Author: Blog Editor

Baby number 2 for Megan Fox!

Congratulations are in order for Megan Fox as her publicist confirms she is pregnant with her second child!

 

Megan has previously shared her desire for more children in the March 2013 issue of Marie Claire UK where she said “All I wanted to do my whole life was have a baby and, now, I’ve finally done it. I just want to give Noah as much of myself as I can. And I want to have more kids. That is where my heart is.” So this comes as no surprise really!

 

We are used to seeing her looking beautiful in stunning designer dresses on the red carpet, but Megan Fox’s maternity style the first time around consisted of a few bump flattering bodycon dresses and plenty of boyfriend t-shirts and jeans. A woman’s maternity style will often change the second time around, so we can’t wait to see how her style will evolve with this pregnancy. Will she continue to rock the casual chic look or will she make some changes?

 

We can definitely picture her wearing our sixties style empire line pleated maternity dress or our faux leather maternity leggings. Both are fantastic casual chic styles with an edgy modern feel.

 

Did your maternity style change with your different pregnancies? Read how Linda from our wholesale team’s fashion taste changed during her second pregnancy here.

Find out our favourite apps to take you through pregnancy – and beyond

We barely go anywhere without a smartphone in tow these days, which is why an encyclopaedic library of apps is now available for us to download and interact with both at home and on the move. You no doubt already have lots of favourites, from news providers and shops to GPS locators. However, did you know that you can get scores of apps that have been designed specifically with pregnancy in mind? The reason we ask is because we’ve seen lots of them cropping up on our phones and tablets lately, so we thought you may be interested in a round-up of some of the best.

 

Some are just for fun, while others could prove really useful, so we’ll break them down into categories below.

 

Pregnancy advice and information

As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll no doubt have 1,001 questions to ask. While some of these can be fielded by friends and health visitors, it’s handy to be able to look up snippets of information too. This is where advisory apps really come into their own. They can cover everything from calculating due dates to how big your baby is week by week, meaning you’ll have the equivalent of several books in your pocket to check up on at any given time.

 

Try:

  • What to Expect – from the people behind the bestselling book What to Expect When You’re Expecting (Free)
  • BabyCentre My Pregnancy (free)

 

The name game

Coming up with lists of baby names is a fun way to pass the time on a train journey, but you might want to check the meaning of some, or have some random ones suggested for you. Enter the apps – they’re just like the books you can get, but much more portable and interactive.

 

Try:

  • Baby Name Generator
  • Baby Names
  • 50,000 Names (all free)

 

Keeping you occupied

You’ll probably find you do a lot of waiting around for appointments when you’re pregnant and it’s annoying if you’ve got nothing to do. Why not keep a couple of games on your phone or tablet to distract you and keep you occupied? They’re not just for kids and they might help prevent the dreaded baby brain if you choose puzzles.

 

Try:

Where’s My Water? (69p)

Words with Friends (free)

What’s the Phrase? (free)

 

Scoring style points

If you shop with Seraphine, we know you’ve already got great maternity style. However, it’s fun to keep on top of the trends by checking out what bloggers, fashion experts and other people are wearing too. Lots of apps provide daily updates on what to wear for certain events, which colours are in vogue and much more, so keep a few handy and you’ll never commit a faux pas again.

 

Try:

  • Guardian
  • Daily Mail (You Inspire)
  • Style Star Fashion Advice (all free)

 

During labour

Keep your smartphone handy when you go into labour, as you may find it’s really useful for things like timing contractions if you want to be sure how frequent and long-lasting they are.

 

Try:

  • Contraction Timer Lite (free)

When you’re breastfeeding

Once the baby arrives, you won’t have as much free time for playing games and looking up articles. However, that doesn’t mean apps can’t still be useful. Check out some of the great breastfeeding ones, which allow you to record how many feeds you’ve completed, alert you to when the next one is due and can even produce graphs to tell you if you’re on track with your feeding goals.

 

Try:

  • iBaby Feed (free)
  • The Breast Start App (free)

We’d love to know what you think – have you used these apps? Or do you know any others that could be useful for expectant mums? Do drop us a line in the comments section below!

