As mentioned a week or two back, take comfort from the fact that flats are not only acceptable, they’re trendy.  Sticking with a fabulous monk shoe or a low healed boot (my fave) is an easy way to make a stylish statement AND walk without ending up on your bum.   But because you don’t have the height you had with your heels you must be careful with your proportions.  Try keeping your legs sleek with warm dark tights or skinny jeans.

With your lower half cozy and compact you can play with larger pieces on top. So try a stylish, large 70’s styled floppy hat or faux fur hat.  So many of us oooh with envy when we see someone in a great hat, and yet too few of us brave one ourselves.  It’s a must have to keep warm, a wonderful statement piece, a great investment AND they add a bit of height!  Just don’t go too crazy on colour – the shape and size says enough, and you want it to work with more than one of your winter outfits.

 We can’t forget your little fingers. There are so many great gloves out there but my faves are simple, long and leather.  There’s something lovely and feminine about a sleek hand popping out of a cozy oversized winter jacket.   They’ll keep you warm, and can make your fingers and lower arms look long and stylish without even trying.

So be sure to put on your favourite maternity suit, layer it with an oversized jacket (is there any other kind when you’re pregnant?), slip on your sleek new gloves, new shoes, traffic-stopping hat and you’re ready to participate in all of that holiday joy. You’re carrying the best gift in your belly so it IS important to keep you both safe.  Great news is: if you do it right, it won’t just be the Christmas lights that are glowing, warm and trendy for the season.  Happy Styling!

LLR was established in 1999 in an effort to provide a permanent and loving home for abandoned children and teenagers suffering from HIV/AIDS in the Sibiu and Tirgu-Mures (Transylvania) areas of Romania.  LLR also provides a community centre for children who have already suffered so much.  It’s open 365 days a year so the children and teenagers can socialize in an open environment away from the scrutiny and disdain they typically receive from society. The home care aspect of the organization then attends to the general needs of individuals suffering from AIDS/HIV by facilitating everything from the purchase of medication and food to taking a dying child to visit a family member in prison.

Sadly there is an increasing need for LLR and the current facilities are full, so they’re looking for more donations and sponsors in order to expand. You can find more information about Love, Light, Romania at www.lovelightromania.com.

Eva Alexander actively supports non-profit organizations all year, but there’s something special about taking some time out from the hustle and bustle of the holidays (including the stress of finding the perfect maternity dress for the office Christmas party) and instead focusing on the needs of others.  It’s a powerful reminder to be thankful for what we have. A big hug and thanks to all that donated to LLR and other charities.  It really is one of the things that make this time of year so special.

Mrs. Beckham has been quite open about her feet issues, caused by years of mile high heels.  But until recently she has said she doesn’t “get” ballerina flats and that the heels were worth it.  Well, these new flats are not your typical feminine ballerinas; these are a stricter, more serious shoe and in a style once worn not by fashion royalty but by… monks. They’re even referred to as monk-strap shoes (Who knew..?)   They’re definitely a masculine shoe, so should be paired (as the queen of fashion did) with feminine mini or midi skirts OR, for the fearless fashionista, even your boyfriend jeans.  (Please promise us to keep your top girly!)

The shoes Mrs. VB wore were crafted by the king of shoe wear, Manolo Blahnik and will be found in her very own Spring/Summer 2013 collection. But if you don’t have the funds for a VB/Manolo collaboration, many other designers are hopping on the monk-strap bandwagon.

A version of the shoe can even be found from 55 GBP at Office.  That said, we think the value of fashionable feet that aren’t swollen to double their size by the end of day is priceless.

We still love our heels, but are thankful for a fashionable option to pair with our stylish maternity office wear. Especially when you are pregnant it’s good to be kind to your body – it’s been working hard! Thank you VB from the top of our freshly blow-dried heads to the tips of our fashionable (yet not swollen) feet.

We took inspiration from the catwalks and from YOU our lovely fans.   She felt that if you’re lucky enough to be preggers, you shouldn’t be hiding that lovely bump! You can use your new curves to create a sexy shape,  and with the help of our cleverly designed maternity wear you can strut your stuff with confidence.

Our new Ponte Knit maternity dress is cut to emphasise all the best parts of your bump while the ¾ sleeves (which and can also be seen all over the cat walks and which we LOVE) add a little more coverage.  The fabric is of the highest quality Italian ponte knit so the dress will retain its shape and will help you look “expensive” no matter how many times you wear it (which we think will be a lot!) It comes in a rich red and a beautiful blue so you can dress up for a night out or add a jacket for the perfect maternity office wear.  Either way it’s sure to get you noticed, and for all the right reasons.

