Actress Alyson Hannigan Spotted in our Seraphine Matilda Dress!

Actress Alyson Hannigan was spotted looking lovely in our Seraphine Matilda Maxi Maternity Dress in blue and white!  The "How I Met Your Mother" actress accessorized with a denim jacket and a colorful scarf that really adds to the bohemian charm of this maternity dress.  The Matilda Maxi dress is cool, chic and comfortable, making it the perfect summer sundress!

Spring Maternity Clothes Trends

Maternity clothing styles have evolved so much in the last few years.  Styles available now are runway inspired and many pieces are meant to last through pregnancy and beyond.  Modern moms want high quality, trendy styles that proudly show off their baby bump.  There have never been so many style options for new moms-to-be and navigating the new trends can sometimes seem daunting.  Maternity designers are taking a cue from the fashion magazines and interpreting the clothing for expectant moms.  The top emerging trends for 2012 include a mix of updated classic designs and edgy, “I can’t believe it’s maternity,” styles.

The top trends for 2012 are:

-          Maternity bikinis are meant to show off your bump and are gaining in popularity for pregnant moms.  The most popular styles feature wide waistbands that can be pulled up or down to show more or less of the belly.  Halter style bikini tops offer support for a growing bust-line.  Easier to fit than a standard maillot and way sexier than a maternity tankini, maternity bikinis are all the rage.  This trend can be attributed to the large number of celebrities being photographed on vacation proudly showing their growing bellies and looking great.

-          Strapless maxi dresses that are comfortable and flowing are a big trend for the warmer months.  Also dresses with ruffled hemlines, that take a cue from the romantic spring looks shown on the runways, are right on trend.  For cooler weather, wrap cardigans are perfect to pair with these breezy dresses.

-          Denim is always a mainstay and skinny jeans that stretch are here to stay because they make perfect layering pieces for tunics and long tanks.  The newest silhouette to emerge in maternity denim is wide legged jeans and sailor style jeans that perfectly enhance a pregnant mom’s shape.  The wide flared legs balance out a growing belly for a super flattering look.

-          Tribal, exotic and tie-dyed prints are big for 2012.  Whether done in a flowing tunic or a patterned dress, these will add unexpected flair to a maternity wardrobe.  Animal prints are also big and look great paired with brown, tan or camel for an updated safari look.

-          Delivery gowns are all the rage.  More and more women are shunning the standard issue hospital gowns and bringing their own chic gowns to deliver in.  The newest delivery gowns come in beautiful colors and prints and are made for nursing as well.  The gowns are designed to be hospital and birthing center friendly with openings for monitors, epidurals and IV cords.

-          Aquatic and oceanic colors are big this year.  This includes silvery pale grays, light aquas, sea foam greens as well as vibrant corals.  These colors look amazing on summer dresses, light as air halter tops and filmy tunic tops.  These colors pair beautifully with white and cream for an ethereal look.

-          Black is always a staple color in any woman’s maternity wardrobe for its slimming effects.  This year rock-n-roll and punk influences add an edge to basic black.  Grommets, studs and edgy graphics are updating tees and dresses for a fun and funky new look.  Tattoo inspired prints will also continue to be big with younger moms.

-          Graphic and novelty tees will continue to be favorites.  70’s style graphics look new and fresh paired with the trendy wide leg jeans and wedges for spring and summer.  Novelty tees are fun to wear, affordable and make great gifts.

-          Styles that are meant to be worn while pregnant and after for nursing will continue to gain popularity.  These designs offer a great value for new moms-to-be.  Women appreciate the versatility and long term wear ability of these before and after styles.  The newest designs feature hidden nursing openings and fabrics that stretch with a growing tummy, but also retain their shape for post-pregnancy wear.  More and more women are breastfeeding and clothes that allow them to do it in style and comfort are in high demand.

-          Eco-friendly fabrics continue to be a big seller.  Organic cotton and bamboo fabrics have come a long way.  Now available in a range of colors, besides the usual oatmeal, these fabrics give eco-conscious moms-to-be maternity and baby clothing options that are stylish while also being great for the environment.

