To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re raising funds for The Prince’s Trust to help #ChangeAGirlsLife. 25% of all dress sales on Friday 8th March will help disadvantaged women build a better future for themselves through employment and access to education
International Women’s Day is an annual day which notes the achievements of women and calls for gender equality everywhere. Here at Seraphine, we wanted to do something to mark this special occasion while supporting those who need it.
So we’ve decided to donate a percentage of our dress sales on the day itself to The Prince’s Trust #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign, raising money for the charity to run courses which help girls and young women to build their confidence and gain the skills they need to move forward into work, education, training, or to start their own business.
The latest research from The Prince’s Trust shows that young women are more likely than young men to struggle with low self-confidence, poor mental health and concerns about the cost of living. They’re also more likely to worry that financial stability will always be out of their reach.
But thanks to the courses and training the Trust offers, lots of young women are now finding their feet and getting the support they need.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without The Prince’s Trust and the self-belief instilled in me. I’m living my dream, learning and growing continually, feeling resilient and powerful.”
Loretta Hope
Help when you shop
We’re so proud to be championing this brilliant initiative – and you can be part of it! Treat yourself to one of our beautiful dresses on the day itself (Friday 8th March) and you’ll be giving to charity, as we’ll donate 25% to the #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign.
Seraphine’s baby carrier, theCARIPOD™ is here – created by our design team to ease the babywearing worries they know new parents have, because they’ve had them, too! Find out what makes this game-changing carrier different from others on the market…
Speak to most new parents and many will tell you they love the idea of using a baby carrier. However, after investing in one, they come to find it too uncomfortable or tricky to use, thanks to overly complicated designs which make them nervous about putting it together correctly.
With this in mind, Seraphine’s product design team (comprising mums at different stages of the parenting journey, from first-time mums to more experienced ones) decided to make its own version that could be used with confidence. The result is the unique CARIPOD™, an effortless and stylish carrier with features you won’t find elsewhere.
Six reasons to love the CARIPOD™
1. Its front-loading design provides stress-free solo carrying
Finding a carrier you can feel confident putting your little one into safely when on the go (especially solo trips) is vital. With its two-part Harness and POD design, the CARIPOD™makes things so much easier.
There’s no need to twist to adjust straps or click buckles into place behind you or out of eyeline when you’re putting your baby in. Securing and adjusting the carrier happens at the front, meaning you can see what you’re doing, assured in the knowledge your baby will stay just where they’re supposed to.
2. Its super-quick access makes feeding, changing and nap transfers a breeze
Another reason the two-part design is gold dust! It’s not necessary to take the whole carrier off to feed, change, transfer your baby (for example, to the buggy or car seat) or anything else you’ve got to do. Simply detach the POD from the Harness, do what you need to and reconnect the two parts when you’re ready. In short, this carrier offers super-convenient, super-quick access whenever it’s required.
3. It has a streamlined Harness for outdoor ease
As well as being ergonomically designed for comfort, our CARIPOD™’s Harness has been made to sit under your outerwear: cue no bunching or scrunching over your coat, just your usual out-and-about silhouette. This means you can put it on before you venture off and attach the POD (which folds up neatly) later.
We love this, especially for those days when you’re going out in the car (or taking the stroller) but may want to carry your baby later. As you’ll already have the Harness on, once you’ve arrived at your destination, simply attach the POD, put your baby in it and you’re ready for walks and cuddles. When it’s time to head home again, the two-part design makes transferring your baby back into the car seat or stroller oh-so easy.
4. It’s fully adjustable for all body shapes and sizes
The CARIPOD™ has been designed to fit anyone from 4’11” to 6’6” in height and from (UK) size 6 to 26. We’ve numbered the strap settings, too, so it’s a breeze to switch between one size and another if you’re sharing the wearing: no need for guesswork or random strap-pulling.
5. It’s supportive and comfortable for you and your baby
The CARIPOD™ has been made with premium comfort and support for you and your baby in mind.
The Harness has an ergonomic design that helps to spread the weight of your baby more evenly so you can carry them for longer (it’s suitable for full-term newborns up to toddlers, 7lbs to 33lbs/3.2kg to 15kg)
There are no criss-cross or buckle straps between the shoulder blades, which avoids discomfort to your upper back
You can widen the POD seat as your baby grows
You can adapt the neck support for your baby based on their age, if they’re sleeping or if they’re inward- or outward-facing.
6. Our easy-to-access user guide will build your confidence
Even though our carrier has been safety tested, approved and designed to be as simple as possible to use, we know lack of sleep as a new parent can sometimes mean the brain fog kicks in when it comes to things like baby gadgets.
