A Trendy Place for Expectant Mothers
Splendid has just released a new selection of baby separates in its online boutique and I speak from extensive experience when i tell you to buy today, because Splendid’s newborn and infant sizes go very fast. The new selection includes both the Splendid’s Infant Boys’ Collection 
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Last week, I had the privilege of spending a morning with maternity designer Jessica Boulanger, the founder and designer at More of Me Maternity. We each ended up having a sick two-year-old boy home with us for the morning, but in between picking up Cheerios from the floor and refereeing fights over a particularly desirable dump truck, Jessica was kind enough to walk me through samples of her new Fall 2011 collection. You’ve likely already seen a few of her new pieces sprinkled throughout the online boutiques, but Jessica’s full collection is now up and available in More of Me’s online boutique.
The new collection’s highlights? Jessica has released her popular Favorite Shirtdress in two new prints, as well as two holiday-appropriate colors, gold and silver. The Shirtdress is cut from silk charmeuse and though it’s long enough to wear as a dress, it works just as well as a colorful tunic over your jeans or trousers. Jessica was kind enough to gift me the new Ikat Chevron Print Shirtdress (this job does have its perks) and I’ve been wearing it loose as a dress with boots, or belted above the bump as a tunic. The quality of the silk is superb and the print is fun, but done in muted colors so it’s easy to pair with a long neutral-colored cardigan or coat. If ikat isn’t your thing, Jessica’s Tile Print Shirt Dress is a more subtle option. Unlike Jessica’s light-colored spring versions of the Favorite Shirtdress, the winter versions are not lined, so you will need to wear a short slip or fitted camisole underneath.
My personal favorite from the new season is the Tres Jolie Dress, which comes in both royal blue and a vibrant red. I have already placed my order for the vibrant red. This is a fitted, well-lined dress, ideal for the office and also for those after-office events.
Notably, the Tres Jolie dress is priced at $120, below More of Me’s traditional price point. As Jessica told me last week, she has worked hard to bring her prices down for the fall collection. Being that More of Me is 
a small, independent maternity business, Jessica is extraordinarily sensitive to the current economic conditions and very much aware that pregnant women still want to buy quality pieces to wear during their pregnancies, but are being more careful about where they’ll splurge. In order to address those economic realities, More of Me has not only reduced its price points for some of the new styles, but has also reduced prices for its signature Little Black Maternity Dresses (LBMD’s) this season. Using a nylon/spandex blend rather than pure silk as she had in the past, Jessica has cut two of her favorite silhouettes into more affordable choices for Fall 2011. The Original LBMD, a fitted asymmetric black cocktail dress, is now priced at only $125. And More of Me’s asymmetric Black Momshell Dress, the more forgiving silhouette of the two, is now priced at only $120. As Jessica told me, she believes every pregnant woman “should be able to buy a black cocktail dress for date night.”
Take a few minutes today to view More of Me’s new collection and if you are in the market for a new fall maternity dress, support this independent designer with your purchasing power. Jessica’s enthusiasm for the industry is infectious and her business is very much a family affair with her husband handling all of the orders and shipping through the site. Even if you are no longer in the market for maternitywear, you can support More of Me by purchasing one of these adorable Holiday Bib Dresses the line has just released for little girls. I found out this morning that I am finally carrying a baby girl (turns out the 5th time is a charm for me), so I am treating myself to this dress and just a few other very girlie things in celebration.
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I’ll be back later today with one of my new favorite Fall 2011 maternity pieces, but I wanted to alert you all to the Kids’ Swimwear Bonanza that is about to start on Gilt. There are some adorable bikinis and one-pieces for girls for sale and even a few cute swimming trunks for boys. These are designer suits, so even at up to 60% off, they aren’t exactly “cheap.” But they really are incredibly cute. If the chlorine- and urine-saturated baby pool has already destroyed your little one’s summer bathing suit, I suggest a mid-summer purchase at this sale.
Join Gilt here if you aren’t already a member.
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Cookie Monster Summer PJ's
Everyone’s favorite children’s pajama designer, Hatley, is holding a one-day sale today only, offering 40% off its entire Sesame Street pajama line in its online boutique. I don’t know about your kids, but mine get extremely excited about new pajamas. Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Grover–they are all there, with summer and winter options available. With today’s discount, all of the Sesame Street sets are priced at only $18.
