Just when you thought her maternity choices couldn’t look any more uncomfortable, Kim Kardashian goes shopping in a body-con dress, its leather stretched to the absolute limit, and stilettos — an outfit that would make even the average not-pregnant woman look like she’s trying too hard. But before we get into Mother Kimye’s pregnancy wear, let’s establish these facts:
1. The Kardashians are unbeatable at the game of being famous for being famous.
2. The Kardashians have been known to mine their personal life for reality TV and publicity in general.
3. Kim is a Kardashian.
Now that we’ve gotten those out of the way, let’s look at that leather. The tighter the squeeze around her bump and the higher the heels, the more we talk about it. It’s a pop culture moment that advances the plotline of Kim’s celebrity as clearly as an episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
The average pregnant woman dresses for comfort. But increasingly, the average famous pregnant woman dresses strategically as the bump becomes another opportunity for personal branding (Jessica Simpson), record sales (Beyoncé) and public obsession (Miranda Kerr). Yes, Kim claims that flats hurt her back and that heels are the most comfortable shoe for her to wear. But the tape wrapped around her feet says otherwise. It’s not hard to imagine the ways she’ll push this idea further as her final trimester approaches. What next? Hot pants and a bustier? Somewhere, her marketing team is probably taking notes.
