Kynara Williams is a clerical officer. She is currently nine months pregnant with her first child, due next month.
Describe your personal style.
My style is to dress simply but elegantly while trying to maintain as natural an appearance as I can.
As a child, were you always into clothes or did you grow into your own fashion sense?
Yes, I always was. Clothes are an extension of the personality, and I always thought that no matter how physically attractive someone is, the clothes they wear will have a significant impact on their overall outward appearance. As a child I loved to dress up and always tried to be as neat as possible. What you wear and how you wear it is part of being fashionable and beautiful.
Do you find that you follow fashion trends or do you play by your own rules?
No, I do not follow trends. We are all individuals, and as individuals, we all are different and unique in some way, and how I dress is an expression of my uniqueness. Hence the apparel I wear is chosen to reflect who I am. Also every trend does not suit me, I am aware of what highlights my visible assets, and avoid those that highlight my flaws.
Are there any colours that you tend to shy away from and if so, why?
Yes, some colours are not particularly suited to my complexion, especially some shades of brown. I always wear colours that complement and accentuate my complexion.
Do you like to see the belly-out fashion in pregnant mums?
No, I am a conservative person, I don’t walk around with my belly out normally, so I wouldn’t now that I’m pregnant. It’s just too revealing for me.
How does your pregnancy factor into your wardrobe choices for work and play?
In my third trimester it has placed some constraints on what I can wear; the major issue is finding clothing that accommodates my bump, but which still exudes class and a sense of fashion.
Does it take you a longer or shorter time to get ready now that you are pregnant?
It takes me approximately the same time to get ready. In deciding what to wear, however, the time has been drastically reduced.
Are there days when you can’t find anything to wear?
Yes, there are! Now in my final stages, sometimes it’s difficult to find something to wear when I have to go out, seeing that each event you go to is quite different – cocktail party, dinner, picnic, what have you. Finding clothes to wear to work is much easier because when I was shopping for work attire I selected a number of separates that can be easily interchanged, maximizing the number of outfits I could get from them.
Heels or flats for the pregnancy?
A medium heel for the first four months, flats for the rest. Heels place too much strain on the ankles and back; flats are comfortable and also reduce the chance of slipping and falling.
Do you think it is important to look great and feel great during pregnancy?
Yes, it’s important to both look great and feel great. Pregnancy is a time of happiness – and even though there is the occasional nauseous feeling or pain, it never dampens the wonderful feeling of carrying a life inside of me. So feeling great will generally tend to express itself in the way I look and dress, and looking great makes me feel great. The two accentuate each other.
Are there any designers that you like to wear or whose clothing stands out with you?
Yes – Ann Taylor, Calvin Klein, and flats by Naturalizer. However, once it was time to wear maternity clothing, my choices were outfits by A Pea In A Pod and Mother Hood – both brands fit great and are extremely comfortable.
Give me two tricks to make life more fashionable with a bump.
Wear a BellaBand by Ingrid & Isabel; this allows you to wear pre-pregnancy bottoms for a longer period or for some women throughout their entire pregnancy. Wear tunic tops.
What are five things every pregnant woman should have in her closet?
BellaBand.
Full support bra.
Empire-waist dress.
Nice, eye-catching accessories.
Comfy flats.
