At VK we are loving the new movement towards the new nostalgia that Avril Groom recently wrote about in the FT’s How to Spend It.  This new wave is attracting a new generation of young supporters who want to look grown up and glamorous, taking the lead from the Royal Family – mainly The Duchess of Cambridge, who has become a fashion role model with her elegant statement look and is reviving this trend for dressing up.

With this new, old world glamour we see accessories like fur stoles, shrugs, millinery and long gloves in leather or jersey making a comeback and we love the elegant touch they can add to a chic, simple black dress, like Lola, as worn by our model Chloe below.

This week, we have joined forces with Bespoke luxury shoe label, Upper Street to bring you our guide for head-to-toe pregnancy style.  Together we have combined some fabulous shoe designs from the Upper Street shoe collection to work around some of our favourite VK looks.

The beauty of Upper Street is that you can create your own unique shoe designs drawing from their myriad of fabrics, skins, colours, heels, silhouettes- You must check out their site- it is HEAVEN.

In addition to contributing the gorgeous footwear, Upper Street have offered some very useful advice for choosing the right shoes (while of course, remaining stylish and feeling gorgeous) during pregnancy.

As any woman who has experienced pregnancy will know the effect it has on your body can range from the minor inconveniences to the major discomforts. One key point is to make sure that you feel your very best throughout – maintaining your sense of style helps retain a sense of self as you embark on the journey to motherhood.  Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean that it’s time to reach for those “practical” shoes!

It is important to look and feel your best but it is equally important to look after your feet, especially during pregnancy– some women experience an increase in the size of their feet so the decision to wear heels or not is a very personal one. If you choose to forgo heels for a few months, you don’t need to sacrifice style.  Try a ballet slipper in a pop colour or Leopard print, which is a perennial favourite.  This classic ballet flat with metallic leather bow and counter back makes a for a chic alternative to a heel.

In the maternity wear department- Avoid compromising style by choosing a few good key pieces that will take you through your pregnancy and beyond. The Colette portrait neck maternity top in soft jersey is both feminine, flattering and extremely versatile  – wear with Gigi Capri or Alexis maternity trousers and your Upper Street ballet flats!

We love a nude heel. It is always a versatile shoe to have at your disposal and a nude heel will also elongate the leg (which is always a good thing!).  These nude patent platform courts are a justifiable, feel-good investment as not only will they go with your entire maternity wardrobe but you can wear them post pregnancy too.  A  3.5″ heel and 0.25″platform may be more comfortable during the later stages of pregnancy.  Upper Street also have a lower heeled option (just chose at checkout stage).

We have paired these nude court shoes with our Floria dress, which is a faux wrap design that gently swathes your bump to create a sleek and sexy silhouette and is the perfect dress to take you from the office on to the evening. We love the nude heels worn with the rich teal shade of the dress – perfect for this season and beyond.

Being pregnant doesn’t have to mean being mumsy – hang on to your inner rock chic with these cobalt suede ballet flats with their subtle sprinkling of stud embellishment. Perfect for a weekend lunch with the girls or dressing down your office look.

As well as looking fabulous with heels, we think the Lucia body con dress would work really well with these cobalt ballet flats. The flattering scoop neck and peek-a-boo shoulder detail lift this dress out of the ordinary and it’s sure to become a go to piece throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

The 3” heel on these natural snakeskin peep toes provide a comfortable height and with a smart silver buckle, this shoe design would provide the perfect finishing touch for so many outfits. For a more playful feel, design your mid-heel shoes with a bow or add a contrasting counter back.  There are so many possibilities.

At VK, we are also big fans of customised and multi-functional pieces, that’s why we love the Hallie dress, with soft jersey swathes that can be worn draped open, tied or wrapped to suit your mood or occassion – a truly versatile piece to help boost your maternity wardrobe and make you look and feel great.

We think these four looks with their clean lines and fabulous footwear would cover so many occasions. Give some thought to your normal routine and daily activities then plan what you’re going to invest in – this way you’ll get the most mileage from all the key pieces in your maternity wardrobe.

We hope you love our new AW 2012 Collection as much as we enjoyed designing it!

If you are a shoe lover and are always after something fabulous and original, I urge you to visit the Upper Street website and design your own shoe! All Upper Street shoes come in a huge range of sizes from the petite 33 (UK 1.5) to the generous 43 (UK 10) with 4 width fittings.  They also offer free alterations to fit.

You can also visit their Upper Street Studio in London. If  you’d like to try shoes on before ordering, view samples and material swatches or need help with designing your shoes.

To book a VIP appointment, email iloveshoes@upperstreet.com or call 0845 680 9365.