Category: Guest Contributors

Fashion Stylist Emma Bigger Shares Maternity Style Secrets

Emma Bigger is a fashion stylist who has worked in the fashion industry for over 15 years. She lives in North London with her husband, Simon and 20 month old son Ozzie. She is expecting her 2nd son in June this year.

 

 1) Describe your style in 3 words

 Relaxed, experimental and modern.

 

2) Where do you find fashion inspiration?

Everywhere! I am always looking for inspiration from films, magazines, street style, the catwalk and blogs. For work I have saved up years of magazines and references.

 

 3) Do you see yourself adapting your style for pregnancy?

Yes definitely. I have kept my core style but there has definitely been some adapting and some gorgeous new maternity clothes! There is not much experimenting now, I know what works for my bump and shape and so it’s best to stick to that formula for now.

 maternity trousers

 4) Do you plan on staying active through pregnancy or scaling back the exercise?

During my first pregnancy I was a bit of a gym junkie. This pregnancy has been a bit different – I now have a toddler to keep me busy, and as a freelance stylist I am always on the move. I try to do a few workouts a week – light jogging/cycling or yoga and Pilates.

 

5) We are confiscating your makeup bag – you’re allowed to keep three essential cosmetics. What do you choose?

 Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, By Terry Rose Lip Balm and my Dior Iconic mascara.

 

6) What’s your favourite Seraphine piece & why?

I absolutely love the loose fitting maternity trousers, they are so comfortable which is essential! I recently got the mosaic print loose trousers, which are so great with a grey marl tee and trainers for a casual day look.

 

Black slouchy maternity trousers

 

7) What has been your favourite moment of pregnancy so far?

 Finally getting past the tired phase, which lasted a lot longer in this pregnancy! And seeing the baby at my 20 week scan.

 

 8) Any tips to share with other mums-to-be?

Look after yourself. I know it sounds boring but if you eat well, exercise and sleep well, you will feel much better in yourself. Also get your sleep in now and don’t feel guilty about having a lazy day – you will have very few lie-ins as a new mum!

 

9) Tell us your idea of happiness.

Weekend morning cuddles in bed with my husband and son Ozzie before the chaos starts!

 

Little London Awards

 

* If you love Seraphine, don’t forget to vote for us as the best maternity brand at the Little London Awards! *

 

 

The Business of Motherhood: When Cecile met Celia

By fashion stylist, journalist and pregnant mother-of-one, Charlotte Kewley

 

Celia Muñoz, mother-of-five, founder of La Coqueta and Cecile Reinaud, mother-of-two, founder of Seraphine are two of the most inspirational powerhouses of a working mother one could have the pleasure to have a cup of tea with. I was lucky enough to get that opportunity when they met for the first time at the Seraphine headquarters in London to chat business, life and motherhood …

 

I arrived with my dictaphone and question list at the ready but it turned out I mostly just let them talk and listened in… here’s how the conversation went.

 

It was great to chat with Celia Munoz from @lacoquetakids & mum-to-be journalist @charlottekewley this morning!

A photo posted by Cecile Reinaud (@cecilereinaud) on

 

How did you each get into fashion?

 

Cecile: I was working in advertising, then I started to notice pregnant women in my office complaining that they didn’t know how to get dressed. I realised that maternity fashion was a niche that was under-serviced. So being 30 and super enthusiastic, I wrote a business plan, started talking about it and off I went! That was 13 years ago.

Celia: That’s incredible. Obviously we’re a much younger business, only three years old. I worked as a head hunter for 8 years, then had my first child, Flavia, aged 30. I always had a love for children’s fashion – it’s part of a Spanish person’s DNA. I used to dress her in beautiful Spanish clothes, people would stop me and ask where they were from. At some point I thought actually there could be a business opportunity here. I did three years of research to build my business plan and find suppliers as I had no retail experience, no production experience…

Cecile: Same as me!

Celia: It took a really long time! But when I had my 5th child I decided that was the time. I really wanted to start my own childrenswear business. So I opened my shop and it all started.

Cecile: So we have quite a similar story… except that you had 5 children!

 

A photo posted by Celia Munoz (@lacoquetakids) on

 

Celia, how did you do that with five children? A lot of women struggle with one or two.

 

Celia: I think the secret is being extremely organised. I’m very routine focused. So we do everything the same every single day, we plan ahead. My husband and I cook for a month and freeze everything. We try to live a life that is fairly spontaneous within a very organised framework and it works. I’m not going to lie, I do have help at home. How do you make it work Cecile?

Cecile: The same I suppose. Being organised, having the right help and I always say there is no such thing as the perfect mum!

