Author: Blog Editor

Breastfeeding: Seraphine’s Top Five Tips for Preparing to Nurse

The first months at home bonding with your newborn baby are incredibly special, and choosing to breastfeed can be a truly rewarding experience. We’ve put together a list of our top breastfeeding tips to help you prepare to nurse your little one.

 

1) Put together a breastfeeding kit

Shop chic Seraphine Changing Bags

At some point during your third trimester, it’s a great idea to put together a breastfeeding kit complete with everything you might need while you and your little one are latched.

Make sure you have a refillable water bottle and plenty of snacks to keep you going. A chic breastfeeding cover is perfect for nursing on-the-go. Pack muslins and baby nail clippers for the little one, nursing pads and nipple cream for afterwards, and something to keep you occupied – a smartphone or iPad loaded up with something to binge watch is ideal.

 

2. Prepare a Capsule Nursing Clothes Closet

Shop Eva Amurri Martino’s Seraphine Nursing Top

It’s a great idea to start preparing your nursing clothes during your third trimester – that way you’ll be ready to go once your baby is born! A good collection of comfy nursing bras in soft natural fabrics is an absolute must, while stylish nursing tops, jumpers and nursing dresses will make your life easier through those all-important first months.

 

3. Try Different Breastfeeding Positions

Shop Seraphine Breastfeeding Covers

It takes time and a little experimentation to figure out the most comfortable breastfeeding position for you and your baby. That being said, it can help to vary your routine. Each position puts pressure on a different part of your nipple, so changing it up regularly can help to prevent sore nipples and clogged ducts.

 

4. Skin to Skin Contact

If possible, spending time with your newborn skin to skin immediately after birth is the ideal way to begin your breastfeeding journey. Newborns are alert after birth, and should naturally seek out the breast on their own.

 

 5) Kick back and relax

Slip into something comfortable, put on some soothing music and settle into enjoying this special time bonding with your baby. We know that it isn’t always a smooth ride at the beginning, but the more relaxed you feel, the easier your milk will flow.

 

Perfect your pregnancy nails to match your maternity outfit!

When you’re pregnant, it’s always nice to feel pampered every now and then – after all, you deserve it!

We don’t know about you, but in our experience, along with ordering a new maternity dress and getting complemented on your flattering new maternity jeans, having freshly manicured finger nails is one of those little luxuries during pregnancy that practically guarantee that it will be a good day. It’s also a great way to relax and de-stress!

But what kind of manicure do you go for? Do you go to the salon or do them yourself? Straight colour or nail art? And what exactly is Shellac? There are plenty of options out there, so we thought we’d round them up and take a look to help you decide what’s right for you.

Traditional French Manicure

Understated and ever chic, the traditional French manicure never goes out of style!  It consists of a sheer pink base and bright white tips, and the over all effect is clean and natural. Perfect for any occasion, this is a great style to wear with your maternity work wear for a professional look at the office.

Single Colour Salon Manicure

A single colour salon manicure is a great, inexpensive way to freshen up your look! Simply choose your favourite shade, then sit back, relax and feel pampered – what a nice way to spend half an hour! Why not match your nail shade with one of our flattering Knot Front Maternity Dresses in blue, red, black, purple or fuchsia!

Nail Art and Gems

Nail art, gems and glitter are perfect for the party season! Go into your salon and check out their display boards to get a taste of the options available – they really can do almost anything these days! Why not treat yourself to sparkles for Christmas and match your nails to a glittering black and gold maternity cardigan!

Gel Manicure

A gel manicure involves painting a layer of gel on top of your natural nails, which then dry to form a rock hard layer of colour. Gel manicures are designed to last longer than regular manicures, and are good for disguising nails that are in a poor condition. The down side, is that removing them involves using abrasive chemicals which you may not be happy with when you are pregnant. Though they are great for an active mum on the go!