That’s why we’ve sewn a QR code into the CARIPOD™, which will take you straight to easy-to-watch instruction videos to give you a reminder on your phone or tablet – handy if you’re out and about and get stuck. They’ll give you the simple guidance you need to fit your Harness and POD on the spot.
We could all use a little more kindness in our lives these days. So this week on the blog, we’re thinking about the little things we can do to brighten someone’s day.
Receiving something exciting in the mail is such a simple thing, and yet it has the power to make someone’s day… Just think how happy you were to see the delivery person with your latest online order!
Why not send a little something to let someone know you’re thinking of them… whether it’s a hand-written letter, a bunch of flowers or a thoughtful gift for a fellow mama-to-be.
The people you live with, neighbours you pass on the street, the person who serves your take-out coffee… you never know who could use a friendly smile.
Chelsey Oliver is the Creative & Brand Director at Seraphine. A mama of 2, stepmother of 1 and now expecting her third baby later this year, Chelsey has over 15 years’ experience designing maternity clothes.
When it comes to bumps, babies & the journey into motherhood, it’s safe to say that Chelsey knows a thing or two…. We sat down with her to talk pregnancy, motherhood & designing clothes to make life easier for mamas.
First – congratulations on your pregnancy! How are you feeling?
Thank you! I’m currently 32 weeks along and my little ones are 18 months & 3 years old, so as you can probably imagine, it’s a little more tiring this time around! However, I absolutely love being pregnant, especially as I get to come to work feeling so inspired every day!
As the mastermind behind many of our most innovative products, can you tell us where your inspiration comes from?
I’m a firm believer that the right wardrobe can play a big part in a woman’s smooth journey into motherhood. And what better source of inspiration could I ask for than being on this path myself? I can honestly say I’ve never felt so inspired as I am in my own motherhood journey.
I came up with the idea for our skin to skin tops thanks to my first pregnancy. After welcoming my daughter I started making notes about what I wanted, and by the time my son arrived a year and a half later, the top I’d dreamed up was ready to use.
The same thing happened with my son – as I breastfed him, I was thinking about all the ways I could improve the nursing bras that I had. All those ideas went into making our new Baby Sensory Bra, which features a full-coverage modesty panel with a high-contrast print to keep baby focussed, as well as wide supportive straps to encourage good posture & prevent back ache. I can’t wait to try it out once my new little one arrives!
Being in the motherhood space and listening to other mums around me is also a massive bonus. I absorb everything I can regarding the hurdles we face as mothers and I am always on the lookout for a solution we can offer at Seraphine!
Do you think your own pregnancies & experience of motherhood have affected your approach to design?
I’ve been designing maternity clothing since the start of my career, so naturally my approach has evolved. My interest in the fashion industry has always been focused on empowering women to feel confident in their bodies. Part of that drive comes from being curvy myself since my teen years and always feeling frustrated with ill-fitting clothing on the high street.
It’s fair to say that at the start of my career, my focus was on designs that fit the body well and adapt with curves. As the years passed, I became very aware of the environmental impact of short-use clothing – and so it became a focus of mine to ensure all pieces we design provide longevity through adaptability & functionality. Our 3 in 1 babywearing jackets are the perfect example – the work with your bump through pregnancy, adapt for babywearing & can be worn long afterwards too as a regular coat!
Later, my experience of being a busy mum in an age where we put a great deal of pressure on ourselves to be great both at home and at work, has given me the edge for innovation. I take great satisfaction in continually revolutionising the modern maternity wardrobe to be really hardworking.
As an expectant mama yourself, what are your personal must-have pieces – the ones you get the most wear out of?
There are some pieces that I swear I wear whenever they are clean! My favourites through the work week are the two-piece dresses – most of which will see me well into the spring and for nursing.
Great lingerie is a must, and on the weekends I live in our dungarees. I must admit, I never wore dungarees pre-motherhood, but I find they are the perfect piece for being active with my kids – with or without a bump!
What are your top recommendations for:
1st Trimester
Invest in comfy lingerie – it’s important to have a good selection that you can wear as your body changes – a growing bustline is one of the first areas we see change.
2nd Trimester
I don’t have a specific product here, almost everything we design will give great use from this point onwards! A pair of maternity jeans, a great dress and some leggings are all a must!
3rd Trimester
For comfort I’d go for the maternity dungarees + some great nursing tops to layer under them.
Hospital Bag
For this one, my ideal list would be a bit endless – but don’t forget, everything you buy for the hospital bag will equip you well into your nursing journey! Don’t miss your skin to skin top and a two pack of button-down nighties for the hospital.
