Stunning mama Daphne Oz has been opening up about the things she’s loving through her third pregnancy – morning smoothies & comfy maternity clothes are top of her list!
Professional foodie & US TV presenter Daphne looked stunning in one of our chic cotton maternity dresses on set for her cover shoot with Fit Pregnancy. She teamed the dress with a biker jacket & tousled hair to bring a rock chic edge to her look.
Daphne is currently expecting baby number 3 – a little sister for 3 year old Philomena & 2 year old Jovan – and she can’t get enough of comfy maternity clothes. She described her current ideal outfit: “cozy sweater + sneakers + leggings up to my boobs – what did we do before these??”
Daphne shared what she’s been loving about her 3rd pregnancy:
“I happen to be one of those weirdos who loves being pregnant. Right now I’m feeling all those kicks and that’s my all-time favourite feeling in the world, because you really are connecting with this special person growing inside of you – it’s an incredibly magical time.”
Until recently, Daphne co-hosted US cooking show The Chew, as well as authoring several fantastic lifestyle & cookbooks, including her latest – The Happy Cook. With the arrival of baby number three, Daphne is planning to take a step back – she’s certainly earned a break!
After 9 long months, your beautiful new little one has finally arrived & you can’t wait to introduce him or her to your nearest & dearest. And what better way than by throwing an intimate sip and see!
For those who don’t know, a sip and see is a tradition that comes from the United States, specifically from the South.
The idea is that new parents open up their home for a few hours, and invite all their closest family & friends to enjoy some light refreshments and meet their new arrival in a relaxed setting.
It can work as an alternative to a baby shower for anyone who isn’t keen on the idea of being the centre of attention, or simply as an additional excuse for a party!
When to Throw a Sip & See
The beauty of a party like this is that it keeps you in control – you only have to make yourself and your home presentable for one day, instead of dealing with a constant stream of visitors wanting to meet the baby.
It also allows you to pick a date (usually when baby is between 4 to 6 weeks old) when you feel you have a good chance of being out of the newborn fog & into some kind of routine.
There are no hard & fast rules about what a sip n see should include. The baby is the main attraction – everything else is up to you. If you want to organise party games, great! If you prefer a low key gathering, that’s fine too.
One activity that we recommend is to have a station where guests can write messages to the new arrival.
You could buy a baby book for the occasion, or even have them write in a special copy of your favourite children’s book – it would make a wonderful keepsake or surprise gift for a special birthday.
This party is all about making your life easier – so there are really no rules when it comes to what you should wear. We suggest wearing something comfy and stylish with easy access for nursing.
Whether it’s a new nursing top and jeans or one of our flattering nursing dresses, as long as you feel confident in your clothes, you are sure to glow.
When it comes to the sip part of the equation, it will partly depend on the timings & theme of your party. If you’re hosting in the morning, then teas, coffees & croissants are a great option, with the optional extra of mimosas to wet the baby’s head.
If you’re hosting later in the day, why not make it an afternoon tea theme with finger sandwiches, scones & champagne.
Whatever you decide, the idea of a sip and see party is that it’s on your terms, so always do what feels right for you and your family & don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Designers in London, Paris, New York & Milan were all in agreement this season: The cape is the must-have outerwear style. In honour of this cosy sartorial classic, here are a few of our favourite maternity capes & cover-ups to try this autumn.
A seasonal layering essential, a maternity cape should be cosy to wear and effortlessly stylish. The loose oversize fit makes it a perfect option for pregnancy, and this one even opens up to allow easy access for breastfeeding.
If you’re after a more luxurious layered up look, you can’t go wrong with our signature wrap, blending premium merino wool with cashmere. The ultra-soft style drapes beautifully over your curves, providing the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. Or why not try our chic maternity poncho, crafted in the same luxury knitted blend.
As well as a stylish maternity cape, our maternity and breastfeeding shawls make for a fantastic investment in style. Perfect for layering through pregnancy, these stylish shawls provide discreet cover for breastfeeding after baby is born.
Whether you wear it fastened at the shoulder as a chic maternity poncho, wrapped as a breastfeeding scarf or draped over your shoulders, this must-have accessory will be a constant companion through the colder months.
It’s official – Autumn is here. With the evenings drawing in and the leaves starting to turn, we love this time of year – not least because the changing season brings a whole host of new maternity fashion. Now is the perfect time to buy a brand new maternity dress… or three!
