What Mama Wore - Tiffany Rose

I have got to the point in pregnancy where the most important aspect of an outfit is comfort.  I can still wiggle into my maternity jeans and put on some socks, but all I want to wear are dresses and slip on shoes with no waist bands and no reason to struggle and reach my feet.  The weather isn't quite warm enough to live in summer dresses yet, but we are well into Spring now so I am holding on to it warming up soon.

Luxury British designers Tiffany Rose sent me a couple of their maternity dresses and they are by far the most comfortable things in my wardrobe right now.  They specialise in occassionwear, but with nothing to dress up for on the horizon I opted for a couple of dresses that I could dress down enough to get away with as day wear.

Maxi dresses are the ultimate summer maternity item and this one is just beautiful.  It is lined which helps it hang well (and stops the white becoming see through), comfortable and amazing quality.  The cut is flattering throughout pregnancy and would last from a tiny bump until after baby arrives - I don't think I will be packing this away just because my bump has gone.  I often find that this style of dress comes up short as I am 5 foot 9, but this one is a great length that I am not tripping up over it, but it still is nice and long.  

I love how this dress can work for so many different occassions, on its own it would look wonderful for a summer wedding or Christening, but paired with a denim jacket and flipflops it is casual enough for everyday wear.

The second dress was a shorter length but a similar style with the same crossed over top and empire line cut.  As the weather wasn't as nice I wore it with tights and flat shoes but my plan is to wear this with just sandals and a cardigan or jacket to dress it down in the summer, but maybe put on some low heels if I want to wear it out too.  It felt wonderful to wear and I had so many compliments.  The rich blue colour is really stunning and I found it incredibly flattering on my changing figure.

 Tiffany rose are proud to be designed and manufactured in the UK and their dresses are made to the highest quality and come beautifully packaged too.  These dresses are currently £84 and £89 which I think is great value considering the outstanding quality.

Thank you to Tiffany Rose for sending over these beautiful dresses.

Read more ⇨

My Maternity Style - BonPrix

This is my fourth baby and I think I have definitely worked out my maternity style.  I know I grow big quickly and that many maternity tops won't last me past thirty weeks.  I know I feel more body confident when pregnant than at any other time and I know that with three little ones already, comfort and practicality is key.

My staples are skinny fit maternity jeans, long vests and bodycon dresses for anything special.  I love showing off my new curves (once I get past the  'too much cake or baby bump' phase) and that is a good thing as by about 15 weeks it is pretty hard to hide!

BonPrix asked me to take part in a style challenge and I couldn't resist trying some of their over bump jeans.  I tend to go for under bump as I have had problems before when my belly got a bit too big for the band but I find the lower band means I am constantly pulling them up.  These jeans seem to have plenty of stretch in the band and are really comfortable at the moment.  I went for my usual size, despite reading that they come up small and I am glad I did as they fit well.

I paired them with a plain vest and an off the shoulder non-maternity top that is a couple of sizes bigger than I normally wear.  The top is super stretchy so it lasts for ages too. The brown bracelet is also from BonPrix and the necklace is a teething necklace from Blue Brontide.  Comfy shoes are a must and I live in these Blackfox boots - they are actually as waterproof as wellies although you would never know it to look at them and have a faux sheepskin inner.  They are perfect for impromptu trips to the park, puddle jumping and the school run

This is pretty much my everyday look at the moment, slight shade variations on the jeans and tops but always casual and comfy.

Read more ⇨

Maternity Fashion - Second Trimester

With this baby, I found myself digging out the maternity clothes before I even reached 8 weeks pregnant, it seems having babies so close together means your stomach muscles remember exactly what to do!  It has meant I have seen pretty much every season with a bump this time, and I have had to choose pieces that will last through the changes in weather as I grow.

Here are a few of my maternity favourites, sometimes I am in all maternity wear, and sometimes I have gone for normal clothes that have plenty of stretch or bought a few sizes up.  My style is comfortable and practical, as with a one and three year old I need to be prepared to tackle soft play, stand for hours outdoors and climb into their beds for a snuggle.

All of these are second trimester outfits, (with a 30 week one thrown in too).  I find at this stage I am still quite comfortable in maternity jeans and my tops generally still reach my underbump jeans.

