Every Body needs a Yummie Tummie,

Introducing our genius new collection of discreet yummie tummie shapewear that is comfortable, sexy, & will transform your figure whilst blending in to your everyday wardrobe in complete secret!

Appearing as if plain camisoles or slips, all styles feature a tummy band, designed to slim & smooth stubborn middles with dramatic effect, both physically and mentally. Brilliant for post birth bumps, and hailed by Hollywood as the new 'tummy tuck' they provide core stability, meaning you will look better, feel more confident and stand taller - minimum effort for maximum effect !

My biggest fear… By Marina Fogle

I often get asked if there’s anything that really scares me about pregnancy and I’ve never been entirely honest with my answer. OK, the idea of labour is pretty scary but with any luck I’ll be in hospital with ready access to lots of drugs. No, what really scares me is the chance my feet might get bigger.

Most of you will be thinking how pathetic I am, but I already have trouble fitting in to a size 42 shoe and there are only a handful of shoe companies that will do a size 42, most finish at a size 41. And I love shoes. To me they are art. Really, I have my favourite pair displayed on the mantelpiece in my bedroom as I love to admire them.

So now you can understand why the stories of women’s feet going up a size in pregnancy and not shrinking back was scaring the hell out of me. Was I really going to be confined to shopping for shoes in transvestite shops if I wanted children?

You can imagine my relief when Emi, my colleague, forwarded me the website of French Sole. I thought this was going to be yet another disappointing ‘window shopping’ experience, the kind that leaves me deflated after the shop assistant with her stupid size 36 feet, raises her eyebrows at me when I ask if she has anything larger than a size 42. I clicked on a pair of patent grey ballet flat to find that they went up to a size 44. Yes 44.

I’m not joking when I say I did a little dance around the office, punching the air and whooping like an Olympic Gold Medallist. The gorgeous shoes arrived the following day (in spite of the postal strike) and I have not taken them off since. In spite of my expanding belly, these wonderfully large shoes have put a little skip back into my step.

As the sun goes down, it’s time to dress up by Marina Fogle

After weeks of pretty summer dresses over bikinis, and combined with the distinctly autumnal weather we’ve been having, it’s time to get back into jeans and glam up a bit.

I’ve just bought this great sequined cardigan from mango – it goes perfectly over my black straight leg J-Brand maternity jeans and gives a bit of sparkle to the darker evenings.

I’ve invested in three pairs of good jeans for my pregnancy, one white, one dark blue and now as winter approaches I really do need the black. I find that the straight leg smartens them up, so teamed with the right top, can be perfect for day or evening. The thought of putting on skinny jeans right now makes me want to be sick, so a straight leg is ideal.

As none of my basic tops fit over my bump any longer, I’ve bulk bought a load – my favourite fit by far is the rouched skinny-strap cami from Mama La Mode. I prefer the rouching over my belly than flat as it somehow makes it look less huge. These come in ivory and black and are the perfect staple over jeans and covered with an interesting cardigan.

To finish off the evening look, I can’t resist including this ivy leaf pendant by Pippa Small – it’s time to celebrate autumn after all….

The Bottom Blues, by Marina Fogle

I’ve started knocking things over with my bum. Yes, bum not even bump. Yesterday I nearly broke the franking machine in my office, and that would have been expensive… Of course I’ve put on a bit of weight, but the potential franking machine disaster has made me aware that my body could be changing more than I wanted.

I have been keeping an eye on my figure. My bum doesn’t look too bad when I look in the mirror but I was wearing a super flattering pair of Paige jeans. I’m hoping that the clumsiness is all to do with my changing body proportions, but I guess you do have to watch your weight slightly when you’re pregnant.

So what to do? Firstly I’ve started pregnancy yoga to try and keep me relatively toned but also to stretch out those increasingly painful muscles. I signed up for Lolly Stirk’s classes in Notting Hill. Once a week we do 1 ½ hours of yoga followed by tea, biscuits and chat. During the course, Lolly teaches us how to cope with our changing bodies, suggests various ways to cope with aches and pains, as well as preparing us for labour through relaxation and breathing techniques.

It’s a great way of spending a couple of hours. Not only do I feel physically great, – the yoga really stretches you out and relaxes you - but it’s lovely to get to know other girls in the class who are all due around the same time as me. There are plenty of ante-natal yoga classes around the country and having been very much a cardio girl pre-pregnancy, I’m a true convert.

For yoga I’m loving my MLM Fold Down Trousers and By Malene Birger Flossie Tank – they’re smart enough for me to wear to work no need to change for yoga. I did discover the most adorable t-shirt though which makes me chuckle every time I look in the mirror – the Snoopy “It started with a kiss” t-shirt – it brings back all the innocence into pregnancy….

But you can’t be a complete saint during your pregnancy; you do have to indulge, a little. Quite frankly, you can’t drink, can’t eat half the delicious things in the world, can’t sleep, party, ski, flirt with boys on the tube – you HAVE to have a little indulgence. My sister, Olivia, introduced me to a great book called Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache. Billed as ‘the ultimate feel-good book of natural cakes that taste naughty’, it does exactly what it says on the cover.

Harry Eastwood’s recipes are full of surprises. I was looking at making the Heartache Chocolate Cake last week and first on the list of ingredients is beetroot! I thought I was going crazy but I trusted her and it rocked. I’m making the Cinnamon Banana Bread for Ben as a wedding anniversary treat this weekend. I’ll probably have polished it off by the time he gets home. Oh well, blame it on the baby. His fault, he knocked me up!

