Summer maternity dresses for the office and formal events

Finding that perfect maternity dress for the office can be a difficult task.

Not only does it have to be comfortable but also smart enough for those meetings.

It also has to be versatile enough to grow with your bump and curves as well as not look too "officy" if you decide to wear it to a formal event.

We recommend picking two frocks which will form the staple part of your work based maternity wardrobe.

A wrap dress is a perfect option for this type of event offering classic formal style, while accentuating curves.

A ruched dress is also another option for showing off that bump as well as ensuring you have a style that grows with you.

If you're more of a LBD kinda girl then opting for a linen number will ensure you stay cool throughout the summer, whilst opting for a polka dot print will channel an on-trend office look.

We've picked some of our fave styles, which can be accessorised up or down for any formal or office occasion. 

Judy Maternity Wrap Dress, £95, Isabella Oliver

Stripe ruched maternity dress, Next, £25

MAMA Dress £12.99, H&M

Black linen midi dress, Jojo Maman Bebe, £39

Key Hole Back Spot Dress, Crave Maternity, £95

Friday fantasy fashion item: Penelope maxi maternity dress from Vanessa Knox

It's finally Friday and that means one thing - it's time for our fantasy fashion series.

Today we're lusting over this gorge green maternity maxi dress by Vanessa Knox, which we think is versatile enough for any occasion.

Dress it down with a pair of sandals for a daytime look or BBQ or team up with heels and chunky jewellery to show off your bump and fashion sense at a wedding or summer party.

We think its worth every penny of its £135 price tag and it also comes in black and grey too. 

Top five Summer maternity dresses

We had a little glimpse of summer over the weekend and got all excited planning for our maternity wardrobe.

 And one item every mum-to-be must include in her summer wardrobe is that casual daytime dress.

Whether you pick an on-trend floral number or go for something plainer, this item is sure to see you through those balmy summer days.

Change the look by alternating sandals and espadrilles or add a scarf or cardi to give it a different twist.

We've picked out top five from the budget to luxury as well as a non-maternity frock, which is a great option for those looking for something they can wear afterwards too.

Una Maternity Summer Dress, £105, Isabella Oliver

Tribal Print Dress, £50, Mamas and Papas

Non maternity option - Blue Chelsea Girl floral drop waist dress, £25, River Island

Maternity Midi Dress, £16.00, Matalan

Maternity Floral Tea Dress, £46, Topshop

Top five breastfeeding dresses from the budget to the luxury

Breastfeeding fashion is a topic we could talk about until the cows come home.

We absolutely heart how much the industry has moved on from simple vest tops to gorgeous, luxury, stylish tops and dresses, which let you subtly nurse your baby while staying glam.

A few weeks back we enlisted the help of Emma Downie, owner and director of gorge breastfeeding and maternity fashion brand Milk & Mummy, and gave you some essential breastfeeding tips with our pick of breastfeeding tops.

However, with the weather getting warmer and events such as weddings becoming more popular we decided it was time to scour the virtual highstreet to find you the best breastfeeding dresses for that day in the park or summer wedding.

Below are our top five from the budget to the luxury.

Bea - Istanbul print breastfeeding dress, £95 Milk and Mummy

Kate Breasfeeding dress, £150 Peaks of London

When we first started out we told you all about how the Bibee dress worked. Now the brand is developing its designs and we heart this new maxi dress £175, which and comes with a plain round-neck black Bibee. It is worn here with a Limited Edition Butterfly Print V-Neck Bibee £50

Bretton stripe breastfeeding dress, Jojo Maman Bebe, £29

Black Nursing Dress, £38, Mamas and Papas

Rent a maternity Christmas dress from Hire Expectations

With the Christmas party season not so quietly creeping up on us, many of us are already panicking about that perfect frock for that special occasion.

And it's a trickier situation for those who are pregnant.

Although there's a great range of party bump flattering frocks to choose from, sometimes we can't justify spending those pennies on a dress we may only wear a handful of times.

That's why we're more than a little bit excited about Hire Expectations.

The online boutique offers dozens of stylish maternity dresses to hire without the designer price tag.

Founded by twin sisters Pippa Capel and Robyn Mason, the site stocks dresses from ten leading labels including Crave, Isabella Oliver, Keungzai and Butter by Nadia. The range features pieces worn by celebrities including Sienna Miller, Amanda Holden and Naomi Watts.

Styles have been carefully selected to flatter a range of body shapes from the first signs of pregnancy right up until the due date, for occasions from a casual lunch to a formal black-tie event.

A range of designer breastfeeding dresses is also available, all tailored to allow discreet breastfeeding.

Dresses are available to hire for either 5 or 10 days. Rental prices start at just £25, letting women dress beautifully yet affordably throughout their pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.

See some of the frocks available for hire below.

AW 2012 Trends: Military inspired maternity wear

Military influences were in full force on the London Fashion Week AW 2012 catwalks.

Big brassy buttons appeared on double breasted tailored coats, while structured, wrap dresses and jackets gave a more subtle nod to the trend.

Traditional khakis and blacks were joined by bright neon colours, thanks to bold moves by Prada, while studs shown by the likes of Burberry and Alexander McQueen, were added to bring the trend into this season.

Of course the maternity fashion world has taken note of this hot trend, with a range of stores introducing a range of military inspired blouses and coats.

However, the great thing here is that you don't have to stick to maternity wear. Give a nod to the look with a military style cap, or pick a pair of military inspired flat boots, which will last you throughout your pregnancy and into next winter too.

See the gallery below for some of our military inspired maternity faves.

Military Cap, £20,  Next

Refer Military Coat, £65, Asos Maternity

Belted Wrap Jacket, £125, Isabella Oliver

Spica boot,  £159, Bertie

Maternity Stud Military Shirt, £40, Topshop

Maternity Military Blouse, £35, Asos

Brands we love: Keungzai maternity fashion

If you're looking for that glam outfit suitable for the office and after work dinner then Keungzai has some great styles.

The relatively new maternity fashion boutique has come up trumps with its range that uses soft fabrics such as jersey, flowing gracefully over beautiful bumps in styles that match those seen on the highstreet mainstream fashion rails.

We love the printed rouched dresses and printed blouses that will show off your bump whilst enhancing your curves.

Now where did we put that credit card?

Blossom Mother and Child launches catwalk video tool

Dressing your baby bump can be hard work, especially if you want to work the latest styles into your wardrobe.

That's why we heart the new tool on Blossom Mother & Child’s website, which lets you see what its AW 2012 collection looks like on the catwalk, and more importantly, your bump.

Although this isn't a new thing- highstreet stores have been offering this online for a while now-  this video service is one of the first for maternity.

Simply click on the ‘view catwalk’ icon on the bottom right corner of a selection of  the company's maternity jeans, dresses, tops and jackets and you’ll see your garment of choice modelled on the runway and how they work with a bump.

Shopping for that perfect maternity outfit has never been so much fun.

Dressing your bump without the frump

Being pregnant has never been so fashionable, with a huge range of celebrities embarking on the road to becoming yummy mummies.

However, unlike the days of yore, you no longer have to be an A-lister to dress your bump in style thanks to the huge range of maternity clothing on the highstreet and web.

Maternity jeans with enough give to last you for a good few months- and great for those post pregnancy weeks- are readily available from the likes of  Topshop and New Look , while those looking for smarter attire can pick from a great range on the web.

I'll be bringing you all the latest fashion news, products and styles from the maternity world to ensure you dress your bump without the frump.