It’s been a big week at Belly Dance Maternity!! We’ve had several pregnant celebrities shopping with us and dressing their bellies with our chic styles. Since we don’t want to let the cat out of and spoil anyone’s pregnancy secrets, here are a few celebrity favorites:

Juicy Maternity-Just because you’re expecting, doesn’t mean you have to give up some of your favorite pre-pregnancy styles. Juicy Couture Maternity has redesigned their best selling velour track suit to fit your growing belly. The maternity hoodie and track pant offer comfort and style to any mom’s-to-be on the go.

NOM-Everyone loves the ease and comfort of a great pair of maternity leggings - even celebs! These soft, stretchy legging is the essential item to own throughout your pregnancy. Pair with a trendy maternity tunic for a chic look or with a maternity sweater for a comfy, cozy look.

JBrand-The denim line JBrand, favored by celebrities, has now introduced their most popular styles in maternity designer denim. The maternity Lovestory jean, with it’s dark wash and ultra-comfy waistband, is a huge hit with our celebrity customers.

NOM-This soft maternity turtleneck is a celeb favorite, due to its super comfy fit and stylish appearance. Sure to keep you warm and cozy during the winter months, this twisted turtleneck is a great addition to your maternity clothing wardrobe.

Christian Siriano, the winning designer from Project Runway, will be launching the holiday collection from his new maternity line, Fierce Mamas for Moody Mamas.  He will be at the New York store on Saturday, November 8, and the founders of the line will be at the Chicago store on Saturday, November 15.  Not only will the designers be visiting the stores to work with customers, but these event pieces will be available exclusively at Belly Dance for the holiday season.  Come see us at these cool events!!

Don’t forget you’re voting for two! Tuesday, November 4th, is only six weeks away. If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you can log on at www.rockthevote.com to register. If you’re looking for a fun way to support your favorite candidate, check out our political tanks by NOM. Whether your vote is for the democrats or republicans, these maternity tanks are a great way to show support for your political party in style.

Just Jared released sneak pics from the Sex and the City movie, and there are great shots of Kristin Davis/aka Charlotte returning from a shopping spree.  And the style maven is weighed down with Belly Dance shopping bags.  Great choice, Charlotte!!

Source: Just Jared

Recently, we have had lots of celeb shoppers and have been dressing many famous bellies in NOM by Belly Dance styles.

Check out Julia Roberts and Naomi Watts, spotted in NOM by Belly Dance this summer.

Belly Dance Maternity is excited to dress Julia Roberts in her new movie, Fireflies in the Garden, which will be released next year.  Below is a picture of Julia Roberts on the set, playing a pregnant woman while she is expecting off screen as well.

Source: People Magazine

We are excited about our acquisition of nom | naissance on melrose, the cutting edge L.A.-based maternity fashion line. With the acquisition of the label, now known as nom by belly dance, we bring nom styles to Belly Dance that customers will not be able to find anywhere else.

Owner and founder Jennifer Strom Simonte says, “We are excited to bring nom into our family at Belly Dance. With this acquisition, we are adding a lifestyle brand with a hip and edgy style that is complimentary to our own style sensibility.”

Since its opening in 1998, nom | naissance on melrose quickly became the destination for expecting women with its edgy styles and sexy fashions.  Season after season, nom has helped set the standard for maternity fashion and has provided a fashionable alternative to traditional maternity wear.  A favorite among celebrities and stylists, nom’s styles have graced the cover of W magazine during Gwyneth Paltrow’s first pregnancy and dressed Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel Green” when she went into labor on the hit series Friends.
Belly Dance will offer nom by belly dance exclusively in its three stores and online.  

Stay tuned for Spring styles arriving in March and April and many new styles over the next few months. 

Belly Dance style now takes you beyond nine months.

Belly Dance has expanded into the baby market with the launch of Belly Dance Baby.  Available online at www.bellydancebaby.com, Belly Dance Baby presents a well-edited and imaginative collection of the best on the baby and toddler markets.  Customers often ask what they should be buying at the end of their pregnancies, and this is our answer to the hip, cool, and comfortable for baby. 

Belly Dance Baby is a natural extension of Belly Dance’s product offering.  Pregnant customers love the selection and taste of Belly Dance Maternity, and this new business is in response to the needs of those customers.  Owner and founder Jennifer Strom Simonte says, “We have proven that we are focused on our customer during that months that she is expecting.  Our goal is to exceed her expectations and bring the hippest products for baby and nursing once she is through with maternity clothing.  We are familiar with her style, and we hope to provide the best selection before and now after her due date.”

Belly Dance Baby is a well-edited selection of the top baby brands and includes categories such as clothing, footwear, bedding, nursery decor, furniture, mealtime and bathtime gear, hip toys, diaper bags, and nursing essentials.  Brands include Skip Hop, Tea Collection, Dwell Baby, Netto Collection, blabla, Zid Zid, Oeuf, and Paulina Quintana.  Just as it has done with its maternity selection, Belly Dance Baby seeks to provide the top products in every category.  Moving forward, Belly Dance will be adding new brands and items, such as strollers, brag books, and more clothing.

Visit Belly Dance Baby and enjoy!!

At our Highland Park store, Renaissance Place once again will host Halloween Festivities on Thursday, October 26, 4-7pm on its plazas.  Renaissance Place offers complimentary cotton candy and candy from merchants at decorated stores, entertainment including costumed stilt walkers, jugglers, balloonists, live mannequins, mimes, and The Renaissance Place Halloween Band.

Belly Dance Maternity was featured in the Wall Street Journal today in an article titled “Frump-Free Maternity Wear For Work”. In the article, designer Liz Lange shopped at Belly Dance Maternity for stylish maternity clothes.  The piece features the Elin Otto bolero sweater, Noppies skirt, Diane von Furstenberg dress, and several other styles.

Sunday, October 22, 12-5 pm.  Our Highland Park, IL store is hosting an event to shop for your baby.  Featuring infant and toddler clothing by Kee-Ka and Jelligoods, as well as baby gifts and nursery decor by Essemade.  Join us at our event and enjoy 10% off all diaper bags that day.

Johnny Damon’s wife, Michelle, was recently shopping at our flagship store in Chicago.  We were excited to see her pictured in our dress.  The couple is expecting this fall.

Source: Splash News

Mariska Hargitay was a fun, stylish customer.

Among other pieces, check out the hip Petunia Pickle Bottom bag that she bought.

So, what exactly is the Belly Dance Blog, and why have we created it?  Well, there are always things that our team wants to share with you.  Everything from our latest favorite designer, to Fall trends, to celeb maternity gossip.  We want this blog to celebrate pregnancy and to be a place for our customers to come and feel a sense of community.  So visit often and give us feedback.  We want to know what you think.