Nowadays, women are not willing to forgo their sense of fashion while pregnant.  With all of the fashionable trendy maternity clothes available now, they don’t have to.  The newest maternity styles echo trends straight off the runways while also remaining flattering to a pregnant woman’s shape.   Women want to feel pretty, sexy and stylish during their pregnancy.  I believe that women want to celebrate this special time in their life and the newest trends in maternity clothing help them to feel special and beautiful.

New Tattoo Maternity Styles have arrived!

We just added some great new tattoo inspired maternity clothes for Spring!  These edgy designs are fun to wear and will take you through pregnancy and beyond.  Whether your maternity style is punk or more conservative, these new designs look great on all Mamas-to-be!  Check out the full collection of tattoo maternity clothes!

Our James Jeans Twiggy Maternity Jeans featured on Fox 9's "The Buzz"

As part of Minnesota's Fox 9 "The Buzz," our James Jeans Twiggy Maternity Jeans were featured as a celebrity favorite!  The Twiggy maternity jeans are super flattering and comfortable for all stages of pregnancy.  James Jeans are a celebrity favorite and can be seen on many fashionable celebrity moms, such as Demi Moore, Ashlee Simpson, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale and more!

What To Expect Book Giveaway!

 

The "What to Expect When You're Expecting" was my go to book during both of my pregnancies.  It was so informative during my first pregnancy and helpful as a refresher during my second pregnancy.  After pregnancy, I read "What to Expect The First Year" and found it extremely helpful as well.  

I was recently sent the new editions of both of these books as well as one I hadn't read before, "What To Expect The Second Year."  This is also an extremely useful go to book for all new moms.  It offers invaluable information about reaching milestones, feeding tips for picky eaters, getting more sleep (something we all need), talking and defusing tantrums. It has wonderful sections on keeping your toddler healthy, dealing with illnesses and a great section on developmental disorders.

What to Expect has generously offered to give away two of each book to 6 different winners.  To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post and let me know which book you would like.  Please include your email.  If you would like to enter without commenting, please email your entry to contests@stellamaternity.com. 

For extra entries (one extra entry for each of these) please leave a comment telling me you have done the following:

- Like Stella Maternity on Facebook
- Follow Stella Maternity on Twitter
- Follow What to Expect on Twitter
- Follow the Stella Maternity News Blog (Follow button located in top left of this site)
- Tweet about this giveaway
- Blog post about this giveaway and include a link

The giveaway will end on January 31st at midnight EST.  Winners will be chosen at random.  Good Luck Mamas!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Enter to Win an Organic Baby Tee!

Head on over to Mommy's Favorite Things to read their review of Stella Maternity and to enter for your chance to win this adorable Pure T Plant a Tree organic baby lap tee.   This 100% sustainable organic cotton lap tee features a tree image and the statement, "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."

Contest ends December 17th!  Good Luck!

Affordable Trendy Maternity Clothes

Stella Maternity is having an end of year Maternity Clothes Clearance Sale!  Save up to 70% on trendy maternity clothes, cool baby clothes and more.  We have marked down lots of items so you can get the looks you want at affordable prices.  Hurry, supplies are limited!

Stylish Hospital Maternity Delivery Gowns!

Stella Maternity now carries the DearJohnnies line of super chic and stylish hospital maternity delivery gowns and maternity robes!  The founder of DearJohnnies had the idea when she was pregnant with her first child.  She knew there would be many photos taken during the hospital stay and dreaded wearing the ugly faded, ill fitting hospital gowns.  She also realized that it is about more than just vanity...it has been proven that when you think you look better, you also feel better and heal faster.  The delivery gowns feature snaps at each shoulder for easy nursing and medical access.  The comfy robes can be worn long after delivery for added value.   Celebrities fans of these delivery gowns include Trista Sutter, Tori Spelling, Samantha Harris, Jennifer Garner, Kelly Preston, Bethenny Frankel, Angela Bassett, Poppy Montgomery and more!

Celebrity Maternity Clothes!

 

A pregnant Jessica Alba was spotted wearing our Seraphine Matilda Maxi Bohemian Maternity Dress.  She has amazing style and the slouchy bag and comfortable sandals add to the bohemian style of the dress.   