Shellac Manicure

A Shellac manicure is somewhere between a regular nail polish manicure and a set of gel nails. The Shellac polish is painted on to your natural nails just like regular polish, but will last chip-free for as long as you like! Perfect for a busy mum who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, these nails are designed to last, the only down side is, that you have to go back to the Salon to have them taken off when your nails start to grow out!

Paint Them Yourself at Home

If you don’t have time for a trip to the salon, painting your nails at home is a cheap and easy way of bringing a little colour into your day. It’s also a great chance to catch up on a bit of me time. Close the door, slip into a comfy pair of maternity pyjamas, put on some relaxing music and pamper yourself!

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Pregnancy style Q&A with Glamour editor Natasha McNamara
Find your perfect pair of maternity jeans at the Seraphine denim boutique
Fashion icon Gwen Stefani rocks a Seraphine LBD!

Maternity Party Wear Deals and Discounts for Cyber Monday (NOW CLOSED)

Cyber Monday – the US holiday dedicated entirely to online shopping – has made its way across the Atlantic to the the UK!

Online retailers across the web will be offering deals and discounts today, and we here at Seraphine are no exception.

 

15% off for the Party Season and free delivery

 

We are offering a fantastic 15% discount across our entire maternity party wear collection, and if you spend over £40 on any items across our site, we’ll deliver your package to any UK address absolutely free!

Browse our party wear collection and find your perfect maternity party dress or glamorous maternity top for the festive season.

But hurry, the free delivery ends at midnight tonight, so don’t miss out – get your order in now!

 

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Hello! Magazine and Glamour.com editors sparkle in Seraphine dresses
Prince George’s christening has us thinking about maternity occasion wear
Christmas lights, mummy bloggers and the Marylebone maternity store

Bronze for Breastfeeding at the Mother and Baby Awards

It was a great night all round for Seraphine at the Mother and Baby Awards yesterday evening, as we took home the bronze award in the best breastfeeding bra, top or accessory category!

Our gorgeous Grey Nursing Shawl was put through its paces by a panel of real mums, and they loved it!

 

Award Winning Grey Nursing Shawl

 

The Nursing Shawl

Made in a luxurious blend of natural bamboo fibre, wool and cotton, our shawl is light, drapes beautifully over your curves and is incredibly soft and gentle on sensitive skin. The bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic, and even possesses antibacterial properties – perfect for you and your new born!

The perfect marriage of style and function, this soft grey shawl is also available in brown, and can be worn as a shawl, wrap or scarf, used as a discreet cover-up for breastfeeding, or even to swaddle your baby in – for inspiration on ways to wear this award winning style, click here!

 

Navy Lace Maternity Cocktail Dress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was great to see our nursing shawl up on the big screen, but it wasn’t the only Seraphine piece gracing the stage last night! One of the other award winners was pregnant and looked very glamorous in our Navy Lace Maternity Cocktail Dress! This elegant maternity cocktail dress is part of our LUXE collection, and it was a perfect style choice for the glitzy award ceremony!

 

 

Articles You May Also Like:

Hello! Magazine and Glamour.com editors sparkle in Seraphine
Behind the scenes look at our Marylebone maternity boutique press day
Christmas lights, mummy bloggers and the Marylebone maternity store

 

Find your perfect pair of maternity jeans at the Seraphine Denim Boutique

You know that fantastic feeling, when you slip on your favourite pair of jeans?

They fit like a glove, flatter your curves in all the right places, look great however you style them, AND are unbelievably comfortable.

Well now, you can hold on to that feeling right the way through your pregnancy with the perfect pair of maternity jeans!

Our award winning collection of specialist maternity jeans has something for everyone. Whether you’re after over-bump or under bump, bootcut, straight leg, cropped or skinny, you are sure to find your perfect fit.

The only problem is, that with so many options out there, it can be tricky to know which style to go for!

We’ve put together a few handy pages to help you explore the different options, and decide which style of maternity jeans will be right for you.