 Another dress we love is our Classic Wrap maternity dress.  Again we thought we’d add the option of a bit more colour so it’s available in Eclipse Blue or Bordeaux Red.  Anyone who has bought our wrap dresses in the past knows that it’s the perfect design for a growing belly.  We have continued to use top quality fabrics and cuts ensuring the wraps perfectly drape the body, allowing for comfortable and stylish maternity dressing.

Last but definitely not least, a must-have basic for ANY pregnant belly is our Tailored Knit maternity skirt.  Available in classic black it’s the perfect piece to pair with your favourite tops and can be easily adapted to any trend or social situation.  We particularly love the way it adjusts to the changing shape of a pregnant body.  An essential for any bump!

All of these new pieces are available next week on our website – just in time for this season’s big Christmas do or your Christmas list!   Being pregnant doesn’t mean you need to worry about being mistaken for Father Christmas.  Happy Shopping!!

Yes, we all saw that everyone from Celine to McQueen delivered designs that hid their models in mounds of clothes, revealing only tiny heads and feet.  But for us mortals, pairing pieces carefully is key.  Larger suit jackets and boyfriend jeans are fabulous individually, but combining them will quickly lead you into Frumpyland.  Instead, try pairing that large suit jacket with a crisp shirt and tailored trouser.  Check out the Eva Alexander maternity office wear collection, especially the Single Button Maternity Blazer with the Tailored Maternity Morgan Pant.  To finish off the look, contrast the boyish feel of the suit by adding some sparkle on your wrists.

Maternity Suit Jackets are fast becoming the latest maternity wear fashion trend

The boyfriend jean should also be worn with a sleeker top and I like the ones that give you full coverage so that your ankles are the only flesh you reveal.  I’m just going to say it: you need to roll up those jeans and pair with a nice sized heel (teeter with caution).  Who would have thought your ankles could be so good at flirting?

Boyfriend jeans paired with your favourite maternity blazer is chic and stylish this season

Whatever your maternity clothes choices, never forget this: being pregnant doesn’t mean you’re destined to nine months of potatoes sacks.  Instead, it’s an exciting time to try lots of new trendy looks.  With so much stylish maternity wear to choose from you can still comfortably be at your fashionable best.   Happy teetering!

The easiest way to fast-track your look this season is to add a shimmery gold over your favourite red colour.  If you want to buy a red lipstick with the metallic bling built-in, there are a few you can buy. I am a little on the pale side (ok a LOT on the pale side) so red lips can go horribly wrong. Luckily I have found that Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shin in Pour Troubler is a great shade.  If you have more of a golden skin tone, try Max Factor Coulour Elixer Lipstick in Mulberry. At only £7.99, what are you waiting for?!

 For eyes I have seen a lot of cobalt blue.  Before you panic, trust me, even class acts like Stella McCartney had her models strut their stuff in cobalt blue lashes.   Now let me come clean right now and say this look is not for me (too many bad memories of the 80’s!), but if you want the brightness without the bad trip down memory lane go for a cobalt blue eye liner. I am a bit obsessed with Trish McEvoy, Arabian nights; pair this with a simple maternity dress and you can embrace all the blue with none of the fear!

These are not items you want to buy online.  I highly recommend popping into a Space NK or Department store to find what works with your skin tone.  It will be worth it when you get a day of compliments on your new look!

Choosing baby names is so much fun.  Well, it’s fun telling everyone else what to name their children. Let’s blame the hormones, but when I was pregnant suddenly it all seemed very important to get it just right, and fun was out the window.  I was sure my child’s entire future was going to be determined by that one decision.

 Sure, if you’re Gwyneth Paltrow you can name your children Apple and Moses and be fairly confident they’ll still have a bright future (plus the fact that you can strut around in your stylish maternity dress, barely even looking bloated).  But if I had named my child Orange, I suspect his school days might have been a bit rough.  

So the other option was to go with Harry (or Amelia if I’d had a girl) – the most popular name in the UK this year.  But if I named him after “the boy who lived”, a member of One Direction or a Prince, would he be overlooked?  Surely my baby would be WAY too special to be grouped with the rest?! 

