Health & Beauty | Seraphine Blog

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!

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.

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?

Post Pregnancy Pressures, Like We Needed Any More! – By Honest Mum

Floating near the top of the ‘Things to make mums feel bad’ file, slightly behind the ‘How you gave birth to your baby (sunroof C section or standard delivery?)’ and ‘Did you breastfeed or not? comes the ever popular, highly discriminating category: Baby Weight. Yes, in addition to the pressures of how much weight you’ve put on during pregnancy (not referring to health pressures, but cosmetic): ‘big everywhere/ just a bump/ too pregnant/ not up the duff looking enough’, comes all the ‘well meaning’ concern of how soon or will you ever (SHOCK HORROR) lose the baby weight you’ve put on, creating life. Sad but true. Dolly Parton got it right when she sang, “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman” and to think, she wasn’t even referring to her womb.

I get it, we’re ‘totes’, to (waters) breaking point, saturated with images of skinny, mostly supermodel mums leaving the hospital or ‘post hiding after birth period’, cradling newborns in their size 6 J Brand jeans and 4 inch Louboutins. Brilliant. Have you ever stood next to a supermodel or any model for that matter? I’ve directed fashion films and let me tell you, these women are otherworldly with their never ending limbs and naturally lithe bodies. Cotton wool eating aside (really)-it’s the way they were made. They’re not your average woman, and that’s why we’re not all models (worth noting this small detail next time you flick through Vogue and wonder why you’re struggling for a mirror image) yet we’re expected to compare ourselves, pregnant or not, with these super, hyper-beautiful human beings. Girlfriend, please. Yes, I have mates who are naturally slim and their baby weight (with not everyone gaining a lot in the first place) literally disappeared the moment their babies appeared, like some kind of weight loss Faustian pact and that’s fantastic-I’m not envious at all *cough, but every woman is different and according to a family friend and Consultant Nutritionist, if you had to work hard to stay slim before your baby, you’ll most definitely need to afterwards. That I can vouch for personally…

My first pregnancy was tough, I had constant vomiting until 7 months and later the pregnancy liver condition obstetric cholestasis which led to an induction and crash c section. Not the unicorns and rainbows start to motherhood I’d hoped for, then. I put on what is regarded as a healthy 2 and a half stone during pregnancy, but gained another from immobility post surgery and in my struggle to simply survive the sleepless nights, colic and becoming a mother with little help, as we were far from family. Second time round, now close to my folks and sans sickness and OC, along with a tranquil elective, I found I started to lose weight from the start. I felt happy and strong from the get go and perhaps this made some difference. Let me stress though, weight loss wasn’t my priority and in my case, post section, I was left with an expansive, empty stomach, (as often is the case with standard vaginal births), but propped up by a discreet line of stitches which take time to heal. You cannot exercise until the Dr approves at your 6 week check and this often means gentle exercise to begin with. I was only allowed to run after 3 months. It took me 14 months after the birth of my first son to lose my weight (I even lost more, making it to an athletic, curvy UK size 10) and second time, it doesn’t appear to be taking as long as I’ve felt well and able to exercise and diet from 3 months. I do want to lose the weight and resume my normal figure but the healthy way. I love that saying, ‘nine months on, nine months off’ and have attached a poster stating it, to my treadmill. There will always be pressure from the media and our peers but often the worst comes from ourselves. Well this time, I’ve vowed to not be too tough on myself. We can’t stop supermodels from bouncing back into shape to make us feel better but we can be kinder to ourselves. We can realise weight loss (if we want to lose it in the first place) takes time and energy- two highly elusive things when children arrive. It’s OK. Luckily, we don’t have the Paps waiting in bushes outside our homes desperate to take an unflattering picture of us or a Victoria’s Secret catwalk show to model in a month after our babies arrive (most probably-no not you Heidi if you’re reading this) so let’s just take a moment to appreciate what our bodies have done. Our cervix did good. Now go give it a high five and show it some respect. Who wants to look like Miranda Kerr anyway! Erm, not I!

Vicki is a former Magazine Editor and award winning screenwriter and director. You can read more of her musings on motherhood at her popular blog: www.honestmum.com

You can follow her on Twitter @Honestmummy

A Make-up Artist’s Pregnancy Beauty Advice

We were sneaky on our latest photoshoot and managed to pull aside our talented make-up artist, who kindly shared her top 3 pregnancy beauty tips! So here’s a little treat for you today:

1) Sunscreen – high factor (50) is essential as pregnancy causes pigmentation on the face which is much more likely to fade afterwards if a high factor is used.

2) Kiehl’s Centella Recovery Skin Salve – great for sensitive or irritated skin as a daily treatment or a heavy layer once a week.

3) Try using multiuse products to prepare for time saving make-up application! Bobby Brown pot rouge lips and cheeks – a dab on the apples of the cheeks blended with the fingers and a dab on the lips will bring life to the face and a healthy flush

ULTIMATE BEAUTY SECRET

*BUDGET*

Shu Vemura Eyelash Curlers – A few seconds on each eye and the eyes are immediately opened and flattered

*SPLURGE*

Sisley radiant immediate lift – Use this and say goodbye to tired eyes