“I Wanted to Play and Slay”—Ciara Delivers a High-Fashion Maternity Shoot
As the proud parents of three children (with a fourth on the way), singer Ciara and Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson are busy taking care of their family while juggling their impressive careers. That said, the mom-to-be has missed out on certain opportunities due to her pregnancy—such as taking in the European fashion weeks this fall, where Ciara has been known to be a front-row fixture. “There was no way I’d be able to go to multiple shows at the pace that I like to,” Ciara says. So instead, the superstar decided to bring the glamour to her—by pulling off a stylish maternity photo shoot. “For this pregnancy, I wanted to live my best fashion life,” says Ciara. “I didn’t want to feel like I had to be a different person.”
Over the years, Ciara has delivered many memorable looks in the front rows of fashion week—such as the “naked dress” she wore to Dundas’s fall 2023 show earlier this year. So, for this pregnancy shoot, the star simply wanted to capture her signature risk-taking style while also documenting her more personal maternity journey. “It’s a sentimental moment, but it was also an opportunity to play and slay,” says Ciara.
The superstar worked with go-to stylist Marni Senofonte, makeup artist Yolonda Frederick-Thompson, and hair stylist Dimitris Giannetos to conceptualize over 15 different looks that ranged from sleek and bodycon to theatrical and avant-garde. They landed on pieces from designers like Rick Owens, Balmain, Y/Project, and Eden Tan. “Marni is one of the few of her kind,” says Ciara. “She [approaches fashion] from an angle that I think most don’t do. And she gets me.”
The inspiration for Ciara’s maternity looks was, in Ciara’s words, to “go there. Don’t hold back.” She and Senofonte also wanted to experiment with both masculine and feminine pieces. “I’m a tomboy, so you always get that edge from me,” says Ciara. “But there’s also some very soft, elegant moments that I think are so necessary at this time in my life.” Ciara wanted all of the modern looks to deliberately show off her growing baby bump (a styling move that’s also been popularized by stars like Rihanna). “You really can’t go around the bump,” says Ciara. “So I was like, ‘Let’s bump it all the way.’”
The singer’s favorite outfit from the shoot? The slinky black David Koma look. “It was very comfortable,” Ciara says. “I loved how it fit my body; I felt sexy in it.” She also loved the more daring ensembles, like the crystal top and pants by Retrofête, punctuated with a white feather Atelier Biser coat. “That was like, ‘It’s showtime baby.’ I felt like a rockstar in it,” she says. Ciara and Senofonte had fun DIY’ing certain pieces as well, such as the MXM durag that they customized. “Marni added all of these earrings to it,” says Ciara.
While the star admits that all of these ensembles were bolder than her day-to-day looks, she says she has been upping the ante for her off-duty style too. “As a first-time mom, I shopped more in the maternity section, but now I’ve just adjusted my sizes [with non-maternity clothes],” she says. Still, she incorporates maternity basics into her wardrobe—a must. “A classic legging that supports your bump is always the best to have,” she says. “I have a stash of those things.”
Looking back on the photos now, Ciara knows she slayed with her wardrobe—but she’s even happier to have a visual keepsake of her fourth pregnancy. “This is a celebration of such a special time,” she says. “These are photos that I’ll have forever.” She’s most looking forward to adding to their household. “To add another bundle of joy to the pack is going to be really fun and adventurous—and a little chaotic,” she says. “But I’m looking forward to it all.”
Below, see all of Ciara’s high-fashion maternity looks.
Photo: Brian Ziff1/13Ciara wears a look by Rick Owens.
Photo: Brian Ziff2/13Ciara wears Natasha Morgan eyewear, a Jean Paul Gaultier bra, pantaboots by KWK by Kay Kwok, and a Parts of Four cuff.