Wrap dresses are everywhere this season. Soft, flexible and super-easy to wear, the classic wrap design is a maternity fashion must-have. It allows you to adjust the fit as you grow and adapts easily for breastfeeding after baby is born. A maternity wrap dress is a go-anywhere style that your autumn wardrobe should not be without!
There’s no need to give up your floral dresses just because summer is over. This season saw some stunning autumn and winter florals coming down the catwalks, and we can’t get enough. From subtle, muted petals to bold designs in rich autumn tones, the floral trend continues in full bloom.
Designers were all in agreement this season, the colour of Autumn/Winter 2017 is red. From Max Mara to Prada, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and many more, there was hardly a designer anywhere at fashion week who didn’t showcase a top to toe look in red. Adapt the trend for maternity fashion with one of our hot red maternity dresses!
As the weather turns colder, a stylish maternity knit dress is a must-have – it’s A comfy, cosy option, which sacrifices nothing when it comes to style! Perfect for pregnancy, a chic maternity sweater dress can be rocked alone to transition the seasons or layered up with tights & a cute jacket.
Discover more stunning maternity fashion trends online!
Louise wore one of our stunning little black maternity dresses on a recent trip to Boston, where she rocked it at an intimate pre-screening of new psycho-thriller Gemini. She teamed the classic black dress with a statement pair of over-the-knee boots and a chic gold pendant necklace.
We loved Louise’s chic outfit – it was the perfect choice for such a glamorous event, and she positively glowed, posing alongside actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
And it’s not just our maternity dresses she loves – Louise Roe is also a big fan of our maternity jeans, opting for a pair of our chic slim leg jeans with leopard print mules and an over-size jumper. This look was perfect for a leisurely brunch date in Boston the morning after the night before.
When it comes to style, it’s fair to say that Louise Roe knows a thing or two. Her blog Front Roe is packed with fashion insights, and she’s even written a book about it! Front Roe, the book is all about the little ways you can introduce a bit more style into your life. In it, she offers fantastic fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice as well as fantastic tips to boost your confidence, all aimed at helping you to become ‘the leading lady in your own life’.
Seraphine is delighted to introduce its brand new flagship maternity store in Paris! From London to Paris, New York, Hong Kong & Dubai, Seraphine maternity stores are found across the world’s top fashion capitals.
In the immortal words of Audrey Hepburn… Paris is always a good idea. The spiritual home of style, Paris is home to top fashion houses like Dior, Chanel, Givenchy & more. Located on stunning Place Saint Sulpice, in Paris’ fashionable 6th arrondissement, Seraphine slots in alongside other high-end designers Vanessa Bruno, Comptoir des Cotonniers and the Yves Saint Laurent flagship store. And for those with a sweet tooth, you can find top French pâtisseries, Pierre Hermé & Ladurée close by.
An impressive vaulted glass ceiling floods the space with light, bringing the airy feeling of the plaza inside. The Paris maternity store is spacious and glamorously appointed, with an elegant crystal chandelier bringing a touch of sparkle to your shopping experience.
Seraphine founder Cecile travelled to Paris to oversee final preparations before opening the store. She said: “I am delighted to be opening our new maternity store in Paris. Parisian chic is so much a part of our aesthetic that it feels like coming home.”
Where to Buy Maternity Clothes In Paris
The full complement of Seraphine maternity clothes is available to browse and buy in our Paris maternity store. From stunning maternity dresses and jeans to chic accessories and changing bags. For special occasions, our luxe collection of maternity evening wear offers a wealth of glamorous options. And for after the baby is born, you’ll love the Diana Collection, our beautiful range of baby clothes.
Paris is the ultimate destination for a romantic weekend getaway, and Place Saint Sulpice is the perfect destination for a spot of retail therapy followed by macarons and a coffee – sounds like heaven to us!
Hollywood A-lister & businesswoman Jessica Alba looked stunning in Seraphine this weekend! She rocked a chic boho look in one of our stylish maternity maxi dresses.
The star styled our Pastel Printed Maternity Maxi Dress for a breezy boho chic look. She teamed it with a long, pale blue cover up, a chic blue fedora and a mustard yellow bucket bag – perfect for a stroll through the flower district in Down Town Los Angeles. Maternity maxi dresses are always a flattering option for pregnancy. Flowing easily over her curves, Jessica’s pretty pastel maternity dress was light, feminine and the perfect fit for her blossoming bump.