For more information on the different denim styles on offer, check out our Maternity Jeans Style Guide

If you aren’t sure whether to go for over-bump or under-bump jeans, check out our Bump Band Fit Guide

To see which celebs love which pair of Seraphine maternity jeans, visit our Denim Loved by Celebs Page

To start exploring our award winning denim range, shop our chic collection of Maternity Jeans!

 

 

Articles You May Also Like:

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15% off party wear for the festive season

 

Pregnancy style Q&A with Glamour editor Natasha McNamara

Natasha McNamara has been editor of Glamourmagazine.co.uk for five years, she lives in London with her partner and 2 daughters and is currently 7 months pregnant with her third child. For more from Natasha, you can find her tweeting at @Shadyalabama

Glamour editor Natasha McNamara is one of the most fashion savvy women in journalism, and currently expecting her third child. We caught up with her last week to ask about her own personal pregnancy style, and to see if she had any tips to share about how to dress for a growing bump. Here’s what she had to say:

‘Seraphine has been a revelation for me recently. Well-made, classic and stylish pieces alongside – meaning I’ve actually had choice in what I wear over the last 9 months.  Highly-recommended first stop after the positive pregnancy test!’

 
1. Describe your personal style?

I think the 90s had a big hand on turning around pregnancy do’s and don’ts for me – the pregnant Spice Girls and All Saints with their tight dresses and exposed midriffs opened the door somewhat for ‘normal’ dressing (although not sure exposed midriffs is normal for anyone). When I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2005/2006 I bought big baggy maternity jeans  that I ADORED, however with baby number two it was all about the skinny jeans so the baggies had to go.

This time around I’m still loving the skinny but these soft denims with a gentle bootleg from Seraphine are a perfect compromise.

I’m a big fan of jeans, leather, t-shirts and sweaters so my maternity style now is almost the same as when I’m not pregnant. The only thing I have to sacrifice is my love of vintage dresses, but vintage boots, bags and jewellery are doing sterling work.

 

 

2. What is your fail-safe outfit?

A leather skirt, t-shirt and Seraphine’s Black Knitted Maternity Cape. Stylish, warm and Sienna Miller wears one, so of course I feel instantly fabulous wearing it.

 

3. What is your favourite Seraphine piece?

This stunning Black Lace Seraphine Luxe dress which I wore to an event (the BSME awards) recently and felt sexy AND elegant for the first time in months.


4. What is the one style tip you want to share with other pregnant women?

Don’t sacrifice your personal style just because you’re dressing a bump but do invest in some key maternity pieces. Comfort is everything when every day feels like you are climbing a mountain. Good maternity jeans and a pretty dress for parties are a staple for me.

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Hello! Magazine and Glamour.co.uk editors sparkle in Seraphine
15% off maternity party wear for the festive season!
Dressing for your new pregnancy shape – by TV presenter Laura Hamilton

Christmas Lights, Mummy Bloggers & the Marylebone Maternity Store

Marylebone High Street was transformed last night into a magical winter wonderland, and we are so glad that we were there to see it! Seraphine joined in to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas lights, and the whole street got into the festive spirit. The atmosphere was amazing, and it was fabulous to get a little taste of Christmas – complete with market stalls, snow, a wonderful choir and real live reindeer!

At our new Marylebone store, our very own Seraphine Christmas elves joined in with the festive fun, spreading some joy to the children of London by giving out gifts from Galt Toys!

 

The Mummy Bloggers on the Marylebone Store

The lovely ladies of London turned out in force to investigate our new maternity boutique on Marylebone High Street when it opened a few weeks ago, and since then, they have been busy blogging!

See below to find out what they all thought of the our new store and its fabulous location, and to see which Seraphine maternity styles have made it onto their Christmas wish lists this year.

 

The Glam Mummy fell in love with our Cashmere Wrap Maternity Coat and Olive Faux-Fur Stole. She was also very impressed by our LUXE collection of maternity occasion wear fabulous ShoeTherapy range of comfy ballerina pumps and loafers, which help to improve your posture and combat back pain!

