Behind the Seams at Seraphine: A Sneak Peak at Our Design Process

Here at Seraphine, all of our maternity clothes are designed in-house at our London studio. Our talented team of designers and tailors see the entire process through from start to finish, ensuring care & attention at every stage.

This week we are offering you a sneaky look behind the seams at the Seraphine design process!

 

Seraphine design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It all starts with a beautiful idea, captured on paper. At this stage of the process, our designers put pencil to paper and visualise the maternity garments they want to create, from fabrics and fit, right down to the most delicate detailing.

Seraphine pattern development

 

When creating new designs for our LUXE Collection, we work with the finest silks and lace. It’s at this stage that the designers start to develop the design from a two dimensional drawing, into an actual garment that moves, drapes and flows. This is the time when the designers get to have fun with the fabrics, experimenting with the pattern to achieve a perfectly flattering drape.

 Seraphine toile

 

Once the designers are happy with the drape and the pattern, they’ll make a mock-up also known as a toile, to see how it all translates into an actual garment. This is a really exciting stage, as the maternity dress begins to take shape.

 

Seraphine fit model

Now the mocked up maternity gown is ready to be tried on for the first time! It’s at this stage that we bring in fit models to see how the dress works on a real pregnant woman. The designers look to see how the garment fits, drapes & moves, and ask for feedback from the model; then make any necessary amendments to the pattern.

 

Silk & Lace Maternity Gown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A real labour of love; the finished garment goes into production and is ready to be worn! A beautiful option for your next glamorous occasion, direct from the Seraphine design team, to you.

 

 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Treat Your Mum & Yourself

Here at Seraphine we celebrate Mother’s Day every day – you mums & mums-to-be deserve to be spoilt! There is no one else like a mother – you are the carers, the counsellors, the chauffeurs and the chefs, the best friends and the biggest fans. You lay down the law and dish out the discipline, and are always right there with the best kind of hug exactly when it’s needed.

Browse our Mother’s Day gift guide for beautiful ideas to spoil your mum, and stunning Seraphine pieces to treat yourself!

 

The sun has been out this week and there’s a hint of spring in the air, so now is the perfect time to treat yourself to one of our stylish maternity dresses. And our Reversible Bamboo Nursing Shawl makes the perfect gift for a new mum… start hinting now! We also love this shimmering compact mirror from Aspinal of London, or why not surprise your mum with a beautiful bouquet from Selfridges, or spice up her life with a designer scented candle from Jo Malone.

 

If your mum is a keen baker, she’ll love this beautifully feminine cake stand in fine bone china from the Miranda Kerr collection. Or why not spoil her (or yourself) with a new designer fragrance set – we can’t get enough of Modern Muse by Estee Lauder. Maybe it’s time to invest in a beautiful Stork Sak baby changing bag, and while you’re at it; our Florrie Floral Print Maternity Dress is a stunning option for a spring party, and the Special Occasion Maternity Coat would add the perfect finishing touch to the look.

 

Splash out and spoil mum with an extra special bouquet of flowers, or even something beautiful & sparkly from Links of London. And don’t forget to leave this page open somewhere conspicuous where your other half is bound to see it – if you’re lucky you might open up a present on the 15th to find a Wool & Cashmere Seraphine Maternity Coat or a stunning Silk Floral Maternity Maxi Dress from the Seraphine LUXE Collection!

 

Wishing you all a very happy Mother’s Day for the 15th! 

 

 

Spotted at London Fashion Week: The Trend Report

Designers, celebs, super models & fashionistas from all corners of the globe descended on the UK this week, ready for London Fashion Week 2015! The great British weather did its thing & rained on everybody’s parade, but no amount of rain could put a damper on the incredible style and creative spirit on show.

At such a huge gathering of fashion expertise, trend setters and stylistas, you can be pretty sure of finding Seraphine maternity clothes somewhere in the mix. And it didn’t take us long to spot glamorous model Alice Skewis looking chic in a pair of our Premium Under Bump Maternity Skinny jeans. Alice has modeled for Seraphine in the past and we love her style!

Here at Seraphine we’ve been busy spotting the biggest trends both on and off the catwalks, and are now ready to share our full fashion week trend report. These are the must-have looks that were strutting down the catwalks, sparkling on celebs in the front row, and dominating the street style in the fashion capital this week.

