Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement [Paperback]

Amy Tara Koch (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 23, 2010

The key to pregnancy chic? Creativity. Effort. And a commitment to pushing the sartorial envelope even when you’d rather crawl back under the sheets with a box of doughnuts. But don’t let “thigh” anxiety drive you to sneakers and plus-size velour tracksuits. It’s time to turn nine months of potential frump into mega maternity moxie.

In this witty and accessible pregnancy primer to all four trimesters, career fashionista and mother of two Amy Tara Koch offers easy ways for moms-to-be to pop out of the preggo pits and pull together dozens of jaw-dropping maternity ensembles—without breaking the bank. This timeless style manifesto features sketches from today’s most popular fashion designers, including Nicole Miller, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, and Isaac Mizrahi, as well as tips and tricks from Koch and her “A-list”—a roster of fashion editors, beauty gurus, and celebrity stylists. Packed full of clever quizzes, skin care secrets, and a handy glossary of terms that every pregnant woman needs to know, Bump It Up will have you putting on the glitz throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bump It Up—when she is carrying a child.  It celebrates her body by embracing it with love, style, and comfort." —Donna Karan

"Why, oh, why wasn’t Bump It Up around when I was pregnant?  It is zippy, humorous, and filled with practical tips that any woman can relate to.  It is the ultimate preggo style bible!" —Kate Spade

"Turn your pregnancy into a fashion Mardi Gras. Amy Tara Koch’s witty yet brilliantly realistic approach to pregnancy dressing is refreshing and spot-on." —Simon Doonan, creative director, Barneys New York

"Kick up your kitten heels and listen to my friend Amy Koch. Her fashion-forward pregnancy style tips are like getting a master’s degree in maternity."—Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru, fashion correspondent, Entertainment Tonight

About the Author

Amy Tara Koch is a Chicago-based freelance journalist and trend aficionado.  She contributes to Town & Country, The New York Times,  American Way, INC, Travel + Leisure, Daily Candy, The Huffington Post, and Child.  Koch has also served as style columnist for The Chicago Tribune, fashion and beauty editor for iVillage, and host for THE INC LIFE, an online trend program for INC magazine.  Koch is also the trend reporter for NBC (WMAQ-TV) and a style expert for Vogue and USA Today.

In addition to her media presence, Koch is a speaker and consultant whose clients include Macy’s, P&G, Unilever, Frederic Fekkai, Starbucks, Foote, Cone & Belding, and the McDonald’s Corporation.  

Koch has also held posts at Paper, Mademoiselle, and BCBG Max Azria and has handled celebrity relations, events and fashion marketing for luxury brands such as Allure, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bottega Veneta, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and Sony.

Koch lives in Chicago with her husband, Peter Gottlieb, and their daughters, Isabella and Brette.
 

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345514475
• ISBN-13: 978-0345514479
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST-HAVE during pregnancy! August 9, 2010

By S-Clis

Format:Paperback

I love, love, LOVE this book! I am 7 months pregnant, and so many of the books I read are dry, daunting and just plain dreadful! Bump it Up is quite the opposite. It is filled not only with useful information but with fun fashion ideas and wit, as well! I have successfully avoided the "pregnancy frump" trap that so many others fall into because of the tips and tricks in this book...and for a fraction of the price! This would make a great gift when you first find out a friend/family member is pregnant - they will love it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish and funny March 23, 2010

By helenitza

Format:Paperback

This is a must-have for the mom-to-be. There are tons of useful tips, like the must-have basics, plus it gives you advice on how to shop in your own closet (which is great if you're on a budget, like I was!). Repurposing older stuff was huge for me. (Forgive the pun.) Amy's writing style is fun and easy to read. I'd recommend this as a shower gift, especially for the first-time Mom. Great book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing,helpful - not for weight-sensitive March 4, 2012

By spt88432

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Be careful if you feel sensitive about your weight normally - this book may not be the best choice. Includes comments that certain people cannot wear a style...An example of this is on page 110: "Ballet flats are too delicate for woman with chunky legs". If you feel lost for how to adjust your wardrobe for pregnancy and still wear "normal" stuff, this book could provide advice for 'yes, you should wear that', or 'no, you should not wear that' (as if from your sister or friend). However, if you usually buy a-line, empire waist, jackets, and big accessories to disguise your 'problem' areas before you're pregnant - this won't be anything new. I think the author is a little crazy to suggest on page 151, a brazilian wax as part of her grooming checklist for before delivery - but I think she is just using humor to drive home the point that women need to find time for themselves during pregnancy. All in all, I like the book - just make sure you don't give this as a gift unless you know how the recipient will react to comments like those on page 110.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Soooo Helpful January 17, 2012

By GirlyGirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have to preface this by saying that I've only read the first section (first trimester) of the book so far. But I'm really happy I purchased this... I feel like so far I've been bombarded with only serious medical info about pregnancy, not to mention the not-so-fun side-effects and anxiety of the first trimester. I really needed something "fun" to read about pregnancy, a pick-me-up, and I had concerns about what to wear from here on out because my skinny jeans are already getting tight and I feel self-consious. After reading just the first section and previewing the others I'm already feeling much calmer about getting through the next 9 months feeling beautiful and not like a cow (hopefully). The author offers tons of practical tips for playing down the areas you want to hide and playing up your assets through each trimester. It's positive and upbeat, and she also offers lots of beauty tips as well. I was glad to realize that I'll actually be able to make a lot of the clothes I already own work for much of my pregnancy and I don't have to shop in the maternity section the whole time- she tells you what shapes and cuts to shop for in the "regular" stores. She also emphasizes that with just a few core maternity pieces purchased in the last trimester, you can save a lot of money and create many different looks. I'm actually a little excited to get dressed now and see how I adapt to the changes, wierd as that may sound. If you are feeling like you have the "pregnancy blues" definitely consider this book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Determined to be a cute pregnant lady September 22, 2011

By DisplacedCityGirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I started shopping for maternity clothes a few weeks ago and I was distressed after seeing my options. There is only one maternity store close to my house and I am not happy with the quality. Itchy sweaters... who would buy that? Anyway I found this book and I already feel more stylish after a couple days. The book gives great advise about picking basics and accessorizing to make the outfits unique. It is such good advise and seeing the examples gives me ideas for post pregnancy. And the best thing is that I know it is working because I was told today that I'm a "cute pregnant lady". Goal accomplished thanks to this book!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Redundant August 20, 2011

By kmh

Format:Paperback

This book had a few decent tips, but they could have been summarized in a short blog entry or a brief list of "do's" and "don'ts." The book was extremely repetitive and too verbose under topic headlines. The author highlighted the same things over and over...wear black, empire waists, accessorize loudly, and invest in a few great staple pieces. There were even two separate nearly identical sections of the book dedicated to skin care. Entering my fourth month, I can't help but be frightened for some of the things to come with my body and this book sadly provided little assurance for me, as I already consider myself to be pretty fashionably savvy and creative about flattering my figure. Also, many of the suggested post partum treatments or products would become very costly and are overwhelming to me. I regret not finding this book at the library instead to put the $ to something more useful.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It's helpful August 20, 2010

By J. Vries

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am not one to be overly concerned with fashion. However, I did know that I did not want to be frump-o-rrific during my pregnancy so I ordered this book. It was very helpful - mostly in helping me analyze what made a pregnant look cure vs. ten-like. The cool thing is that I have been able to achieve a lot of teh styles and looks showcased in this book with accessories I already have. I thought this book was a good reminder that pregnancy can be a fun time to show off the bump - not just try and hide it.