If you live anywhere but Australia you might be thinking, “what is she talking about?!” But maternity clothes are SO expensive in Australia. I didn’t buy any maternity jeans while pregnant because I couldn’t justify forking out $200-plus. So I walked around in my regular hipster jeans with the top button undone, and I wore a long top.
Now, finally, a high-street brand has come out with a range of maternity jeans. THANK YOU Just Jeans, especially as they are going to retail for $89.95.
After putting the kids to bed and sitting down with a good, warm cup of tea (you just cannot take the Irish out of a gal, even when living in Paris), I grabbed my computer to sit down and write some blog posts. I was suddenly inspired not to write yet another post about great things for kids but, for a change, something about some great things for mums!
So here is one of my latest discoveries — the lovely UK webshop Plümo full of beautiful trinkets, clothes, shoes and furniture. Whomever the person is who sources the items, they have fabulous taste and I want to get almost everything… And the best thing about it? At the moment they still have a sale going on!
You see, this is my way of thinking: if you have daughters, like I do, everything you get for yourself will have a second life in the future. The girls will steal things out of your cupboard, wear them and call them vintage. So if you shop now, all you are really doing is investing in the future…
The moment I found out I was pregnant, my boobs grew a full size. Crazy! (But very attractive, according to my husband…).
So my usual selection of bras was not only too tight, but since they’re all under-wired they’re not recommended for pregnancy. Under-wired bras are not advised during pregnancy because they put too much pressure on your breasts, which can result in blocked milk ducts or mastitis. They also aren’t flexible enough — apparently our boobs live their own life during pregnancy and can change shape during the day.
Good maternity bras accommodate all of these needs, but are sadly not always the most attractive ones around…
Now take a look at the selection of Ma Mère! Hello, mama! These bras are seriously super stylish and sexy!!
When pregnant with her son, Khali Whatley was so frustrated by the lack of wonderful maternity lingerie available to pregnant and nursing women, that she decided to start an online boutique dedicated to providing designer lingerie to expectant and new mothers around the world. She found the best lingerie from everywhere, and it resulted in a collection that my non-pregnant friends may very well be jealous about.
My favourite maternity bras at the moment are from Blossom and Amoralia, both available from Ma Mère.
Well… it’s almost summer here and we all know what that means: summer clothes! I always find it exciting shopping for summer clothes – it’s the promise of hot days on the beach, long balmy evenings, lashings of sorbet, endless swimming and those delicious summer fruits…. and as much as we complain about the heat (oh, do we ever, and don’t even get me started on those pesky flies) it really is my favorite time of the year! Now, the first place I will head to is Seed.
Seed is one of those kid’s labels that you can always rely on to deliver the essential basic pieces (the plain t-shirts, the perfect pair of cargo shorts, the classic linen shirt) and then some more. No logos, no excessive detail or styling, just lovely comfortable, clean-cut classics and always with a modern directional twist… think playground chic!
Seed’s gorgeous signature stores are located throughout Australia and Hong Kong. For the rest of the world, international shipping is available online.
I have been trying to travel a bit further a field, leaving my usual habitat of North-Eastern Paris, to try and discover new places for Babyccino. On one of my trips I met up with Estelle from the lovely e-shop Nordinary and she took me on a whistle-stop tour of the 17th arrondissement.
One particular shop deserves its very own Babyccino post: the fabulous maternity shop Firmaman, Paris’ first concept store for pregnant ladies.
I had been looking for a place just like this during my pregnancy in Paris and never found one. It is a lovely boutique, full of great clothes — some of which are maternity clothes, some of which are not, but all of which will look great on a pregnant woman. You can find great coats, jeans and dresses. There is also a great newborn baby section, a gift section and a lingerie section with some beautiful nursing bras.
If you are feeling to tired and bloated to travel to the 17th, check out the website, though I highly recommend popping into the shop as it has a lot more choices, and makes you realise that it is actually not impossible to be 9 months pregnant and chic at the same time….