 

Patterned maternity dresses

Taking inspiration from fashion decades past; the designers were loving retro geometric patterns this week. In particular we loved Temperly London’s bold geometric prints, and Jonathan Saunders’ colourful pop art inspired patterns. And of course the street stylistas didn’t disappoint, offering everything from exotic mosaic styles to sharp geometric looks.

Geo Print Maternity Wrap Dress

 

Seraphine accessories

Faux fur in every conceivable colour & combination was big news this week. Hannah Weiland’s brand new British faux fur fashion label Shrimps was the brand behind last season’s most coveted coats; and this season she presented her first full fashion collection. Not only that, but Shrimps’ fun-loving faux fur coats ruled London’s street style – with two of Britain’s leading trend setters Alexa Chung & Pixie Geldoff rocking matching leopard print Shrimps coats!

Get the look:

Olive Green Faux Fur Scarf

Black Faux Fur Collar

 

Seraphine Roll Neck Dress

We were obsessed in New York, and the fascination for fashion polo necks has continued into London. Polo necks are having a definite fashion moment right now, with almost every single designer featuring at least one elegant roll neck in their London show. And the celebs and street style fashion moguls were right there with them – at the Top Shop Unique show alone we spotted Alexa Chung, Cara Delevigne, Ellie Goulding & Paloma Faith all sporting stylish polo necks!

Get the look:

Black Roll Neck Vanessa Dress

 

It looks like we have some very exciting things ahead for fashion next year… We’ve had a fabulous time style spotting in London, and now it’s time to put what we’ve learnt into practice & start working those trends!

 

 

Two Stylish Celebrity Mamas Spotted in Seraphine LUXE This Week

Seraphine LUXE maternity dresses can always be seen at the most glamorous events in fashion & film, and with the Academy Awards and the incredible style of Fashion Month hanging in the air, right now is the perfect time to spot expectant celebrities wearing Seraphine LUXE! This past week alone we were delighted to see not one but two glamorous mamas-to-be looking stunning in Seraphine LUXE: Avant-garde theatre director & the new Mrs Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie Hunter, as well as international super model Coco Rocha!

 

She’s the one who broke our hearts this Valentine’s Day by taking the dashing Mr Cumberbatch off the market for good in a quietly tasteful ceremony on the Isle of Wight. And as much as we’d like to hold a grudge, we simply can’t help but love Sophie Hunter and her fantastic maternity style.

The newlyweds are honeymooning in LA this week, where they attended the Oscars, and were spotted strolling together, Benedict with a protective arm around his new wife, and Sophie looking effortlessly glamorous in our Silk Printed Maternity Maxi Dress and a stylish pair of shades.

A hugely successful theatre & opera director in her own right, Sophie is a career girl, a true creative and – much as we hate to admit it – a perfect match for our Sherlock. The couple are expecting their first baby later this year and we wish them the all the best for the next few months.

Also spotted in Seraphine LUXE this week was the gorgeous Canadian super model Coco Rocha, who shared a stunning shot in Seraphine with her 894,000 Instagram followers this week. The picture shows a fully made up Coco in our Silk Chiffon Polka Dot Maternity Dress, balancing a bottle of Fiji water on her blossoming bump!

And this isn’t the first time the stylish Coco has instagramed a selfie in Seraphine – just last month she posted a stunning shot in our Black Maternity Shift Dress.

The model and her artist husband James Conran are expecting their first baby – a little girl – later this spring and the couple couldn’t be more excited – Coco told Refinery 29 This season, everyone’s asking what I thought of the clothes, but I’ve hardly noticed them. All I’ve been noticing are the baby outfits that North West is wearing!” With not long to go till baby Conran arrives, we think it’s safe to say that Coco has got fashionable pregnancy dressing down to a fine art!

 

Whatever the occasion, browse the Seraphine LUXE Collection to discover your dream maternity dress!


 

 

Get the Best out of your Breakfast: Tasty Ideas for Busy Mums

We’ve all heard it before: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but it’s especially true when you’re expecting. Running out the door & grabbing a latte-to-go just won’t cut it any more – you are eating for two now, so a full healthy breakfast is vital to kick start the energy you’ll need to get you through the day. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely weekend breakfast lounging in maternity pyjamas, or grabbing something quick before you head into the office – here are our top tips for getting the best out of your breakfast.

