Mums make themselves at home!

I was featured in an newspaper article last week discussing mums who have started a business from home. It was great to be involved and hopefully will inspire other mums to have a go at working from home!

The Courier-Mail article also featured the picture above taken with my son Ryan. He had a great time and I even got a chance to wear our new stylish wrap design, which is one of my favourites!

To read the full article click on the link below:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22588727-23272,00.html

Breastfeed in style...

How to Breastfeed in Style

Breastfeeding no longer means sacrificing fashion just because you’re a nursing mum! With a celebrity baby boom and resurgence of breastfeeding, maternity designers have taken note and are now designing nursing wear just for breastfeeding. With a little planning and a few tips, you’ll be well on your way to breastfeeding in style.

Look at your needs

While pregnant plan ahead and look at your lifestyle to plan your nursing wear and breastfeeding clothes purchases before your baby is born. Are you sporty? Like to socialise? Returning to work? Then think about styles and colours to suit your lifestyle as you’ll be living in them for several months while breastfeeding.

Plan a nursing wear kit

Once you know your needs it’s a good idea to plan a nursing kit to get you through breastfeeding. Choose versatile colours that are easy to mix and match. As a basic guide you will need to include the following items to get you started:

2-3 good quality nursing bras
1 pair of PJs or nightie for night feeds
3 comfortable breastfeeding tops for everyday
1 dressy top or nursing dress for special outings

Quality Fabrics

Choose quality and easy-care fabrics that feel soft against the skin and will last frequent washing. The addition of spandex or lycra to a fabric will also help the garment adjust to your changing shape. Natural fibres are best for bras and sleepwear while soft jersey and cotton/spandex fabrics are great for tops and dresses.

Accessories for a unique look

Adding stylish accessories is a cheap and cheerful way to create a modern look. Funky necklaces, bangles and scarves will keep your look fresh and help create different outfits from your nursing wear basics. Don’t forget the must-have statement bag for all your baby needs!

Personal Grooming

Having a newborn baby means little time for high maintenance haircuts or skin care regimes. Ask your hairdresser for a stylish cut that is easy to care for and looks great with minimal fuss. Keep it simple and stick to the basics for effortless chic.

Breastfeed in style

Planning your breastfeeding wardrobe will help you to feel calm and confident when breastfeeding in public. Knowing you look good in fashionable clothing will do wonders for your self-esteem and leave you with one less thing to worry about at this exciting and hectic time in your life.

Spring is in the air!

Finally the temperature is rising and Spring is in the air. The stores are already filled with the new season’s latest fashion and just because you’re pregnant or breastfeeding doesn’t mean you should miss out on all the fun!

A leading trend for the new season is the dress – think soft, flowing styles that will take you through pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. The ever classic and popular wrap dress is perfect for maternity wear and will become a versatile wardrobe staple. Look for styles in soft stretchy fabrics and basic colours that can be easily dressed-up or down. The wrap neckline is also great for easy and discreet breastfeeding.

Add the latest accessories such as the must-have statement handbag, stacked bangles and anything metallic to complete the look. No longer do you have to sacrifice style just because you’re a pregnant or breastfeeding mum. Breastfeed in style...

Planning the Perfect Maternity Wardrobe

“I have nothing to wear!” Heard this before from a new mother?

After putting in much time and effort into planning their maternity wardrobe, many new mums suddenly discover they have nothing to wear after their baby arrives!
It is important to plan ahead while pregnant to ensure your maternity wardrobe will make the smooth transition from pregnancy to breastfeeding.

With a few simple tips planning the perfect maternity and breastfeeding wardrobe is easy and won’t break the budget either!

Start with the basics

Look at the basics in your pre-pregnancy wardrobe and replace these with the maternity versions. Maternity tanks tops with built-in nursing bras are fantastic and are easy to mix and match. Black, white and a print or brighter colour are great to start with and will go with most colours.

Tank tops will also take you through all seasons – perfect to wear on their own in the warmer months and great for layering in winter.

We love:
Top Secret Maternity Sahara $59
Fresh Mums Tank and V-Neck Tops $55
Bravado Original Nursing Bra Tank $79.95

Think Dresses

Dresses in flowing stretchy fabrics are fantastic for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. With the right cut, dresses are very flattering on a baby bump and also great for the post-baby figure.

Make sure you have at least one or two dresses in your wardrobe that will take you from work, play and important functions such as your baby’s christening or naming day! Again you can’t go past classic black for classic style and slimming effect.
New styles of maternity dresses also include a built-in nursing bra, which is fantastic when you have to attend a function and breastfeed your baby at the same time.

We love:
Fresh Mums Twist Dress - Sleeveless $90 and ¾ sleeve $105 - Coming March

Tops to take you everywhere

Once you have a baby you suddenly need clothing for all those outings – mother’s group, coffee, shopping, trips to the doctor, the list goes on… Unless you want to spend your life in baby rooms, you need tops that allow you to breastfeed discreetly in public and look good too!

Again look for tops that allow for easy breastfeeding access and are flattering on your changing shape. Style features such as crossover fronts and side gathering are very good at hiding extra kilos. Many tops designed for breastfeeding are also suitable for pregnancy.

We love:
Honeysuckle Mums range: Bloom $65, Martini T $55, Spice T $55, Summermums $55
Top Secret Maternity: Xara $79
Cosmic Maternity: Crossover breastfeeding tops $59

Look for quality

As a mum of two small boys, I know how tempting it is to go for cheap and cheerful when buying clothes. However, often these items are here for “a good time not a long time” and won’t last the distance.

When you think about it, your maternity and breastfeeding wardrobe needs to last you for at least two years depending on how long you breastfeed and how many children you have. So in the long run it is better value for money to look for quality fabrics and styles that will last the distance.

Have any other great tips to share?

Other mums are often the best source of information when is come to fashion tips and suggestions. Let us know your tips for creating the perfect maternity and breastfeeding wardrobe so we can share them in our next news edition!