I didn’t make peace with this name game until I gave birth, and then suddenly all that mattered was loving him. Is that too mushy?  Probably. But it’s true. Good news is, research shows that what matters most is providing a loving, safe, consistent environment for your little one.  So stop worrying about names and spend that energy on something worthwhile… like getting a pedicure and finding the perfect maternity clothes to see you through the next few months.  Gwyneth isn’t the only one who gets to look great with a bump!

While most other businesses are getting cheaper production by moving to Asia and Eastern Europe, we recently moved our maternity wear manufacturing to the UK. We are excited to support the UK fashion industry and feel this season has benefited from unbelievable UK talent.

We have found the quality of the skilled tailors and specialists in the greater London area to be so high, and communication with them so effortless, that we have had the luxury to think outside the box. We are now integrating the newest, most sophisticated features into our stylish maternity wear. You and your bump will NOT be disappointed.

I can’t wait to reveal some of the maternity clothes (from my favourite maternity suits to maternity dresses and maternity tops) from this season. However you’ll have to wait until after the photo shoot. As soon as I get my hands on the photography, the first thing I do will be to let you sneak a peek. Watch this space!

Summer 2012 may be over, but London fashion week for Summer 2013 started on Friday! A very exciting time of the season for us here at Eva Alexander. Don’t fret if your invite for the front row was lost in the mail, you still have a chance to see the newest trends as they strut down the catwalk for the first time. And if you are pregnant, the great news is the shapes translate wonderfully into stylish maternity clothes.

Fashion shows thrive on exclusivity, so this embracing of the digital age is very exciting. For the first time, 70 percent of the shows will be streamed live on the London Fashion Week website. If you have already missed your favourite designer or barely have enough time to get yourself dressed, there are highlights of each day, photos, and a lot of fashion inspiration available at your fingertips.

We have spent hours studying the shows and discussing how it effects our maternity clothes designs. Thus far we love what seems to be a return to simple and modern elegance that can already be seen in our maternity wear. Lots of clean crisp lines, sharp tailoring and bold pops of colour alongside that fabulous clean ladylike 1950s look that suits every body type and is already available in our stylish maternity dresses. But don’t take our word for it – see it for yourselves!

You may not get to sit next to Sienna Miller or Rachel Zoe (both spotted at Burberry Propsum) but then again they didn’t get to watch the shows in the comfort of their slippers.

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/

While there are a handful of designer maternity wear brands that women around the world vie for during their pregnancies, Eva Alexander has quickly set itself apart from the rest by creating stunning maternity wear in trend setting designs and extraordinary quality. 

Our S/S 2013 Collection is no exception.  Women have never looked so sexy and yet eternally classic during their pregnancies.  The collection features a series of eye catching summer maternity dresses, fabulously sexy reversible maternity swimwear, must have knitwear made in lightweight yarns that add a bit of ethereal shimmer to any outfit, summer essentials in a beautiful palette of colours, and of course, a new range of distinctive suiting and statement tailored pieces created in gorgeous lightweight fabrics to make every woman look and feel chic & stylish during their maternity.

Each piece in the collection is striking in its simplicity.  The new swimwear range features a variety of interchangeable pieces in combinations of bright and neutral colors that can be mixed and matched to create the perfect look.  One of the more extensive maternity swimwear ranges to hit the market, the reversible maternity bikini’s were especially well received as the stylishly sexy designs are ideal for any woman looking for multiple swimwear options on a budget.

The new maternity suits were also a particular favourite because not only do they look and feel expensive but each one has its own subtle personality created with specially designed buttons out of unique materials.  “I love the little details that make a classic piece modern and edgy, like the leopard print buttons on one of our maternity suits.  Our clients enjoy the fact that we approach maternity from a very unique perspective making few concessions for the fact that we are designing maternity wear.  I even have one of the leopard button suits in my closet and it fits as beautifully as my Dolce & Gabbana, and I don’t know how many people can say that about maternity wear,” says Jane MacDougall, the founder & designer behind Eva Alexander. 

Not every woman is looking for the perfect suit or a stylishly sexy bikini during their maternity.  Most women just want well designed essential pieces in quality fabrics, and this is what Eva Alexander does best.  The summer maternity skirts look and feel designer.  They can be worn before, during and after maternity, and best of all, they are very affordable.  The colourful range of sleeveless chiffon shirts are stunning and versatile.  The knitwear with the delicate shimmer in midnight blue and black is enviable from any perspective. But this is only the beginning, the collection as a whole is inspiring, innovative and bold.