Archive for the ‘Fashion Tips’ Category

Partying While Pregnant! Nine Naturals’ 9 Tips for Having a Blast!

partying while pregnant, new years eve 2014

Ah, to be pregnant during the holidays. Carrying your growing belly through a New Year’s Eve soiree can yield a lot of fun flattery and exciting conversation but can also cramp your usual celebration style. So that you have as great a time out on the town as possible, here’s a list of 9 tips to help you celebrate with satisfaction.

  1. Take a nap before you go out. Hitting the town when pregnant can be fun, but it can also exhaust you a bit more quickly than it would before you were expecting. Resting up beforehand will help you boogie down that much longer.
  2. Have someone else host a party for you. Say “yes” to the invite and “maybe next time” to the hosting! To avoid getting pooped out, take it easy and relax while your friends organize the shindig. And try not to host the party at your place — you want to be able to call it quits when you feel like it without having to kick people out.
  3. Party with other pregnant moms-to-be. A gaggle of expecting moms can organize activities that are unrelated to alcohol: think “Secret Santa,” karaoke, or a board game block party.
  4. Get gussied up! Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you should deny your urge to glam. Get your hair done the day of the party, and find a cute dress to get excited about the festivities! But high heels or pantyhose — they can cut off circulation and cause backache.
  5. Drink Yourself Silly with Mocktails. Since you’re a responsible future mom, you know to avoid exposure to alcohol and smoking. But you can still find ways to enjoy yourself with a tasty beverage. Challenge bartenders to craft a special nonalcoholic or “virgin” drink for you. Or bring a mocktail with you (like sparkling cider). Check out our recent article on the best holiday mocktails for advice.
  6. Snack your way to party success. Bringing a few of your favorite snacks is an awesome way to control your food cravings at the gathering. It’ll also help you avoid problematic hors d’oeuvres like soft cheeses, sushi, cold cooked meat, and anything with homemade mayonnaise – all of which can all harbor unsafe bacteria.
  7. Treat yourself to a single-person house party. Wanna stay in instead of going to the party? Few things are more fun than simply staying cozy. To compliment your ambition to relax, take a glance at our list of great movies for moms and moms-to-be.
  8. Get your groove on (gently)! If your baby can kick when she gets excited, you should be allowed to shake your tailfeathers too. But be careful not to party too hard. Too much twisting and shouting can bring on stomach pains, or even early labor.
  9. Make a glamorous exit at 12:01am. Consider exiting the party fashionably early this time. Your body and your baby will definitely appreciate the extra rest. For additional flair in your party farewell, pre-book a taxi home with Uber or Lyft.

For additional tips for partying while pregnant, electric-slide your way to our Fourth of July Guide to Pregnancy.

Holiday Maternity Fashion

Tis the season to be dressy! It’s that time of year where there is a holiday party around every corner. For most pregnant women, this can be a challenge as they not only have to factor in fashion, but also a growing bump! We have put together 2 go-to holiday looks that make dressing for the holidays fun and easy.

Casual Look: Hosting a holiday party or going to one at someone else’s house or apartment? Ditch the jeans and add a bit of edge with these leather leggings. Bonus - the back is fabric so you can keep wearing them as you grow. Brighten up the dark pants with a flowy jewel tone cami or blouse and keep the holiday feel with festive crystal baubles. A bold print on comfy flats adds just the right amount of contrast to an otherwise solid outfit.

 

Maternity Leather Look Front Leggings (Topshop USA) / Maternity Strappy Cami Top (Topshop USA) / Everyday Maternity Blazer (Isabella Oliver) / Mini Hex Strand (BaubleBar) / Collection Chelsea Calf Hair Boots (JCrew) / Portia Feather Trim Clutch (BCBGMaxazria) / Sapphire Lela Clip Earrings (BaubleBar)

Formal Look: A holiday party at work? A charity event? A formal dinner with friends and family? The little black dress is the easiest way to dress for any formal occasion. This Seraphine dress has a flattering empire waist that defines but also leaves plenty of room to accommodate your growing bump! Add a pope of holiday color to an otherwise neutral outfit with a bright clutch, and accessorize with unique pieces like the Asha Yardley earrings or Alexis Bittar cuff. J.Renee 2.5 inch heels will go easy on your feet and have you dancing all night long.

Luxury Black Lace Maternity Occasion Dress (Seraphine) / Dayna Slingback (J.Renee) / Double Ringed Labradorite Bracelet (Alexis Bittar) / Asha Yardley Hoop Earnings (Asha) / Mixed Studs Box Clutch (Daily Look)

2013 Holiday Gift Guide - Unique Gifts for Pregnant Women!

The best presents for an expectant mom are those that help her relax, love her pregnancy, and treasure this special time in her life. Here are Nine Naturals’s top picks for unique gift ideas for the mom-to-be this holiday season:

Trave Gift Set7 A.M enfants mitants

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book treasury

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1) Nine Naturals Pregnancy Travel Gift Set: Complete with a sample size of every essential beauty product needed during traveling, Nine Naturals’ travel gift set makes an ideal treat for the mom-to-be on the go!

