Our tee-tuck feature allows you to have a put-together French tuck look to your outfits throughout pregnancy
Here at Seraphine, we’re dedicated to creating products which will make your pregnancy journey that little bit easier – when it comes to dressing, at least!
Our product designers are committed to excellence in crafting clothes you’ll love, and are regularly producing innovative looks to make styling a breeze. Our tee-tuck feature, which you’ll find in our jeans, is no exception.
What is our tee-tuck feature?
Our tee-tuck feature is a simple but oh-so effective little device which allows you to have a neat French tuck which will stay in place, even as your bump grows.
Essentially, the tee-tuck is a gap of around three inches at the front (just behind the button-front waistband) of the stretchy maternity band, which you’ll find at the top of our maternity jeans. This gap allows you to easily tuck in your top for a more put-together ensemble, which has become known as the ‘French tuck’.
The rest of the maternity band is just as stretchy and sturdy as any of our non-tuck bands, and will offer your bump support while being silky soft against the skin.
Stephanie Mackey, who devised this nifty design element, says: “We know that our mums-to-be want to look great throughout their pregnancy and so we definitely see it as our job to give them the option to style their looks with ease and elegance as their body changes.”
The French tuck
As a reminder, or in case you weren’t aware of it, the French tuck is the name given to the art of tucking a billowy/oversized shirt in at the front and keeping it out at the back, which gives a super-stylish and contemporary silhouette. It was coined by British fashion designer Tan France (now living in the USA), who put it in the spotlight in recent times, though it’s definitely a look people have been doing for years.
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!
Remember travel? Hopping on a plane & turning up in a brand new city, luggage in hand, ready to explore…
Well today on the blog, we’re taking you on a whistle stop tour around some of the world’s top fashion capitals, to see what new & expectant mamas in London, Paris, LA, Melbourne & beyond have been wearing while staying safe at home.
Lingerie is one thing many of us have changed our ways on through lockdown, ditching the uncomfortable under-wired ones & replacing them with softer, more comfort-focused bras.
We love this pic of first-time mama Elizabeth wearing our lacy black lingerie set – the bra offers a comfy non-wired fit through pregnancy & easy nursing access afterwards.
We think this look by first time mama-to-be Emily is the perfect way to brighten up a grey lockdown day. Our comfy dungarees + a bold red lip… we are here for it!
And if you prefer a more monochrome take on the look, Cate has got you covered. She teamed our black denim dungarees with a cosy grey knit & sneakers, matching beautifully with her décor!
Over in LA, mama of two Laura loved our black floral midi. The soft woven fabric & easy wrap fit are ideal for warmer weather – perfect for relaxing around the house or heading out & about.
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!
Cancelled catwalks, masked models, digital shows & socially distanced front rows…. Fashion Week has looked a little different this year.
But if there’s one person we can count on to bring the spectacle, it’s super model, Seraphine fan & expectant mama Coco Rocha… and she did not disappoint!
7 months pregnant with baby number 3, Coco had the finale look at Christian Siriano’s fantastically escapist NYFW show.
Coco’s stunning red gown worked perfectly with her bump & the huge high-low ruffle skirt & train added major drama. The striking monochrome look in scarlet red was finished off with matching heels, hat & of course, face mask!
Safety was a top priority at the show – it was held out in the open in the back yard of Christian’s Connecticut home, all audience members were socially distanced & our favourite part – all the models were wearing masks to match their gowns.
We absolutely love this trend! We made our own re-usable cotton face masks to match with one of our signature new season dresses, so you can work the fashion week look for yourself!
Watch Coco’s Behind the Scenes Video (Part 1)
Fashion Week Behind the Scenes (Part 2)
To finish off the landmark 2020 show, Coco made a splash (if you’ll excuse the pun!) by strutting straight into Christian’s pool! While we don’t usually condone ruining designer dresses, the moment certainly brought a touch of the drama & whimsy that we love about fashion week!
Coco has long been a fan of Seraphine maternity clothes, having worn our styles through both of her previous pregnancies, while expecting her daughter Ioni (5) and son Iver (2). She was a particular fan of our little black maternity dresses.
Naturally nourishing, utterly intimate & not without challenge, your breastfeeding journey will be as unique as you are.
Here at Seraphine, our clever nursing designs are made with love, to help you & your little one get off to the best possible start.
You are doing an amazing job – our innovative designs are here to ensure maximum comfort & easy access whenever & wherever you need it – all to make your life that little bit easier in those precious early days.
These are some of the hero pieces we recommend to all new nursing mamas:
1. The Bamboo Bras
Made in soft bamboo viscose, these nursing bras are comfortable & breathable, offering a whole host of amazing features – they’re hypoallergenic, temperature regulating, moisture wicking & even offer antibacterial properties!