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Nordstrom’s yearly anniversary sale kicks off in just a few hours. Rumor has it that Nordstrom is discontinuing its online maternity boutique, and the site hasn’t added new maternity pieces in recent weeks, so I am afraid the rumors may be true. I am therefore expecting a serious sell-off in the maternity department. And if the maternitywear offerings don’t appeal to you, the children’s section should. I traditionally use the Nordstrom sale to stock up on children’s shoes for the year to come.
The sale launches online tonight at midnight Pacific time. Set those alarm clocks now.
NORDSTROM Anniversary Sale – a new season of fashion on sale now.
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Striped Maternity Henley
Interested in 50% off at Splendid.com today? Of course you are.
These days, my inbox is somehow inundated every morning with discount offers from various websites, for which I do not recall signing up. Usually, I systematically delete them. But I do pay attention to reserve offers from fashion website Refinery 29, which offers vouchers to high-end fashion boutiques at 50% off. In recent months, I’ve purchased and used vouchers from Vince, Decades Two, and Dannijo jewelry.
Today’s Refinery 29 offer provides 50% off vouchers to use at Spendid’s online boutique–and yes, the vouchers are good sitewide, which means you can pick up a few Splendid maternity tops for yourself and a few cotton playsets for your baby or toddler. Splendid’s maternity line is small but focuses on what Splendid does best–soft, comfortable henley tops. But it is Splendid’s baby and children’s clothing that has rendered me one of the line’s biggest fans. You just won’t find clothing as soft as this. The clothing is pricey, but I buy Splendid’s cotton T-shirts in bulk whenever I manage to find them on sale. Now, on those rare occasions I slip another T-shirt over one of my boys’ heads, they usually ask, “Mommy, can’t I wear a soft T-shirt today?”
Here is how Refinery 29′s vouchers work: you select the $150 voucher, the $300 voucher or the $500 voucher. You bill 50% of that cost to a credit card, so you’ll pay $75 for the $150 voucher, $150 for the $300 voucher, or $250 for the $500 voucher. Once you’ve made payment, Refinery 29 immediately emails you a unique coupon number that you then simply use when you checkout at Splendid.com.
Refinery 29′s Reserve offers last a full week, but the number of vouchers is limited, so buy yours today.
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Just in case you have not been keeping up with stylist Rachel Zoe lately, she is already as uber-skinny as she was before her pregnancy and her 3-month-old son is wearing oversized sunglasses just like hers when he ventures out in LA. This picture of baby boy Skylar is just ridiculous. I’m all for making sure my sons have a feminine side and I really do hope they grow up to appreciate fashion, but you will not catch one of my boys in a pair of shades like that.
Missoni Bugaboo Cameleon Accessory Set
What is almost as ridiculous is her new Missoni Bugaboo. But I still love it. And you don’t have to be Rachel Zoe to push one. Neiman Marcus is now selling the new Missoni Bugaboo Accessory sets exclusively. The Missoni collection includes both an accessory set for the Bugaboo Cameleon and an accessory set for the Bugaboo Bee.
The Cameleon set includes the sun canopy, the bassinet apron, and the cotton Missoni baby blanket that Rachel has been photographed toting all over LA. The price tag for the set itself is $269, but remember, you still have to buy the actual Bugaboo stroller base, which retails for $880. That’s $1149 for a stroller–and that’s before you even start shopping for Bugaboo’s other stroller accessories (cup holder, sun shade, foot muff, toddler riding board, etc.). Trust me, I’ve been there and done all of that a few times over–it adds up.
Missoni Bugaboo Bee Accessory Set
The Bee set offers a different print and includes only the sun canopy and the same cotton blanket. The Missoni Bee set retails for only $199, but again, you have to buy the stroller itself. The Bugaboo Bee retails for $600. And again, you’re looking at additional investments in a host of irresistible stroller accessories.
The sets are now available for pre-order at Neiman Marcus. Neiman’s is currently offering free shipping on all orders with promo code “NMSHIP,” so at least you’ll save some money there.
Rachel Zoe Fall 2011 Cape
Speaking of Rachel Zoe and speaking of Neiman’s, the stylist’s new self-titled fashion line is also available exclusively for pre-order at the department store and I am reluctant to admit it, but I love the clothing line as well (I am not thrilled about the shoes and the bags). The clothes are also not insanely priced (think Tory Burch-esque pricing), which is vaguely refreshing considering what Rachel is usually touting. Yesterday, Rachel’s daily fashion emails suggested we all celebrate the Fourth of July by indulging in one of Balmain’s “Stars and Stripes” white lambskin jackets, adorned in studs, spikes, crystals, zippers, and safety pins. The price tag? A mere $21,555.