2) 7 A.M Enfant Mittens: Perfect for keeping a mom’s hands warm during those early morning walks with the baby stroller.

3) Tory Burch Coley Knit Slippers: Every mom needs another something cozy this winter. These slippers are perfect for keeping those tired, pregnant feet warm and comfy.

4) The 20th-Century Children’s Book Treasury: A compilation the most beloved picture books of the past century, this is a perfect gift for both mom and baby.

5) Porn for New Moms: Featuring shots of handsome dads changing diapers or caring for the baby while mom and her girlfriends enjoy a spa day, this titillating book is filled with images tackling the fantasies of new mothers in an entirely charming and non-graphic manner.

6) Subscription boxes: A carefully curated month-by-month care package geared towards putting the new mom at ease while expecting a baby. Some of Nine Naturals’ favorite subscription boxes included Little Pnuts, Stork Stack, Mommiesfirst, Citrus Lane.

7) Skin Wordwide Organic Sheer Robe: Organic and stylish, perfect for keeping warm at night.

8) Jennifer Meyer “Mum” Necklace: A quaint & quirky spin on the traditional “Mom” jewelry.

9) UrbanSitter Gift Card: A night out for the holidays can be the perfect gift for a new mom. Make it easy with an UrbanSitter giftcard, which lets moms find and book friend recommended sitters.

What would you recommend as an ideal gift for a mom or mom to be?

Minimizing Toxins While Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding provides a growing baby with numerous health advantages. Breastmilk’s natural ingredients include protein (whey, casein, and other baby-friendly proteins), fats, vitamins, and lactose, in addition to infection-fighting leukocytes (APA).

If you are considering breastfeeding, it’s a wonderful option. Science Daily, for example, discusses PSTI (pancreatic secretory tripsin inhibitor) which reinforces and strengthens the lining of newborns’ intestines. Leukocytes, which battle illness in babies, also only exist in breastmilk. Nursing could also go so far as to improve baby’s genes in ways that safeguard an infant’s immune system.

However, it behooves moms and their babies to also understand that healthy nutrients aren’t all that can transfer via breastmilk from mother to baby. What you eat, drink, or use for your bodycare during pregnancy and nursing can contaminate your breastmilk and expose your baby to risk. Florence Williams, acclaimed author of “Breasts,” wrote in a 2005 NYT article about how toxins can transfer from mother to baby via the breastmilk. Women in their child-bearing years may have unknowingly developed a “chemical burden,” or buildup of harmful compounds:

When we nurse our babies, we feed them not only the fats, sugars and proteins that fire their immune systems, metabolisms and cerebral synapses. We also feed them, albeit in minuscule amounts, paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, cosmetic additives, gasoline byproducts, rocket fuel, termite poisons, fungicides and flame retardants. -Williams

This should not discourage mothers who wish to breastfeed - but rather should make them more judicious about their exposure to chemical toxins during pregnancy and nursing. What you put into and onto your body counts in the pursuit of a healthy body for both you and your baby. Keep that truth in mind when selecting which products to incorporate into your skincare and haircare regimens.

Women should look after themselves during nursing as carefully as they do during pregnancy. Here are a few tips to accomplish just that, while avoiding exposure to toxins where possible:

  • Use chemical-free, natural products. Research and stick to beauty lines such as our very own Nine Naturals.
  • Read product labels closely. Learn how to recognize variations of harmful chemicals as phthalates and sulfates.
  • Eat organic. Make organic food choices that optimize your nutrient sources and minimize chemical exposure, like pesticides.
  • Steer clear of second hand smoke. You obviously know not to smoke at all while pregnant. Research also proves that cigarette and marijuana smoke can subject your infant to risk of SIDS and stunted growth and development.
  • Avoid synthetic fragrances. They’re riddled with toxins and can enter your body through your respiratory system and through your skin.
  • Inform your physician of any and all medications. From aspirin to acne cream, even the most innocuous medication can cause harm to your body and your baby’s body while nursing. Have a detailed discussion with your pediatrician and / or obstetrician to go over which meds are safest and which are risky.

Want to learn more about preparing for breastfeeding? Read our Top 5 Tips on how to Prepare for Breastfeeding and Top Breastfeeding Gear from Expert Lactation Consultant Sheridan Ross. Also checkout our Nine Ways to Reduce Your Toxic Burden During Pregnancy.

We wish you a wonderful experience with your newborn. As always, we encourage you to keep your body healthy through pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. Because taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your baby - especially during this special time in the baby’s development.

Spruce Up Your Nursing Style This Fall with Emily Hsu of Au Lait!

