Liz Lange - Maternity Fashion Guru

"When I started in this business in 1993, maternity clothes were oversized and unflattering," says fashion designer Liz Lange, the mother of Gus and Alice. "It's much better for a pregnant woman to wear something close to the body -- tailored but not skin-tight -- so that people can see where she has curves and where she doesn't."

That philosophy has earned the energetic Lange a following that any designer would envy. She has opened Liz Lange Maternity stores on Madison Avenue in New York City and North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills and has outfitted such expectant celebrities as Cindy Crawford, Kelly Ripa, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Téa Leoni.

Lange's collection emphasizes solid colors, stretch fabrics, and versatile mix-and-match pieces. "I like my customers to be what I call 'dipped in one color,'" she says, a concept that reflects her love of classic American designers such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Explains Lange, "If you're wearing stretch charcoal pants, you can add a cashmere turtleneck in a similar shade. I dress that way myself -- very simple and clean. My advice: Choose your favorite neutral color and build a wardrobe around it."

A fast and easy routine is Lange's key to looking great and staying in shape. "I love Stila makeup and the products of Kimara Ahnert, a makeup artist who has a studio on Madison Avenue," she says. "My favorite occasional indulgence is reflexology foot massage, which I find relaxing since I'm on my feet so much. I also take a 15-minute hot bath every night. That's a time I set aside to let go of the tensions of the day."

Several times a week, Lange starts her day with a three-mile walk around the Central Park reservoir near the apartment she shares with her family. "I'm a high-energy person," she says, "and between taking care of my children and the business, I manage to stay fit."