Jessica Alba is pregnant with her third baby with husband Cash Warren. She shared her happy news back in July with this adorable pregnancy announcement post on Instagram, captioning it: ‘Cash Warren and I are officially going to be outnumbered’. Big-sisters-to-be, Honor, 9 and Haven, 6 helped her to make the announcement with giant number balloons.
Jessica is a huge fan of Seraphine maternity clothes and wore several of our styles while expecting Haven. Our maternity maxi dresses in particular work perfectly for her feminine, bohemian inspired look – ideal for the sun. And our adjustable maternity bikinis were a particular favourite of hers on her glamorous babymoon. She also loved our chic grey skinny maternity jeans for casual daytime style.
Browse our latest maternity clothes collection today to take a leaf out of Jessica Alba’s boho chic maternity style book.
Here at Seraphine, we love Jessica’s style, and can’t wait to see which maternity clothes she rocks next.
From Beyoncé to Kimberly Wyatt, pregnant celebrities have been stepping up their pregnancy photo shoot game this year and sharing some truly stunning images. We’ve gathered a few of our favourite shots to give you a little inspiration when it comes to planning your own pregnancy photo shoot.
This week, stunning mama Kimberly Wyatt welcomed her beautiful daughter Maple Lyla – a little playmate for big sister Willow. Earlier in the week, she shared this beautiful pregnancy picture on Instagram, captioning it ‘Once upon a time….he gave me a flower and I blossomed.’ Kimberly coordinated her feminine flower crown with her model husband Max Rogers’ floral blazer, and their smiles say it all.
She also shared this super sweet shot of her and her daughter Willow. Including your older children in your pregnancy photo shoot is a wonderful way of helping them to feel involved and excited about meeting their new brother or sister.
Kimberly has looked equally gorgeous throughout both of her pregnancies, rocking Seraphine maternity clothes on several occasions. Our Kensington maternity store was one of her favourite shopping haunts. She even wore our Faux Leather Leggings with one of our signature Breastfeeding Covers on the red carpet for a West End theatre premier.
Kimberly isn’t the only pregnant celebrity to opt for a floral-themed pregnancy photo shoot. Back in February Beyoncé debuted her beautiful bump with this striking pregnancy announcement image. The stunning shot has been liked over 11 million times & is destined to go down in history as one of the most iconic pregnancy announcements of all time.
And then in July, just a month after welcoming her twins Sir & Rumi, she followed it up with an equally stunning matching birth announcement photo shoot.
From pregnant celebrities & music royalty to actual royalty, The Duchess of Cambridge is another mother who caused a sensation with her photographs. Kate Middleton chose our signature fuchsia knotted maternity dress to wear in the first official picture with Prince George. The stunning photographs were featured on the front pages of papers and the covers of magazines all across the world.
Go Behind the Scenes on our latest New York Fashion Photoshoot
So why not take a little inspiration from these stunning pregnant celebrities, and book your own maternity photo shoot. Our luxe collection offers a stunning range of glamorous maternity cocktail dresses that would be perfect for your pictures!
Imagethirst is the official photographer of the Portland Maternity Hospital, boasting an impressive list of celebrity clients including royalty and top sports stars. Here at Seraphine, they are our photographers of choice, and when you spend over £200 in a single transaction at one of our London Seraphine maternity stores, you qualify for a free photo shoot with them! The package includes a free A4 print along with 4 wallet size photos and is valued altogether at over £349. Talk to staff at either our Kensington, Marylebone or Northcote Road maternity stores for more information.
What better way to celebrate motherhood maternity & pregnancy, and to document your amazing new curves!
When it comes to maternity fashion, international blogger & insta-star Maya Williams certainly knows a thing or two! This week on the blog, we caught up with her at our head office in London, where she shared some of her top tips for navigating each trimester in style. Read on and watch the video for Maya’s maternity fashion tips and to see which Seraphine maternity clothes she recommends for each stage of pregnancy.
Watch Maya’s Maternity Fashion Guide
1st Trimester Maternity Fashion Must-Haves
“In my first trimester the first thing I did was run to Seraphine and get jeans. I immediately fell in love with over the bump – they’re just so comfy and they hug you in.”
Maya recommends Maternity Jeans as the essential first maternity fashion purchase. After that, it’s all about The Bump Kit – our chic maternity starter kit complete with maternity LBD, stretchy black skirt, leggings & essential white vest. And of course oversize shirts are perfect for hiding a blossoming bump through the first trimester – just be sure to team them with a slim leg style to balance out the volume.