Celia: You can never get it right! If you’re at home all the time or not you’re always going to be judged!

Cecile: Yeah and at the end of the day I think I have a better relationship with my kids because I don’t worry about the small things. When I’m with them I’m much more chilled and relaxed.

 

 

Cecile, you founded Seraphine before you became pregnant. Once you were pregnant did anything change?

 

Cecile: It was only just before. A lot of our first pieces I designed for myself, I think that was part of the success of the brand. But then my baby was born, I had a big store with a big investment behind it and no help, no family close by. It was the most challenging time in my life. I nearly collapsed! Literally. It was too much

Celia: I can see how it must have been so hard. The first baby is just the hardest thing ever…

Cecile: So when people ask, I say don’t do it like me! Don’t start a business at the same time as a family. It’s too much stress.

 

A photo posted by Celia Munoz (@lacoquetakids) on


So what would be your advice to any new mothers or women starting their own business or just going back to work?

 

Cecile: I think to find yourself a network. Like anything in life, when you share problems you feel normal. When you’re lonely it’s hard!

 

Cecile, can we just talk about the Kate Middleton effect? How did the royal affiliation happen? It must have been a wow moment when she first stepped out in one of your dresses?

 

Cecile: I remember when it happened I was in the office, it was 5pm and my PR Assistant said ‘Cecile can you come here? I think she’s wearing our dress!’ I just couldn’t believe it! She chose our Fuchsia Knotted Maternity Dress for Prince George’s first official picture. So for her second pregnancy we offered to do bespoke pieces, it worked, they loved them, bought them and she wore them at official occasions and it’s been a fairy-tale!

 

 

And now you’ve launched The Diana Award baby collection?

 

Cecile: Yes, I was approached by the charity, obviously the idea was to raise money and awareness – we give 12% of sales from our baby wear collection to the charity, which is really satisfying. We also did the collaboration Love T-shirt with Tommy’s charity… it’s fun and for a good cause.

 

 

And Celia, you of course recently collaborated with House of Hackney?

 

Celia: Yes! Just like with Seraphine I love HOH and I could just see it working out. I think it’s nice to surprise your customer and keep coming up with new ideas….

 

What’s the most important message for your business? Why do your customers come to you?

 

Cecile: For us it’s simple. To make you feel amazing during your pregnancy and look beautiful! If we tick that box we’re happy.

Celia: For us the customer comes for anything that is handcrafted, all of our smocks are handmade and everything is beautifully finished.

 

 

And finally what are your must-buys from your own SS16 collections?

 

Cecile: The luxe dresses – we have a luxe collection of maternity evening wear – the gowns are amazing.

Celia: Our cotton sets for newborns, they’re very practical staples. And of course a handmade smock dress!

 

For more from these inspirational mothers in business, follow them on Instagram:

@cecilereinaud, @lacoquetakids, @charlottekewley

 

 

 

20 Minutes with Master Chocolatier Paul A Young

At a time when champagne and sushi are out, and even coffee is limited, chocolate remains one of the precious little luxuries still safe through pregnancy (thank goodness!) Paul A Young is a Master Chocolatier revolutionising London’s chocolate scene with his stunning range of fresh artisanal chocolates. We caught up with him for a chat about all things chocolate…

 

 

1) We can’t get enough of your chocolates! What’s your secret?

Thank you!

There’s no secret! We pride ourselves on using the finest quality ingredients at every stage of making the chocolates. We’re also one of the only chocolateries in the UK who make everything by hand. This attention to detail ensures our chocolates reach the highest standards. We also use fresh ingredients, which means our chocolates do have a short shelf life but they contain no artificial flavourings. I like to think our chocolates are a blend of science and art.

We’re also not afraid to be a little bit different. I like to experiment, taking what inspires me and coming up with something that surprises and delights.

 

Paul A Young chocolates

 

2) Master chocolatier has got to be pretty high up there on our list of dream job titles. Tell us how you got into chocolate.

Throughout my childhood, I always had a natural interest in food. I loved baking and cooking with my mum and grandma, so it was no surprise when I began studying at a catering college.

During my time as a pastry chef, I worked my way up through the ranks with Marco Pierre White and his team until I became Head Pastry Chef at Quo Vadis in Soho. It was a great learning environment for me and I gained so much experience from my time there. I also fell in love with chocolate.

I was introduced to Chantal Coady, founder of Rococo Chocolates after using her chocolate in my chef demonstrations at food shows. She asked me to design two fresh handmade chocolates for the first Chocolate Week and that helped seal my career plan for the coming years… I then decided to specialise and teach myself everything I could and create a style of fresh chocolates that wasn’t available in London 10 years ago.

