Author: Blog Editor

Occasion dressing – by royal correspondent, Camilla Tominey

Camilla Tominey is royal editor and columnist of the Sunday Express and a regular contributor to national and international news outlets including NBC, BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky. She is married with two children, aged 4 and nearly 3 with a third baby on the way in August.

 

DRESSING for an occasion can be a headache at the best of times but when your belly is the size of a small planet and your calves have merged into your ankles to form cankles, how best to do it?
While the temptation to swamp oneself in a Seventies-style smock can seem overwhelming in comparison to the prospect of wearing anything remotely tight, it is possible to be comfortable in something slightly more tailored than a tent when pregnant. The right dress at the right price can make you feel a million dollars, especially when you probably haven’t felt sexy since the night you conceived.  Pregnant with my third baby, I faced the dilemma of a summer season packed with “dressy” events but nothing to wear to the ball.

 

Reluctant to splurge on what is definitely my FINAL pregnancy (take note, darling husband), I went on eBay looking for second hand frocks but found the best ones were going for close to their original retail price.
As the royal editor of the Sunday Express, I tried to take inspiration from the Duchess of Cambridge, but soon realised it is impossible for any pregnant women to look THAT good without a full-time hairdresser and dressmaker (being chauffeur driven to and from work is also preferable to staring into a stranger’s armpit on the Tube while seated passengers pretend not to notice your bump). Having made do with non-maternity dresses with a bit of “give” in them, it fast became apparent as I approached my third trimester that I was running out of wardrobe options. So imagine my delight when the lovely ladies from Seraphine  contacted me to offer me the loan of a couple of their dresses?

 

I chose two frocks from the LUXE Collection – one to wear at Trooping the Colour and another to Royal Ascot, both of which I have to cover every year for work. I opted for the Front Drape Silk Shift Dress (£135) and the Dark Navy Luxe Dress (£169), both in size 10, and without sounding like a show-off, I had many compliments on both (they may have been out of pity, since I was also wobbling around in high heels). I don’t know about you but I have a couple of bug bears when it comes to maternity wear. I can’t abide anything that cuts me across the middle, or skirts that ride up as you are walking along.

 

The great thing about these particular dresses is that the skirt part starts above the bump, which actually has the effect of making you look smaller than you are.
The lace dress was so nice that I would love a non-maternity one for after I’ve had the baby in August!

 

My only request to Seraphine – bring these dresses out in a few more colours. In my experience, women tend to experiment with colour a lot more when they’re pregnant, daring to wear something different safe in the knowledge that only a very brave partygoer would question their choices.

 

So after three pregnancies, what’s the best style advice I can offer? Definitely go for comfort over catwalk but remember: although you might feel like a member of the Roly Polies, pregnant women do naturally bloom and boast better skin and hair than non-pregnant ones. So rather than feeling like the Sugar Plum Fairy, find a frock that flatters your newfound curves and party in pregnant style. Good luck!

With mocktails this good, you won’t miss alcohol at all!

Although a debate pops up every so often among health experts on the topic of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, we prefer to stick to the official advice, so we recommend sipping on nothing stronger than lemonade for the entire nine months (or from the time you find out you’re pregnant).

 

It’s funny though – as soon as you are told that you can’t have something, all of a sudden you want it ten times more than you did before! This is often the case with drinking – especially during the summer, when you’ll probably be spending a fair amount of time at BBQs and garden parties where everyone around you will be indulging in nice cool glasses of  their favourite tipple.

 

But there is an alternative to knocking back endless cans of diet coke or water and possibly feeling a little sorry for yourself. How about trying some tasty mock cocktails – mocktails – this year? There are lots of great recipes around and many of them taste so good that you won’t miss the alcohol in the slightest!

 

There is also an added bonus for pregnant women, as mocktails are usually full of fruit juices and so contain lots of extra nutrients for you and the baby. Throw in the fact that they’re usually lower in sugar and calories (as long as they’re not cream-based) than fizzy drinks like cola, and they really are the perfect drink for expectant yummy mummies.

 

So, how do you create the perfect mocktail? Master mixer Ryan Magarian from Liquid Relations told Fit Pregnancy it’s all about symmetry. “When you’re replacing alcohol with water, tea or juice, you still want a perfect balance of all ingredients. Just like a real cocktail, a mocktail should never be too sweet or too syrupy,” he explained.

