrap shirt or empire line top will elongate taller shapes, while longer style cardigans or longer knitted maternity jumpers, will also ensure Lara's bump remains covered while she stays stylish.

Style wise, Lara has a mix of looks that suit her, going from elegant black frocks on a night out, to a love of leather, jeans and long tops for less smart occasions.

We've mixed her style and added our tall tips to pick out some key items we think she may like. See the gallery below for our tops picks.

We think this simple, yet striking Draped Cocoon Maternity Dress, £120, Rock a Bye Rosie,  suits Lara's style perfectly.

Lara should opt for a longer wrap style cardigan, such as this one from Jojo Maman Bebe, £39, which will flatter her taller figure and keep her stylishly warn.

Longer length maternity jeans are must-haves for taller women. We heart this 36' leg pair from Yummy Mummy Maternity.

Channel Lara's love of long black dresses with a maternity version like this embellished number, £22, from Matalan

Lara's love of leather needn't be brushed aside with these amaze faux leather panel maternity leggings, £45, Seraphine

A long empire line tunic top is perfect for taller figures, elongating the torso and ensuring your bump stays covered. We love this one from MAMA at H&M, £24.99

Fashion advice: Maternity style tips for tall women

Maintaining a fashionable wardrobe when you're pregnant can be tricky at the best of times.
However, if you don't have that average figure, shopping for maternity fashion can prove to be a nightmare.

This is particularly the case for taller women who after the initial few months begin to struggle to find clothes to fit their changing figures.

"I had to buy extra long normal tops and stretch them over my bump," and "jeans just aren't the right length," are two of the most common complaints we've heard.

A spokesperson for maternity fashion retailer JoJo Maman Bébé, which has a range of pieces to suit taller women, agreed, telling Does My Bump Look Good in This: "When you’re a taller woman It’s often difficult to find tops and cardigans to cover your ever growing bump.

"Jeans can also be tricky, when you pull the bump band up to where it should be you’re left with chilly ankles."

Thankfully over the past few years, designers and highstreet stores have woken up to these needs with JoJo Maman Bébé, Dorothy Perkins, Long Tall Sally and Isabella Oliver, are just a few of the stores that offer maternity jeans for the taller lady.

Choosing a wrap shirt or empire line top, which will elongate your figure and show off your bump is also a good option, while longer style cardigans, such as these from JoJo Maman Bébé, or a longer knitted maternity jumper, will also ensure your bump remains covered while you stay stylish.

Here's some of our must have picks from the virtual highstreet.

34 inch jeans, Dorothy Perkins £43

Opt for a longer style cardigan like this one from Jojo Maman Bebe

Take a belt off a knitted dress to allow for height. We heart this one from H&M

Wrap top, £29, Jojo Maman Bebe

Ruched long top, £75, Isabella Oliver