An innovative fashion brand based in Bournemouth has launched a first-of-its-kind range of Bump to Baby dresses.

The dresses, from the Perfect Dress Company, have been cleverly designed to be worn through all stages of pregnancy – and afterwards too.

They’re the brainchild of Founder – and Mum – Sunny Bird after thinking back to her own pregnancy with her three-year old daughter, Sophia.

Sunny, pictured with Sophia, said: “The idea to launch a maternity and beyond range had always been a goal of mine.

“But it came to the front of my mind last year when a few of my friends were pregnant and complaining about the lack of gorgeous maternity wear available.

“It took me back to a holiday abroad in 2017 where my maternity wear was not only uncomfortable it was really unflattering too.

“I spent lots of money on these clothes that I would never wear again.”

With a focus on designing figure-flattering fashion with real women’s bodies in mind, Sunny said: “We sourced real pregnant women from across the local area and followed their journey from bump to baby for our photoshoot.

“It was really important to us to use real women rather than models wearing silicone pregnancy bellies which a lot of competitor brands use.

“With every range we launch, we want our customers to be able to visualise what a dress will really look like on a real woman’s body so they can see how it would truly fit them.”

The pregnant women who applied to be a part of the Perfect Dress Company photoshoot included:

• Lucy Langford, a Bournemouth-based midwife
• Jemma Robinson, a finance worker from Bournemouth
• Megan Bracken, a model from Bournemouth
• Kristy Dixon, who works for a local authority in Dorset
• Maddy Gaines, a mother from Dorset
• Kayleigh Moore, a hairdresser from Portsmouth.

Sunny said she had made it her mission to create a range of dresses to make women feel confident, comfortable and stylish during pregnancy.

The Bump to Baby collection is  designed to be super figure-flattering to support their post-natal bodies too.

Sunny said: “After I gave birth to Sophia, although I loved my body for the amazing gift it had given me, it just wasn’t the same as it used to be and I still looked pregnant.

“My self-confidence was at an all-time low and I didn’t want to go out and meet people as I struggled to find stylish dresses that were comfortable and flattered my new mum figure.

“As women our bodies are always changing, so we believe fashion should be specifically designed to fit, flatter and complement our bodies no matter what our shape, size or stage of life.”

The Bump to Baby dresses are inspired by the brand’s first collection of Figure Flattering Dresses, where subtle design tweaks have been made to ensure the maternity dresses fit women through every stage of their pregnancy.

The three styles are available in burgundy, black and navy:

• Beautiful Bardot – described as ‘a simple yet sassy style with a bardot neckline’
• Magical Maxi – ‘a sophisticated dress that will leave you with a red-carpet-feeling’
• Classy Classic – ‘an everyday staple for every woman‘s wardrobe’

The brand has also just launched a new V neck style – the Very Flattering V – available in six different colours: teal, plum, red, green, black and navy.

The Bump to Baby dresses are available in sizes 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20 and 20-22 and can be purchased via the Perfect Dress Company website.

Sunny said that she had obsessed over cut, detail and fabric for all the dress collections she had designed to ensure a luxurious fit every time.

She added: “My mission is to help all women feel amazing one dress at a time.

“We exist to be the go-to dress in your wardrobe that will never let you down.

“The one you know you always feel great in, both during pregnancy and beyond.”

• perfectdresscompany.com