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Made By Riley

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British Loungewear brand Made By Riley have teamed up with the NSPCC and Maggie’s Cancer Trust to collaborate with their SS16 collection. The cool range of tees and sweatshirts have slogans such as ‘CHOOSE TO SHINE’ and ‘NO RAIN NO RAINBOW’ helping to give sleep deprived Mum’s a pick up each morning. The ‘RILEY’ sweatshirt is the perfect throw-on-and-go with a pair of skinnies and still be able to pull off that cool Mum look. The ‘R’ sweatshirt from the main line collection has been seen on mega mum Fearne Cotton.

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Both charities partnership will last a lifetime, not just this season and for each one sold, 10% will be donated to the relevant charity.

£90

£40

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Prices range from £40 – £110. For more information go to www.madebyriley.co.uk

CLUTCH CONTROL

Jem + Bea BABA pouch, £18

Ooh yeah! Exciting Bag News Alert! Uber cool changing bag brand JEM + BEA have just released their latest offering in the form of these nifty clutches. The black MAMA bag is available in luxurious calf leather embossed with gold letters (lets face it, anything embossed or monogrammed is the fashion dream). But the clever bit is, they’ve kept their signature water resistant, wipe clean lining so no need to panic when little yoghurty fingers do a speed grab inside for your keys.

The navy BABA pouch is made from practical nylon and has a pop of colour with its bright yellow lettering. Pull that bad-boy out your changing bag at Gymboree and watch the Mumvy unfold (that’s Mum envy if you didn’t know).

MAMA - black - open - £45

Use them as a compact changing kit, a posh snack bag, an evening clutch or a Mum’s Emergency Kit bag (a miniature gin would fit just snug in there right?). Whatever you do, just make sure you get in there quick when they become available as at £45 (Mama) and £16 (Baba), they’re bound to sell out fast.

Launching on the 4th July the bags are available at JEM + BEA

You Da Bomb

Gucci

What is going on with this crazy weather? Spring and sunny one minute, cold and wintery the next; I feel like I’m coat on, coat off the whole time. The answer? A bomber jacket. Not only is it the coat of the season, it’s the solution to this can’t-make-up-its-mind weather situation.

Miss Selfridge

Whether you’re expecting now or already a new mum, the bomber is great for those “Do I need a coat?” days. As your bump gets bigger you can wear it unzipped over a dress or tie it round your waist when feel yourself heating up (basically the whole time when you’re pregnant!) They’re also great if you’re feeding, worn over a strappy top, its just a quick zip undone and plug baby in!

Asos White

They’re great for all occasions too, with sequinned styles for nights out or khaki floral printed for day, with literally the whole high street covering this trend, you’re bound to find a style you like. Marks and Spencer has some great styles I noticed when I went in store this week, you can see some here.

79.99 zara

Word of warning, there are quite a few shiny versions around, so to avoid the Ryan Gosling in Drive look and keep it feminine by wearing over a dress or skirt. Add a red lip like the above and job done! Go get yours now….

Zara

H&Mmmmmm

There’s no denying it, H&M are having a moment. All you need to do is watch their new City Diaries Spring fashion commercial and you’ll be putting items in your online basket faster than a new parent can eat their dinner.

If you’ve just had a baby, this is the perfect chance to spoil yourself with a few new pieces to make you look and feel great, which is so important as a new Mum. With the Fashion Editor’s favourite cold shoulder top at just £7.99 (yes really!) you wont feel guilty for spending from the nappy fund either.

There’s a strong Boho influence across many styles in store at the moment meaning cuts are loose and flowing and styles are floaty and flattering – ideal for a post-baby body. You can wear them straight away rather than keeping them hung neatly in your wardrobe for when you’re ‘back to your original size’ (which lets face it, could be next season.) I particularly love the red shoulder-showing tassel dress at just £14.99 which would hide any post-baby pouch a treat!

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Many of the tops and blouses are either off the shoulder, lace up or tassel-tied meaning they’re feeding friendly too.

Button Up Smock Top £29.99

I know time is precious as a new mum (and most of said time is spent googling stuff like ‘how long can a baby cry for?’ and ‘what should newborn poo look like?’) so I’ve compiled a Top 10 to save you valuable shopping seconds. You’re welcome…

[Click on each image for details]

Belted Cardigan £39.99

Belted Long Sleeve Dress £39.99

Beaded Jacket £79.99

Cold Shoulder Top £7.99

Lace Up Blouse £19.99

Embellished Long Sleeve Dress £59.99

Wide Leg Elasticated Waist Trousers £14.99

Kick Flare MAMA Jeans £29.99

Trench Coat £39.99

Striped Dress £24.99

So next time you’re up feeding on the night shift, check out hm.com – what can be better than a 3am shop from the comfort of your bed eh?!

