Inside I'm smiling

Week 15 of the pregnancy and i just wanted a quick post to share this awesome ASOS smiley tshirt. Although it's not maternity, i thought it looked big enough to accommodate the bump and i was definitely right, it's massive! I got a 14 to ensure it was a bit bigger than usual but it's really roomy and think it will last me through most of the summer, unless i pull a Jessica Simpson.  I also love it's inclusion of CND signs and that the back is a bright neon orange. Teamed with New Look skinny maternity jeans from my last pregnancy, New Look Brass collar necklace and Havianas as it's good old  casual dress day at work. In an ideal world i would have opted for some nice skinny pastel jeans in orange or yellow but am yet to find some comfortable/flattering maternity ones.

Another quick thing to share is that i was involved in the NL Daily vblog yesterday for New Look's maternity range. I'll post more details once it goes live and i have more pics to share but here's a sneak peak of me in a maternity maxi that was chosen for me to wear by the New Look peeps. It actually dawned on me that i am a bit of a control freak about other people styling me but more of that later...x Talia

Doing it well - Kourtney Kardashian

I know i'm not alone in counting The Kardashians amongst my guilty pleasures.  Bar the whole 72 days of marriage debacle i find them a relatively normal family. Granted with rather more fame and fortune than the average. With a headstrong pushy matriarch, an extended step family with all the arguments and trials that face many of us.  Kourtney is the eldest of the three and her current pregnancy is her second. She actually had her first shortly after i had Henry but adopted a sightly more body con approach to maternity wear last time. She's obviously mellowed out since then i find her maternity style this time round both simple and on trend.  She's shunned the bump bearing clingy fabrics and gone for layering, buttoned up shirts and flowing loose fitted elegance. There was another outfit where she bravely rocked a bow tie, cropped trousers and classic loafers but i couldn't find a good picture.

Another challenge for Kourtney is that she's 5ft 3 and has the Kardashian curves but is still not afraid to rock the flats for a casual look. Obviously in an ideal world i too would accessorise my bump with a gorgeous Celine or Balenciaga but 'it' bag aside and bar the red carpet numbers, I think Kourtney's style can be quite easily recreated with high street pieces. Bump and Bootylicous!...x Talia

Miami Vice

  

I'm feeling rather large today. I think when you wear tighter stuff your bump always looks bigger and this lace dress is a stretch fabric so clings to the bump from top to bottom. I don't mind it though as i feel i actually look pregnant now. This lace dress was a really good wardrobe staple for my last pregnancy and luckily still works this time round. Its all stretchy and a nice length. It's so so comfortable and so easy to just throw on and was from H&M Mama section. Loose fitting Cream cotton blazer also bought from H&M, like the dress, it's quite old but i love it for the warmer months and it's loose, longer masculine fit takes the girly edge off the lace dress i think, sleeves rolled up a'la Don Johnson circa Miami Vice.

My Jade pendant was from Miss Selfridge Diva jewellery sale i think, i got it from a department store sale jewellery section last year, I tend to hold out for high street jewellery to go in the sale as most of it does. The Molly Sims pics made me hanker for a longer pendant so i was glad i remembered about this little gem, plus the green adds a touch of colour. Just to confirm i have no plans to ditch the heels but am opting for a chunkier more stable heel. Velvet shoe boots from New Look...x Talia

Carrots and maggots

So we're in week 14 and  i'm starting to look a little more pregnant. I'm venturing back into the world of maternity wear and am generally pretty happy with what's out there at the moment with some exceptions. I do still have a few maternity pieces from my last pregnancy, such as these trousers. In my experience, it's the trousers that are always the first to feel the pinch and i have already relegated numerous jeans to my post-pregnancy cupboard as they're not going to be needed for the next 9-12 months. Damn the non stretch high waist! Disappointingly, the majority of maternity trousers for work are boot cut and generally pretty dowdy so i was glad H&M could accommodate my need for a slim trouser leg with these fronm the Mama range. However i did not have the same luck when i browsed H&M maternity last week, as per my tweet, I'm pregnant, not 65.

I'm still fitting into most of my tops so grabbed this Zara button back cream blouse with a nude M&S slip underneath and my new statement necklace from New Look. My nearest New Look branch is Nottingham and it has just had the mother of all refurbs.  I think when shopping your surroundings really can make a massive difference and i found it a pleasure to shop there with a huge shoe department and a great range of jewellry. I bagged this bright necklace which my 3 year son has advised me looks like carrots and maggots. I disagree, i think it's pretty prefect and great for injecting some colour into an outfit. I'm out for dinner and going to the theatre tonight so went for this large suede clutch which was also part of my New Look haul and i love the pastel yellow accent on it. Primark peeptoe patent nude platforms finish this little work to evening ensemble...x Talia

Doing it well - Molly Sims

It's always good to have a few pregnant celebs when you are with child to see how those women under the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs are wrapping their bumps. Fair enough they may have a little for cash for maternity wear and gifts from their designer friends but i love perusing their pregnancy style for inspiration and tips. I won't be sticking to women who are pregnant at the same time as me though as it's quite slim pickings with Chantelle Houghton and Snooki(?!?) so will trawling the pregnancy archives to bring you looks i like and women that are, in my opinion, doing pregnancy chic well.

This is not in order of preference but I have decided to start with Molly Sims. This lady was first brought to my attention when i saw her being styled for the Indie Spirit awards in the Rachel Zoe Project where she was styled by the lady herself and thereafter from red top rags who seem to like snapping her maternity wares.  I have seen her snapped a few times in various stages of pregnancy and think i will now be putting a blazer with everything as it is clearly working for her. Obviously the supermodel bone structure and the gorgeous tousled hair helps but i love her understated, covered up style with some statement accessories and simple hair/make-up. Quite fabulous...x Talia

Black and Gold

So the daily 'what fits me today' adventure is well under way! It's a lot of fun let me tell you (insert blank faced smiley here). The bump is almost 3 months old now and high waisted, non stretchy stuff is already being archived. Dresses will be my friends for the foreseeable future.  Although i'm not sure how long this Zara shift will be feasible as it's more fitted and non stretch but i love the puffy shoulders, it's stiff fabric and shape. It fits today and that's all that matters.

I've been waiting for a laid back outfit to try out my new eBay necklace. Love the whole spiked jewellery love affair that is happening right now and found this delightful matt gold number on ebay for the bargain price of 14.99.  Went with my Hobbs faux ponyskin chelsea boots as the heel is nice and chunky so i can hopefully avoid the pregnancy heel wobble that i am prone to developing. Over the top i put my ASOS masculine wool coat which finished it off nicely but didn't have time to snap as i was already out the door when i grabbed it, the fun of the nursery run and all that...x Talia