“This is my favourite trimester. They call it the honeymoon of your pregnancy – you’ve got your energy back, you’ve told the world you’re pregnant and you can show off your bump!”
Maya recommends chic maternity dresses for the second trimester, preferring bodycon jersey dresses to show off the bump, or woven A-line dresses for a chic look.
“The cigarette pants – you can wear these for work or you can dress them up in the evening. I actually really love these, I got them in black. They hug you in, they slim you down and they really dress you up if you wear them with heels and they look nice and stylish.”
“Of course we still need to look fabulous, we still need to feel fabulous, so this is a cocktail dress that you can wear to a wedding, your baby shower, a friend’s birthday party…. I really love the pastel colour of this and the style, and the way it falls – it would really accentuate your baby bump.”
“And now I’m heading into the third trimester, which is so exciting because it means I’m going to meet my baby very soon! A lot of the pieces that you’ll invest in at this stage need to be super comfortable and versatile so that you can wear them later during your nursing.”
As women, the ability to fall pregnant and have children is something many of us take for granted growing up. It is often all too easy to assume that everything will fall naturally into place when the time comes. But, as anyone who has struggled with infertility will know, things don’t always work out exactly as we’d planned. Last week, author Izzy Judd, wife of McFly drummer Harry, opened up to Lorraine about their IVF journey.
Watch Izzy Talk IVF on TV
Izzy has documented her struggle to become a mum in her new book Dare to Dream – it follows her story from infertility, through IVF and the heartbreak of miscarriage, to the joy of welcoming her healthy baby girl Lola and the miracle of conceiving baby number 2 naturally.
The book takes an open and honest look at the anxiety and loneliness that Izzy, like so many other women, felt along the way, while also sharing some of the things that helped her through the darkest moments.
“The struggle for a baby, the heartache of miscarriage and the happiness of finally falling pregnant with Lola after IVF have inspired me to share my own experiences, in the hope that they will bring comfort to those going through their own fertility struggles, and help the family & friends supporting them. My greatest wish is that, by telling my own story, I can be a companion to others and help them to feel less alone – that we are in this together.”
Hannah Maggs is a blogger, Instagrammer, YouTuber & founder of MaggsLondon.co.uk. She lives in Bath with her husband Stefan and their three year old son, Grayson. They are expecting a new addition to the family this august. Each week they film their lives for their family YouTube channel ‘The Michalaks‘. Hannah also has her own separate YouTube channel, blog and online shop selling make up bags and prints.
This week on the blog we chatted with her about life on camera, pregnancy and maternity fashion…
1) We love your YouTube channels & blog – tell us a little about them. What made you start? Where does your inspiration come from?
I actually started my blog as a distraction from a really tough time in my life. My mother had just passed away, I had just finished university & I just felt lost, lonely and as though I needed some kind of stimulation and distraction.
My YouTube channel was originally started as my husband had seen me watching lots of beauty videos, and encouraged me to sit down in front of the camera and give it a go. When I fell pregnant, I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and not being able to ask my own mother was very hard for me. I turned to YouTube and started watching other people talk about their pregnancy experiences and births. I wanted to help other pregnant women in the same way that they had helped me without even knowing it.
So I began logging my pregnancy really honestly each week, and built up a little following of viewers. As I neared the end of my pregnancy people began asking if they would meet the baby when he was born or if I would keep making videos. It was then that my husband started getting involved and we organically began filming our lives as new parents each week. The rest is history!
2) Tell us about MaggsLondon. Did you always want to run your own business?
MaggsLondon was actually intended to be a baby clothing company originally. After I had my son Grayson I really wanted to design and make baby boys clothes from liberty prints. Unfortunately the cost of making them was too high, so we ended up deciding not to pursue it, leaving me with a lot of leftover fabric. Having a background as a make-up artist, the first thing that sprung to mind was to make the fabric into makeup bags – and MaggsLondon was born. Since then we have expanded to sell prints, and are just about to launch jewellery too.
3) Congratulations on the exciting pregnancy news! How has this pregnancy compared to your first?