 

You should aim for crisp flavours – not just a mish-mash of different tastes because you’ve piled everything into one glass – a dash of colour, and something to decorate your drink when you present it. Don’t forget that colour can come in the form of fruit or tinted glasses if you’re making something like elderflower-based drinks that won’t appear bright. And to add to your five-a-day, look out for recipes containing pomegranate, orange or acai, as they’ll provide a real boost of antioxidants.

 

Here are some of Seraphine’s favourites to get you started.

 

1. Ray of Sunshine (from Baby Centre)

Fill a two-litre jug with ice and add two tablespoons of lemon and orange sherbet mixed into a paste with a little water. Pour in 50ml of apple juice and 50ml of pineapple juice. Top the jug up with sparkling water or lemonade and serve with umbrellas.

 

2. Mango Fizz (from Wayne Collins at BBC’s Something for the Weekend)

Place two scoops of mango sorbet and a tablespoon of ready-made fruit salad into a highball glass, then pour in two teaspoons of passion fruit syrup and two teaspoons of grenadine. Top up with ginger beer and serve with a long-handled spoon.

 

3. Juicy Ginger (this one is great if you’re getting morning sickness)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 100ml of apple juice, 50ml of pear juice, 20ml of lemon juice and one medium-sized piece of grated root ginger. Shake well and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top it up with ginger beer and garnish with a slice of apple.

 

If you throw a summer party and serve up mocktails like this, we think even guests who can drink will be queuing up for them – why not make up a few ideas of your own and share them with us too?

We are dotty about polka dots

Here at Seraphine we are completely dotty about polka dots! We’ve been seeing spots everywhere we go this season – they really are the ultimate fashion trend with so many styling options. They can be subtle or bold, colourful or monochrome. They can be elegant and sophisticated , or you could create a dramatic look by pairing them with contrasting patterns! They are a fantastic trend that comes back time and again, so your polka dot pieces never date!

We have found plenty of dotty inspiration from style.com’s polka dot mood board  and we love all of the different styles, sizes and colour combinations!

Get the look with Seraphine: Try this gorgeous polka dot wrap dress worn and loved by the Duchess of Cambridge!

However you style your polka dots, you are sure to make an impact in one of this season’s hottest dottiest trends.

The Duchess of Cambridge wears Seraphine!

We have big news! We are incredibly proud to announce that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge has been spotted out and about wearing one of our beautiful Seraphine dresses!

If we could have picked one woman in Britain today who epitomises the glamour and elegance which we strive for in our collection, the Duchess of Cambridge would absolutely have been at the top of our list, so we are truly thrilled that she has worn our dress! Kate is a true British style icon, and has been leading the way in maternity fashion since the big announcement back in December, so we are hugely honoured to have been a part of her maternity wardrobe.

The Dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge
The Dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge

The dress she wore is our classic wrap dress with tie in a bold navy and white polka dot pattern. Made of super soft stretch jersey, it is easy to wear and adapts as your bump grows. The mock tie detail is a stylish feature, and the v neck is a classically flattering cut. Kate styled the dress with a bright red cardigan to add a flash of colour, and with her hair swept up away from her face for a modern, casual chic look. We simply love the way this stylish figure hugging day dress flatters the royal baby bump and are over the moon that Kate loves it too.

We are so proud to have gained the royal seal of approval and would like to wish the Duchess of Cambridge all the luck in the world for the next few weeks!

Win a £1000 maternity wardrobe – COMPETITION CLOSED

With the royal due date just around the corner, July is shaping up to be quite a month! As excitement for a brand new royal baby builds around the country, we here at Seraphine are celebrating the new arrival by launching our most exciting competition to date.

We are giving you the chance to win a dream maternity wardrobe from Seraphine worth £1000!

To be in with a chance of winning, we want you to tell us the answer to the question on everybody’s lips…

Is it a boy?

Is it a girl?

And most importantly: What is the royal baby name?

We all know that choosing your baby’s name is a hugely important decision as it will follow your child around for the rest of their lives. But just imagine how it would be to have the whole world scrutinising your choice! We don’t know about you, but we certainly don’t envy the royal couple. In the past, royals have gone for very traditional British names like Elizabeth, Charles and Henry, but recently they have been branching out a little – we have a Zara and the Queen’s first great grand child is called Savannah – nothing boring and traditional there! On top of this, Kate who comes from a normal middle class family will of course be bringing her own ideas into the mix. Who knows, we might even get a complete celebrity style curve ball à la Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s Apple or Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s North! (We’re not saying it’s likely, but anything is possible!)