 

 

3) Indulging in chocolate through pregnancy is scientifically proven to be beneficial for both mum and baby! With this in mind, which of your chocolates would you recommend for a mum-to-be?

There is a huge misconception about chocolate being unhealthy. In fact, high quality chocolate, whether milk or dark, can be very beneficial as well as satisfying (especially if you have a craving for it whilst pregnant). In terms of my recommendations, I would suggest my 72% Venezuelan Dark Chocolate Bar which is robust but it’s full of flavour with a light acidity and being dark chocolate, a square or two will be nutritious as well as satisfying any sweet tooth. We also use a 72% Venezuelan chocolate in my classic water ganache truffle, which has just a touch of unrefined golden caster sugar. It’s a really popular chocolate as it has such purity in taste as well as ingredients.

 

 

4) Pregnancy is well known for inducing odd cravings, and you are known for your flair for interesting flavours – what are some of your weirdest combos to date?

Chocolate is such a versatile ingredient and I never tire of finding new ways to reinvent what people expect from a truffle or a ganache. Exploring new chocolate pairings is one of the most exciting parts of my job; I can spend hours in my kitchen developing new recipes. In the past, I’ve explored flavours such as black pudding, Stilton, Absinthe and a citrus fruit called Kalamansi but perhaps it is my Marmite Truffle that is most famous. The journalist Lydia Slater dared me to create it and she swore it would be impossible. After much trial and error, I was able to create a delicious dark chocolate filling laced with Marmite. It remains one of our bestsellers to this day.

Some combinations can take more time than others, but I persevere until I get it right. For the most part, it’s about not limiting yourself and not thinking that you can’t do it.

 

 

5) So where can we buy your wonderful creations?

I opened up my first shop in Camden Passage in 2006; I’ve now expanded to my flagship shop on Wardour Street in Soho and opened another at the Royal Exchange in Bank. They each have their own personalities – our Royal Exchange store used to be an old apothecary!

 

6) Quick fire chocolate round

Childhood favourite: Cadbury’s Swirl

Guilty pleasure: Kit Kat

Cheap & Cheerful: Mini Eggs at Easter

Ultimate indulgence: My sea-salted caramel – I have at least one a day. I have to! Just to make sure they are up to my exacting standards, of course…

 

Learn to Make Paul’s Real Hot Chocolate…

 

7) What’s next for you? Any exciting plans you can share?

My latest book, published in October, has 60 chocolate recipes from celebrity friends and myself. All the profits will go to The Children’s Air Ambulance – I’m one of their Ambassadors.

It’s also the 10 year anniversary of my first shop opening this year so we’ll definitely be celebrating! I’m also launching my own Youtube channel so I’ll finally be able to share all my tips, tricks and recipes all in one place.

 

To find out more, visit Paul’s website: www.paulayoung.co.uk

 

 

Photo Creds

First Picture of Paul: Maxine Kirsty Sapsford

Brownies: Olympia

Second Picture of Paul: Tom Moggach

Billionaire’s Shortbread: Olympia

Helen Skelton on Seraphine Maternity Clothes – “It’s a Whole New World!”

Helen Skelton is a TV presenter, best known for her work on Country File, Holiday Hit Squad, and for her stint as a Blue Peter presenter. She lives in Cheshire with her rugby player husband Richie Myler & their dog Barney (also a former Blue Peter star), and the couple are expecting their first baby in June. Helen shares how discovering Seraphine drastically altered her ideas on maternity clothes.

 

A post shared by Helen Skelton (@helenskelton) on

 

I swore off maternity wear until I found Seraphine. “Beautiful” and “Natural” pregnancy may well be, but sexy it is not. When I found out I was pregnant, with my hips, boobs and bump expanding by the day and constantly needing a wee I told my husband I would NOT be wearing any maternity gear! “Why?” I asked him “would I want to wear granny bras and huge rib tickling trousers when I feel this unattractive already! That’s only going to make me feel worse!?”

 

Then I caught sight of myself in a shop mirror, my baby bump spilling over the top of my unfastened jeans, my boobs bursting out of my ill fitting bra and my blouse straining over my bust. Not only does this look awful, I felt awful. I spend hours in a car or on a train most days and when you constantly need a wee, tight fitting waistbands aren’t the best.

 

I buckled. I gave into my husband’s nagging and my mum’s “I know best” tone and ordered one pair of Seraphine “over the bump light wash skinny maternity jeans.” I can honestly say it’s a whole new world! They are comfy, they look like normal jeans, I can show off my bump by pairing them with a tight stretchy tee shirt without feeling disproportionately huge. Since then I’ve bought three more pairs in different colours and fabrics. I’ve gone for over the bump each time.