I met with Bianca Jones recently and she kindly opened up her jewellery box for me to browse. By the end of our meeting, I had tried every piece on, and decided I really wanted it ALL (including the box!).
Bianca Jones makes lovely jewellery, including everything from fancy diamond rings to silver necklaces and bracelets. One of my favorite pieces is her signature silver bangle with delicate little alphabet disc charms. I love the idea of getting a letter for each of my kids (kind of like a modern-day charm bracelet).
And now for the exciting bit… Bianca is graciously giving a silver bangle away to one lucky reader! The winner can choose up to THREE charms, personalizing it as you wish.
Just leave a comment below by Sunday, November 1st, and we’ll pick one winner at random. (Oh, and you must be subscribed to our daily email in order to win.)
I’ve already mentioned being a huge fan of the uber stylish maternity boutique, Mama-La-Mode, which sells everything from maternity basics to designer dresses for the style-conscious mums-to-be. Whether it’s a pair of trendy pregnancy jeans, a winter coat, or a maternity swimsuit, Mama-La-Mode has it all.
In fact, just recently they launched their very own label of maternity staples — a collection of core essentials made from soft jersey and intended for all 9 months of pregnancy. Think skinny strap camisoles with built-in bra support, basic fold-down black trousers, and must-have black leggings.
In honor of their launch, Mama-La-Mode is offering a pair of maternity leggings to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below by next Wednesday, September 9th, and we’ll pick one winner at random.
Good luck!
P.S. Mama-La-Mode is also offering 10% off to all first-time customers. Just use the promo code babyccino at check-out.
P.P.S. The winner of our last give-away, the Bear Feet shoes, is Claudia from Italy!
Eduardo`s life story is classic rags to riches. Having escaped the slums of Buenos Aires, he made a fortune selling sunglasses. Disillusioned by the big bucks however, he now travels all over with his supermodel wife promoting world peace.
And he also makes a pretty funky print for a T-shirt! Shirtylicious is a cool and conscious clothing company situated here in Amsterdam, and they come up with very interesting and intelligent characters to adorn T-shirts for your sons, daughters, husbands and not to forget, yourself!
The shirts are easy to wear and simple to wash, and are of a very good quality cotton… No ironing necessary — I like that!
Growing up in Seattle, we spent every summer on the salty, rocky beaches of the Puget Sound… running around in our Saltwater sandals! Every summer we got a new pair — I can still remember choosing the color. Saltwater sandals are made to stand up even in salt water (hence the name) — you can get them wet, and they’ll still survive. They’re made with a flexible, high grade sole, and durable leather straps. (Apparently, according to Wikipedia, they were first produced in the 1940s as an alternative to traditional children’s leather sandals as a way to cope with leather shortages in World War II. The sandals were made from scrap leather left over from making men’s shoes.)
They are so simple, yet so cute! Nothing makes me think ’summer’ more than a pair of Saltwater sandals…
The infant sandals are on sale at online children’s boutique, Sweet William. And did you know they also come in grown-up sizes? I’m thinking about getting myself a pair! (Grown-up version available here.)
Having a baby girl opens up a whole new world of products and concepts… like these beautiful vintage baby bonnets by kh:W Heirloom which has created such a unique and lovely concept — a baby bonnet made from a vintage handkerchief, which will be saved for many years until her wedding day! Read below…
“I’m a little hanky as square as square can be–
but with a stitch or two they made a bonnet out of me.
I’ll be atop your baby’s head on that first spring day–
Then nicely pressed and gently packed away.
Every lucky bride, so we’ve been told–
Must add to their finery something old.
So what could be better than to find little me–
With a few stitches snipped, a wedding hanky I will be.”