For your chance to win our truly a whole new maternity wardrobe from Seraphine worth £1000, simply click here to enter your name and email address and give us your best royal baby name guess – it couldn’t be easier.

Best of luck and get creative!

 

A maternity fashion show sponsored by Seraphine!

It looks like a fabulous time was had by all at the charity maternity fashion show held at Saffron Walden Town Hall on Wednesday evening – the pictures speak for themselves! Here at Seraphine we were proud to sponsor Beauty, Bump and Baby and were very happy to see some of our gorgeous dresses lighting up the catwalk. We think the models looked stunning in our Mock wrap polka dot dress  and our vibrant Colour block maxi. We also love the daring figure hugging styles on show, they remind us of our bold Blue body con dress. We were really impressed with the high quality maternity fashion on show, and we think it’s fantastic that all of the money raised is going to a good cause. A huge well done to all involved, you all look magnificent!

 

Maternity fashion show
Maternity fashion show

Baby joy for Alesha Dixon – here’s to the latest celebrity pregnancy!

We don’t know about you, but we’re really looking forward to following the celebrity pregnancy style evolution of Alesha Dixon after she recently announced she is expecting her first child. The singer’s publicist confirmed the momentous news to the press and her fans, saying: “Alesha Dixon and her partner, Azuka Ononye, are delighted to announce that they are expecting their first child later this year. Alesha and Azuka are looking forward to this happy chapter in their lives.”

 

Alesha followed up the revelation with a tweet to thank all of her fans and followers for their messages of support and congratulations, saying: “Would just like to say a big THANK U for all of your lovely messages and well wishes! #verysweet #veryblessed 🙂 X.”

 

It’s going to be a busy few months for the star, as she’ll be getting used to pregnancy, filming the next series of Britain’s Got Talent and appearing on the new ITV entertainment series, Your Face Sounds Familiar.

 

As if that weren’t enough, she’ll also be working on her next album. She’s making us feel tired just by looking at that list! Hopefully she finds plenty of time to pamper herself in between engagements. It’s her wardrobe that we’ll really be interested in though, as we want to see how she translates her usual look into the maternity clothes she’ll no doubt be stocking up on.

 

Actually, she won’t need to deviate too far from the trends she currently wears, as Alesha already has a fantastic sense of style. She isn’t afraid to express that huge personality through her clothes, which always results in a really fun and bright look. Like most women, we enjoyed seeing how she was a complete contrast to her Britain’s Got Talent co-host Amanda Holden during the live finals, favouring minidresses and bold hues over Mandy’s floor-length pastel gowns.

 

So, how might she make the style transition and what could she wear over the coming months? Here are Seraphine’s suggestions based on her previous great outfits.

 

  1. Bright colours

We love Alesha’s totally tropical dress sense – she’s a breath of fresh air, always looking like she’s on holiday even when she’s in rainy Britain. She can definitely continue this during pregnancy, as bold hues are really on-trend for summer 2013 and beyond.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

  1. High hemlines

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can no longer wear minidresses, so we hope Alesha won’t lose her penchant for high hemlines and will keep showing off those perfect pins. She may have to swap her towering stilettos for something more stable – but our ballet flats will look just as good with those thigh-skimming skirts.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

  1. Sharp tailoring

When Alesha’s not in dresses, she often goes for a complete contrast by opting for smart yet feminine tailoring. Again, this will be ideal for pregnancy because a blouse and blazer combo looks so flattering – and the outer layer can be left undone when that bump gets really big. Unsurprisingly, she shies away from black and chooses bright shirts and jackets, so this is something we reckon will continue as she vets candidates for BGT this year.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Congratulations, Alesha!

Pregnancy beauty – by Grazia beauty editor Lauren Murdoch Smith

Lauren Murdoch-Smith has worked at Grazia for….well, a long time! In that time, Lauren has risen the ranks from Beauty Assistant to Beauty Editor.

Whilst working with the beauty team, she’s developed an unhealthy obsession for nails, shopping and celebrities – which is useful when you work at Grazia!

Currently, Lauren is masquerading as a domestic baking goddess to keep her calm as she travels all over the world to cover all four fashion weeks every season. Oh, as well as generally conquering the beauty world to bring the best news stories and breaking trends for Grazia and, of course, Grazia Daily.