 

Toast topping ideas

The humble slice of toast tends to get a bad rep when it comes breakfast – it’s seen as the safe, predictable, somewhat boring option. When actually, with just a little imagination and a touch of creativity in the kitchen it can be so much more! Your average slice can form the basis of a whole world of incredible culinary creations! The tried and tested options will always be a hit – let’s hear it for avocado & egg, a decadent smoked salmon & cream cheese, and a totally indulgent peanut butter & banana… But what about mixing it up with some brand new combinations? Try peanut butter with chopped celery & raisins – ants on a log on toast anyone? -, fresh basil with cream cheese & mixed berries, or creamy ricotta & honey topped with juicy sliced pear – yum!

Check out this mouth-watering Buzzfeed list for all these and more!

 

Breakfast smoothie ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A breakfast smoothie is a fantastic way to kick off your day – packed full of vitamins, nutrients and all sorts of other good stuff; they taste great, are quick to make, easily transportable, and can even be prepared the night before, making for a super easy morning option.

These are a few of our favourite recipes at Seraphine HQ:

The Green Smoothie from Bri at Our Savoury Life.

The Berry Smoothie from Chungah at Damn Delicious.

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie from Ashley at Baker by Nature.

 

cereal ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bowl of cereal is another standard morning option which is often unfairly judged as unimaginative. All it takes is a bit of yoghurt and sliced fruit, raisins, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, a drizzle of honey or whatever else you fancy, and you take your bowl to a whole other level.

Why not try making your own granola for a totally unique breakfast experience.

 

Hungry for more breakfast themed inspiration?… Check out our Breakfast Pinterest Board!

 

 

Actress Isla Fisher Rocks a Pair of Ripped Seraphine Maternity Jeans

Stepping out in her Seraphine maternity jeans for the second time this month, we loved gorgeous actress Isla Fisher’s stylish bohemian chic look this week.

The Confessions of a Shopaholic star styled our Over Bump Ripped Skinny Maternity Jeans with a roomy boho shirt, flat studded mules, a tan leather bag and sunglasses, and wore her long hair loose and stylishly tousled. The artfully ripped jeans added a cool fashion edge to her look, and perfectly complemented her laid back vibe.

Isla Fisher in Seraphine Jeans

These stylish ripped jeans are becoming a firm favourite of hers – She even wore them earlier this month to celebrate her 39th birthday with husband Sacha Baron Cohen along with celebrity friends Courteney Cox, Liev Schreiber & Naomi Watts. The star had organised a gourmet cookery class at Eatz in West Hollywood, and our trendy ripped maternity jeans provided the perfect dressed down style for the occasion.

 

And Isla isn’t the only stylish celebrity mum to love Seraphine maternity jeans! Our maternity denim boutique is one of the top fashion destinations for glamorous mamas-to-be, including big names like Alicia Keys, Mila Kunis and Jessica AlbaKate Winslet loved her Seraphine jeans so much, she even styled them to walk the red carpet!

Currently 7 months pregnant, Isla is expecting her third child with comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen. She’s been taking a back seat in Hollywood recently to spend more time with her growing family – last year she told the telegraph:  “Family is 100 per cent my top priority”  With 2 daughters, 7 year old Olive and 4 year old Elula, and a new baby on the way, we are loving Isla’s naturally chic maternity style.

 

 

Skip the Salon with Seraphine Founder Cecile’s Essential DIY Styling Tools

As a busy working mum, I know that it’s not always easy to find time to devote to the salon. But I’ve found that with the right styling tools, you can achieve the same results in half the time at home! These are my everyday styling essentials:

 

A Great Hair Day

  1. When styling my hair, my first step is to wrap it up for 10 minutes in the Aquis Lisse Hair Turban – it’s a great hands-free way to dry your hair, which leaves you free for other things like putting on your makeup or sorting out the kids’ breakfast. It also reduces your drying time and minimises split ends.

 

  1. After 10 minutes in the turban, the Babyliss New Big Hair 50mm hot spinning brush cuts out the blow dry stage, turning towel dried hair into a smooth bouncy style in one easy step – I love it!

 

  1. And for days when you want a straight glossy look, the GHD Eclipse is the best set of straighteners I’ve tried – it gets gleaming results in next to no time.

 

 

Mani – Pedi

  1. I am a Shellac manicure convert – the high-shine chip-proof gel finish is perfect for a busy lifestyle. But these days it’s increasingly difficult to find the time to head to the salon. The Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Starter Kit allows you to achieve the same indestructible style in your own living room – I tend to do mine in the evenings after the kids are in bed.

 

  1. And for a quick DIY pedicure, the Emjoi Micro Pedi Foot Smoothing Device  is a great way to beautify your feet at home.

