Why She’s Interesting: Seven years ago, the mother of three created boobs&belly, a line of motherhood-inspired activewear. The fashionable and functional pieces include expandable side panels and nursing capabilities that grow with a woman from the time she becomes pregnant until long after she gives birth.
Starting Line: Micatrotto thought about designing clothes while teaching a Pilates class to a group of pregnant women and listening each week to their complaints about ill-fitting activewear. “They didn’t want to come to class, or they would wear their husband’s T-shirts. It was depressing to see. It’s a time that women should be the most active. So I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to fix it.’ ”
Dropping Knowledge: She wants boobs&belly’s website and blog to be a place where moms go for all things fitness and motherhood — from buying clothes and streaming fitness videos to tips on breast-feeding, body changes and more. “I want to gain enough exposure so people ask, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re pregnant? Did you go to boobs&belly?’ I just want it to be this information hub.”
Performance Pieces: When designing products such as the ultimate tank, color bandeau and capri pant, Micatrotto pulled from her own pregnancy experiences to know what moms would want. She added features such as the expandable side panels on the tank for a growing belly and strap clips for easy nursing capabilities. The pants can be worn both high and low waist for relief. “My last pregnancy, I basically test-drove all the pieces. I knew how I felt in them, how it changed with my body.”
Balance Act: “People told me I couldn’t do both — that it was either fitness or fashion. And I just said, ‘Watch me.’ ”
Home Body: Micatrotto likes to take an old piece of furniture that someone has thrown out and refurbish or restore it. She then adds it as a character piece in her home. “It makes me happy to take something that looks old and dated and be able to transform it into something that is beautiful again.”