LUXE Collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Glam Mummy’s write up here

 

 Mama Myself & I  has added our Cashmere Wrap Maternity Coat and Grey Bamboo Nursing Shawl to her own personal Christmas wish list!

Read Mama Myself & I’s write up here

 

Coco Mama Style (who has guest blogged for us before) enjoyed meeting Cecile – the woman behind the brand, and loves our new location on Marylebone High Street.

See below for a list of her top maternity styles from Seraphine.

 

Coco Mama meets Seraphine Founder Cecile

 

Coco Mama’s top Seraphine styles:

Black Bamboo Lounge Pyjamas
Lace Print Scarf
Olive Green Faux-Fur Stole
Houndstooth Knitted Maternity Skirt
Leopard Print Ballerinas
Double Zip Wool Maternity Coat (also loved by Gwen Stefani)

Read Coco Mama’s write up here

 

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Introducing our new London maternity store on Marylebone High Street
15% off party wear for the festive season!

 

 

Behind the scenes look at our Marylebone maternity boutique press day

The latest addition to the Seraphine family – our brand new Marylebone maternity boutique – opened its doors to the lovely ladies of the press this week!

The new store played host to a glamorous press event complete with tea and Danish pastries, where we were delighted to welcome representatives from all over media land including Hello! Magazine editor – Rosie Nixon (who has guest blogged for us in the past), You Magazine‘s Victoria Woodall, Liz Skone James from  Fabric Magazine, Baby London‘s Jessica Way, Sarah LaFarge from Mother and Baby, and TV presenter and i-Village journalist Kirsty McCabe.

Watch our behind the scenes video for a sneak peak inside the new store, and to see what some of the most glamorous women in media made of the store and our fabulous maternity clothes!

See below for a full list of maternity styles featured and mentioned in the video.

 

Styles featured in the video
Black Shift Maternity Dress – Loved by Hello! Mag editor Rosie Nixon
Navy Shoulder Lace Maternity Shift Dress – Worn by Hello! Mag editor Rosie Nixon
Printed Silk Front Wool and Alpaca Maternity Jumper 
Cornflower Blue Multiway Maternity Dress 
Reversible Knitted Maternity Cape – Worn by You Mag’s Victoria Woodall
Indigo Wrap Front Maternity and Nursing Jumper – Worn by TV presenter Kirsty McCabe

 

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Hello! Magazine and Glamour.com editors sparkle in Seraphine

 

Hello! Magazine and Glamour.com editors sparkle in Seraphine!

Two of the most glamorous women in fashion and lifestyle journalism sparkled in Seraphine at the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards this week!

The ceremony was held in the opulent Grand Ballroom at the London Hilton Hotel, and naturally the luxurious surroundings and glitzy occasion called for a pair of very glamorous maternity cocktail dresses!

Here at Seraphine, we stock a wide range of maternity dresses, from simple shift day dresses, through to lavish maternity cocktail dresses and evening gowns in our LUXE collection.

Glamourmagazine.com editor Natasha McNamara was nominated for the Consumer Web Editor of the Year Award, and looked stunning in our Black Lace and Sapphire Maternity Cocktail Dress.

The glamorous maternity cocktail dress (pictured left) is made with exquisite black stretch lace, laid over a vibrant sapphire blue dress in silky soft stretch jersey, and tied at the empire line with a black sash in pure silk. Natasha styled the striking maternity dress perfectly with some black maternity tights and a pair of simple gold pendants.

Hello! Magazine editor Rosie Nixon (who has guest blogged for us in the past) was nominated for the Women’s Brand of the Year Award, looked incredibly chic in our edgy Navy Shoulder Lace Maternity Shift Dress.

This flattering navy shift dress is stylishly ruched at the sides, and swathes the shoulders in intricate floral black lace to achieve a stunning contrast.