As a new nursing mama, there’s simply no such thing as too many basic nursing tops. These ones are soft, stretchy & easy to wear – perfect for layering.
A comfy dress is the ultimate easy outfit & right now we’re offering 20% off* a selection of our favourites!
Check out our DRESS EDIT & enter the code: GLOW20 to claim the discount.
*T&Cs apply
4. The Skin to Skin Top
A must-have for new mamas, these tops are designed to help keep your hands free while enjoying the amazing benefits of skin to skin time with your little one… and you can nurse in it too!
A great way to kickstart your nursing clothes collection, the kit includes a simple striped nursing top, a classic A-line dress with easy zip nursing access at the front & a comfy pair of post-pregnancy leggings.
The three styles work beautifully together & are ideal for mixing & matching with pieces from your regular wardrobe.
In the end, it all comes down to what works for you & your baby. As long as everybody is happy & nobody is hungry, you’re doing a fantastic job – keep it up mama!
With blue skies on the horizon & summer just around the corner, now’s the time to talk summer dresses. Specifically, this season’s signature maternity midi dress.
These are the fabulously floaty wrap dresses we’re tipping for greatness this season – which one is your fave?
And last, but certainly not least, we have the ultimate little black dress for summer. A lightweight, feminine take on the sophisticated style classic.
And the great thing is, these dresses will flatter your figure whether you’re pregnant or not – as rather glamorously demonstrated here by new mama @jesta_hillmann & little Juliann with her gorgeous before & after shots.
We absolutely love seeing bump to baby shots like this – new
mama Melanie welcomed her little boy in mid-March & has continued to rock
this little bodycon dress before & after!
Expertly tailored to grow with your bump, they’re made in soft stretch denim & feature adjustable panels at the sides for a flexible fit.
They take all the best things about the perfect pair of dungarees, and just make them… well… better!
With no restrictive waistband in sight, dungarees are a
dream to wear while you’re rocking a bump and are even better afterwards,
giving your body the time & space it needs to settle back into shape.
AND they make for the CUTEST matching mama & mini outfits!
Fashion icon & former Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh is expecting her first baby this spring with former MIC co-star Hugo Taylor and she is a big fan of our dungarees!
Classic & super-comfy, she teamed them with a simple striped top & sneakers for her big house move at the start of the year. We think they were the perfect choice for moving day.
She also styled them with a cute grey top for a DIY day, getting her new home ready for the arrival of baby!
Ginnie Chadwyck-Healy, the Sunday Telegraph’s Style Columnist and Former Vogue Editor, dared to double-denim, pairing our dungarees with a crisp white shirt & an oversized patchwork denim jacket.
British sports journalist Olivia Wayne is another big fan of our dungarees. She teamed them with a chunky yellow knit for a cosy winter look & with a statement white blouse, sneakers & shades for a more spring oriented outfit.
However you style them, shop the maternity dungarees now & they’ll keep you cool & comfy through every stage of pregnancy & beyond.
The secret’s out – the Pantone colour of the year is… *drumroll please* Classic Blue!
Described as a timeless and enduring blue hue, Classic Blue offers elegance & simplicity.
Suggestive of the evening sky, it’s a reassuring shade that is said to highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era – whether that’s from one decade to another or from pregancy into motherhood!
Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute’s Executive Director explains what inspired this year’s choice:
“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation.”
Our favourite thing about Pantone’s choice this year is that it’s SO easy to wear!
It’s such a dependable shade, you can wear it anywhere. Whether at work, at home, or even for special occasions, a classic blue dress will never be out of place and we have plenty of gorgeous options for your maternity wardrobe.
It’s also the perfect shade for an accent accessory to complete your outfit. Add a blue bag, scarf or even a statement pair of boots for a truly eye-catching addition.
During pregnancy your body is changing so quickly, that turning to such a dependable shade can be a wonderful way of feeling more comfortable & confident in your new curves.
Nothing says royal baby quite like a Seraphine maternity dress – we were the preferred maternity brand of the Duchess of Cambridge throughout all three of her pregnancies after all!
This blue lace dress is inspired by one of ours, which was worn by Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge when she was expecting Prince Louis.
She wore our gorgeous lace dress to meet the King and Queen of Norway on her official royal tour of Scandinavia back in 2018.
Kate’s Top Maternity Coats
Our Wool Maternity Coat in camel is also featured in the movie, which makes sense – the Duchess of Cambridge was a big fan of our maternity coats while she was pregnant.
She wore our Natasha Cashmere Blend Maternity Coat during both her second & third pregnancies. She also looked stunning in our Marina Maternity Coat as she arrived in New York at the start of her first official royal visit to the US.
There’s nothing like a festive movie night this time of year, so why not give it a watch over the Holidays & play spot the Seraphine style!