 

Finding the perfect nursing clothes by Kirsty McCabe

Phew – summer is well and truly here! But after having my second child in May, my pre-baby body is still hiding under excess padding courtesy of cakes and biscuits. Not forgetting that as I’m breastfeeding my boobs are still on the mahoosive side. So none of my usual summer clothes fit and I’ve been living in the same few tops that allow easy access to feed baby Logan. Good job Seraphine do some great maxi dresses!

 

All in all, nursing clothes are a tricky business. You hope to get your old body back quickly so don’t want to buy new things. Funny how when pregnant you buy new clothes even though you know it’s only for 9 months and actually only the last few that really merit decent maternity wear. But afterwards you don’t want to spend money, even though your post baby body could stick around for longer than 9 months… Which is why I’m back at the gym despite no one having invented a nursing sports bra. I’m lucky enough to have found some classes (run by Jane Wake who you might have seen on ITV’s Lorraine programme) where you can bring your little one along and if needs be you can stop and feed them, hence my desire for a nursing sports bra!

 

Choosing a capsule post-baby wardrobe is even harder in the UK where the weather switches from jumpers to bikinis (Ha!) and back again. I like tops and dresses that let me feed Logan discreetly; having had one hungry boy already I know their talent for making mummy get her baps out at inappropriate moments – weddings, christenings and other family gatherings a favourite. Not on TV thankfully, though I did make sure my firstborn Ethan was filled to the gunnels with milk before we went on Daybreak when he was 4 weeks old!

 

Talking of TV, this week I found myself presenting the weather on Channel 5, despite telling myself I would take at least 6 months off work to make the most of maternity leave. But such is the life of a freelance weather presenter that when a job comes up you don’t want to say no in case they don’t ask you again! Plus it’s not often you get to say hot and sunny on the UK forecast… So my toddler Ethan has enjoyed some extra nursery sessions while my husband Renato gets extra time to bond with baby Logan. And I keep busy expressing extra milk! Choosing what to wear for work this week has been pretty challenging. On the plus side I could wear a proper underwired bra and not a nursing one for a few hours. On the other hand, I can’t yet fit into a lot of my pre-baby work clothes and I didn’t want to wear maternity ones. Thankfully some of my dresses did fit, with the aid of decent Lycra undies of course.

 

Ethan been quite amusing watching me feed his little brother. At first he was incredulous that Mummy made milk and even looked down his own top. Now it’s commonplace and he will borrow my breastfeeding pillow (I got an amazing one at thrupennybits.co.uk) and pretend to feed Pingu, his cuddly toy penguin. So far he doesn’t seem too jealous of Logan, instead he almost smothers him with love and cuddles and is forever talking to him (thus waking him up mid nap!). Because Logan doesn’t talk back, Ethan tries to talk even louder until he ends up shouting at him. But if Logan cries Ethan is first to comfort him, even offering some of his favourite toys. I can’t wait until Logan is older and the two can start playing together properly and having little chats.

 

In the meantime the logistics of looking after two wee ones is something I’m still getting to grips with. Second babies have a reputation for being better sleepers but I think it’s more they get less attention than number one, who as I type is trying to climb the shelves of the freezer (having now got the strength to open the freezer door) to reach the ice cream even though mummy said no. Hmm, maybe I’ll join him and not worry too much about getting back into my smaller clothes just yet.

 

Winner of the £1000 maternity wardrobe announced!

We have been waiting and waiting to find a winner for our £1000 maternity wardrobe prize, and after 3 weeks of guessing and almost 2000 entrants, the question on everybody’s lips has finally got an answer. It is a boy! And his name is George Alexander Louis!

 

Officially to be known as: His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge

 

It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think! George has long been a bookie’s favourite – Ladbrokes had the odds at 5-2. And no wonder – It’s a good solid royal name, the last King George was The Queen’s father and when this little one ascends the throne some time in the distant future he will be King George VII, a fact that we are sure the Queen approves of.

