Few do modern French chic as well as Jeanne Damas. The 28-year-old entrepreneur, who’s successfully channelled her love of laid-back vintage into a full-scale fashion line as creative director of Rouje, shared her pregnancy news with the world in August. Her knockout bump reveal look? A romantic bias-cut slip dress, set against a pastel-hued Mediterranean sky.
Since then, the Paris-based creative has been sharing both the mood-raising possibilities of pregnancy dressing and the sometimes trickier realities (ie back pain) with her devoted social media followers. Naturally, when it comes to embracing her “beautiful new curves”, Damas’s maternity looks offer on-point style cues—note the wrap cardigan (belted just above the bump), polka dot bodycon and empire-line tea dresses (partnered with claret knit tights).
This is Jeanne Damas’s guide to mastering pregnancy dressing the modern Parisian way, (especially on the days when you don’t want to get out of your prenatal yoga kit).
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Firstly, congratulations! We’ve always loved your style, but let’s talk about your maternity looks, which have been sending the internet into a frenzy lately. How have you adapted your style during pregnancy?
The golden rule is to be proud of your body and its beautiful new curves. I’ve really wanted to embrace my bump with stretch fabrics and not hide it beneath oversized clothes. I’ve always worn wrap dresses in summer and knit dresses in winter as part of my style, and both have been perfect during pregnancy—the only thing I can’t wear anymore are my jeans, and as a jeans person, this is a major change to my regular dressing habits. Plus, as I’m in my seventh month, I’ve had to switch from my favourite heeled ankle boots to sneakers due to my back.
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Which three items of clothing do you currently have on repeat?
Woollen leggings for layering, knit dresses and New Balance sneakers.
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Can you share a fail-safe winter look?
I love a 1980s-inspired mood—a long knit sweater or cardigan worn with a belt on top, boots with a small heel and woollen leggings in a contrasting shade or print. For outerwear, I’ll usually wear a parka or a trench coat to continue the vintage look.
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What’s your go-to maternity look for the office?
Confession: I like to wear my yoga outfit to work to be as comfortable as possible. I even brought my birthing ball to the office to use in place of my regular office chair. It’s the best tip to avoid back pain, sciatica and acid reflux. Oh, the joys of pregnancy!
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What will be your go-to eveningwear look this festive season?
Stretch materials that skim the body make perfect pregnancy eveningwear. We have designed a sequined Lurex dress as part of our holiday collection, which I can’t wait to wear with my big belly. I will look like a giant disco ball [laughs].
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What’s been the trickiest part about dressing your baby bump?
Not being able to wear vintage jeans, my second skin. It’s a style bugbear, but I’m not fond of pregnancy jeans—which is where the knit leggings come in.
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Before we let you get back to work, let’s take a sneak peek inside your makeup bag. What are your favourite beauty products right now?
Because of face coverings, I’ve hardly put anything on my skin except my lipstick (Rouje’s Chaleur lip palette). I’ve always worn lipstick and I wear it mostly for myself—it instantly enhances your skin.
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Have you indulged in any pregnancy wellness practices that you’d recommend?
The Nuxe spa in Paris offers a watsu massage in a bathtub, which is incredible, but you also can’t go wrong with a foot massage from your partner. If you have to stop playing sports, as I have, twice weekly prenatal yoga sessions can really help—the stretching and the calm do you endless good.
