The Intersection of Design & Motherhood
I’ve been working on some posts for the H20 Visions blog, showing examples of smart design. My first article features these super cool maternity dresses. If you have a second, go read about the neat company that makes them here. I’d love to hear what you think.
Previous post: Scout Books
Next post: A Few Things
New to Design Mom? Here are 10 posts to get you started:
What to Wear To Middle School
Napoleon Dynamite
Our Birth Announcements
Potato Print Clothing
Having Another Child
Young Einstein Birthday Party
Little Red LightHouse Outing
Porch Makeover
Waving Goodbye To The Atlantic Ocean
Build Two Toddler Beds for $75
Pimp My Ride: Family Edition
We love coming up with fun valentines to make and give. Here are some of our favorites (many are candy free!):
3-D Lollipop Valentines - Easy! And a big hit. Try it with crazy straws or pencils too.
Fortune Teller Valentines - with free printable!
You Blow Me Away, Valentine! - Everyone loves party blowers. : )
Wild Animal Valentines - Family Fun Magazine requested my idea for their latest issue.
Mad Lib Valentines - Family Fun requested this idea too!
Friendship Bracelet Valentines
And here are a few more ideas I've featured over the years that I bet you'll love:
- Fresh Fruit Valentines
- Color Theory Valentines
- DIY Scratch Off Valentines
- Shaving Cream Valentines
- Mini Valentine Boxes
Here's something fun. Our family was featured in an episode of House Hunters International! Spoiler: we choose the gorgeous French Farmhouse. It's called La Cressonnière and we take pictures of it all the time. If you're curious, try these links:
The Kitchen
Summer at La Cressonnière
The Halfbath
The Stairwell
The Neighbors
Ralph's Bedroom
The Studio
Springtime at La Cressonnière
The Living Room
Maude's Bedroom
The Artists
Oscar & Betty's Bedroom
The Exterior
The Floors
Olive's Bedroom
The Treehouse
The House: La Cressonnière
I hope you enjoy the house tour! Oh. And if you'd like to see the episode, you can find it on Youtube here (it's in four parts).
I write a weekly column called Inspiration Scout on Cafémom. Find new posts on Thursdays.
I write a daily post (Monday through Friday) for Babble's Family Style blog.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
How cool!
That is beyond super cool. I would look horrible in that hoodie dress but think it’s fabulous!
Oh, cute! Where can you buy them?
Ok, so you’re killing me, where can I buy one? $35??
The design ideas are so cool… But I think these are
just so ugly. Am I the only one? Smart design needs to be attractive as well.
I agree. Gross!
Where can you buy them?
I like the idea of this, but it just doesn’t seem that flattering. Maybe if it were a solid color?
i like the idea, too, but it’s not very attractive to me either. The middle looks so lumpy and sloppy.
This is one of those ideas that only works as a concept. I think the actual dresses (especially the extended belly versions) are totally hideous. a great big fashion don’t. But I’ll give the designers points for creativity!
At first I thought this was the most brilliant thing I have laid eyes on but then I got a little oogie about it, then I realized it was just because the model looked like her womb was expanding at the speed of jiffy pop popcorn so I went back to thinking it was brilliant again. And $35?! How can you beat that?
It would also come in handy at an all-you-can-eat buffet — pregnant or not.
I’m currently on my 27th week with my first baby and when I first saw your post a couple days ago, I rushed to their site to see it there was any way I could get one! I’ve been so stubborn about not buying any maternity clothes; but this I’d wear post-baby! Love the peekaboo detailing!
Hmmm – I’m gonna have to go with ugly. Even on her cute little figure. I think there’s too much fabric there and it makes it look like she’s got something strapped onto her or like she’s carrying a watermelon! It is very creative, though.
I like the white one with vertical cutouts. I like the idea of the green, but I think it would be too chunky before being fully expanded.
You’re right, though. You can’t beat the price. I think they should keep them coming.
I thinking that a zippered pouch in the middle that has interchangeable sizes for growth and for mamma to look fashionable would be ideal. This is a great concept!!
Ugly. Don’t love it.
Sorry to say it, but that dress is hideous. It reminds me of the very hungry caterpillar. Not good – at all!
I would quite frankly punch someone in the face if I were pregnant and they suggested I wear this.
I love love love it! Sadly I was one of those women who expand all over so there is no way I could buy a dress and expect it to fit through the whole pregnancy. Maybe if it had expanders for the bust. And bum. Oh and thighs.
I agree with the posters that state design should be attractive as well as functional. I see the function bit, but not sure about the attractiveness (even though the price seems very much so). I’m with Liz – the first thought I had when seeing the green one was a caterpillar, but mine was the one from Alice! Perhaps in a solid color they wouldn’t be as bad, and if the hoodie one came without the hood.
Oh gosh. What a great idea turned wrong. I love the concept but the actual product is a little crazy. I think doing the entire dress in the same color would be much better, that way your stomach could expand subtly without some crazy pop of color.
She looks like a turtle.
i want to ghet preg again just to rock this!
I am totally laughing out loud at Liz who said it reminded her of the very hungry caterpillar.
I love the original concept of this. It’s intriguing and unique. I don’t know if it would be my go-to while pregnant, but at $35, I’d probably say to heck with it, send it to me now!
Might be comfy, but that’s the ugliest thing I’ve seen in awhile. Especially the way it fits her up top, bless her heart.
I love the socially conscious aspect of this – fantastic!
While the dresses aren’t my personal style, at $35 a pop they would make WONDERFUL presents for an expectant mom. I cannot believe I haven’t seen one in Austin already.
One thing I noticed was that the model is really flat-chested. I just assume that I would never be able to fit into that dress. I couldn’t find the proportions anywhere.
I agree with the others that one color would probably be better than two, and the green one looks weirdly lumpy as it’s expanding. And if that tiny, adorable model looks lumpy in it, I *know* it wouldn’t be good for me. Maybe different fabric and/or sewing techniques would improve it?
That is one idea that wants to look good but took a wrong turn down the Willy Wonka crazy street. The concept is so great in a why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-before way, but several things: going from the solid green, pleated to the expanded-belly, full-term look…well, it looks like a striped alien suddenly coming out. Now, keep the expanded part in harmony with the dress (same color or pattern on the entire dress, including hidden part), and we could talk. I love being pregnant, but I wouldn’t be into drawing so much attention to my belly; pregnant women already seem to be looked at as touchable, public property anyway. Agreed about the choice of model–almost all women who could fit in that dress everywhere but the bust will be, well, busting out by term. Best things: concept, price.
Super Ugly. I am 25 wks pg and I wouldn’t be caught dead in this dress. While this may have been an interesting concept, it just doesn’t work.
Fun idea!
I think these are adorable!! Where can I buy one?