Friday Fantasy Fashion item: Charlotte smart maternity dress from Madderson London

We've gone full circle today with our maternity fashion advice, but it's Friday, and it's also a woman's perogative to change her mind, right?

Today's  Friday fantasy fashion item flies in from luxury maternity brand Madderson London.

Set up by Sara who missed the range and glamour of her pre-pregnancy clothes when she was expecting, the maternity range focuses on gorge dresses and tops for smarter occasions such as parties and office meetings.

The Charlotte dress, £275, is just one example of the brand's fab frocks and channels this seasons sixties trend perfectly.

We think it'll also look great teamed with flats for a more casual style.

Budget maternity fashion tips: Accessorise with a scarf

Jonathan Suanders S/S 2013

Scarves have been wrapping their way around the fashion world for a good few years now providing a great way to update a tired or bland outfit.

This season they made their way to the top of the 2013 must-have accessories list with Marc Jacobs, Jonathan Saunders and Louis Vuitton just some of the designers to show off this trend on the catwalks.

And these reasonably priced gems are perfect for that maternity wardrobe on a budget.

Updating a simple top with an on-trend patterned or bold coloured scarf will give it a new lease of life, meaning you don't need to splash out on hundreds of maternity tops. And the same applies to that trusty black or block colour dress.

We also love the fact that you can continue to wear these after the birth, as well as consider them as a subtle breastfeeding aid.

Buy one or two scarves and mix and match for an instant style update. 

Below are just a few of our faves.

Cream rose print lightweight scarf, £15, River Island

Asos Butterfly Image scarf, £12

China blue scarf, £12, Oasis

Shimmer scarf, £12, Jane Norman

Animal Border Print Scarf, £20, Warehouse

Top five summer maternity swimsuits

It's that time of year where many of us will be jetting off for that well earned summer holiday or counting the days until we do so.

Be the belle of the beach with a maternity swimsuit that will show off your growing bump and keep you comfortable.

And you can also ensure you stay as stylish as possible with a great range of on-trends options on the market.

Go for florals or polka dots, or keep it simple with a black block colour, which is also perfect for those swimming sessions at the local pool.

Below are just a few of our faves on the virtual highstreet.

 Polka Dot Maternity Swimsuit, F&F Clothing at Tesco, £16

Halter Print Swimsuit, Mamas and Papas, £25

Belle Maternity Swimsuit, Figleaves, £32

Maternity Leopard Print Padded Swimsuit, Marks and Spencer, £18.50

ASOS Maternity Swimsuit In Spot, £25

Competition: Win a dream baby shower with Blossom Mother and Child

Baby showers are becoming increasingly popular in the UK with many mums-to-be opting for one of these.

Not only are these events a great way to get the girls together before your bundle of joy, but also good means of getting a few bits you need for your little one.

And now you have a chance to win every mum-to-be's perfect shower because Blossom Mother and Child are giving you the chance to win a baby shower with gifts worth £1000s.

The lucky yummy mummy competition winner and 10 friends will be hosted at Blossom’s Walton Street boutique for pampering, afternoon tea and gifts from maternity and baby brands - and if you don't live in London then Blossom will ship the gifts to you.

To enter all you have to do is like the Blossom Facebook Page, click into the company's photos tab and then share its competition photo (pictured above) on your own Facebook Page.

When Blossom reaches 5,000 likes it will pick a lucky winner who can claim the prize themselves or nominate a pregnant friend.

See Blossom's page for all the legal deets, and good luck!

Yay or Nay? Kim Kardashian's floral custom Givenchy gown by Riccardo Tisci at the Met Ball

After a couple of weeks of stylishly showing off her baby bump Kim Kardashian's maternity style took a step back at the Met Ball.

The reality star turned heads at the punk themed event in a bold, garish floral turtleneck frock with a split and visibly attached sleeves.

She teamed up the custom jersey Givenchy gown by Riccardo Tisci with gold sandals.

Apparently the sleeves were a last minute add-on after Kim's stylist advised her to cover her arms, which had grown a little during her pregnancy.
 
And while we don't mind the body hugging style of this frock, we just think the pattern, coupled with her bump is all a little bit too much. Sorry Kim.

What do you think of Kim's style? Leave your comments below and let us know.

Top five skinny maternity jeans to suit any budget

We are slightly denim obsessed here at DoesMyBump towers so much so that we've resorted to hiding our new jean purchases away from the other half in fear of being sent to rehab, and applied to be the sixth member of Bewitched.

And if you share our denim passion you'll be as excited as we were when we found that our traditional jeans just didn't go over that bump anymore signalling that it was time to buy a pair of maternity jeans.

Maternity jeans are probably one of the first items that you'll find you need to buy as your bump begins to sprout.

Not only do they provide comfort, but also the support your bump will need over the next few months and, if you pick the right pair, they should grow with you right until the end meaning those on a budget needn't worry about having to invest in lots of pairs.

Today we've decided to focus on skinny maternity jeans, which are a great addition to any maternity wardrobe, providing style that can be dressed up or down.

Tryover or under the bump styles - there's no right or wrong here - and decide which one feels better for you. Then have some fun with the credit card. 

Maternity jeans by Seraphine, £65

Maternity skinny jeans, £16, Asda

Maternity Skinny Jeans, £18, Matalan

Skinny Maternity Narrow Bump Band Jeans, £28, Next

 

 

 

Maternity MOTO Black Acid Jamie Jeans, £40, Topshop