 

We would like to thank everyone who entered our guess the royal baby name competition, we are so pleased that it has been such a success. But with the name of the future monarch settled, the competition has now come to a close and we have our winner!

 

Congratulations to Hannah Damary-Thompson who has been chosen at random out of those who correctly guessed the baby’s name. She is now the lucky winner of a brand new maternity wardrobe from Seraphine worth an amazing £1000! Keep an eye on our blog to see what happens when Hannah visits our London boutique and selects her brand new maternity wardrobe!

 

 

The Duchess of Cambridge wears Seraphine for baby’s first day out!

Beautiful Baby Cambridge has been a busy boy since being welcomed into the world just a short time ago. He has already made his royal debut on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital, spent a night at Kensington Palace, and met various members of his family including the Queen! But today, he has had his first afternoon out. He and his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were driven from Kensington Palace to Berkshire to visit his Grandparents – Carole and Michael Middleton.

 

Your new born baby’s first day out is such a special occasion and here at Seraphine, we couldn’t be more proud to report that The Duchess of Cambridge wore our beautiful short sleeved knot front lavender dress on her gorgeous new son’s first trip out! This lovely summer dress is simply perfect for such a hot sunny day, with short capped sleeves and a feminine floral print she looked calm cool and had the radiant glow of a proud new mother. The first visit to the grandparents’ house is a great excuse to take plenty of photos for the private family album, and in our breezy summer dress Kate is sure to look stunning in them!

It’s a boy! The royal baby has been born!

After months of anticipation, and almost a week later than we were all expecting, the much awaited royal baby has finally arrived!

All of us here at Seraphine would like to offer our huge congratulations to the royal family and especially to brand new proud parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their beautiful new baby boy. We can’t wait to watch him grow and thrive.

Your first pregnancy is always a challenging and exciting time, and we can’t imagine what it must have been like to experience it with all the eyes of the world’s press watching you every step of the way. But the Duchess of Cambridge has taken it all in her stride and has remained composed, graceful and stylish throughout.

We have loved following how her maternity style has evolved throughout her pregnancy and are honoured to have been a part of her wardrobe at this most exciting time in her life! A true style icon, The Duchess of Cambridge has been an inspiration to expectant mothers everywhere – proving that there is no need to compromise your own personal style just because you’re pregnant.

Now all that remains is to wish the Duke and Duchess all the luck in the world as they embark on the next stage of their lives with their brand new family!

Choose the right maternity swimwear style for you

Summer is now well and truly upon us and we don’t know about you, but we can’t stop talking about our holiday plans! We think that one major advantage of being pregnant is the fact that the pressure to have a bikini beautiful body for your summer holiday is well and truly off. There is no need to diet like a maniac, and those extra legs bums and tums classes you usually try to squeeze in before summer (ahem) are there if you want them, but really there’s no need! All you have to do is embrace your blossoming bump and revel in your new pregnancy curves!

To celebrate this fabulous fact, why not splash out on some beautifully cut maternity swimwear! Our styles are specifically designed to provide support and flatter you in all the right places. We have put together this simple guide to the best swimming costume styles so that you can find the one that makes you look and feel fantastic!

One piece

Gone are the days when the bikini was the only acceptable form of swimwear for a fashion conscious girl. The one piece swimming costume has made a triumphant return this year so if you invest in a stylish maternity one piece you will be bang on trend and feel 100% supported. Try our classic black halter neck swimming costume for a touch of vintage poolside pinup glamour as well as all the coverage and support you need.

Bikini

On the other hand, a bikini can be a great choice during pregnancy. It’s great for the early stages when you won’t need much extra support, but equally fabulous for showing off your bump in the later stages of pregnancy! Lookout for a good maternity bikini with a fold over bump band to roll up or down for more or less coverage – you can adapt it to suit you! Jessica Alba took our cute purple and pink bikini away on holiday with her during her first pregnancy to relax by the pool.