 

Admittedly tops and jumpers are still a bit trial and error, I like things that are fitted enough to show my bump but not too tight to look spray on. My favourite Seraphine jumper is the oatmeal woven back nursing jumper. My friends literally gawped when I said that was a “nursing” jumper. They expected me to say it was from “Sandro” or some other designer store. I joked for about twenty minutes that it came with a breast pump. (It doesn’t).

Helen Skelton in Seraphine

 

Of course I was convinced at first I could pour my curves into stretchy evening gowns for do’s and weddings! However I spent an entire evening recently re adjusting my bra to keep my chest in check. There just simply isn’t enough material in a normal evening gown to cover my “double ee” chest at the minute. So I tried on Seraphine’s “lace detail wrap maternity gown” for an awards do recently and I honestly felt amazing. Proud of my bump, confident I wasn’t going to burst out of it and glam.

 

As I have told my husband so many times, for me, clothes aren’t about looking good to other people, they’re about feeling good. Now I have abandoned my prejudice against maternity clothes I am actually comfortable and therefore confident. Priceless when you’re pregnant.

 

Helen

X

 

 

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

 

 

Julia Bradbury tackles TV shoots, press, premiers & pregnancy!

TV presenter Julia Bradbury is best known for co-presenting BBC’s Country File with Matt Baker. She lives in West London with her partner Gerard and their 3 year old son Zephyr, and she is expecting twins later this year. She reveals her secret to finding stylish maternity clothes while dealing with a full on schedule!

Julia Bradbury silk maternity gown

 

Julia wearing our Mulberry Silk Maternity Evening Gown at the National Television Awards

When you’re pregnant you’re meant to avoid high pressure/stressful situations aren’t you? So finishing up a new television series, doing lots of press interviews and moving house are probably not what the Gyn ordered. To add to the story, I have a 3year old little boy, I’m 44 and pregnant with twins. It’s been a full-on few months and this pregnancy has affected me differently; swollen ankles, fatigue and nausea have all decided to come to the party this time round, after a near dreamy first pregnancy. Perhaps it’s my age, perhaps it’s because this bundle is a twin engine; whatever the reasons, I’ve been taking naps when I can, doing lots of breathing exercises and walking (I can’t bend over so yoga is out). My FitBit wrist band really helps keep track of my steps because I genuinely don’t feel like pushing myself, but it’s good to know I’ve passed the 5,000 (approx. 2.5 miles) step mark without too much trouble, although I’d normally aim for at least 10,000 steps a day.

Julia Bradbury pregnancy style

Julia wearing our Midnight Multiway Maternity Maxi Dress at the Kate Piper Foundation fundraiser

My new series is called the Wonder of Britain and kicked off on ITV1 at 9pm on Tuesday 6th January 2015. It’s a celebration of the elements that make Britain stand out as an iconic island, from magnificent landscapes to incredible buildings. I explore the country on boats, planes and zip wires digging out all the good stories along the way, travelling from the Isle of Skye in Scotland all the way down to the White Cliffs of Dover. Luckily we’d done all the super-active bits of filming (like abseiling down a 500ft inland cliff at Cheddar Gorge) before I fell pregnant but we did have to scrap a helicopter sequence where I got air-lifted off a rock face right at the end of the series and that was probably for the best!

Julia Bradbury in Seraphine

The last month has involved doing lots of press and photo shoots for the show and all I can say is thank Obi-Wan-Kenobi for Serpahine maternity clothes! It’s not easy styling multiple shoots one after the other when you’re packing a bump of this size! On top of that, I’ve had a lot of formal and black tie events to go to… Seraphine saved the day at the Katie Piper Foundation Fund Raiser in December where I spent the evening with the handsome duo Jake Humphreys and Gethin Jones. It was a great night and thanks to the support and attendance of Simon Cowell with all the X-Factor judges (including beautiful Cheryl and striking Mel B) the event raised nearly £250k to help people live with burns and scars. My Seraphine maternity maxi gown was such a success that I cheated and wore it again to the Royal Albert Hall 2 weeks later for the TV Times Christmas with The Stars night, raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. I introduced a carol with the delightful Deborah Meaden from Dragon’s Den – I did try and crouch down for a photo (she’s 5’1, I’m 5’ 9”) but I just looked a bit hunched!