4th Trimester
The 3 in 1 babywearing hoodie is a must-have for evening strolls. Also, I’ve had 2 caesareans so the post maternity shaping jeans are a personal favourite of mine – they give me great support once I’ve fully healed, which is great for babywearing!
And finally, as a working mother, do you have any tips for balancing work & family life?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! It seems an obvious one, but so many of us take on too much. I’m guilty of assuming that those around me just ‘know’ what I need from them, and so often a little more communication goes a long way!
Similarly with your doctor or midwife, if anything ever just doesn’t feel right, or if you have a gut instinct something is wrong, listen to it and insist on getting the help you need – taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of your family!
2020, what can we say?… It’s been a testing time for us all. Certainly not a year we’re likely to forget in a hurry!
But in amongst the challenges & uncertainty we’ve faced this year, there have been bright spots. Moments of joy, success & support. And of course, beautiful new babies welcomed into the world.
At the end of this uniquely challenging year, we’re looking back at some of Seraphine’s highlights.
Seraphine has long been a favourite amongst royal circles, and back at the beginning of the year Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, Princess of Luxembourg sported several Seraphine outfits for official royal engagements.
She chose our silk evening gown to attend the New Year’s Reception at the Grand Ducal Palace.
One of the highest points of the year for us here at Seraphine was winning The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2020. We last won this award in 2015, making this our second consecutive win!
The Queens’ Awards are one of the highest accolades for businesses in the UK & it is a huge honour & rare achievement to be awarded twice.
TV presenter, model & new mama Amy Willerton welcomed her little girl back in January 2020. She was a big fan of our nursing clothes & absolutely loved our 3 in 1 Winter Parka – perfect for chilly walks with baby Demy.
Christina Milian welcomed her baby boy Isaiah back in January. She was a fan of Seraphine maternity clothes throughout her pregnancy & loved our 3 in 1 Maternity Hoodie.
She kept herself & her baby cosy in it on their flight back home to LA ahead of the US travel ban in March 2020.
While her husband Joe Wicks the Body Coach kept Britain moving through lockdown with PE with Joe, Rosie was busy with baby Marley, who was born in December of 2019. We caught up with her early in the year for a photoshoot.
Model & Made in Chelsea allum Millie Mackintosh welcomed her little girl Sienna in 2020, with partner & former co-star Hugo. She was a big fan of our soft bamboo basics, from maternity leggings to nursing bras & tanks. She also loved our maternity dungarees.
This was the year that we launched our partnership with Macy’s. You can now shop Seraphine maternity clothes at Macy’s flagship department store at Herald Square in NYC & South Coast Plaza in LA!
Storm & Ronan Keating welcomed little Coco earlier this year. She wore several Seraphine outfits while pregnant & they both clearly love our Mama & Mini Sweatshirt Set… the look on their faces says it all!
Seraphine is turning 18 this week & we are celebrating our milestone birthday in a BIG way!
Seraphine’s 18th Birthday Promo & Prize Draws
*The promo has now ended*
This week, in the run-up to our birthday, we’re offering a fantastic 20% off* across our collection! You better hurry – the offer ends on Thursday 29th!
Then the week of our birthday we’ve teamed up with some of our favourite mama & baby brands to plan a full week of prize draws on Instagram. We have over £3,000 worth of prizes up for grabs!
The prize draws are kicking off on Thursday 29th of October, so keep an eye on our social media to be in with your chance of winning!
The Seraphine Story So Far
It all began back in 2002, at Founder Cécile Reinaud’s kitchen table. She was expecting her first child, along with several other pregnant friends, and none of them could find maternity clothes they were excited to wear. Cécile started designing & making maternity pieces for herself & her friends & Seraphine was born.
Fast forward 18 years & Seraphine is now a global brand known for dressing the royal families of Europe as well as A-list celebs from rock stars to Hollywood actresses.
The first big hit for the brand was the maternity denim collection, which has remained a major staple in the range, adored by A-listers from Jessica Alba & Anne Hathaway to the Duchess of Cambridge.
Today Seraphine is a leader in the maternity fashion world. A one-stop-shop for mamas & mamas-to-be, with 2 consecutive Queen’s Award wins under our belt in the past 5 years & flagship stores in fashion capitals, from London to Paris, New York, LA, Dubai, New Delhi & Hong Kong.
And we’re only just getting started… this year we opened new concessions in New York & LA in partnership with Macy’s & our online business is growing from strength to strength.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without you, our wonderful Seraphine mamas. That’s why we’re celebrating Seraphine’s 18th birthday by treating YOU! Thank you for sharing this amazing journey with us.