Read more ⇨

Maternity Wear in the Third Trimester

The first trimester was about loose tops and hiding the slowly expanding tummy.  The second Trimester was about adapting normal clothes to fit your new figure, but the third trimester is well and truly about maternity wear and comfort for me.  I am running out of things to stretch and other than my trusty leggings and cardigans I am mostly in maternity to accomodate my growing bump.  I thought I would share with you a few of the things I have been wearing.

Nothing is more important than comfort at the moment and I am not one to wear tops with leggings so I am loving oversized jumpers that keep me covered up.  I team them with leggings and boots and feel snug and warm and still comfortable enough to crawl around on the floor brumming cars with the toddler.  I love this oversized maternity jumper from Mamas and Papas and it brightens up my winter wardrobe.

I love to show off my bump in fitted tops and I love this one from Yummy Mummy Maternity as it is just about long enough to wear with leggings and also goes great with jeans.  I wear it with a big knitted cardigan to keep me warm and covered

It is not long until baby Squish will make an appearance so anything that will take me through the nursing stage is a great buy now too.  I love this breastfeeding top as it is suitable for maternity and afterwards as there are openings for discreet feeding.  The top is nice and stretchy and a great investment at any point in pregnancy and is from More4Mums

On the rare occasion I leave the house without child, I like to dress up a bit more and I love wearing a plain black vest with my skinny jeans and jazzing it up with some fun jewellery.  I have a few maternity vests now as they are so much more flattering and comfortable and don't rise up as I move around.  I think I may save them for after baby too as they have plenty of growing room for when I eat a huge sunday roast!

I put off getting a winter coat for as long as I could but there is no escaping the fact it is getting pretty damn cold out there!  I am so happy with my lovely black maternity coat as it is flattering, comfortable and most importantly warm and will last until the little guy arrives.  I usually avoid black coats and have quite a selection of colourful ones but as I cannot justify more than one maternity coat, black is the best option as it really does match everything!

There are a few of my maternity outfits that I am wearing in the third trimester.  I am trying my hardest not to buy anything else now as there is only 10 weeks until baby arrives but there are some lovely bits out there!

Disclaimer:  Some of the clothes mentioned were sent to me free of charge, but some were also paid for.  All views and opinions are my own and I only endorse products that I am happy with and honestly wear.

Read more ⇨

Making your Maternity Clothes Last.

Being due mid August in my first pregnancy,  my maternity clothes consisted of summer dresses, vests and shorts.  This time I am going to be big over the winter and so a whole new wardrobe is needed.  I have been trying to think of creative ways to make my summer maternity clothes wearable again, as buying a whole new set is certainly a cost I can do without!  I have invested in the staples - some comfy jeans, long sleeved tops and jumpers, but have been making the most of my existing maternity clothes and wearing them in different ways.

So here is a little summer dress (from Matalan) I wore during my pregnancy with Dylan, dressed for autumn.  I originally wore it on it's own with just some pretty sandals but this time have dressed it up with tights, a shirt, a belt and a cardigan.

I have a couple of pairs of comfy maternity shorts (from New Look), and again have used leggings and autumny tops to make them into outfits suitable for the

Read more ⇨

My Homemade Halloween Maternity Costume

Finding a Halloween costume suitable for a bump is not easy.  You can spend money buying something lovely or you can improvise.  I went for the second option and for under £5 made my Halloween costume for the year.

Take one cheap vest - (I found primark sells them for £2 and they are lovely and long and very stretchy.)  -Cut a large hole in the tummy area.

Paint the now bare tummy orange.  I tried face paint but with such a large area to cover could not get it to work well.  Next we tried a homemade fingerpaint concoction which again didn't look too good.  Finally I mixed PVA glue with food colouring and painted it on leaving a lovely shiny orange belly poking out from under my top!

Wait a couple of minutes for the orange to dry and then draw on your pumpkin face using whatever is at hand.  We used black paint with a little sponge and my newly popped out belly button was the pumpkin nose.

Read more ⇨

Isabella Oliver Maternity Wear Review

I discovered Isabella Oliver Maternity wear when I was pregnant with Dylan and in need of a dress to wear to a wedding.  I bought a gorgeous blue one shoulder dress which fitted perfectly and was so comfortable over my huge bump.  It was five days before he was born and the dress perfectly hugged my curves and made me feel elegant (no easy feat with a beach ball shape on your front!)

I wore the same dress this year to a wedding at 16 weeks pregnant and it still fitted beautifully.  The way it hugs your body means even a little bump is defined and I did not need to worry about the 'fat or pregnant' question coming up! I felt comfortable in it and love how versatile it is, adapting to each stage of pregnancy.