Julia Bradbury pregnancy in the press

 

At the opening night of ONCE, Ronan Keating made his West End stage debut and despite appearing to be a little bit nervous he really smashed it. I remember interviewing BoyZone when they first formed, so it was good to see them again and marvel at Shane Lynch’s enormous beard!  The next day I was up to the top of the Leadenhall Building in the City for more photos for a couple of newspapers. The top floor of one of London’s tallest skyscrapers in mid-winter is not somewhere I’d recommend you hang about but the London skyline looked incredible twinkling away that evening. The building is featured in the first episode of the Wonder of Britain so it was the perfect location to wrap things up for Christmas.  Next up, moving house….

For more from Julia, follow her on Instagram @therealjuliabradbury.

 

 

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Seraphine maternity dresses: a smash hit on the small screen
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Pregnancy Style Tips from Absolutely Magazine Editor Helen Baron

Helen Baron is a lifestyle journalist, and editor at Absolutely – London’s local glossy fashion and lifestyle magazine. She and her husband live in Hackney with their miniature schnauzer Django, and are expecting their first baby – a little girl later this year. Helen shares her pregnancy best bits, and how she has fared with styling her bump so far.

 

1) Describe your style

Classic with an art-school twist.

2) What is your go-to outfit?

Depends on the season. Pre-pregnancy I was quite enjoying wearing skater skirts in different textures with a luxe knit. During pregnancy, I’m thankful for dungarees and loose knit maternity dresses (as it’s winter).

Loose Knitted Maternity Dresses

 

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

Loving the Seraphine bump kit right now – basic staples which can be mixed and matched and are (importantly) made of comfortable stretch fabrics.

4) Which celebrity style do you admire and why?

I love Binki Shapiro – cool, cute, band-girl style. She always looks relaxed but effortlessly stylish.

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

Invest in a Swiss ball so you can continue with core exercises while your back is supported – it will also come in handy for sitting on and encouraging baby into a good position during your third trimester. Style-wise, invest in a well-fitted pair of maternity jeans – they’re invaluable for smart or casual wear; just make sure to get a similar cut to your usual jeans.

Maternity jeans

 

6) What have you enjoyed most during pregnancy?

Being able to indulge in so many (pregnancy-safe) homeopathic remedies and massages! Pampering is one thing you needn’t abstain from while pregnant.

7) What’s the best advice you’ve received so far?

To look at natural birth options – I always assumed I’d want a ward birth with as many drugs available to me as possible! I’ve since come to see labour as a natural process – and am far less fearful as a result.

 

For more from Helen, follow her on Twitter @Absolutelyedhel

 

 

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Fashion blogger – The Style Gallivanter’s tips for new mums

Fashion Blogger The Style Gallivanter’s Tips for New Mums

Melbourne based blogger and style consultant Miranda is the glamour mama behind one of Australia’s hottest fashion blogs The Style Gallivanter. She is a self confessed fashion addict with a soft spot for bold colours and big hair, and concedes that her extensive collection of international fashion magazines is slowly taking over her house. Miranda is a firm believer that style is the best form of self-expression without having to say a word, and we love her personal mantra: “Go Forth and be Fabulous!”

 

Style Gallivanter

 

1) Describe your style in 3 words

Tomboy chic, glam.

 

2) What is your go-to outfit?

That would have to be a pair of black tights or (stylish) yoga pants with an over-sized shirt and a cropped jacket. It is a comfortable but edgy ensemble, and the girls are easily accessible if you are a breastfeeding mum. The latter of course is always the determining factor now! And accessories too – they have the power to make any outfit come alive.

 

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

I’d have to say the bodycon dresses. They make one feel very sexy in pregnancy, and are great post-partum. Not only that, but they can easily be teamed up with a great jacket  or top (after baby arrives) to create the illusion of a pencil skirt. How about that for a versatile piece of clothing!

 

4) Any tips for Holiday Dressing?

Ponchos and capes can effortlessly be dressed up or down, depending on where you are going. Not only that, Seraphine.com has all those gorgeous coats that can be thrown over anything to dress it up in an instant, such as the Seraphine Marina Maternity Coat (which was recently spotted on the Duchess of Cambridge). These are not only great choices in pregnancy, but for breastfeeding mums too. They can hide a whole lot, in terms of all those extra pounds of loveliness we gain in pregnancy.

 

 

Style Gallivanter wears Seraphine

 

5) Which celebrity style do you admire and why?

I love Victoria Beckham’s personal style. She always looks so well put together. I just adore well-constructed clothes with a lot of structure because they make everything look ‘in order’.  They usually have a timeless appeal about them too.

 

6) Do you have any top tips to share with other pregnant moms?

If you are going to do any maternity shopping, ensure that you buy items that are wearable after you have your baby. Other than that, make a decision to enjoy your pregnancy from day 1. During pregnancy, I told myself that it was going to be one of the best times of my life. And in most cases, the body always follows what the mind declares. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures too – you’ll be glad you did, in the future.