Finding tops that make breastfeeding easy, but don’t compromise on style are almost impossible to find…until now. Enter Emily Hsu, founder and president of Au Lait, a NYC-based nursing wear line that offers fashionable tops catering to the needs of the breastfeeding mother. Emily believes that although comfort is important, it should not come at the expense of looking your best. We sat down with Emily who gave us her fall fashion tips and styled 3 inspiring looks for the busy, nursing mom on-the-go!

Emily: Fall is my favorite season of the year and if you are like me, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible before winter strikes. When you are breastfeeding, trying to figure out what to wear is probably the last thing you want to worry about! Here is my Fall style guide for nursing mothers:

Look 1: Casual/Weekend

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Credit: The Tee Dress in Charcoal (Au Lait Shop), Waxed Canvas + Leather Diaper Bag (LocknKeyLeathers), Grid Pattern Scarf (J.Crew), Metallic Leather Loafers (Marni), Rings by TOMTOM Jewelry - (TOMTOM), Night Out Legging (Hatch Collection), Knitted Hat ( Zara), Baby Baggu in Magenta (Baggu), Nora Wedge Boots (L.K. Bennet), The Pullover Cardi (Au Lait Shop)

Weekends are really about being comfortable while still remaining stylish. This sounds easy but we know how hard it is to even think about looking stylish when you are nursing.

I recommend starting with the Au Lait Tee-dress, which can be worn alone or as a long top, pairing it with leather leggings, and a wine-colored knit cap that seems to be everywhere this season (you can’t drink, might as well infuse a little bit of wine somewhere~)! Wedges are red-hot and back in the game so throw away those uncomfortable heels - just a tiny bit of wedge gives you an instant lift and it actually helps you re-build your core. Throw a baby Baggu into your diaper bag just because it has saved me so many times when I needed to carry soiled baby clothes home! Punk is still very much alive so a couple pieces of punk-inspired jewelry rounds out the perfect casual look.

Look 2: Business/Work

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Credit: Red Coat (Weekend by Max Mara), Sunburst Stone Pin (Carolee), Cable Skirt (Tibi New York), The Blouse in White (Au Lait Shop) , Ballet Flats in Varina ( Salvatore Ferragamo), Leopard Print Pumps (Dolce & Gabbana), Super Flared Wide Leg Pants (Alice + Olivia), Transport Tote (Madewell), Rose gold-plated diamond bracelet & Fiji rose gold-plated bracelet (Monica Vinader)

If you pump at work, I recommend starting with a good nursing blouse tucked into a textured skirt or a pair of menswear-inspired trousers. Most moms stop wearing jewelry once they have a baby, but brooches are an easy (and cheap) way to make a statement and it comes right off with your coat or cardigan so you can cuddle with your little one the second you step home. Add a bit of flair with some leopard print chunky heels (stylish but comfortable!) but toss the sneakers on the walk to the subway and slip into a classic pair of ballet flats instead. Pump-at-work moms need to choose their bags carefully and this chic tote not only looks professional but is big enough to hold your pump and ice pack.

Look 3: Dressy/Formal

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Credit: Tank in Black (Au Lait Shop), Petite Pear Necklace (J. Crew), 3.1 Phillip Lim Ryder 31 Minute Medium Clutch (Phillip Lim), House of Holland Full Skirt in Oilslick (ASOS), Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control (Smashbox), Pinch Minimergency Kit (Pinch), Layered wool-felt skirt (Vika Gazinskaya), Ester Suede Pumps ( Giuseppe Zanotti), Vintage Diamond & Sapphire Drop Earrings (Doyle & Doyle), The Tank in Ivory (Au Lait Shop)

The last thing you want to spend money on is an evening dress that you will end up wearing only once and let’s not even talk about the logistics of trying to pump/express milk in a gown in a public place! Good thing full lady-like skirts are back in vogue and nursing moms don’t have to struggle to find a dress to look dinner party ready. I recommend you start with the Au Lait nursing tank that is versatile enough to take your look from day to night. A statement necklace will help dress up the neck line and add a pop to your lady-like outfit with a dash of blue! The chunky heels provide extra balance and ensure your enjoyment on your precious night out. Breastfeeding might throw your hormones all out of whack, so a primer with some salicylic acid (breastfeeeding compatible and Paula’s Choice approved!) will keep any flareups at bay. We picked this specific clutch because it is rare that an evening clutch can hold so much so go ahead and toss a mini emergency kit in there because you just never know.

Emily is the founder and president of Au Lait, a NYC-based nursing wear line that offers fashionable tops that cater to the needs of the breastfeeding mother. Utilizing her knowledge in fabrics and garment construction, Emily decided to solve the two biggest issues with nursing and breastfeeding tops: privacy for the nursing mother and designs that avoid the drab look that nursing tops feature today. Although comfort is important, it should not come at the expense of looking your best. Au Lait features brand new feeding systems that offer both easy access as well as privacy for the nursing mother.

Since giving birth to baby Avery in 2012, Emily has been a work-from-home mom consulting in the fashion industry and creating Au Lait.

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