THE SS16 TREND REPORT

It’s official. The sun has been out at least twice which in my mind means spring is finally here. The January sales are over, the February transitional pieces are well gone and the new spring/summer styles that get us wanting to rip up our current wardrobe and start all over again are now dropping in store. If you’re anything like me, by the end of winter I am so over all my clothes, out with all the layers and chunky knits and I look forward to days where it doesn’t take twenty minutes of coat, hat, scarf, gloves, sunglasses, umbrella rigmarole just to get out the door.

There’s no reason why being pregnant should affect your style, yes you may have to adapt certain looks but why not treat the nine months as a good time to experiment with new cuts like flared jeans or a maxi dress. With an ever increasing choice on offer in the world of maternity wear, THE MOTHERSHOP has created a handy little a round up of the top trends for SS16 and a sneak peak of what’s on offer in maternity wear for the coming season. All that’s needed now is a little bit of sunshine…

HOPELESS ROMANTIC

Blush tones, pretty florals and textured white make up this feminine trend; throw in a touch of dreamy Chloe-style boho and you’re on the right lines. Look out for pleats for bonus style points too.

Romantic

[Clockwise from left] Floral maxi dress £48 Asos. Frill bib £15 Asos. White crochet dress £99 Seraphine. Blush pleated skirt £49 Seraphine. White top £16 Next.

SUPER STRIPES

Big stripes, small stripes, coloured stripes, graphic stripes, vertical stripes; you get the picture; you can’t go wrong in bump boosting stripes this season. Look out for shoulder-showing styles if you want to be oh-so-ss16.

STRIPES

[Clockwise from left] Striped t-shirt £16 Asos. Dress with pink pockets £175 Madderson London. Off shoulder dress £28 Asos. Cold shoulder dress £28 Next. Micro stripe dress £30 Marks and Spencer. Under the bump pencil skirt £20 Next.

FRILL SEEKERS

Go big or go small, either way ruffles were out in force across the catwalks. From Roberto Cavalli to Miu Miu, frills were at the forefront of the designers minds this season.

FRILLS

[Clockwise from left] Sleeveless dress £153 Marni at Nine In The Mirror. Peach dress £42 Asos. Pink sleeveless dress £POA Madderson London. Shortsleeve printed dress £335 Paul & Joe at Nine In The Mirror. Yellow top £58 Peakes of London.

DENIM DAYS

Max out on the denim as it’s going no-where fast. Look for details such as patchwork, two-tone or embroidered for the most up to date look. And cuts such as flared, cropped or A-line will see you through the season in style.

Denim

[Clockwise from left] Denim shirt £40 Topshop. Colour block dress £160 Hatch. Dungareees £45 Topshop. Grandad collar shirt dress £30 Marks and Spencer. Flared jeans £65 Mama Jeanius.

PICNIC TIME

Re-inventing the classic check in new cuts, from midi dresses to loose trousers. Look out for giant gingham in flowing fabrics.

PICNIC

[Clockwise from left] Green shirt £30 Mamalicious. Red checked dress £16 Matalan. Cream and Black checked shirtdress £39 Topshop. Red and black shirt dress £26 Dorothy Perkins. Black and white drape gathered front top £34 Topshop

THE LEATHER FORECAST

Brr! Don’t let this lovely bright sunshine fool you, it’s still winter after all and it’s still cold (even with your pregnant almost tropical inner thermostat). So what do you wear, without adding bulk to your bump with loads of layers or chunky knits? Yep, you got it; leather. It’s stylish, it’s timeless and it’s an excellent chill beater! Stop buying babygrows, and treat yourself to a really good biker jacket, I lived in my Whistles Roxy one throughout pregnancy (and beyond), it was the one item in my wardrobe that made my style still feel like my own.

Leather is great for flattering those areas aside from your bump, so if your legs are your best asset, go for a pair of leather (or leather look) trousers, H&M have a great pair that look like leather for just under twenty quid; perfect if you don’t want to invest in the real thing. Alternatively, Seraphine‘s faux leather leggings worn by the likes of Gwen Stefani and Anne Hathaway during their pregnancies.

£19.99 H & M

And if you’re feeling flush, head to Nine in the Mirror for some seriously discounted designer pieces from the likes of By Malene Birger and Iro. (Click on the images for prices)

By Malene Birger Cullottes was £565 now £170

£146 By Malene Birger at Nine In The Mirror

Iro at Nine In The Mirror was £980 now £294

Oh and we can’t not mention this great sleeveless jacket from Asos, which although isn’t maternity, it would see you through the first trimester and can be worn over a plain roll-neck and without the belt as your bump gets bigger.

£60 ASOS

So, whilst you’re saving your pennies by not boozing for nine months, think of it as a new way to get leathered…

AVOIDING THE ‘MUM BUM’

Mind The Gap sign on tube station platform in London UK

Whether you’re sat on the floor at Gymboree, wedging the pram in the car boot or saving Sophie la Girafe from the floor for the nineteenth time that day; it seems there is no escaping the ‘Mum Bum’.