 

7) What has been your favourite moment during pregnancy so far?

So many favourite moments! But I’d have to say when my baby started kicking and moving around. There is nothing as magical as feeling life from deep within you. And hearing that heartbeat for the first time… man! It changed my outlook on life forever, plus it’s just awesome to walk around with 2 heartbeats in your body – made me feel like a superhero!

 

8) What’s the best advice your mother gave you?

“Trust the process, especially with things beyond your control”. This came in very handy when I was pregnant because as mothers-to-be, we tend to worry about a lot of things. So, whatever stage of life you may be in, try not to sweat the small stuff – because eventually, all things will work out for your good.

 

For more from Miranda check out her blog Style Gallivanter or follow her on Instagram at Sakhino.

 

 

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Seraphine Presents: Heritage French Toy Brand Moulin Roty!

Seraphine is proud to present Moulin Roty; A French brand who have created a world of colour and tenderness for little ones with their adorable plush characters, comforters, and toys for over 40 years.

 

The adventure began back in 1972 when a group of friends moved into a village mill called Moulin Roty with a common project, to live and work together. In 1975, a small car made of wood, foam and fabric launched Moulin Roty as a top destination for children’s toys.

 

 

Designed in France, using only the finest quality fabrics and materials, Moulin Roty’s beautiful toys capture the charm of bygone eras while remaining fresh and inspiring with their unique fusion of heritage and avant garde designs.

 

New Toy Collections

 

Moulin Roty

 

The Papoum are three wild animals (a lion, a hippo and an elephant) who will take your little one on a trip to the heart of the savannah. Chic, elegant, in warm and spicy tones, this collection offers characters that are crying out for a hug, activity toys ready for action and accessories to decorate baby’s bedroom.

 

Moulin Roty

 

The Tartempois are colourful gangly acrobats that spread happiness and good humour wherever they go! This collection offers comforters, baby slippers, soft activity toys and supple creatures with long arms and even longer legs that baby can easily grab and hold.

 

Moulin Roty toys are available across the UK. You can find a wonderful selection at My Small World; a beautiful toy boutique in Bath, or you can browse the full range at jeujouet.com. And while you’re perusing Christmas gifts for your little ones, why not check out The Diana Collection, our brand new range of designer baby clothes – 12% of all proceeds go to charity!

 

The Diana Collection - baby clothes

 

Happy Christmas Shopping Mamas!

 

 

Growing a Family Business – by Pink Lining Founder Charlotte Pearl

Charlotte Pearl is the designer behind, and co-founder of Pink Lining, a multi award winning, international label specialising in the Mother & Baby market – Just recently they were over the moon to win brand of the year in the Little London Magazine awards as voted for by the public.

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

As a mother of 4, the youngest being only just one year old, I know only too well the highs and lows of juggling family life and my own business. And yet my family is the inspiration for our Pink Lining products – I design for my own family and therefore hopefully for yours too.

 

 

Originally, I designed and made fashion bags, spurred on by a challenge from my then boyfriend, now husband, and co-founder of Pink Lining, Rufus. Upon spotting a bag that I liked but couldn’t afford at the time, I declared that I could make it myself… and thus Rufus challenged me to do so!  Subsequently I received commissions from friends and colleagues, which encouraged me to take photos with a disposable camera of my hand-made creations, hung from my front door handle, which I then posted off, along with my press release – to Vogue, Tatler, Harrods, Selfridges and Liberty!…Aim for the stars!… Within a couple of weeks I had an order from Harrods, swiftly followed by confirmation that the product would be featured in Vogue and Tatler! After finding a manufacturer and fulfilling the order (a rather challenging task!) the bags sold out from Harrods within 3 weeks and Liberty and Selfridges also subsequently placed orders….

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

A few years and numerous fashion weeks later, I was overjoyed to find myself pregnant with our first child. My first experience of the rather precarious juggling act of balancing ensuing family life with running my business occurred before she had even entered the world. I was 10 days overdue, and Rufus and I were in Saint Mary’s Paddington for my induction appointment. Being ever so slightly headstrong and rather inexperienced in giving birth I insisted that I could walk from St Mary’s Paddington to the local post office to post a bag to a customer… after having had my waters broken…. Let’s just say that I didn’t make it to the front of the queue before I realised that children come first and Amelia arrived 3 ¾ hours later – thankfully back in the hospital.   So as for the question I’m often asked; how did motherhood impact my business – well, it actually BECAME my business…I’ve heard it said that this is getting to plan B…in my case B was for Baby.