Alyssa Milano was recently sighted wearing our Maternal America Scoop Neck Tie Front Dress to an event.  She looks effortlessly chic!

Congratulations to both!

Bethenny Frankel's Post Baby Workout!

Check out this article, "Bethenny Frankel's Secrets to Staying Fit", on Everday Health about how Bethenny Frankel stays in shape after having her baby.  Contrary to what you would expect from the workaholic New Yorker, her new workout regimen is Yoga for only 35 minutes two or three times a week.  Bethenny's new Yoga DVD "Bettheny's Skinnygirl Workout", is available to order at Target and Amazon.com.  Judging by her fabulous and fit figure, I think I will give this one a try.  Stay fit mamas!

Fall Maternity Clothes!

New Fall maternity clothes have arrived at Stella Maternity.  The trends for Fall are rich autumnal colors such as orange, yellow and plum as well as comfy herringbone and houndstooth prints.  We love a great Fall dress with maternity tights and boots.  Another way to add a shot of fall color to your outfit is with a nursing cover scarf.  This ingenious design can be worn as a regular scarf or as a nursing cover!  The bright orange color will make any outfit pop and the navy blue is always a classic.  Enjoy the beautiful fall weather in style!

Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream Giveaway!

Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream is a brand new cream on the market that helps to build collagen while reducing the appearance of both new and old stretch marks.  This fast absorbing lotion blends shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil and meadowfoam seed oil with advanced ingredients such as heptapeptide-7, resveratrol, licorice extract, amino acids algae extract and sodium hyaluronate for powerful stretch mark fading.  The cream is non-greasy, fragrance free and paraben free.  In a clinical study of 30 subjects by a leading dermatologist, 70% had visible improvement in stretch mark appearance after 14 days and 90% saw overall improvement after 12 weeks continued use.  The stretch mark cream is a little pricey at $89.95 a bottle, but if it works for you then it is worth it.  Find out more about Apothederm at http://apothederm.com.

Now is your chance to win your free full size Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream.  To enter simply comment on this blog post or email your entry with the subject line "Apothederm Giveaway" to contests@stellamaternity.com.  Contest winner will be selected by a random drawing and winner will be notified via email.  Contest ends September 15th at midnight Eastern Time.  Good Luck Mamas!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Secret Summer Sale!

Now through July 31st, Stella Maternity is having a secret summer sale. Take 15% any items in our secret sale section using coupon code "SSS15" at checkout. Stella Maternity is the place to shop for cool maternity clothes.

Have wonderful summer!

Celebrity Pregnancy Update!

Pink and Carey Hart welcomed a baby girl, Willow Sage, on June 2nd.

Olympic softball star, Jennie Finch, and Casey Daigle welcomed their second son, Diesel Dean Daigle, on June 19th.

Actress Nia Long and her professional basketball player husband, Ime Udoka, are expecting their first child together this fall.

Model Maggie Rizer and her husband, Alex Mehran, are expecting a baby boy in November.

311 frontman, Nick Hexum, delivered his own daughter, Maxine Vita. Nick's wife Nikki suddenly went into labor and Nick, recalling his first daughter's birth, was able to successfully deliver the baby girl.

Natalie Portman and fiancé Benjamin Millepied welcomed a baby boy.

Bones star, Emily Deschanel, and her husband, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s David Hornsby, will welcome their first child this fall.

No Doubt's Adrian Young and wife Nina welcomed a daughter, Magnolia Renée Young, on Friday, June 10th.

The Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition trainer, Chris Powell, and wife Heidi welcomed a son, William Cash Powell, on June 13th in Arizona.

Singer Lily Allen, and her new husband Sam Cooper are expecting a baby.

Former boxer, Laila Ali and her husband, former NFL star Curtis Conway, welcomed a baby girl, Sydney J., on April 4th.

Actress Jennifer Connelly and husband Paul Bettany welcomed daughter Agnes Lark on May 31st in New York City.

Be a Fresh Air Fund Host Family!