If you’re not au fait with the term, let me explain. You’ve had a baby, maybe not quite back to pre-baby weight and your once favourite jeans don’t fit as well as they used to. Now whilst wearing said jeans and finding out that 98% of your day is spent bending over; you have what can only be likened to a builders bum. Sat in coffee shops, at baby sensory classes, in the doctors waiting room; you can be sure to find an abundance of Mum Bums, constantly being rectified with a quick yank up of the jeans or pull down of the top but to no avail. The Mum Bum wins….every time.

Sound familiar? I know. I’ve been there. THE MOTHERSHOP has the solution with these crack-concealing (sorry) high street hero pieces…oh and some outfit inspo too.

£48 Topshop

Dungarees are maternity heaven; room for bump, easy access for feeding and no possible bum show. Winner every time.

[Pic credit: Pinterest]

Look for high waisted pieces; trousers and skirts. Wrap skirts are great for a bit of give for bending down, and loose trousers with a pair of Adidas Originals will work for park laps.

Stock up on the bum busters now; and leave the wardrobe malfunctions to the workmen…

: Massimo Dutti

: £19.99 New Look

: £40 Zalando

: £120 Jigsaw

: £30 River Island

: £39.99 Zara

Matchy matchy

T-shirts £18 and £28 available from Tease + Totes

Ok I’m not suggesting you head down to your local Sainsbo’s in an adult baby-grow, but I’m noticing a growing trend for Mum’s and their little ones in coordinating outfits and I’m liking it. We had a taster last winter when Dolce & Gabbana sent their models down the runway with a matching mini-me in tow and others have since followed suit. Tease + Totes have their brilliantly empowering ‘Girl Power’ tees (above), where proceeds go towards Worldreader, a non-profit mission to get digital to books to all children.

Now there’s ways of doing this, and doing it well as it could go very wrong indeed. Keep it simple, don’t go matching head to toe, a top or jumper works best. Like these sweatshirts; now I love a sweatshirt, I love a grey sweatshirt, I love a grey sweatshirt with a slogan on it (still with me?), so this little combo from Bob & Blossom is tres bon in my view…

Sweatshirts £38 and £24, available from Bob & Blossom

And it’s not just apparel either, Sophia Webster jumped on the twinning is winning bandwagon with her Mini collection. The ‘Chiara’ style below is very sweet in teeny sizes. I’m not sure I’ll be rocking the heels round Peckham Rye Common pushing the Bugaboo but then again you never know…

£294 and £95, Sophia Webster

If in doubt, keep it simple. These monochrome tee’s from Threaded Tees are a winner, just add a flash of red lipstick (on you, not the baby), your well-loved jeans and you’re good to go.

Threaded Tees £21.41, available from Etsy

This post isn’t complete without a special shout out to Selfish Mother. Any cool mama in the know has a ‘Mother’ sweatshirt in their wardrobe (or in their clothes mountain, or on the bedroom floor). The brain child is founder Molly Gunn and her clothes are a hit with celeb Mum’s such as Fearne Cotton and Myleene Klass. I live in mine and am contemplating getting a t-shirt for the summer. For those who aren’t familiar, Selfish Mother don’t just make quality cool clothes, they do a lot of good for the world at the same time. They’ve raised over £50K for charities including Women for Women International, The Refugee Council UK, KIDS, and Help Refugees UK so buying one of their pieces goes a long way. Do it.

£45 Selfish Mother

£13 Selfish Mother

Click on brand for stockists:

Feeding Time

If you thought styling a bump was limiting, wait til you get to breast feeding…Tops suddenly need to be easy access (ahem..) Of course there’s actual maternity feeding tops, but after nine months of wearing maternity clothes you’re gagging to get back to some of your faithful old favourites.

So from zips to wraps, buttons to pussybows, here’s THE MOTHERSHOP’s edit of the top 10 feeding tops on the high street. Enjoy.

[Click on the image for details]

[Picture credits Asos, Cos]

Back to Basics

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It’s official, Isabella Oliver just upped its cool factor to a whole new level. Yes, the collection has its strong statement pieces, such as the ‘Rowsley’ leather leggings or ‘Rosliston’ jumpsuit, but what gives the range its wardrobe welly is the variety of basics available; which is what I found hardest to get my mitts on when I was expecting. Yes, it’s easy enough finding a nice dress, or a good coat within the (not so) vast maternity market, but try finding a well-cut white shirt, or a layer worthy polo neck, or boyfriend jeans that won’t make your bottom half look as wide as your waist and the challenge began…until now.

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The clever clogs at Isabella Oliver have thought of everything. There’s the black turtleneck to layer under a collared dress or their grey ‘Lexi’ top. There’s the ‘Relaxed Maternity Jeans’ which are just the right side of boyfriend, and the wear-anywhere ‘Grayson’ and ‘Marlow’ dresses should be top of any wardrobe wish list for defs. Complete the look with the carefully edited accessories; cool sneaks, textured clutch bags and delicate jewellery. Job done.