Check out the website — it’s really so beautiful, all the photos and delicate details…
I’m usually a fashion magazine reader, but lately I’ve been tempted (while stuck in line at the checkout) to grab the mags that promise easy weeknight dinners or dresses that make you look thinner, like plenty of hurried moms out there. My latest purchase was the July issue of O Magazine, in which I’ve discovered a very interesting article on shopping. I consider myself a bit of a shopping expert, or shopaholic at the least, and I’ve even managed to make a career out of it with my shopping tours in Paris. (When I was 2, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I answered, “A shopper like my Mommy!”)
And this article, entitled 6 Common Shopping Traps, proves what I’ve known all along– shopping does something to the brain to make you feel better! That is, in some individuals, anyway — it seems that “feel good” parts of the brain are activated when they shop, and others have strong reactions in the pain centers in the brain. Think I can convince my husband that shopping is actually making me healthy? Check out the article for more info and other tips on how not to overspend. Thanks, Oprah!
About a year or so ago someone asked me to edit a new magazine for kids. It was the genesis of an idea and when the global economic meltdown struck, it was pretty much shelved. But just thinking about what I would do in my dream kid’s mag was an interesting exercise.
And I had to smile when I came across LMNOP because it’s basically an example of what I would do! It respects its readers as intelligent women and showcases gorgeous products that prioritise style and substance. At this stage it’s an online magazine, but I’d love to see it go into print one day. Fingers crossed.
I’ve had my eyes on a pair for years now and since they were on sale AND available in my size and in an amazing colour… Hey, what can a girl do. Shabbies were originally designed in the seventies by Dutch shoe designer Fred de la Bretoniere and are comfortable, fashionable, beautiful, and the perfect mix between nonchalant and chic. Shabby chic!
The colours of the natural leather are seriously amazing, and I really like the fact that they look equally cool with skinny trousers, a skirt or a mini dress. And of course they are much easier to chase kids with than 3 inch high heels!
If you’re interested in a pair of Shabbies, I suggest emailing this shop to ask if they would ship to your country. Or, of course, come to visit the Netherlands soon!
Receiving packages in Paris is a nightmare! The post is notorious for losing most packages. The other option is private delivery companies, but the delivery times are often between 8 am and 6 pm. There is no way that I can stay in my flat for a full 10 hours, so I always miss the delivery and spend hours on the phone trying to rearrange redelivery.
Now, there is another option… which is to have your package delivered to a shop near your home so you can drop by and go pick it up. Normally that means turning up at some dodgy mobile phone shop! But I was very, very agreeably surprised the other day when I went to pick up my package at the most lovely little boutique just up the road from me: Moi et ma Fille.
It is so nice to discover little gems in your neighbourhood. Moi et ma Fille (Me and my Daughter) was started by the Taiwanese designer Yafei Tsai after the birth of her little girl. She has created some lovely pieces both for mothers and daughters, and sometimes you find a adult and a children’s version of the same design. The collections are fresh, quirky and affordable.
I am certainly not going to wait for another delivery to visit her boutique again!
This is one for us, girls. I have lately become a regular reader of the great blog MyLittleParis. I eagerly await the bi-weekly emails with the top tips on all that is Paris! The best way I can describe it is as a Babyccino for grown-ups.
It has great tips of what’s new, what to do, where to eat, where to stay and where to shop. The great thing is that they have just started an English language version and so even non-French speakers can get a piece of the action.
I especially love the fact that they always seem to be in the know about private sales of some of my favourite labels like Sandro, Maje and Paul and Joe where the clothes are up to 50% off. I do always love a bargain….
We had a little discussion about birthstones on Babyccino a while ago. It seems that the tradition of birthstones is much more commonly known of in the USA than in Europe. Of course it got me all curious and I did a little research…
In the Old Testament, detailed instructions can be found for the fabrication of a breastplate for the high priest. This ‘breastplate of Aaron’ is where the tradition of birthstones arose from. Twelve gemstones are described, to be laid out in a plate and to be set in gold, each of them representing one of the twelve sons of Aaron, being the commanders of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were said to be able to communicate directly to God through those gemstones!
The stones also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year – hence the tradition of the birth stones.
