March 24, 2011 4:42PM EDT

Alexandra Says: I'm Determined To Look Pregna-Chic!

Maternity wear is so dowdy! But it’s about that time to choose practicality over Prada, so I am ready to take my first plunge into shopping for pregnancy fashion!

After my zipper debacle on the red carpet, I decided not to use Macgyver-like strategies of safety pins and rubber bands to prolong the use of my pre-pregnancy designer wardrobe. It was time….time to see what maternity clothes had to offer.

I must admit that I approached the idea slowly, as I found that they were just, well, matronly. And in addition to their unflattering styles and colors, they were more expensive than I originally imagined, considering the amount of time they were actually going to be on my body. I was determined to find something that worked with my style and taste, and maintain a sense of me!

Treading slowly, my first stop was Destination Maternity, where I must say, I had a wonderful experience. It was a huge change from the usual snooty salesperson that only looked up from the register and acknowledged my existence when I held the $1,500 dress in my hand. The salespeople at Destination Maternity were friendly and really catered to the needs of pregnant women.

When I first arrived, I was offered juice or water, and asked if I would like to put my bags behind the counter to make my shopping experience a bit more comfortable. Not only was there a huge selection of clothing at three different price points, they also housed a spa and offered prenatal classes. One-stop shopping!

Though the clothes were not particularly my taste, I did purchase many pairs of leggings and velour pants in every color, and a few tunic tops. In addition, I also snagged a few bra extenders, which have become a maternity must-have in my book. I’m still determined to be pregna-chic! We’ll see how it goes…