Tankini

A tankini provides a great versatile middle ground option with all the coverage and support of a one piece, as well as the option to roll it up to give your bump some air. You can adapt it depending on how you feel each day! Why not try our red polka dot tankini to bring some retro Riviera chic on holiday with you. Or opt for our black flared strapless tankini for a glamorous look with a handy skirt to skim over your hips.

Cover up

A nice floaty maternity kaftan is an essential for your summer holiday suitcase. Perfect for covering up on your way between the pool and the beach, it will keep you cool and is also a great way to prevent sunburn. Specifically designed to fit the pregnant figure, the flowing fabric will skim elegantly over your bump.

So whether you’re hitting the beach, relaxing by the pool, or splashing around in the paddling pool in the garden, make sure you invest in some quality maternity swimwear to keep you feeling fabulous and supported throughout your pregnancy.

Our top 5 tips for maternity dressing to stay cool in a heat wave

The sun has finally arrived! After battling through one of the coldest, wettest, most miserable winters we can remember, we are finally through to the other side and now find ourselves in the middle of a glorious heat wave! We all love a bit of sunshine – BBQ season is now well underway and we’ve taken to having regular ice cream breaks in the office to keep us all going, but of course when the summer creeps up on us all of a sudden after 6 months stuck in an overcast limbo, it can be difficult to adjust – and being pregnant just makes it that little bit more tricky.

There is a tendency here in the UK, to get over excited and abandon all common sense, not to mention fashion sense, and strip off to the bare minimum of clothing as soon as the sun makes an appearance. It’s almost as if a secret competition is launched to see who can wear the tiniest pair of shorts or the tightest little vest top. Now it may seem counterintuitive, but this kind of dressing is actually likely to make you feel hotter! Not to worry though, we have put together a list of our top five fail safe tips for staying cool and looking fabulous in the heat.

 

1.      Loose fitting clothing

Always avoid tight fitting styles in the heat! Wearing long, flowing, loose fitting clothes allows air to pass through underneath. Creating air flow between the fabric and your skin keeps you well ventilated and cools you down. So embrace those feminine floaty tops and dresses when the sun comes out and you will look and feel fabulously cool and breezy! A good maxi dress is the ideal choice at this time of year – why not try this floral patterned maxi, worn by Jessica Alba to stay cool in the LA sun.

 

2.      Natural fibres

Natural fibres such as cotton, muslin or silk will always keep you cooler than synthetic ones will. This is because they have the ability to ‘breath’ – that is, unlike many synthetic fibres which trap sweat and make you feel sticky, they wick the sweat away from your skin and release it into the air, keeping you feeling cool and fresh. Not only this, but they are environmentally friendly and kind on sensitive skin too – what’s not to like! Many of our maxi dresses, such as this patterned coral maxi are made of 100% cotton which is prefect for keeping you cool and dry in the heat. Or if you are after something for a special occasion, you will find plenty of silk options in our Luxe collection.

 

3.      Avoid dark colours

Dark colours absorb heat from the sun and trap it, making you feel hot and uncomfortable – imagine, sabotaged by your own clothes! So always stick to light colours in the heat. Shades of white and cream reflect heat away from you to keep you feeling cool while all around you are getting hot and bothered. Why not try our white cotton maxi dress with a lace trim for a pretty option to combat the heat.

 

4.    Patterned clothes

In heat like this it is often the case that no matter what you do, you will be sweating. It is a sad fact, but of course sweat is your body’s way of cooling you down, so it is a good thing really… even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time! For those days when sweat is inevitable, a nice busy pattern on your clothes not only looks great, but is much more forgiving than a solid colour when it comes to disguising those embarrassing wet patches. Our gorgeous blue patterned cotton maxi dress worn by Alyson Hannigan to stay cool in LA is a great option.

 

5.     Flat shoes

Flat shoes are generally a good idea during pregnancy to avoid straining your back with the extra baby weight, but in this heat they are more important than ever! Your feet and ankles will naturally swell as your bump grows, but the heat will only exacerbate things, so make sure you invest in a comfortable pair of flat shoes to protect your legs and back from unnecessary strain. Our range of Shoetherapy ballerina pumps and loafers are medically proven to optimise posture, improve circulation and combat back pain and cellulite – and they look great too!