THE FRESH AIR FUND is an independent, not-for-profit agency, that provides free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities. The Fresh Air Fund has been doing this since 1877 and nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families. There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too. Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Fresh Air children are boys and girls who live in New York City and are eager to experience the simple pleasures of life outside the city.

To find out more about becoming a host family, visit http://www.freshair.org.

Easter Maternity Dresses!

Easter is right around the corner and spring is in the air! Celebrate Easter in a beautiful maternity dress. The Mother's en Vogue Tara maternity dress in Mauve Fantasy features a spring tree and bird print that make this dress the perfect Easter dress. The Lilac Regina maternity dress in silver and plum is also a great choice for Easter. The ruffles and military style buttons really make this dress a standout. Or you could go with a solid dress in a pretty pastel pink like the Annee Matthew Kate ruffled maternity dress.

Find the perfect Easter Maternity Dress for you and have a Happy Easter!

Fresh Legs Maternity Compression Leg Sleeves

I recently had a chance to try out Zensah's Fresh Legs Maternity Compression Leg Sleeves. I found them to be really comfortable and to offer just the right amount of compression without feeling too tight or uncomfortable. The Leg Sleeves allow you to wear them discreetly underneath pants or jeans and still be able to wear open toed shoes or sandals.

Wearing compression leg sleeves or socks during pregnancy may help you avoid some of the common side effects associated with pregnancy such as varicose veins, restless legs syndrome and swelling. These can also be worn while sleeping to help prevent painful Charlie horse leg cramps that can happen during pregnancy.

Check out their full line of colorful maternity compression leg sleeves. They retail for $39.99 and come in 3 sizes to fit everyone.

Rock-n-Roll Baby Clothes!

Stella Baby has now added Elvis Presley and John Lennon to their collection of rock star baby clothes. If your little one is too cool for school, he could totally rock The King Elvis Presley baby onesie. For all the little dreamers out there, the John Lennon Imagine baby onesie is sure to be a hit.

Other rock-n-roll baby styles available include Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Willie Nelson and the Grateful Dead.

Find these and more cool baby clothes at Stella Baby!

Celebrity Baby Update!

The latest celebrity baby news from Hollywood!

Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner are expecting.

Samantha Harris and Michael Hess welcomed a baby girl on January 19th. Hillary Madison Hess weighed in at 7 lbs, 11 oz. and is 20.5" long.

Antonio Sabato Jr. and his girlfriend, singer Cheryl Moana Marie are expecting a baby boy in the Spring.

Natalie Portman, who is expecting a baby with fiance Benjamin Millepied, looked pretty in pink when she took the win for her performance in Black Swan at the Golden Globes.

Selma Blair and her boyfriend, Jason Bleick are expecting a child later this year.

Owen Wilson and his girlfriend, Jade Duell welcomed a baby boy this month. The baby was named Robert Ford Wilson.

Orlando Bloom and model Miranda Kerr welcomed a baby boy, named Flynn, on January 6th.

Stylist Rachel Zoe and husband, Rodger Berman are expecting a baby boy in March.

Singer Pink and husband, Carey Hart are expecting their first child this spring.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are new parents to a baby girl, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, born on December 28th. The baby was born via surrogate and is the biological daughter of Kidman and Urban.

Singer Jewel and her rodeo husband, Ty Murray are expecting. Jewel is in her second trimester.

Alicia Silverstone and Christopher Jarecki are expecting.

Kate Hudson and husband, Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy are expecting.

Inception actress, Marion Cotillard and her boyfriend, Guillaume Canet are expecting a baby this spring.

David and Victoria Beckham are expecting their 4th child this summer.

Mothers en Vogue Maternity and Nursing Clothes!

Mothers en Vogue maternity clothes/nursing clothes have arrived! We are so excited to carry such a beautiful, eco-friendly and versatile line. They can be worn as maternity dresses or nursing dresses after the baby is born. The designs are super chic and flattering to both pregnant and nursing moms. We also carry their versatile nursing poncho/scarf. This lightweight poncho can be used as a nursing cover, worn as a scarf or as a silky baby blanket.

Mothers en Vogue philosophy is to strengthen a mother’s self-image as a woman in blossom, a doting and dutiful mom, and a friend of the Earth.