Isabella Oliver have sent me one of their new collection and I love it for all the same reasons.  The dress is ruched all the way down meaning it fits your expanding waistline and grows with your body.  The material is soft and stretchy and emphasises all the right features.  

I think this dress would be perfect office wear or for a lovely meal out, but can also be dressed down with black tights and boots and a long cardigan.  I love showing off my bump so I find their styles are perfect for me.  There is nothing to stop you wearing Isabella Oliver maternity after baby has arrived either as the dresses are designed to fit every shape.

The dress is priced at £119 which is not cheap but I see it as an investment.  My original dress is on it's second pregnancy and going strong and there is nothing worse than going to a big event pregnant and feeling frumpy.  The dresses also have a great resale value on ebay and this is a great place to pick up some second hand maternity bargains too.  If you are looking for a great piece that will last all through pregnancy and beyond then Isabella Oliver is the place to look.

Disclaimer:  I was sent a dress for the purpose of this review but all thoughts, opinions and pictures are my own and the original dress was bought my me.

Read more ⇨

The Mad Blog Awards

II may not have been there as a finalist but getting to mingle with fantastic bloggers and dress up was not an opportunity to be missed so I was delighted to win a ticket.  The Mads took place in a swanky hotel in central London and there were people on call to do our hair and make up before the big event.  I was very impressed that the girls from Regis managed to curl my hair, and that they stayed in! This is a first and I am hoping that with the samples they gave me I can recreate the look at home

The awards were preceded by a delicious three course meal where I got to catch up with one of my favourite bloggers, Kate from Makeshift Mummy.  There were some fantastic winners including the brilliant Mamasaurus, and the wonderful Coombe Mill but all the finalists have such fantastic blogs that my google reader is now very full! 

Tiffany Rose, a company selling gorgeous maternity dresses provided me with an outfit to wear and I felt so elegant, despite having a rather large bump.  The dress was stunning and beautifully made, perfectly flattering for pregnancy and I had a lot of compliments.  Now I could really do with some more invitations to glamorous events before February so I get to wear it again!  

The Liberty gown is a gorgeous two layer deep blackberry coloured dress, floor length even with 5 inch heels on (and I am 5 foot 9)!  There is a removable sash that helps show off the bump and the cowl neckline hangs beautifully.  I absolutely loved wearing it and felt very glamorous! 

Before I had to run off to catch the last train home (next time I am definitely booking a hotel!), there was just enough time to climb aboard a giant red stag in the hotel lobby with fellow pregnant blogger Katie from Mummy Daddy Me.  Surrounded by cushions it was far too inviting and I know for sure we were not the only ones making the most of the photo opportunity!  

 Congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and winners of this year's event, and thanks to the wonderful orgnaisers!  I would love to go back again next year!

Read more ⇨

Crave Maternity Review

During my first pregnancy I put off buying maternity clothes until I had stretched many of my normal clothes beyond repair.  This time it was not an option as my tummy seemed to expand before I had even announced my news and I still had all my clothes from the previous summer in the back of the wardrobe.  This pregnancy I will be biggest over the winter however and so I have quite a bit of maternity shopping ahead of me!

Crave were kind enough to offer me some of their products and I picked some skinny jeans as well as a black tunic top  I loved them as soon as they arrived.  The material felt soft and thick enough for the winter and they looked stylish and well fitted.  I don't like the idea of losing my style just because I am pregnant so love finding pieces I would wear normally.  

I love the jeans and find that even after a couple of days wear they are still a nice skinny fit.  The stretch is in small panels on the side meaning wearing them after the baby, it is not noticeable that they are maternity.  They are priced at £75 which I think is great value for superb, comfy jeans.  They are a staple in my wardrobe and I know they will last until the end of the pregnancy.  

The top is easy to wear and I plan on teaming it with leggings in the autumn and the skinny jeans when it gets cooler.  Black is so versatile and I think it would be easy to dress up with tights, small heels and some colourful jewellery too.  Again, it looks good with a tiny bump but has plenty of space for my expanding waistline giving the flexibility to wear through pregnancy.

I am really impressed with both items and they are forming the staples of my winter pregnancy wardrobe.  I have been eyeing up several other pieces too and think this maternity dress would be so easy to dress up or down! 

Disclaimer:  I was provided with these items for the purpose of the review but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Read more ⇨