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

The first Pink Lining changing bag – the Yummy Mummy bag was born and instantly captured the imaginations of an exciting and rapidly growing mother and baby market. This bag didn’t mean you had to be a certain dress size or look a certain way in order to wear it – for, as we believe at Pink Lining, even down to the internal components of our products; it is what is on the inside that truly counts.  Our customers have a shared outlook, not a shared look, and here was a product that was both practical, and fulfilled a very justifiable purpose, moreover it brought a smile to the face of the wearer. Our Pink Lining changing bags seemed to strike a chord.

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

It sounds like a cliché but 12 years ago before my first (of four) arrived, there wasn’t the proliferation of bags that we have for mothers today – so I made one, and it became our best seller and we morphed from a fashion accessories business, into a family brand.  And thus the business has sprung up, evolved and grown alongside our family.

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

Family has and always will come first for me – even though that means working late into the night and early in the morning. Rufus and I run and co-own the company together which can help when it comes to juggling work and family commitments between us, and although I often work crazy hours I can mostly arrange to be there for the important occasions such as school plays and netball or football matches.  However, it also means that sometimes there is no off button in terms of taking work home with us! So for us, a family business really means all six of us…in fact seven if you include the dog who appears in most of our marketing photos!

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

I think it’s exciting and educational for the children to witness the process of running one’s own business – allowing them to feel and actually be part of it. They play such an important part in the company, testing out the Pink Lining Child products, and giving advice on their favourite themes and colours; they love sitting alongside me coming up with their own fabric designs, some rather outlandish ideas for magic bags which I may pare down a little (a lot).

 

A photo posted by Charlotte Pearl (@pinklining) on

 

They get very excited about spotting the bags out and about, (we all do!), and as tiny babies they accompanied us to important meetings and charmed buyers, (running your own business doesn’t give you much in the way of maternity leave!!). Even the company name, Pink Lining, stems from an amalgamation of childhood sentiments & family nostalgia – derived from stories my mother would weave about a make believe land called Pink cloud and the belief that every cloud has a silver lining, which she now recounts to her grandchildren – our children.

 

 

Last Easter really summed up what a family business Pink Lining is as we undertook a 5 ½ weeks trip to see our suppliers in China, distributors in Seoul and new partners in Australia… Rufus and I, Amelia-Rose (11), Lucas (8), Arthur (6) and Henrietta (1)!  Pink lining really is a family adventure!

 

Pink Lining changing bags make the perfect partners for Seraphine maternity clothes and our stunning nursing dresses!

Thank Heavens For Good Maternity Clothes! – by Rebecca Wilcox

Rebecca is a regular reporter on BBC 1’s Watchdog and a well-known consumer journalist who has worked on many and varied programmes ranging from Your Money Their Tricks, to a regular spot on This Morning, and presenting the beauty segment on Gok Wan’s How to Look Good Naked! She lives in London with her husband Jim and their toddler Benji, and the family are expecting a new addition in March.

 

I am lying on the kitchen floor with my two year old throwing pasta at my head and jumping around in fits of giggles with a ball up his t-shirt shouting that he too has a baby in his tummy. Every time I attempt to move from my prone and vulnerable position as a food target on the floor he rushes over with a mock serious expression, “No Mummy,” he says, “You need to sleep, you’re growing a baby. Lie. Down.” And I thought telling him I was pregnant with his younger sibling would make life easier. Ha! Later whilst picking the toddler tea from my hair I started to think on how my first pregnancy was so different. First time around I was a Princess. I positively floated everywhere on a cloud of happy hormones with my yoga toned perfect bump dressed in a variety of silky dry-clean-only clothes. After that initial first trimester of inevitable nausea and back-ne (who knew being pregnant would give you teenage skin on your back??) I had felt invincible and powerful, a vessel of future life to be admired everywhere she went.

Fabulous maternity wrap dresses

This time around pregnancy has been very different, with a two year old in tow there’s no easy relaxed afternoons with a possible nap and a full night’s sleep to look forward to. I am now a little irritated by first pregnancy me, “Wake up!” I want to shout, “Won’t be like this next time around!” There’ll be no yoga to soothe the mind and smooth the bump, no silky stainable fabrics to waft around in, no compliments on that pregnancy glow – for who could possibly find my ‘glow’ under the layers of sallow sleep-deprived skin that I no longer have the time to hide with make-up. First time around my gym-honed stomach kept its shape for ages, I had been desperate to show a little round tummy that would proclaim to the world: “I’m pregnant, hooray! Now spoil me rotten.” Well I got my wish this time around as I ballooned to a 6 month sized bump by week 5! Seemingly in an instant my normal clothes were no longer an option, a fact that became all too clear when my skinny jeans gave up and popped a button violently and loudly during a work meeting. “Too many wheat grass shots?” smirked my producer. No, just a teeny, tiny foetus and, of course, A LOT of cheese.