The signature piece in Rahel’s new line, the camel leather-trimmed cape, is already sold out. Sadly, the cape is just about the only piece in the collection that seems maternity-friendly. The rest of the line seems more appropriate for donning on those days when you’ve given birth and you’re back to a good old size zero.
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A few great children’s clothing sales launched today–I’ll be back later today with a promised hot-weather maternity recommendation for you, but in the meantime,take advantage of these discounts to stock up on warm weather essentials (and non-essentials) for your bundle of joy.
Stella McCartney Polly Flower Print Raincoat
1. Stella McCartney Kids Private Sale. The designer’s entire kids’ Spring/Summer 2011 collection is 50% off for today only and all sizes are still available. Need I say more?
2. Hatley Kids’ Pajama Sale. If you don’t know about Hatley yet, it is only a matter of time. These pajamas are the gold standard for children’s pajamas and not only are they incredibly cute, but they last forever. They don’t fade, the elastics don’t stretch out, and shrinkage is minimal. I do recommend you buy up one size, I find they do tend to run slightly small. Kids’ Sleepwear Sale at Hatley: 25% off selected items, no promo code required. Offer valid 6.21.11–6.23.11.
3. Neiman Marcus Children’s Sale. Neiman’s is offering up to 55% off in its online children’s boutique. I am actually quite impressed by the size of the discount offered on designer brands like Burberry, Flowers by Zoe, Little Marc Jacobs, and Milly Minis, so it’s worth a look.
4. Crewcuts. J. Crew is now offering an additional 30% off its online summer sale with promo code “MUSTHAVE.” The children’s sizes are very limited, but the prices are incredible.
5. Gilt. Gilt is holding a “4th of July”-themed kids’ clothing sale today. I already checked it out with my somewhat suspiciously-acquired Gilt Noir membership. Some very cute bathing suits and girls’ sundresses are included.
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Petit Bateau Wool/Cotton Knit V-Neck Sweater
I wrote last week about Petit Bateau’s small, but chic maternity collection. Well, the entire collection went on sale today in Petit Bateau’s online maternity boutique. The reductions range from a mere 20% off the Maternity Mariniere Tunic to a sizeable 60% off this Black V-Neck Wool/Cotton Knit Sweater. It will be fall before you know it and it makes sense to stock up on a maternity basic like this, especially when it is reduced from $150 down to a very appealing $60. The French line’s high quality maternity tees and leggings are also included in the sale.
And make sure you browse the Petit Bateau baby and children’s sale as well. It’s not inexpensive, but Petit Bateau makes incredibly high-quality children’s clothing that simply lasts forever.
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Sales, sales, sales. My inbox is being bombarded this morning, so I am going to save the post I had prepared for today for next week and simply do a quick and dirty rundown of where to go for the best maternitywear and childrenswear discounts this Memorial Day Weekend. I’ll add on to the list as the weekend progresses.
Gucci Kelis Sandal
1. Gucci. First of all, Gucci launched its pre-sale online today and you can shop it here. The Gucci sale has no particular relevance to your being pregnant, but pregnancy should by no means stop you from buying these turquoise and gold “Kelis” sandals, which are 50% off.
2. Bellydance Maternity. Bellydance is offering 20% off sitewide this weekend with promo code “P20.” No designer exclusions, and sale items are included.
3. Nordstrom. The department store is staging its Half-Yearly sale and a portion of the online maternity boutique is up to 50% off. Sizes are very limited, but take a look, you could luck out. Maternal America’s cotton ruffle pocket dress is included, reduced from USD $116 to $76.90.
Marc Jacobs Onesie
4. West Village Kids. I love this carefully curated children’s boutique, right in the heart of New York City’s West Village. I also love their online selection, which will be 25% off this Sunday and Monday only. Scotch & Soda Shrunk, Ella Moss, Splendid Littles, Marc Jacobs, Diesel–all of your favorite kids’ brands discounted for two days.
Birkenstocks
PEPE Calfskin Sandals
5. Elias & Grace. The luxury London children’s boutique is staging a “Summer Shopping Weekend,” with 20% off its entire online boutique selection from tomorrow (Saturday) through Tuesday. Use code “SS2011″ at checkout. Does your baby boy need “mandals” this summer? You can add these PEPE calfskin leather sandals to his summer footwear rotation…or opt for the more practical baby Birkenstocks.
Keep checking in this weekend, I’ll be adding more sales as they come through. And don’t forget PF’s excluive designer nursingwear discounts at Milkstars and Heather Lehmann–both promo codes are good through May 31st.
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