The School Runway

So, the shoes are polished, the shirts are pressed and the bags have been pre-packed all that’s left is to figure out what you’re going to wear on the school run. However, throwing on a coat over your pyjamas doesn’t quite suffice when being faced with the prospect of competing with a legion of perfectly groomed and coiffed uber-mums that simply use the school gate as an undeclared catwalk.

But managing to ensure the children are turned out respectably, whilst trying to transform yourself from the mess that rolled out of bed with a nest of tangled hair to an immaculately groomed goddess capable of taking on Angelina Jolie in the yummy mummy stakes, seems more and more unlikely as the clock ticks closer to 9am. Well mama-la-mode has picked a few pieces that will ensure you’re the leader of the school run fashionistas with a few quick and easy pieces.

This jersey dress by Velvet is perfect during pregnancy, but is a godsend post birth. Simply throw on with a pair of flats and wear with confidence whilst looking effortlessly stylish.

Even if you're not up to preparing a head to toe yummy mummy ensemble this gorgeous long oatmeal cashmere tie cardigan will cover a multitude of fashion sins.

Be inspired by Elle Macpherson and dress up a casual outfit with stand out accessories, We love this gogeous leopard print bag from Fendi (available at Net-a-porter) paired with these classic aviator style sunglasses.

A striking colour will liven up any ensemble and t his deliciously soft cashmere top by Crumpet in a sophisticated amethyst shade is perfect for throwing on with a pair of skinny jeans.

Another flattering shape from Crumpet is their extra long

turtleneck which will add an air of sophistication to the simplest of outfits. Paired with

Leggings or black jeans, and ballet flats( we're loving these chic quilted Chloe pumps), and voila!

Perfect for looking like an ultimate fashion icon at the

school gate with minimum effort.

Thank God for Acupuncture, by Marina Fogle

When I first started feeling those twinges of nausea at about 7 weeks, I welcomed them in spite of my discomfort; they were a sign that all was well with the baby and something I was prepared to endure. Plus, by 12 weeks I’d been feeling fine again. Or so I’d been told. In fact, rather than subsiding, the nausea got worse and started being accompanied by headaches and extreme fatigue.

I’m someone that usually operates at a hundred miles an hour and I suddenly found myself feeling horrendously hungover every day, in spite of the fact I hadn’t had a drink for weeks. I’d get home from work in the evening and flop in bed, clutching my head and groaning at the frustration of my affliction.

I spoke to my sister, Chiara, who is a doctor and breezily responded that after 20 weeks it would go. 20 weeks? That’s 5 months of feeling awful. No way. If the health service couldn’t help, I was going to find another way. My great friend Emily had for months been telling me about her fabulous acupuncturist and having heard that this ancient Chinese medicine could help with morning sickness, I decided to give Sarah a call.

We spent 45 minutes discussing my pregnancy and my lifestyle. She was easy to talk to and I found myself telling her about everything from nightmares to silly little insecurities. She suggested complementing the acupuncture with herbs and already after the first session I began to feel an improvement. Four weeks later, I was feeling on top of the world – wonderfully positive, full of energy and headache free. I was truly a different person. I’ve since been going every couple of weeks and even my nightmares have subsided.

The most important thing is to find an acupuncturist who is suitably qualified but also with whom you feel comfortable and who you can communicate well with. The British Acupuncture Council is the UK governing body and has a search facility with which you can find qualified practitioners who operate in your area. Look online at http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/ or call 020 8735 0400.

Acupuncture might not be for everyone – people react in different ways and I’d never say that it’s every person’s solution to morning sickness. But it’s a non-invasive treatment that is safe for you and your baby. I was desperate enough to try anything – and I’m certainly not looking back.

Tickled Pink...

Wondering what to wear to a fall wedding? We are in love with this happy making lipstick-pink wrap dress by Issa.

Just the right hue to enhance what's left of your summer tan, and a seamless day to evening dress.

Our wonderfully flatterning classic silhouette from Issa's mainline collection comprises soft folds at the front, allowing ample room for a growing bump with the wrap ties providing a chic empire line defining your shape.

A great investment, and a style we strongly reccomend for covering post maternity bumps!

When in Rome... by Marina Fogle

I’ve just spent the week in the green mountains and crystal clear lakes surrounding Salzburg. My family hail from here and when I’m out here we embrace the good life – delicious wholesome food, mountain walks with the dogs followed by diving into deep lakes surrounded by mountains whose water is clean enough to drink. It’s right out of the sound of music.

And one thing that really hasn’t changed since Maria von Trapp’s time is the wearing of the traditional dirndl, Austria’s national dress that is still worn daily, especially by chic Salzburgers. Being a family of three girls, I joke not when I say that we have a cupboard full of about 50 dirndls. Not only does this allow us to wear a different one for every conceivable occasion, but it means that our friends are dressed in them the moment they arrive.

A dirndl is the most flattering piece of clothing – it emphasises your waist and gives even the most flat chested girl a fabulously impressive cleavage. I must admit, the idea of not being able to fit my expanding belly (and boobs) into a dirndl this year filled me with horror. “Don’t worry” chirped my dirndl clad mother, “I wore one until I was 8 months pregnant”. “Yes, but you still fit into your wedding dress, 30 years after your wedding. You’re not normal,” I grumbled back.
My sisters chose the most appropriate dirndl from our vast selection and the three of us, just about managed to coerce my enormous bust into the poor thing. We did all but the bottom two buttons up, the apron covered the bulge and even though my waist was nowhere to be seen, I really did look and feel fabulous….