Comfy maternity style

So for my second I’ve gone ‘maternity’ early in every sense of the word, not only am I showing early but all my nine months of symptoms from the first time started within weeks of seeing that familiar blue line on my test. Back-ache, exhaustion, spots, my hips expanding – some of these things waited for labour last time but now they’re joining me for the full 40 week gamut. Thank heavens for good maternity clothes – the fabulous Seraphine wrap dresses, their ridiculously comfortable stretchy maternity jeans and Seraphine’s flattering maternity jumpers have got me through those times when I feel more lumpen than luscious. In my mum’s day it was all tent dresses and hiding your growing form beneath layers of bows and fabric so I feel really lucky to see that clothing designers now want to stylishly celebrate our burgeoning bumps not conceal them. My son even commented on one outfit saying “Pretty mummy” before launching himself at me with the inevitable yoghurty fingers – future note: always wear washable fabrics. And I certainly find some comfort in knowing I can still look like myself whilst pregnant, even if there’s a little more to me this time around.

For more from Rebecca follow her on Twitter @soverybecca

 

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Woman & Home fashion editor Lynda Bell’s maternity fashion tips
Scandi fashion maven Sanna stays true to her style through pregnancy
Seraphine maternity dresses: A smash hit on the small screen

Woman & Home Fashion Editor Lynda Bell’s Maternity Fashion Tips

My name is Lynda, I’m a fashion editor and stylist, living in London and I’ve been married for 5 years. I’ve been working as a stylist for the last 10 years and am currently happily settled as Fashion Editor at woman&home magazine. My life has moved onto the next level since I found out in August that we are expecting our first baby and I am now 21 weeks pregnant!

 

I wanted to share with you my plan to not lose myself or my style thanks to my expanding waistline and changing life!

 

My standard style is quite minimal; I like asymmetrical shapes, slim-line jeans, layering, and I love a stripy top! You can see a blog post about my style B.P (before pregnancy) here. My waistline started expanding around 13 weeks and I treated myself to a couple of loose fitted shirts like the Seraphine Sheer Grey Maternity Blouse which I’m wearing with my leather panel leggings.

Lynda Bell's maternity style in stripes

I’m really looking forward to growing a ‘real’ bump (mine still looks like I’ve just over-indulged at the weekend!) and I’ll be showing it off in fitted jersey tops and dresses… I’ve got my eye on a few already like this amazing bodycon maternity dress that Gwen Stefani wore, and the gorgeous Graphic Maternity Dress!

 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve picked up a couple of maternity fashion tips I’d love to share with you:

 

  • Buy a few bits every few months. I was pained to invest in a whole new wardrobe that didn’t feel necessary or ‘me’ so I chose to mix in my B.P clothing with slow changes. Also – intermittent additions are more exciting to get you through this challenging time! Pep up your wardrobe with something fresh every once in a while – this gives you the chance to try on your regular clothes again to see what fits, and what can be used… What didn’t suit you in month 3 might actually look great in month 6.

 

  • Don’t forget your signature style. I’m a magpie by nature and I love anything with embellishment and interesting details, so I’ve bookmarked this adorable Seraphine sequin cardigan which I’ll wear through maternity, nursing and beyond! I’ll wear it with my staple jeans as well as a special layer over an LBD. Adapt your maternity clothing to parallel your style – if you live in jeans, invest in some that you can enjoy with a bump!

 Lynda Bell's maternity style

  • Buy a pair of pregnancy leggings. I love this bamboo style which is hypoallergenic, and I’ll get a pair in black and grey to see me through the Winter.

 

  • Treat yourself. I always treat myself to a great pair of shoes or a statement bag (that doesn’t matter what size you are!). I will be tidying away my heels for lower kitten styles (thank god they are back in the shops!), loafers and cool trainers.

 

  • Grooming! Get a blow-dry, a manicure, wear some bright lipstick whatever makes you feel more glamorous when your changing body is out of your control.

 

For more from Lynda check out her blog Elle Belle Fashion, or follow her on Twitter @ellebellfashion and on Instagram @lyndabell1

 

 

Other Articles You May Like:

Scandi fashion maven Sanna stays true to her style through pregnancy
Zoe Saldana’s Seraphine style: Casual chic to Hollywood glam
A charmed pregnancy – treat yourself with Stella & Dot

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