Thank you! It’s strange actually – this pregnancy is the complete opposite of my first – in fact it couldn’t be any more different. With my first pregnancy I found every aspect hard… the physical changes in my body and then coping with the mental side of things too. I suffered with pre-natal depression and honestly, I just didn’t enjoy it. This pregnancy has been an absolute dream in comparison. I’m not sure if it’s because I know what to expect now, but I feel very content and calm this time around.
4) We love your style – how would you describe your signature look & how have you adapted it for pregnancy?
I think my style is pretty simple, I tend to go for plain, simple and classic pieces that I know I will like for a long time and that I can easily pair together without much thought or effort.
I’m staying true to my style in terms of keeping my pieces simple, although I’m wearing a lot more dresses than i would normally – they’re just so comfortable! With a maternity dress you don’t have to think about putting an outfit together, and with a toddler to run around after and a business to run I don’t have much time to spare.
I absolutely LOVE your summer maternity dresses, and I can definitely see myself continuing to wear them even after I’m no longer pregnant, which makes them such a good investment! I particularly love your jersey maternity maxi dresses as they are just so comfortable but still make you feel feminine – and of course they show off the bump!
Also your occasion wear pieces in the Luxe Collection are just stunning – something that can be a little trickier to find when pregnant, believe me!
6) As a mum you’ll understand the morning rush – what would you recommend for putting your face together in a hurry? Any tips for speedy makeup?
Oh yes, speedy make-up has become a must for me – i barely get time to look in the mirror these days so I think I’ve got it down!
I’d say get a good base – some tinted moisturiser that you don’t need to spend too long blending, a bit of bronzer to add some depth and a quick swipe of mascara and you’re good to go! You can always build on these basics later if you find you have a spare few minutes.
7) We are confiscating your makeup bag! You get to keep 3 essential beauty products – what do you choose?
Ooooh this is a tricky one! La Roche Posay tinted sun cream because it gives such a lovely even glow, without feeling like I’m caked in foundation; some Nivea lip balm (it has a sort of glossy sheen to it) because I can’t stand having dry lips; and an eyebrow wand to keep those brows in check. Having your brows neatened can pull together your whole look instantly!
8) What is your idea of happiness?
The most important thing for me is knowing my family are healthy. As long as we have that, we have everything. Their happiness is intertwined with my own, so when everyone is smiling and content, that’s when I’m the happiest too!
For more from Hannah Maggs, follow her on Instagram @Magsy24
With Royal Ascot last week, and the Wimbledon Championships heating up next week, the summer event season is getting into full swing. Choosing an outfit for this kind of occasion can be a challenge at the best of times, but with a baby bump to think about, it can become downright tricky. That’s where we come in! This year, royal commentator & author Katie Nicholl reported from Royal Ascot, looking utterly stunning in Seraphine luxe maternity dresses. Check out her Ascot Dresses for a little maternity fashion inspiration!
“I was thrilled to be asked to be a co-presenter for ITV Racing’s coverage of Royal Ascot but there was a lot of pressure. My job was to commentate on the daily Royal Procession and so I needed to look the part. Being 33 weeks pregnant and broadcasting through the hottest June week on record since 1976 was a rather daunting prospect. I knew that I needed to feel comfortable and confident on air so I headed to Seraphine for Ascot Dresses! I felt elegant (so far as you can at 33 weeks pregnant in the sweltering heat) stylish and smart, which was really important. After all, it is Royal Ascot!”
“I chose four designs by Seraphine for Royal Ascot and made sure my looks were deliberately different each day ranging from florals to black and white polka dots to an elegant navy blue dress with white piping and a glamorous nude lace frock, my personal favourite. All the dresses looked great on camera and what I liked was that each look was very different. I love to experiment when it comes to fashion – even with a bump. Seraphine has such an eclectic collection, there really is something for everyone.”
“When I’m broadcasting I like to wear elegant fitted dresses and fortunately maternity dresses aren’t the tent like creations they used to be! I’ve tried to stick to classic designs and experiment with colours. One of the things I love about Seraphine dresses is they are so comfortable and well made.”
We love Katie’s style – she looked perfectly polished all week long in her stunning Seraphine Ascot dresses. For more summer event outfit inspiration, check out our Luxe Collection of chic formal maternity dresses and cocktail dresses – they’re perfect for looking smart in in the sun!
Katie Nicholl is an international royal commentator, author and journalist. She has written two books about the Royal Family and is currently writing her third, a biography on Prince Harry to be released next year. She lives in North London with her husband and their four year old daughter Matilda and are expecting a second baby this summer.