 

So with this in mind, grab the sun cream and get out there and enjoy the sun!

Another royal baby! Zara Phillips announces pregnancy

The whole country seems to be on tenterhooks at the moment waiting for news of the Duchess of Cambridge who’s due date is any day now. But as the much anticipated 3rd heir to the throne has yet to make an appearance, huge congratulations are still in order for the royal family as Granddaughter of the Queen, Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall have revealed that they are expecting another new royal baby in early 2014!

 

Much focus has surrounded the Duchess of Cambridge’s maternity style choices, and now just as we are to lose Kate Middleton as a source of maternity fashion inspiration, we gain Zara Phillips – we couldn’t have planned it better ourselves!

 

Zara’s style is quite different from Kate’s. A keen equestrian, her day-to-day look tends to feature jeans paired with smart tops, and we are still sure to see some glamorous outfits for formal royal occasions. Her first public appearance since the big announcement was at the Queen’s coronation festival gala at the palace. She looked gorgeous in a loose fitting asymmetric silk shift dress with a beautiful feather motif – perfectly in keeping with her laid back tomboyish style.

 

We can’t wait to see how Zara adapts her style as her pregnancy progresses, and we wish her all the best for the exciting months to come!

Maternity wear – will you go fitted or flowing? – GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Virtually every time the fashion magazines publish pictures of red carpet events featuring pregnant celebrities, a debate erupts over their maternity wear. We’ve seen it time and again since we started writing for our website – there is always a barrage of comments and opinions about whether expectant moms should be wearing fitted or flowing clothes.

 

However, the celebrities themselves often seem to come down firmly in one camp or another. Lots of them wear figure-hugging dresses every time they appear in public, while others tend to stick to tops that skim loosely over their bump for the duration of their pregnancy.

 

But which will you choose? To help you out, we’ll present examples of each and suggest some outfits that could help you get the look.

 

Fitted and figure-hugging

Some women absolutely can’t wait to show off their bump and don’t mind who see it – they’re pregnant and they want the world to know! It’s not generally acceptable to go around with your tummy sticking out though, so the next best thing is a dress that clings to those curves and displays it in all its glory.

 

Celebrities who have adopted this approach in the not-too-distant past include Hilary Duff, Camila Alves and Jessica Simpson, with Jess telling Us Weekly: “I like wearing things more fitted. You want to show off your bump! It’s just so fun.”

 

Halle Berry is also showing she’s not afraid to wear fitted gowns to big events, having sported several lately.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Flowing and flirty

At the other end of the scale, there are women who aren’t at all keen on having everyone knowing they’re pregnant. If you have a friend or colleague who adopts this approach, it’s entirely possible you won’t even know they’re expecting until the third trimester. They tend to wear printed tops and pants that draw the eye away from the belly, or dresses that skim rather than cling as a cunning disguise. That’s not to say they wear anything remotely tent-like, though. They’re still fashionable, but subtly so.

 

Celebrities who have dressed like this include the Duchess of Cambridge, Rachel Zoe and – remarkably – Kim Kardashian. OK, so Kim wasn’t demure all the time, but we did see her in a great beige dress with a flowing hem just a few weeks ago and it really suited her.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

So, which is best?

You might expect us to make a choice at this point and advise you accordingly on what maternity clothes to wear – but we’re not going to. Why not? Because we know you’ll be fabulous whatever you decide to embrace. Besides, why should you stick to one or the other? Go for what makes you feel good and change from day to day. If you’re feeling outgoing, wear a figure-hugging dress. When you just want to blend in (or you’re at work), try a flared tunic.

 

At Seraphine, we design each and every item with the pregnant form in mind so you can be sure you’ll look amazing, whether you’re in bodycon or flowing silk.

