Tag Archives: Designer Maternity

Jun 9 2014

Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

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I’m still in many of my maternity outfits. Not because I’m grotesquely fat, or want to excuse the fact I’m still lugging around baby weight. Not because I’m still in waddle-mode and miss my bump either. It’s because I’m nursing Heidi and picked my maternity outfits well so they gave me the easiest possible access to my boobs, without looking like I’m wearing Dexter’s teepee.

Me Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

Me, PREGNANT. (above)

You see, maternity brands have wised up to the fact that we’re spending more throughout our pregnancies to make ourselves still feel sexy and confident. But, being women, we’re savvy enough to realise that our investment will only last the 9 months. True, maternity outfits hold their value well and will fetch a handsome resale value on eBay, but taking hundreds of pictures of bump-banded linen trousers and uploading them is the last thing we feel like doing when we’ve been up all night nursing our babies. So transitional outfits are definitely your best bet; Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing.

No, this doesn’t mean you’ll be wearing tops with a baggy midriff, or dresses so unflattering you have people speculating whether you’re gunning for a world record for the world longest pregnancy. If you buy well, you can still wear many pregnancy outfit for years to come, even when you’ve finished whipping out your breasts on-demand.

Don’t feel that you have to buy from maternity ranges

If you pick stretchy material that holds it’s shape well, you can get away with a variety of outfits that aren’t maternity. This is particularly true of t-shirt and jersey dresses that seem to be all the rage this season. You can always accessorise with some maternity jeans or leggings if you’re not feeling body-confident. Maxi dresses are equally forgiving - try big prints to minimise your bump and distract the eye. Finally, pick dresses that are fitted under-the-bust but with free-flowing skirts to make a feature of your bump. Heine Maxi Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) A selection of dresses from Heine

Spend a little more

Okay, you won’t want to hear this when you’re already remortgaging your house to buy nursery furniture, but you really do get what you pay for with maternity wear. I’m a little loathe to say it given I love charity shops and online auction sites for every day wear, but maternity wear that’ll last does cost a pretty penny. If you have an upcoming special occasion or you have a work wardrobe that is simply too tailored to accommodate a mini-you, sites like Isabella Oliver or Tiffany Rose do to-die-for maternity wear. Even better, there are many styles that will last you beyond your Bump Days.

For work wear, the trick is to avoid the tailored look as these will only work whilst you’re carting around baby. Instead pick wrap dresses and ruched styles that will still look fabulous on a smaller frame. These will also hide any legacy of baby if you decide to make the return to work before you’ve renewed your gym membership. Again, opt for materials with plenty of elastane and cross-over detailing at the neckline for easy access to your breasts for nursing / expressing.Isabella Oliver Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Isabella Oliver dresses

For occasion wear you can afford to go a little more fitted. Shift dresses specially designed for maternity like these lace numbers from Tiffany Rose still look amazing post-baby. The neck lines are also surprisingly stretchy to accommodate fluctuating breast size in pregnancy so will withstand a bit of artful tugging when nursing. I speak from experience here as I have one of my own.Tiffany Rose Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Tiffany Rose dresses

Buy nursing wear before your bump even appears

This is a trick I learnt inadvertently when I reviewed for Envie de Fraises. Many maternity stores will offer a nursing range alongside their maternity one. The truth is that most, if not all, of these clothes will accommodate a growing bump. This is because they’re designed to be worn immediately post-partum when you still have a sizable belly. All styles are therefore open to you and you can shop as though you never had a baby to consider in the first place! I love these ones from Seraphine which all come with integrated access to your breast for the most discreet feeding experience.Seraphine Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Dresses from Seraphine

So there you have it! Any more tips for the mum-to-be? Leave them below.

 

 

Dec 18 2013

The PERFECT Maternity Dress from Tiffany Rose Maternity

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I’m a terrible shopper, FACT. In fact, I hate it so much that I wear my clothes until they’re thread bare, will happily wear the same dress to parties on consecutive nights, and have been known to miss out on special occasions altogether as I have nothing to wear. My lack of love for shopping has earned me a few dubious looks from girlfriends and boyfriends over the years, but it’s just the way I am. It doesn’t mean I don’t look nice, it just means I’ll often look nice in one outfit over and over again. The makeover woman on This Morning would have a field day with me!

I’ve always found online shopping a hit and miss experience. I love the convenience of it, and the fact I don’t have to physically walk into a shop, but I’m forever buying the wrong size or things that make me look truly awful. I’ll forget my arms aren’t toned or the fact I have bigger boobs than Jordan and buy things that are tragically inappropriate or unflattering. Worse still, I don’t think I’ve ever taken any of these purchases back as this would involve walking into the store, or fiddling around with online return forms. I’m pretty sure I could start an eBay store with the amount of tagged clothes languishing at the back of my wardrobe.

 

So when I was given the opportunity to review for Tiffany Rose Maternity I was overjoyed. It saved me from having to pull off a very questionable Elizabeth Hurley impression and attending this season’s parties in something done up with a safety-pin. Given I’ve had Craig’s birthday party already, and have two Christmas parties, New Year’s, and my own birthday party in early January (with a pregnancy belly that would rival a mum carrying octuplets) I need all the help I can get.

I chose the most gorgeous dress from the new season’s collection. It’s a chocolate brown shift style dress with a lace bodice that will cover my arms and my thighs. I crossed my fingers that it would fit and anxiously waited for it to arrive. Here’s how Tiffany Rose describe the Isabelle Lace Dress:

Fun glamour for those less formal festive get-togethers, Isabelle lace maternity dress in wickedly rich Cocoa hues simply oozes vintage starlet appeal that’s perfect for the party season. We’ve teamed our new signature stretch soft floral lace for the bodice with a fitted skirt in premium soft jersey creating a simply glamorous shift dress you’ll not just wear but adore throughout pregnancy and beyond. Sheer lace sleeves are a flattering three-quarter length and accentuate Isabelle’s demure sweetheart neckline.