This gorgeous navy blue maternity cocktail dress was a great choice for Rosie, as it worked so well with her skin tone and glossy blonde hair.

 

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Dressing for your New Pregnancy Shape – by TV Presenter Laura Hamilton

Hi, I am Laura Hamilton.

Some of you might remember me from the 2011 series  of ‘Dancing on Ice‘ when I was crowned runner up.  I currently present ‘A Place in the Sun‘ for Channel 4, ‘Fort Boyard‘ for ITV and I have a new show airing on Channel 4 from the 4th November called ‘Beat my Build‘.  My biggest production to date however is my first baby, which is due early November!

Throughout my pregnancy I have been filming both in the UK and abroad and I have also been attending lots of red carpet events.  The hardest thing of all was keeping my pregnancy a secret for four and a half months until it was exclusively announced in Hello! Magazine.

 

 

I had to ensure I dressed in the right way to cover my growing belly, and it was important for me to look glam rather than frumpy! I’ve learnt (through working with a stylist) that whether you are pregnant or not, dressing for your shape is key.

When you are pregnant your ‘new waist’ (the smallest part of you) is underneath the bust so wearing a belt or a dress that draws attention to this area really helps.

Seraphine have some beautiful belts and some fantastic dresses in their Luxe collection that do just this and they are perfect for any parties or special occasions when you want to glam up.  My favourite is the maternity cocktail dress in black lace.

As my bump has grown, I have been keen to show it off. Over the Summer I wore a lot of fitted maxi dresses.  A lot of people will say they feel more confident about their body when they are pregnant and they embrace their changing shape.  I would definitely say I have embraced it and I have tried to maintain a style that is elegant and classy. Just because you are pregnant it doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish.  Gone are the days of wearing smock dresses!

 


As Winter approaches, I’m loving the layering look and wearing cosy knits.   Knits look fab over skinny jeans and the good thing is you can still wear these kind of clothes after you have given birth and gradually get your pre-pregnancy shape back.

My maternity skinny jeans are probably currently one of my favourite pieces in my ‘new’ wardrobe. I would say they are a maternity wardrobe must have!  Skinny jeans can be ‘dressed up’ with a glam top or cardigan, or ‘dressed down’ with a gorgeous knit and yet you can maintain that stylish look.  Accessories are key too when it come to dressing up an outfit.  I love wearing a statement necklace or a bold and bright coloured lipstick, both of which are perfect for adding that extra touch of glamour.

Being pregnant is such an incredible experience and discovering a brand like Seraphine just makes it even more enjoyable.  If you are an expectant mother I wish you all the best, and hope you enjoy the journey.

 

 

Articles You May Also Like:

TV  presenter Laura Hamilton loves our maternity cape
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Introducing our new London maternity store on Marylebone High Street!

The Seraphine family is growing!

Here at Seraphine we are delighted to announce the opening of our brand new maternity boutique on Marylebone High Street!

Marylebone will be our third London boutique, joining Kensington and Hampstead, and we can’t wait to start welcoming you all to our new store.

To celebrate the opening of our Marylebone boutique, we are offering 15% off in store* to our readers from now until the 13th. 

Simply mention at the check out that you heard about the store through our blog and they will be happy to apply the discount.

The new location is perfect for us, nestled in the heart of fashionable Marylebone High Street along with a whole host of high end children’s fashion brands including Petit Bateaux, The Little White Company, Bon Point and Rachel Riley.

Inside the Store

 

We couldn’t be happier with our new neighbours – high end fashion and home ware retailer Toast, and luxury leather goods brand Aspinal of London. We’re even within easy walking distance of the Portland Maternity Hospital – perfect for a quick visit to treat yourself after your check up!

And while you’re in the area, Marylebone itself is a labyrinth of quirky side streets flanked by Oxford Street to the South, and is simply bursting with exclusive high end boutiques offering everything from Stradivarius violins to high quality ribbons and trims at the prestigious VV Rouleaux – suppliers to some of the top fashion designers in London! You can easily lose yourself for an entire blissful day in this charming shopping district.