 

GIVEAWAY! (NOW CLOSED) HOW TO WIN YOUR FAVOURITE FITTED OR FLOWING SERAPHINE DRESS (LUXE COLLECTION NOT INCLUDED):

To enter like us on FB, share this competition with a friend & post your favourite Seraphine dress, fitted or flowing in the comments below! Double your chances by following us on Twitter too

 

Terms & Conditions:

  • Competition opens: 11.07.13 & closes: 25.07.13
  • Luxe collection not included in competition
  • Automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified
  • The winner will be drawn at random amongst the correct answers
  • The prize may be subject to size availability

 

5 top tips for maternity style by Helen Canning

I’m pregnant with my second child and despite working in the fashion industry in one way or another since graduating from university, I still found it challenging dressing a bump the first time around.  You get to a point where you think you know your body then, bam! you’ve got a whole new shape to dress.  But somehow I found my way through my first pregnancy without losing my style and started a blog; cocomamastyle.com to inspire others and remind us all that you don’t lose who you are the minute that little plastic stick says ‘pregnant’.

Throughout my pregnancy I’ll bring you style tips I’ve picked up through the past few years as a mum-to-be, new mum and second-timer that will take you through those bump months and beyond as well as giving you a sneak peek into my own wardrobe to help you get the most out of your maternity style.

 

5 top tips for maternity style

1. Remember who you are and what you love. If you usually (pre-baby!) wear fitted dresses, then carry on doing so now you’re pregnant. Love a floaty frock?  Keep rocking those flowing, feminine dresses. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to lose your identity. Look for the colours and shapes you know and you’ll feel right at home and remember to mix and match with your existing wardrobe. Here I styled the navy knot front dress with my trusty old leather jacket (with rolled up sleeves for a summer twist), a couple of layered necklaces and classic black heels.

2. That said it is a great opportunity to experiment if you felt stuck in a style rut before. Always wanted to wear figure-hugging dresses but felt too self-conscious?  Now’s your chance! Embrace those curves with body-con styles.

3. Accessories are your best friend. Wear your capsule wardrobe endless ways with a variety of scarves, belts and necklaces to dress your look up or down for any occasion. We live in the age of the statement necklace/bag/ring so make the most of it to accessorize your basics to the max. I’ve been rocking Seraphine’s leopard print scarf since long before I was pregnant!

4. As a high heel addict I’m not one to say ‘ditch the heels’ straight away but let your body lead the way and keep the flats to hand. You’ll know when you need them! In the meantime ease yourself down with wedges and this season’s must-have midi heel.

5. As you’ll know, your body doesn’t go from zero to big bump in an instant – nor, sadly does it go back to flat tummy again that quickly!  Our bodies are changing daily and not just our waistline but our hips and bust too!  Don’t go mad in your first trimester buying up your perfect jeans in every colour thinking that’s you sorted for the next 9 months as your fit may change as you expand. This also means don’t rule out one style of jean or dress the first time you try it on as it may turn out to be the perfect comfort fit come week 30 and beyond!  Be flexible and try different styles at different stages.

Cocomama

But most of all enjoy it! It may feel like you’ve been pregnant forever but it will be over before you know it!

Have you seen our Seraphine London buses?

Have you seen our beautiful Seraphine London buses? They are out there somewhere, whizzing about between West and Central London bringing our royal baby name competition message to the masses!

We sent them out into London on Monday morning looking fabulous and sporting our beautiful purple banners and the girls in our Kensington boutique have already spotted a couple going by the store!  We think the iconic London bus red is the perfect colour to set off our Seraphine  purple – it is truly a royal colour combination fit for a prince ….or a princess…

So what do you think? Is it a boy?… Is it a girl?…

For now, we’ll just have to wait and see, but in the mean time our guess the royal baby name competition is starting to hot up and we’ve had some inspired suggestions already! Not to worry though, if you haven’t entered our competition yet there is still time! Visit our website and give us your best royal baby name guess. If you guess correctly, you could be in with the chance of winning a £1000 shopping spree at Seraphine!

If you have spotted one of our purple banner London buses, please leave a comment and let us know, or better yet, take a picture and post it on twitter #royalbabyname!

We can’t wait to see your Seraphine London bus pics!

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