You’ve come a long way, baby! Shopping for maternity clothes is no longer labor-intensive

It seems every time I turn around, someone I know is pregnant.

This is great news, but then my friends ask the inevitable: Where do I find cute maternity clothes? What should I buy? When should I buy it?

Up until a few weeks ago, I was in foreign territory. But now I can answer with confidence (no, I’m not pregnant, just researching).And let me tell you, there’s plenty out there for all the hot mamas-to-be.

The later you can wait to buy maternity clothes, the better off you are, especially this spring and summer, when tunics and floaty empire-waist tops are all the rage (trendy types will want to check out the sequined tanks at Target for $12.99).

But if your “bump” is too big even for your yoga pants, you’re in luck. Maternity clothes are much more stylish – not to mention sexier – now than they used to be. For the fashionista, A Pea in the Pod is the place to go for jeans by Seven for All Mankind, dresses by Diane Von Furstenberg, and diaper bags by Kate Spade. Like all labels, they don’t come cheap, but for some moms-to-be, the price is worth it. The closest boutique is on Newbury Street in Boston, but you can shop online at www.apeainthepod.com.

Looking for something a little more middle-of-the-road? Try Gap Maternity for stylish basics that mimic their regular line. To make things easy, they offer a “starter kit” of what to buy. Again, the closest shop is in Boston, but www.gap.com carries a full line of reasonably priced clothing. Sister store Old Navy also has maternity finds that are inexpensive, a little bit trendy, and cute as a button (check out the pictured outfit). The Augusta location sells maternity clothing, or visit www.oldnavy.com. Plus, both stores offer pants for tall women.

In Bangor, Motherhood Maternity carries all the basics, from jeans and khakis to professional styles – and tight T-shirts for the belly-proud. Target offers the Liz Lange line of maternity clothing – I liked the capris and blazers, but there’s plenty of options. Sears sells the Lands End line of maternity gear, but you’ll have to go online to get it at www.sears.com.

If you’re on a budget (and who isn’t?) you may want to consider a resale shop. In Biddeford, Maternity Fair caters specifically to pregnant women (visit www.maternityfair.com), but many thrift and consignment shops have a selection of maternity clothing. Plus, since it’s only been worn for a few months, it’s usually in pretty good shape.

When it comes to buying – especially online – you’ll want to ensure the clothing fits correctly. Though retailers say to buy your pre-pregnancy size, most of my fertile friends suggest buying the next larger size. This gets a little tricky if you want low-rise pants, which tend to migrate south during the day even if they start out snug. Regardless of what you buy, move around in it – sit down, do jumping-jacks in the dressing room, run laps around the store, whatever it takes – that way, you’ll know what to expect. And those big elastic panels? Wait until your belly is big enough or you’ll end up with a flap of fabric around your waist.

For all you in-betweeners, the Bella Band is just the thing. Say your pants are too tight, but maternity pants are too big. Just wrap the band around either and it will cover the undone top button or hide the excess fabric. Either way, you win, and it looks cute, too, like a little tank peeking out from the bottom of your shirt (visit www.bellaband.com for more information, $28 at www.apea-inthepod.com).

If you still need a bit of inspiration, check out “Liz Lange’s Maternity Style.” When the designer was thinking about getting pregnant for the first time, she found the maternity-wear options so heinous she decided to take matters into her own hands. Her book and Web site (www.liz-lange.com) offer fantastic advice for moms of all lifestyles and sizes.

Just remember, getting dressed in the morning – and shopping any time of day – shouldn’t be labor-intensive. There will be plenty of time for that later, ladies.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.

We have a winner! Congratulations to Barb Piehler of Lincoln, who will soon receive a set of Sea Petals Stick Scents from Target.com, a $24.99 value.

I’ll have a giveaway once a month, so keep reading, and, of course, keep shopping!