 

It’s funny, I’m a beauty Editor but never before have I written about pregnancy beauty, and since falling pregnant, I’ve discovered a whole new exciting world of beauty.  Being pregnant during the summer brings with it a whole host of new rules and introductions to new products.  Not that I’m complaining, I’m a complete beauty junkie and I’ll find any excuse to uncover new and brilliant products.

With my due date in September, I’m determined to have one last holiday, albeit to our usual haunt in Spain, so nowhere far flung or adventurous but still the last, relaxing holiday before the bambino arrives!  With the enticing Mediterranean heat comes the issue of sun care during pregnancy.  With pretty much every other change going on in your body, you’ll find that your skin is one of the biggest things to change which you have to adapt to pretty sharpish.  Oil and super hydration aside, the sun can cause bigger problems.  Thanks to all those lovely pregnancy hormones and it’s these hyper hormones that give you overly sensitive skin, which means you’re more likely to burn, so don’t even think about applying an SPF on your face unless it’s 30 plus.  Look for high factors, particularly for your face, as the risk of hyper pigmentation is higher during pregnancy; this is due to melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the hormone that reacts to the sun, responsible for making your skin darker, good if you’re looking for a tan but bad news for us pregnant ladies!

 

Here are my golden rules for well, a golden (pregnancy) glow this summer…

  • Don’t think a higher SPF means being pale for summer.  It just means your skin is better protected from burning and ageing, giving you a more even, longer-lasting tan

 

  • Look for sensitive sun care ranges. Liz Earle and Sisley are great for over sensitised skin thanks to their natural approach to sun protection.

 

  • Avoid overheating which is more likely during pregnancy and can lead to prickly heat; again another common problem during pregnancy.  Brands like Sisley are great at preventing prickly heat and but it’s also a good idea to carry around a water spray like Evian’s Brumisateur Facial Spray, for an instant cooling action.

 

  • Wear a big floppy hat! Not only is it this season’s must-have holiday item, it’ll stop you picking up unwanted pigmentation on your face

 

 

Top Pregnancy Sun Care

For ultra sensitive skin: Avene Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Cream SPF50.

Great for anti-ageing too: Sisley Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+

A good, budget option for skin that needs a little extra TLC: Nivea Pure and Sensitive Sun Range

For those of you looking for something natural: Liz Earle Mineral Sun Cream

Make sure you protect extra sensitive and easily burnt areas like your nose and ears with: Vichy Capital Soleil Sunstick SPF30

For those of you that are oil addicts, get your fix with: Lancaster Satin Sheen Oil Fast Tan Optimizer SPF30

Lauren_beauty_products

 

Celebrities love maternity maxi dresses and you will too – GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

If there’s one thing we would recommend that every woman should have in her maternity wardrobe, it would be a great maxi dress. They are incredibly flattering, as they skim fluidly over your body while also making you appear taller, no matter how petite you are. They also look so stylish and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and time of day, but they’re really quick to throw on when you’re in a hurry. Is it any wonder that maxi maternity dresses quickly become a go-to piece for when you’re not sure what to wear but know you want to look fabulous?

 

OK, so you won’t want to cover up for the whole of your pregnancy, but a nice long maxi will provide comfort as well as a polished appearance for the days when you do. Pregnant celebrities are also well aware of the benefits a long dress can provide, if the huge list of famous faces who have been spotted in them is anything to go by.

 

To name just a few over the past couple of years, we’ve seen Neve Campbell, Melissa Joan Hart, Alyson Hannigan, Megan Fox, Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba all rocking maternity maxi dresses to great effect, sometimes for high-profile events and at other times just for a stroll around the shops.

 

One thing you’ll notice is that all of these women are very different shapes, sizes and heights, proving that this type of maternity clothing is flattering for everyone. For example, Alyson wasn’t swamped by hers even though she’s petite, while Jessica Simpson appeared balanced out despite her larger chest size.

 

These girls have also helped to showcase the variety of ways you can wear a maxi dress during the summer. Alyson was spotted wearing a denim jacket over her patterned style when it was cooler, while Megan’s plain black one was dressed up with fancy sandals and elegant jewellery for a family event.

 

And proving that they know great maternity wear when they see it, a number of celebrities have also been photographed in Seraphine’s very own maternity maxi dresses.

 

Alyson often wore our Blue Printed Maxi Dress, while Jessica Alba had our Brown Floral Print Maternity Maxi Dress.