My son was born in February, and therefore his birthstone is Amethyst. Amethyst is said to protect its wearer against seduction; drunkenness, in particular. Always a good thing. It is also said to stimulate dreams. Not sure about that…
My daughter was born in May; her birthstone is Emerald. Emerald is green – the colour of harmony, love of nature and elemental joie de vivre. It is said to be a healing stone. Also, emeralds are notorious for their flaws. (Which we tolerate, of course, because as we know – only the imperfect can ever be perfect…)
Lovely birthstone necklaces can be found at Prismera Design. I really like the fact that the ‘chains’ are bigger than usual and also the birthstones are lovely. The only ‘problem’ I have is — maybe three stones would look better??
xxx Esther
PS Prismera Design kindly offers a 10% discount to all Babyccino readers. Just use code BABYCCINO10.
A few days ago my daughter’s teacher came up with a new nickname for her: she now calls her Kate Moss. This is slightly due to the fact that she insists on wearing a pair of over-sized purple sun glasses to school and never wants to take them off, even when it is raining (actually more Paris Hilton than Kate Moss…).
It is also due to the fact that she was wearing a fabulous T-shirt by Shirin, a New York-based artist who is producing a fantastic collection of screen printed T-shirts all printed individually with water based inks. They look and feel amazing and I have never seen anything quite like them for kids. I started having T-shirt envy until I realised that there was no need: Shirin also makes T-shirts for grown ups! Here is the link to the online store!
Summer is around the corner and it will bring bare legs and arms. But those of us who are not in perfect shape may be a bit reluctant to follow suit.
This entertaining article on the Guardian gives some nice and intelligent style tips to help you achieve a smart look while avoiding faux pas down that slippery road. The tips include not baring too much chest if legs are on show or never to buy a skirt with a hem at mid-calf, mid-knee or mid-thigh – that would just be too unflattering. There is also a cute way of finding out the right length for your leg shape, because, as the author reminds us, the beauty of legs is in the shape, and they do not have to be extra-slim to look nice. Apparently they are also the last part of your body to age!
Go on, show your LTZ (lower thigh zone)!
To celebrate the arrival of Courtney’s new little bundle of joy we are giving away a fabulous maternity bag by the great French Company Eva and Oli!
I have written about Eva & Oli before — they make great clothes for kids and the maternity bag is great — big enough to stick everything you could ever need into it, easy access side pockets, and it turns into a laptop bag once you’re finished with nappies (trust me, the day will come). But what I really like about it is that it looks fab, it is funky and does not look out of place in a chic Parisian café, which is more than you can say for a lot of maternity bags!
Here’s your chance to win the bag! Just leave a comment below by Sunday, May 31st with your top tips for dealing with a newborn and the best tip will win!
H&M was one of my favorites shops for years and years. On the money, on style and on trend. I didn’t really care that everything fell apart after a few washes.
Over the last few years I have been buying less and less stuff from there. Try as I might, I could rarely find things I wanted. Maybe I have started outgrowing H&M? I must not be the only one, as H&M themselves spotted a gap in the market: a higher end, though still affordable clothing label. And so COS was born.
I love their designs, classic pieces with a modern twist. They are well made and infinitely wearable.
Now, though you cannot find it yet on their website, COS has also brought out a children’s line, reflecting the style of their adult clothes. Cute designs, made out of good quality materials and strong colours and without any logos or fluff you often find on kids clothes…
COS has just opened their first branch in Paris in the wonderful rue des Rosiers. There is a rumour that the designer shops in the same street tried to stop an H&M owned shop to be opened in the same street as them, fearing it would bring down the tone of the street. Instead, they should be worried about losing customers to this new stylish label!
If you live anywhere but Australia you might be thinking, “what is she talking about?!” But maternity clothes are SO expensive in Australia. I didn’t buy any maternity jeans while pregnant because I couldn’t justify forking out $200-plus. So I walked around in my regular hipster jeans with the top button undone, and I wore a long top.
Natalie in Sydney
March 8th, 2010
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