 

The new store features our signature high end fittings with French parquet flooring and plush purple accenting, all presided over by an impressive crystal chandelier.

It will stock a hand picked selection of our most popular maternity styles for you to browse and buy. Whether you are looking for the perfect fitting pair of ultra-chic maternity jeans, a gorgeous nursing dress for post-pregnancy style, or a glamorous maternity outfit for an elegant evening event, you are sure to come away with something that makes you look and feel incredible.

Our team of maternity fashion advisers, headed up by Store Manager Aisling, will be on hand to advise you on fit and maternity styling, so drop in and pay them a visit soon!

Check back here next week to hear all about what the press and the mummy bloggers of London think of our new Marylebone store!

Shop our maternity styles

 

 

*This offer is valid on purchases made at the Marylebone store only from 6/11/13 until 13/11/13. The offer is not applicable on items on sale or on non-Seraphine branded items.

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Seraphine’s video guide to nursing clothes with Jocette and baby Roxette
Our top 3 maternity coats
Prince George’s christening has us thinking about maternity occasion wear

 

Meet our top 3 winter maternity coats

With all the crazy weather we’ve been having recently, and more on the way, it’s more important than ever to make sure that you and your growing bump are wrapped up warm in a cosy winter maternity coat!

Here at Seraphine we have a fabulous selection of warm and stylish maternity coats to suit every outfit, and we thought it was about time that you all got to know them a little better.

 

Here are our top 3 maternity coats :

 

Double Zip Wool Maternity Coat

1) Double Zip Wool Maternity Coat 

This stylish maternity coat in a super soft grey wool blend is a trans-trimester master and has been worn and loved by style icon Gwen Stefani! Designed with an innovative double zip function, you can adjust this versatile coat as your bump grows throughout your pregnancy. Once your baby is born, you can readjust it to fit your new slimmer self, or you can even fasten it up over a baby carrier to keep your new born warm and cosy. Made in an ultra-warm wool blend, and fully lined in super soft fleece, this cosy maternity coat will be your best friend in the colder months, and the stylish cut and soft feminine drape of the collar is perfect to team with our stylish leopard print scarf, and will have you looking as great as you feel!

 

2) Navy Wool and Cashmere Short Maternity Coat

This beautifully structured maternity coat will keep you wonderfully warm through your winter pregnancy and looks fabulous teamed with our Blue Lace Printed Scarf. Designed with your growing bump in mind, this fully lined maternity dress coat, made in a luxurious wool and cashmere blend, fastens across your bust with a double layer of discreetly concealed poppers which you can adjust as you grow. It falls from your empire line in a flattering A line style which skims over your curves to keep your hips neatly covered. Deep lined pockets are perfect for keeping your hands warm of a winter’s evening and chic black leather detailing and buckles add a fashion edge. The back of the coat is also flatteringly structured – with a triple pleated empire line band and a stylish box pleat – to emphasise your feminine curves.

 

Black Wool and Cashmere Wrap Coat3) Black Wool and Cashmere Wrap Maternity Coat

Made in a lavish wool and cashmere blend, complete with a luxurious silky purple lining, this versatile wrap maternity coat can be buttoned under the collar and worn in a pregnancy friendly trapeze shape with the cosy collar pulled up high to keep out the cold – perfect for a chilly January day! Alternatively, you can tie the matching belt above the bump to create a chic empire line style, or replace the belt with our Black Leather Japanese Belt for a more fashion forward style. This classic black wrap coat will grow with your throughout your nine months, and will stay with you long after pregnancy.

 

Articles You May Also Like:

The Seraphine guide to surviving the January sales 
Seraphine’s video guide to nursing clothes with Jocette and baby Roxette
Kate Winslet wears Seraphine maternity jeans on the red carpet

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