*Exclusions apply. See our site for the full T&Cs & how to claim your discount.
London, Paris, New York & LA to Dubai, New Delhi & Hong Kong… Seraphine maternity boutiques & concessions can be found in fashion capitals all across the world.
And right now we are thrilled to announce that we are expanding in the US… You can now shop Seraphine maternity clothes in selected Macy’s stores!
Seraphine in New York
The largest department store in the US and one of the largest in the world, Macy’s Herald Square is home to over 2000 sq. ft. of maternity fashion & that now includes all your favourite Seraphine styles!
Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, right on the edge of NYC’s world-famous garment district, it’s a must-visit for mamas & mamas-to-be.
Along with our 2 flagship Seraphine stores, on West Broadway in SoHo & on Madison Avenue, NYC is the perfect destination for a pre-baby shopping trip on the East Coast!
If you’re closer to California, you can now shop Seraphine maternity clothes at the Macy’s in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. The South Coast Plaza is the largest shopping mall in California, and home to some of the biggest names in designer fashion, so it’s a natural home for the Seraphine collection.
Whether you’re looking for statement maternity dresses, everyday essentials for pregnancy & nursing or even the perfect pair of maternity jeans, you’re sure to find it in the Seraphine corner at Macy’s!
In these uncertain times it’s important to stop & appreciate the victories, however big or small. So in that spirit, we have a rather exciting announcement to make…
We are delighted to have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2020, one of the highest accolades awarded to businesses in the UK!
A Message from Seraphine Founder, Cécile Reinaud
The winners of the Queen’s Awards are selected by Her Majesty The Queen herself, based on recommendations from the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee, as well as a panel of industry experts, so it’s a great honour to be chosen again.
We last won this award back in 2015, making this our second consecutive win – a rare achievement and an incredible mark of recognition for our continued outstanding international growth.
At Seraphine, we are proud to be a British brand with an international outlook. We believe that every woman deserves to feel fantastic throughout her pregnancy, which is why we continue to expand our horizons and work to make it as easy as possible to shop Seraphine maternity clothes, wherever you are in the world.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do here, so this award is dedicated to you – the amazing mums & mums-to-be, both at home & abroad, who continue to support & inspire us.
This week Sky
News Presenter & mama-to-be Sarah-Jane Mee interviewed GP Dr Zoe Williams
to clarify the current advice for pregnant women surrounding Covid-19, also
known as Coronavirus.
Sarah-Jane, who is currently 26 weeks pregnant with her first baby, is self-isolating at home, so she conducted the interview online, along with a follow up Instagram post the next day, looking stylish both times in Seraphine maternity dresses.
You can watch the interview on YouTube, but we have also transcribed it below.
Do Pregnant Women Have to Self-Isolate for 12 Weeks?
Sarah-Jane: I spoke to Dr Zoe Williams about this and she said that the current guidance is that it’s only pregnant women with heart conditions who should be self-isolating for 12 weeks.
If you’re having a healthy, normal pregnancy, you should be practicing strict social distancing rules as a precaution. That will involve working from home if you can. If you can’t, you need to operate that strict 2 meter social distance rule and put into practice all the other government guidelines – things like washing your hands regularly.
Why are pregnant women more at risk?
Dr Zoe: So far, from the evidence that we have, pregnant women are no more likely to get the infection and they’re no more likely to have the serious consequences of Covid-19. However, we know that pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, can affect your immune system and many women can be more vulnerable to getting unwell with viruses.
So, although this doesn’t seem to be the case so far with coronavirus, because we know so little about it, it’s really a case of taking additional precautions.
But the reassuring this is that so far with coronavirus we’re not seeing that pregnant women are more likely to run into the serious consequences.
Is there a greater risk depending on what stage of pregnancy you’re at?
Dr Zoe: During the third trimester, the interference that pregnancy can have on your immune system is more likely.
But there’s an added note – although pregnant women and young healthy people are very unlikely to get the serious consequences of Covid-19, a small number do, and if a woman is pregnant in the third trimester and she does require ventilation, it can be very difficult and very complicated. So, there are just a couple of reasons why women in the third trimester need to be a little more cautious.
Are newborns particularly vulnerable?
Dr Zoe: So far, the evidence tells us that newborns are not a vulnerable group – they are not more likely to get difficulties with Covid-19. Which is really good news, because obviously with newborns we wrap them up in cotton wool and we protect them from everything, and of course we should still do that, but they are not vulnerable. So, let’s annihilate that anxiety that many new mothers will have.