Maxi_dresses_celebs

In fact, the latter seems to be a particular favourite, as its bohemian floral print is always on-trend and the cut provides an amazing slimming effect. It’s also 100 per cent cotton so you won’t have to worry about being too hot.

 

Get a great summer look for any occasion with our Brown Floral Print Maternity Maxi

 

  • Easy and breezy for running errands, like Jessica

 

Jessica wore a beige cardigan with her maxi and accessorised it with a grey bag. You can get a similar look with our Sand Linen Waterfall Maxi Cardigan and Grey Storksak Olivia Satin Maternity Bag – all you need are some A-list sunglasses to go with them!

 

  • Ready to party in comfort and style

 

Add an Ivory Silk Sequin Shawl to your maxi and some chunky gold or tribal-style jewellery and you’ll be ready to party, whatever the occasion this summer. Just sweep on some beautiful bronze makeup to reflect the warm colours in your dress for a real glow.

 

  • Go more formal for special events – or a smart-casual office outfit

 

Seraphine’s Black Cropped Cardigan or Ivory Wrap Blazer with some Python Ballerina with Suede Bow shoes will instantly smarten up your maxi, proving that it is suitable as part of a formal outfit as well as for a trip to the park or beach.

 

GIVEAWAY! (NOW CLOSED) HOW TO WIN OUR BROWN PRINTED MAXI DRESS:

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

 

Terms & Conditions:

  • Competition opens: 20.06.13 & closes: 27.06.13
  • 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

 

Break the rules for great maternity style

Everyone has heard fashion commandments like thou shalt not wear socks with sandals – they’re passed down by magazines, friends and our mothers to prevent us making faux pas that might be embarrassing in public. However, while certain advice may still apply, we think some of these rules are outdated. We’re here to show you how breaking them can result in great maternity style that will really make you turn heads this summer.

 

1.     Horizontal stripes

You probably think that horizontal stripes are best avoided, but this definitely isn’t the case. Particularly during pregnancy, they can actually really flatter your figure and make for a cool nautical feel. Try maternity dresses in white and navy, or a top in darker colours paired with jeans to see what we mean. Alyson Hannigan often wore stripes when she was pregnant, so check out some past photographs online if you need some inspiration.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

2.     Patterns with prints

There was a time when you would never have seen spots mixed with stripes or geometric put with paisley, but this has gone out of the window as we get more adventurous with what we wear. Summer 2013 is the season of the print, so why not make the most of it and adorn yourself with more than one? As long as you go for similar base colours or complementary hues on the maternity clothes you choose, it’ll look avant-garde rather than appearing as though you ran through your wardrobe covered in glue.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

3.     Mixing black with brown … or navy with black

It’s often said that black and brown don’t go together, but look at women in many Mediterranean countries and you’ll see this isn’t the case at all. Black and tan look particularly nice as maternity fashion choices, as frequently demonstrated by Victoria Beckham. Likewise with navy and black – we don’t know who first said you shouldn’t wear them together, but they were wrong. However, mix them fairly evenly rather than just wearing, for example, a black dress with brown shoes, as this can look accidental.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

4.     Clashing colours

If there’s anything that the long-running trend for colour blocking should have taught you, it’s that clashing different hues is absolutely fine, contrary to popular belief a few years ago! We especially like to see bold shades coming together, as it creates a really summery feel. For example, maternity tops that are bright pink will look eye-catching with azure as opposed to just black. Even shades you wouldn’t think would go together (like rust and fuchsia, or purple and orange) can be dazzling – it’s just a case of trying them out and seeing what works.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Go on – be a rebel and break the rules this summer!

Show off your pins this summer for great pregnancy style!

We spend so long in our winter woollies here in Britain that it’s a real treat when good weather arrives and we can finally cast off those extra layers. However, we speak to lots of women who assume that because they’re pregnant, they can’t get away with short dresses and skirts any more. It’s as though they feel that being an expectant mum comes with a set of rules about how much flesh to flash.

 

Well, we’re here to insist that it’s fine to be a little daring with your pregnancy style this summer – and what better part of your body to show off than your legs?

 

Your belly and chest can start to expand really rapidly after the start of the second trimester, but those pregnancy pins are likely to stay pretty much unaltered. In fact, they’ll probably appear even slimmer than usual in comparison, so you should definitely take this opportunity to show them off!