 

Fabulous Facial

  1. When there’s not enough time for a full spa facial, the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System will achieve that same deep clean feeling every day at home in just 1 minute!

 

Wide Awake Eyes

  1. When my boys were young and sleep was scarce, I discovered the power of perfectly curled lashes. The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers open up your eyes, and help you to look wide awake (even if you don’t always feel it).

 

  1. Never underestimate the impact of beautifully groomed eyebrows! The Tweezerman Slant Tweezers make plucking and shaping a breeze.

 

 

Maternity Fashion Secrets: Style Your Nursing Shawl Like the Stars!

If there’s one fashion accessory that we’d recommend for every new mum, it has to be the Bamboo Nursing Shawl. Celebs and fashion conscious mamas everywhere have discovered the huge styling potential of this practical nursing piece – and this week on the blog, we’re showing you some of our favourite ways to wear it.

 

The stylish mums pictured above are showing off a classic way to wear the shawl: Draped over your curves and fastened at the shoulder. It’s a simple look that works equally well for a casual outing or a red carpet event – Former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt (on the far left) even wore hers to a glamorous West End premier!

Super chic & stylish right? Well that’s only the beginning! Here are just a few of the other ways to wear your nursing shawl – try fastening it at the front to form a cape, wrap it up as a cosy scarf, or style it as a glamorously draped pashmina.

Ways to wear the nursing shawl

All these styling options in one clever shawl – and we haven’t even got to the best part yet! The real beauty of the Bamboo Nursing Shawl is that it provides the perfect cover, allowing you to breastfeed your baby discreetly wherever you are. It’s made in ultra soft, lightweight bamboo fabric, which boasts anti-bacterial properties, and is kind against sensitive skin – perfect for you and your newborn.

 

However you wear it, the bamboo nursing shawl will make an invaluable fashion addition to your wardrobe for before, during & after pregnancy.

 

 

Real Fashion Mamas Rock Their Seraphine Style

Here at Seraphine we love to see how you are styling your maternity clothes, and are always excited to see your pictures.

This week we want to share some of our favourite snaps sent in to us from real mums on, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and blogs. We think you’ll agree; this gorgeous selection of images provides the perfect source of maternity styling inspiration.

 

Out & about

Seraphine fashion

 

Taking their beautiful bumps and babes out for a stroll, these fashionable mamas have nailed their maternity style with some fabulous location shots.  Whether it’s a walk in the park or paddling at the beach, these mums are dressing to impress.

 

Fashion Selfie

 

We love a good fashion selfie, and you guys never disappoint! You know when you look good, and sometimes an outfit is just too stylish not to share – and it’s a great way to document your growing bump too!

 

Street style

Maternity street style

 

Taking their pregnancy styles to the street; we think these fashion forward mamas are worthy of the hottest street style pages the fashion press has to offer. Rocking gorgeous maternity clothes, expertly accessorised, these mums have mastered the art of being fashionably pregnant.

 

Wedding Season

Maternity wedding fashion

 

Wedding season is just around the corner, and these fashionable mamas-to-be are here to show us how it’s done. Whether you’re the bride, the bridesmaid or a stylish wedding attendee; we are always honoured to see you wearing Seraphine maternity dresses on such a special day.

 

A big thank you to all of our stylish fashion mamas:

Super FashionableBelle de CoutureBond Girl Glam, Style by Alina, Reina de la ModaThoughts by Natalie, Sharzad KiadehBel and BeauJenny Whittingham, LiparazziCourtney Wyse, Gwen Stefani (we couldn’t resist!), PlummumFashion GalleristLife in ATX, Sally Fazeli, Typhaine, Claire

 

 

Pick the Perfect Lingerie for your Valentine’s Date

It’s the classic Bridget Jones dilemma: Do you choose the sexy thong, or the comfy granny pants? The lacy balconette or the practical nursing bra? With a baby on the way and comfort your main priority, it can be tempting to give in to the latter options, but here at Seraphine, we believe you can have the best of both worlds! All of our maternity and nursing lingerie are designed to be ultra comfortable, fully adjustable and functional for nursing, as well as being stylish, feminine & sexy.

If you’re after a little inspiration in the lingerie department this Valentine’s day, check out our guide to picking the perfect lingerie for your Valentine’s date!

P.S. Scroll down for a sexy little discount code

 

Shop lingerie

The Date: A romantic meal at a swanky restaurant followed by an evening of high class entertainment – good food, good company and a jolly good show. This kind of date requires lingerie with a little touch of drama. Something sensual and a little bit frivolous – lace is an absolute must.