When it arrived a few days later it was beautifully packaged. It felt amazing to receive clothes in a pretty boutique box rather than bundled up in cellophane like most online retailers. Unwrapping my dress and trying it on for the first time became an exciting experience in itself.

It fits like a glove too. It’s incredibly flattering and shows off my bump beautifully without clinging to my ugly bits. I thought I was being optimistic when I picked a size 14-16 (you pick your pre-pregnancy size) but I was pleased to discover I’m not actually as big as I seem to think I am! It made me feel classy and elegant and perfectly hugged my curves (no easy feat when you feel as though you’re wearing a rucksack the wrong way around!).

I already know this dress will last well beyond pregnancy as it shows no signs of having been stretched when it’s back on the hanger. This is thanks to the fabulous mix of viscose and elastane that allows it to grow with you throughout each stage of your pregnancy and nursing journey.

This dress works fabulously with heels for an evening out or party, but would equally look great in the office with a suit jacket and pair of court shoes. I love the versatility and how the colour complements my complexion and hair colour. It’s the first time I’ve been truly proud of showing off my bump and I haven’t had to worry whether people are playing ‘fat or pregnant’ behind cupped hands.

The dress is priced at £139 which isn’t cheap but I’ve written before about the how maternity wear should be an investment The materials used are strong and durable to support your changing shape, and will therefore last you for many pregnancies to come. I’ve also learned through this review that it’s important to feel confident and glamorous during pregnancy - it’ll be 9 months you’ll hopefully look back on with some affection (it’s hard to believe at the time though, I must admit!). Designer maternity dresses also have a great resale value on eBay so you will make some money back if you are determined not to have anymore little ones.

Just three of my favourites from the new arrivals (left to right): Jewel Block Dress (Coffee Bean) £89 / Eden Gown Short (Caspian Blue) £149 / Amelia Dress Short (Moulin Rouge) £169

In conclusion I’m delighted with my beautiful dress and am already picking out another outfit from the collection for a ‘leaving hospital outfit’. I’m so pleased I’ve found a maternity boutique that makes dresses for real women, with real curves and body anxieties. If you are looking for a great piece that will last all through pregnancy and flatter the fuller figured woman, then it is HAS to be Tiffany Rose.

You can follow Tiffany Rose on Facebook and Twitter, or check out their Pinterest page for inspiration.

DISCLAIMER: I was sent the above dress for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

 

Sep 13 2013

Clothes That Make You Fall In Love With Your Bump from KLM Maternity

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I received a lovely treat from the girls at KLM Maternity yesterday, a lovely maternity cardigan and a really comfy nightie to accommodate my ever-expanding belly!

I’m a massive fan of KLM - for everyday, practical and affordable maternity wear, they’re pretty hard to beat. I first stumbled across them when I was pregnant with Dexie and fed up of the high street. When you have a huge belly, the last thing you feel like is hauling it around town and having a mass ‘trying on’ session. Add to this the fact that most high street shops have limited maternity ranges (usually unceremoniously dumped in a shady corner of the shop floor so you have to waddle past all the things you can no longer squeeze into) - there’s usually a few vests, shirts and the odd skirt… not much to get excited about!

Online shopping is definitely the way to go. You can’t beat a specialist maternity store that stocks lots of different styles and occasion-wear. I find you don’t have to try things on so readily when you are pregnant - if they are made well, with quality fabric, they’ll comfortably stretch over your bump anyway. You don’t want things to be really fitted and clingy so you tend to buy loose-fitting styles with less potential to make you look like you ate too many pies.

KLM are fabulous as they have such a huge selection to choose from. I literally have a huge wishlist as long as my arm. Here are some of my absolute favourite bits…

 

As you can see, the prices are beyond reasonable and there are things for work, play and special occasions. The sizes are great too as most styles go up to size 14-16 for the larger figured lady.

I was sent a lovely fitted cardigan from Mamma-licious in Limbo (a kind of red wine colour / mulberry colour). The material is beautiful and soft and there’s loads of stretch in it so cover the bump. I choose to tie the ties at the front to show off my bump, but presumably you can also tie them loosely at the back to accentuate your waist. It’s ridiculously comfy for everyday and a bargain maternity essential at just £24.99.

I was also sent the 9Fashion Lisa nightdress in grey - this will be perfect when my tummy is too big to fit in my usual PJ’s. Right now it’s slightly too big for me but very well fitted around my boobs (which have increased to a mammoth 36H with this pregnancy!). It’s fabulous for breastfeeding as the panel across the breast unclips from the pretty ruffled straps for easy access to your breasts. It would make a fabulous birthing nightdress as it’s lightweight, cool and very generously sized for the later stages of pregnancy. This is just £25.99.

I’d happily recommend KLM Maternity for speedy delivery, ease of ordering, and for having such a fabulous choice of maternity wear for the busy and style conscious mama-to-be. The only thing I can possibly think of that might improve the shopping experience is a zoom function on the clothes. For 99% of people this wouldn’t be a problem at all, but for those of us with big busts it helps to be able to see how if there is a under-bust seam that might not accommodate my boobs.

To top it all off, if you like them on Facebook you can unlock a 10% off your first order code, and they’re always available on Twitter if you have any questions! Well done KLM Maternity for making maternity shopping a less stressful experience!

DISCLAIMER: I was sent both the above products in exchange for my views. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

pixel Clothes That Make You Fall In Love With Your Bump from KLM Maternity