 

First, ensure they feel good

You can keep your legs toned with plenty of walking and swimming during pregnancy, but don’t forget to keep putting your feet up to reduce swelling around the ankles. Rubbing plenty of moisturiser in will help to keep your circulation flowing and reduce any dry skin too. Finally, ensure you start wearing supportive footwear as soon as possible, as this will reduce the strain on your calves and feet.

 

Look stylish in smart shorts

Maternity shorts don’t have to be casual. If you go for a city style in a dark-coloured cotton, you could even get away with wearing them to work alongside a blazer and blouse. However, they will look equally as good with a summery top for a day out with the girls. You’re sure to turn plenty of heads while still looking polished and elegant.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Feel cool in denim shorts

Denim is always a winner for maternity fashion, but sometimes a full-length jean can be a little too hot on warm days. Denim shorts are the perfect compromise, as they allow you to keep wearing that failsafe fabric while also showing off plenty of leg. Go for a style with a stretchy band at the waist and they’ll see you through the whole nine months – just wear them with tights as we move out of summer and into autumn.

 

Get the look with Seraphine: 

 

Feel flirty in a summery skirt

There are lots of different skirt lengths you can choose from during pregnancy, depending on your maternity style. A mini is perfect for a casual look, while a midi is ideal if you would prefer to cover your thighs. Don’t forget the sexy pencil either, which shows off a great lower body without being revealing at all.

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Feel understated yet sexy with skinny jeans 

Whether you’re feeling a little pasty-skinned or you simply prefer to keep your legs covered up, you can still look sexy rather than swamped in fabric this summer. How? Go for skinny maternity jeans that cling to every curve but are specially styled for comfort. They’re perfect with a T-shirt for rock chicks!

 

Get the look with Seraphine:

 

Which style will you choose as the weather hots up?

Make your pregnancy nails the perfect fashion accessory this summer

If you’re a regular reader of these pages, we know you’ll have an arsenal of maternity style tips by now, from how to rock a maxi dress to which footwear will take you comfortably through to the third trimester. However, we also aim to offer you maternity beauty tips too, as we like to share the knowledge we pick up through our own experiences and those of our customers.

 

Today, we’re going to fill you in on some of the hottest nail trends for summer, as your nails can be a fantastic accessory that will cheer you up all day if you keep them looking fresh with the latest techniques. Let’s start with the basic ones and move on to the more adventurous as we go along.

 

  • Oval nails

Pregnancy beauty is all about convenience, as you don’t want anything too high-maintenance when you’re already coping with lots of changes in your routine. That’s why we were thrilled to hear that this season is all about oval nails. Scary-looking pointy talons a la Rihanna have been put on the backburner, so there’s no longer any need to worry about putting your eye out when you scratch your face. Oval nails are also less breakable and they give the illusion of being longer than they really are.

 

  • Nouveau nude

Nude nails are the trend that keeps on giving, as they show no signs of going out of style yet. They’re ideal for work or formal occasions and there are so many shades that you’re guaranteed to find at least one to suit your skin tone – try anything from cream and taupe to greige for an instantly elegant feel.

 

  • Neon

Think nude is too boring? You’ll be wanting one of summer’s neons then. No bright is too bright where this season’s concerned, so feel free to give day-glo green or orange a go. It’s a great way of livening up dark-coloured clothing and will instantly make you feel summery, no matter what the weather is doing.

 

  • Nail art

If you like to spend time on your nails then nail art is perfect, as you can customise it to suit your own style. It’s also bang on-trend, having been seen on the fingertips of Blake Lively, Sienna Miller and, of course, Katy Perry recently. Try a summer-themed pattern, stick-on crystals, a modern French or even ready-done transfers – anything goes for 2013.

 

  • Texture

This is an evolution of nail art and is really in vogue right now. We’ve seen everything from leather-effect polishes to feathers and big glitter flakes adhered to fingertips, so don’t feel as though you have to go for a flat matte with your pregnancy nails.

 

  • Don’t forget your toes with a classic pedicure

We’d definitely recommend pampering yourself with a pedicure during pregnancy, whether you do it yourself or head to a salon – all the massaging can help to boost circulation and rubbing cream in will really help if your feet are sore and swollen.

 

You may find you need professional assistance by the third trimester though, as seeing your toes can become a bit of a challenge! Why not take some time to yourself and give something off our round-up a try this summer?

 

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