The Power Of Modelling Pregnant At New York Fashion Week

This week was Maddie Moon’s first time walking at New York Fashion Week. But the Manhattan-based designer wasn’t alone in making her modelling debut at the Collina Strada’s autumn/winter ready-to-wear show – it was her daughter with fiancé Waris Ahluwalia first time modelling at 32-weeks in-utero, too.

“[Collina Strada designer] Hillary was over for a low-key dinner one night and we shared the news of our pregnancy,” Moon tells me. “I was only showing a little at the time, but she asked if I wanted to walk in her show. I felt comfortable doing it because I know it isn’t a stunt – Hillary constantly designs clothing for people who are typically overlooked by fashion and features them on her runway.” Months later, here we are at Fashion Week. Moon is now in her final trimester and showing much more dramatically.

“I went in to try on a few outfits, and Hillary and I talked about how we both didn’t want me to feel like a blob,” Moon says with a laugh. “Sometimes it can be hard to find clothing when you’re pregnant. But when I tried on the outfit I ended up walking in, I just felt changed. Typically, there isn’t regard for how the model feels in the clothing, but I felt sexy in this, and so that’s why it as chosen.

Her outfit included a pair of black silk-and-lace Boxing shorts and a creamy mint top with on the top buttons connected a la the Rihanna pregnancy announcement. (Moon stated Ri as a game-changer for pregnancy dressing in general.)

In the frenzy of pre-show energy, Hillary checked in with Moon, asking: “Do you feel sexy? Do you feel strong?” All of which perfectly tied back to the season’s theme of “Collina’s Gym," made in the spirit of the Gold’s Gym logo. “I really did,” Moon says. “I recently read that a study found that a woman’s endurance during pregnancy is similar to that of doing an Iron Man. If that isn’t strong, I don’t know what is.”