The Lingerie: Dusty Pink Lace Trim Nursing Bra & Briefs

 

 

Shop lingerie

The Date: If you and your man are heading out to dance the night away this Valentine’s Day, only the sexiest style will do. Whether you’re taking a steamy salsa class, learning to tango, or slow dancing at your favourite night spot – opt for something smouldering in black with a touch of tactile detailing.

The Lingerie: Black Lace Trim Nursing Bra & Briefs

 

 

Shop lingerie

The Date: The true romantic date comes in many forms – maybe you’re planning a romantic moonlit stroll, a picnic in the park, or even a complete re-creation of your very first date! Such a romantic setting calls for something super soft and feminine. Pastel shades, creamy soft fabrics and lots of lovely lace are definitely the way forward.

The Lingerie: Pink & Mocha Lace Trim Nursing Bra & Briefs

 

 

Shop nightwear

The Date: If going out all seems like a lot of hard work, opting for a decadent night in with just you and your man can be a great way to reconnect. Change into your PJs, cuddle up and spend some quality time – Netflix & ice cream optional! Explore our maternity nightwear collection to find the perfect pregnancy pjs or a feminine nursing nightie.

The Dress Code: Luxurious pregnancy PJs & feminine nursing nighties

 

P.S.

From now until Valentine’s Day, enter the code LOVE20 at the checkout to enjoy 20% off full price items from our lingerie and nightwear collections.

 

 

Get a Head Start on Spring – Order your SS15 Brochure Now

The Seraphine spring summer collection has landed, and now is the perfect time to explore the new styles and get a head start on the season – Order your free SS15 brochure now!

 

Dominated by vibrant colours and original prints; the new collection is designed to showcase your pregnant curves in a truly fashion forward way. You’ll find maternity clothes in seaside shades, classic Breton stripes, bold geo prints and flashes of bright neon. We’ve added to our award winning maternity jeans collection, introduced an essential new range of printed wrap dresses, and we think you’ll fall in love with our new printed maternity trousers.

 

Watch the video for a sneak peak at SS15

 

The French Cote d’Azur provided a gorgeous backdrop for our photo shoot, and the perfect location to showcase our French chic inspired maternity clothes.

Seraphine founder Cecile Reinaud says:

“Our collections are growing year on year, and this season offers women more choice than ever for a stylish pregnancy. There are plenty of new and fashionable pieces coming through for spring and summer – this collection offers something for everyone.”

Seraphine SS15 catalogue

Discover the full collection – Order your free copy of the Seraphine SS15 brochure now!

 

 

Tatler Editor Kate Reardon’s top tips for pregnancy & style

Tatler Editor Kate Reardon has had a glittering journalism career spanning Vogue US, Tatler, Vanity Fair, launching her own website, 2 best-selling books – Top Tips for Girls & Top Tips for Life, contributing to most of the UK’s national papers as well as a regular column in The Times and a slot on GMTV, before coming back to Tatler as Editor in 2010.

Kate and her husband are expecting their first babies – twins! – together later this year, and she spoke to Seraphine to share some of her own insights and top tips in pregnancy and maternity fashion.

 

1) Describe your style in 3 words.

Camouflage. Comfort. And more Camouflage.

 

2)  Have you stayed true to your style during pregnancy?

Who on earth can? I suppose if you are one of those women who gains no weight whatsoever and just develops a cute, Big Mac-sized bump then it might be possible. I am not one of those women.

Tatler editor

 

3) What’s your favourite Seraphine piece and why?

I love the Black Over-Bump Bamboo Active Maternity Leggings – perfect for my increasingly lame forays to the gym and deliciously comfortable.

 

4) Do you have any top tips to share with pregnant mums?

Babylist – it’s the most extraordinarily brilliant company. Hysterical and increasingly bewildered and confused about what on earth a baby needs and terrified of standing sweatily in a department store just chucking money at the problem, several friends took me to one side and told me the Babylist secret. You go and see them in their calm and reassuring showroom, they bring you cups of tea, tell you exactly what you need (and what you don’t), don’t charge you a penny more for it than anyone else, deliver everything, assemble it all AND take away all the packaging.

 

5) What has been your favourite moment during pregnancy?

The moment I saw two pink lines on the pee stick. And the day (at the end of month 5) that I stopped feeling sick.

 

Photo credit: Dan Burn-Forti

 

 

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