But it is important to say that everybody wants to come and visit when you have a newborn and at the moment, for a number of reasons, to protect the newborn but also to protect the people visiting and everybody else, unfortunately, no visitors allowed.
Here at Seraphine, we were all proud to take part in Thursday’s applause for the amazing front-line workers at the NHS. We are so grateful for your strength, courage & resilience in these challenging times. We were aslo pleased to spot Sarah-Jane joining in at home in her Seraphine dress!
Disclaimer: The above advice is aimed at healthy women with normal pregnancies. No two pregnancies are the same, so as always, please follow the advice given to you by your own doctors & health care providers.
It’s official – from April, all new mothers in England will receive a six-week check focusing on their physical & mental health, as well as one for their baby.
This fantastic news marks a landmark success for NCT’s #Hiddenhalf campaign, which we at Seraphine have been proud to support.
“It’s fantastic news that NHS England has responded to our
calls for better postnatal mental health checks. This is a huge step forward
and means more new mothers will be supported to talk about their mental health
problems and get the help they need.”
Angela McConville, NCT’s Chief Executive
About the Six-Week Check
This new appointment will be separate from your baby’s six-week check, though it may be scheduled immediately before or afterwards to save you a journey. It’s an opportunity to focus on how you are coping, both physically and mentally, and to raise any concerns you may have with your GP.
The hope is, that this dedicated maternal health check will help to catch more cases of postnatal mental illness & get mothers who are struggling, the help they need.
Why it’s So Important
Mental health problems affect at least 1 in 10 women during
pregnancy or the first year after birth.
But around half of new mothers’ mental health problems don’t get picked up at all.
The old system of a combined mother & baby appointment simply didn’t offer enough time to tackle tricky issues like postnatal mental health.
Now every new mum will have at least 10 minutes with a healthcare professional to focus purely on her.
Here at Seraphine, we are thrilled to hear such positive news & would like to congratulate the NCT & everyone else involved in this campaign!
This week on the blog, we’re taking a
behind the scenes look at our charity partnership with Frip Ethique – Oxfam’s
social enterprise, based in Senegal.
For the past 4 years, we at Seraphine
have been donating all of our un-sold stock & un-used samples to the scheme
– approximately 14,000 maternity garments so far!
By donating unused maternity clothes, we are minimizing our waste & helping Frip Ethique to fight poverty & make a positive impact in Senegal.
Frip Ethique means ‘ethical second-hand clothing’. The scheme employs 36 full-time workers based in Senegal, most of whom are women. Their job is to sort clothes donated to Oxfam and sell them on to local market traders.
So not only does the scheme
provide permanent, fair employment for its own workers, but it enables over 500
small traders to make a living running their own businesses.
All profits from the scheme are invested back into Oxfam’s work fighting poverty in Senegal.
Life at Frip Ethique
The women working on the scheme are paid
a fair wage, offered job security, sick pay and a pension. These are just a few
of the things they had to say about how Frip Ethique had positively impacted
their lives.
“Working at Frip Ethique has changed my life. The work is good. We work together; we laugh together. It’s changed everything.” – Charlotte Lopy, Clothes Sorter
“Now my children are all at good schools… I’ve worked at a lot of places but this is the best… We’re well paid, we’ve got job security, and we have sickness benefits and pension.” – Amy Collet Gueye, Stock Manager
Here at Seraphine, we are passionate about reducing our impact wherever we can. We are proud to work with Frip Ethique, minimising our waste & making a difference to the lives of people in Senegal.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here at Seraphine, we are donating £1 for every Seraphine maternity bra bought.*
According to the charity Breast Cancer Now, 1 in 8 women in
the UK will face breast cancer in their lifetime. And every 45 minutes, another
woman dies from the disease.
Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity and they are dedicated to funding research into this devastating disease.
Throughout October, every time one of you lovely mamas buys a Seraphine maternity & nursing bra, we’ll donate £1 to Breast Cancer Now.
Whether it’s a sports bra, sleep bra, soft everyday bra or
something special with a touch of lace – your purchase will help support this
fantastic cause.
Seraphine is a company run by women, for women, so this is an issue that’s very dear to our hearts. Everything we do is geared towards supporting you throughout your journey.
Buy a bra this month & help us to raise money for Breast Cancer Now to continue their life-saving research.
*With every purchase of a Seraphine bra made between 01/10/19 & 31/10/19, Seraphine will donate £1 to the charity Breast Cancer Now. Valid on Seraphine brand bras only.
