Dressing for two

Finding decent clothes when you are pregnant can be a tricky business. My research suggests that most maternity ranges are geared towards women who favour a tent-like smock with embroidered ducks around the hem, or some sort of stripy kaftan (and I'm talking horizontal stripes here). You can try to get away with baggy normal clothes but the problem is that you never know how much you are going to expand as your pregnancy progresses. Most of us will have to succumb to some sort of maternity wear in the later months.

Formes seems to be the most popular label for key maternity pieces such as drawstring trousers, jeans (with trendy turn-ups), knits and formal wear. The only complaint is its prices: pounds 68 for a pair of trousers is a tad expensive when you have prams and cots to think about. Jigsaw is a good alternative: it has done a fantastic crinkle double-layered silk georgette shirt (pounds 48) and dress (pounds 98), and both come with their own little bag. Plus there's no ironing involved. If money is no object, then something from Ghost or Pleats Please (the pleats expand with the bump) could be the answer. At least then you have the option of wearing the item afterwards, so you can tell yourself that it's value for money in the long run.

Photographs by Peter Warren.

Styled by Zoe Brown.

Stylist assisted by Natasha Hayman.

Make-up by Sharon Willmore using Clinique.

Hair by Rudi at Windle using Bumble & Bumble, 0171 497 2393.

Modelled by Susanna Baldock.

Shot at Alphaville Studios. Tel: 0171 490 8889.

Clockwise from above:

White linen hooded top (sizes s-l), pounds 115, Whistles, 20 The Market, London WC2. 15 Princes Square, Buchanon Street, Glasgow (tel: 0171 487 4484).

Navy pleated dress (sizes 2-5), pounds 170, beige pleated jacket (sizes 2- 5), pounds 250, Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, Liberty, 214-220 Regent Street, London W1 (tel: 0171 734 1234).

Cream embroidered dress (sizes petit-l), pounds 209, double layered cardigan (sizes petit-l), pounds 185, Ghost, Liberty, 214-220 Regent Street, London W1 (tel: 0171 734 1234).

Lilac silk cardigan (sizes10-16), pounds 100, Fenn Wright & Manson, Barkers, 63 Kensington High Street, London W8 (tel: 0171 323 4821). White linen dress with embroidered hem (sizes 8-14), pounds 199, Nicole Farhi, Fenwick, 63 New Bond Street, London W1 (tel: 0171 629 9161). Pale blue linen trousers (sizes 8-16), pounds 68, Formes, 33 Brook Street, London W1 (tel: 0171 493 2783). Pale blue slip-on mules (sizes 3-7), pounds 135, Russell & Bromley, 24-25 New Bond Street, London W1 (tel: 0171 629 6903).

Beige crinkle top (sizes s-l), pounds 99, Anne Storey, Fenwick, 63 New Bond Street, London W1. Jane Davidson, 52 Thistle Street, Edinburgh (tel: 0171 460 1268).