This Celeb-Fave Designer’s Winter Collection is a Great Bet for The Holiday Party Season

Posted on October 16, 2015

Party Season is just around the corner and now is the time to stock up with dresses that will fit and flatter your pregnant belly around the Holidays. A good bet is usually Isabella Oliver which makes stylish dresses that are also functionally comfortable and flatters most shapes. It is a celeb fave and as you can see from the above collage the dresses look great on different body types.

I’ve worn the dresses and have a few that I still wear close to 5 years now even when not pregnant which says something about the quality construction and longevity of the garments. The runching of fabric on each side snuggles your baby bump and has plenty give to accommodate an expanding waistline as you advance in your pregnancy.

The Autumn/Winter 2015 collection is a good bet to check out as you line up your party season.

The Ivybridge dress is the versatile desk to dance floor piece, ideal for the office party. After something a bit fancier? The black lace finish of our Kinross dress provides a chic cover up for arms as well as proving a seductive peek-a-boo detail, and the Wickham dress enhances curves to perfection. For all-out glamour, our Florence floor length dress is the showstopper of the collection. Prices are reasonable starting at $130 and you can watch it and maybe catch a sale.

Burlington, IvyBride and Kimross Dresses by Isabella Oliver are Perfect for this upcoming Party season.

The Ivybridge

The Ruched T-Shirt Dress

The Florence Dress

The Kinross Dress

The Wickham Dress

The Burlington Dress

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Tamar Braxton-Herbert is Slaying DWTS, Red Carpets & Street Fashion (PHOTOS)

Posted on October 14, 2015

Our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Tamar Braxton-Herbert has been slaying weekly on Dancing With The Stars. The Tamar & Vince reality TV star and her pro partner are given top marks regularly this competition.

This co-host of the panel talk show The Real most likely will be the winner if not a finalist by the time this season wraps.

I am certainly loving her costumes. This flapper look is actually trending given how fringe is back in style. Ha!

And before this original cast member of VH1‘s The Braxtons was rocking the dance floor, she was werking it in some pretty stylish outfits while out and about or on the red carpet.

I loved this wrap shirt dress she wore to the “A Time to Laugh” event in August. The darker hair favors her more than the blonde I think.

But I admit the blond waves were the perfect accompaniment to this smart bandage skirt suit she wore at SONY Music Post Grammy Celebration in LA this February.

I also thought when she styled it in a bob, she had a very smart look as here when dining with her husband Vince Herbert at Craig’s restaurant in May.

I also thought when she styled it in a bob, she had a very smart look as here when dining with her husband Vince Herbert at Craig’s restaurant in May.

This pink sleeveless wrap dress was saucy and ooh showing side boob. This was also in February at LA Reid‘s Grammy party. Seen here with music executive Sylvia Rhone.

This pic is from last year while she and Vince dined at Mastro’s in Cali but I share today because it’s boots season and these boots are hawt!

Finally, she rocked the deep v cut on this satin blue flare skirt mini dress with gold pumps at the Ford Neighborhood Awards on August this year.

It’s giving me majorette/Pageant talent/dance champion flare. Maybe it’s a fore shadowing. Hmmmm!

Hawt! Haute! Hot!

Photos: ABC/Disney, Getty, Starcast

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Celeb-Inspired Fall Boots Buying Guide for Preginistas

Posted on October 8, 2015

Cute shoes are a must, and this fall is all about the stylish boot. Scrunched ankle boots or sexy knee high, being pregnant is no time to forget about stylish footwear.

Celebrities manage to look effortlessly stylish even while knocked up and certainly while rocking cut fall boots

However, when shopping for a new pair of boots think about what your feet really need during pregnancy. Still, you don’t have to cut out style for function, altogether. Mix it up and be creative.

Think Style and function.

Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your feet. They will swell, they will hurt, they may even sweat a little more thanks to hormone changes. All of this means that you cannot grab just any boot off the shelf. There are some important things you have to look for first.

Look for stretchability. If your feet have not start swelling yet, they will soon. And if they are already swollen, they can always get worse. While you want boots that fit comfortable and will not trip you up, consider how much wider your feet could get over the rest of the pregnancy. Look for boots that are a little wider, softer, and can stretch to accommodate your swelling feet.

Go with flats whenever possible. Heels add more pressure and stress to our legs, which can be extra painful when you are already carrying extra weight on them. Choose flat boots over the heels if you can. If heels are a must for you, look at shorter wider heels that will not put as much strain on your legs.

Make sure that your boots have good arch support. This is very important when pregnant, as your feet are subject to more stress than usual. If you have trouble finding good boots with enough arch support, you can always buy add-ins that go inside of your shoes and boots.

Choose breathable, natural fabrics for boots. Leathers and other natural materials are great for helping your feet breath and not trapping moisture against your feet. This can be especially good if pregnancy hormones are making your feet sweat somewhat more than usual. Natural fabrics will help wick moisture away and prevent smells from forming.

UGG makes the perfect boots for pregnancy. The new styles add that sense of flair without sacrificing on comfort. Here are two styles that can be found at Zappos, that your feet will be sure to thank you for wearing.

A pair of great boots can add sizzle to your maternity wardrobe. Before you buy that pair of boots, make sure they will not work against you during the rest of your pregnancy.

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How BravoTV Hid Kandi Burruss’ Pregnancy For #RHOA Promo Pics

Posted on October 5, 2015

Coco Austin isn’t the only one who can hide her bump under clothing. In the promo video and photos for the next season of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi Burruss doesn’t look pregnant there tho she was at the time. Bravo TV uses promotional images year round and needs them to be evergreen, meaning they aren’t tied to any particular time in history or event. So they had to get creative with disguising Burruss’ pregnancy using clothing.

“When @bravotv decided they wanted to camouflage my baby bump I was like “how are we gonna do that???” But my team did a great job of helping me get cute with the rest of the ladies of #RHOA! Thank you,” Burruss captioned a photo of herself in an off white blouse and shimmery metalic mini- skirt leaning strategically against the couch so the blouse falls in the right places.

If you are pregnant but hiding it from co-workers or others because you are not too far along or simply don’t want to share too soon, check out our past post with ideas on what clothing is best to hide a pregnancy.

photos: Instagram

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Fashion

So You Or Your Kid Wants to Be a Designer? Get Practice with This Sketch Book (WIN A COPY!)

Posted on September 24, 2015

Do you or your daughter (or son) like to sketch designs, recreate fashion sketches or images with a unique flavor, or doodle wardrobes for your a doll or dog or a friend?

British illustrator Frances Moffatt‘s latest fashion sketch book released this past May, “My Fashion Doodles and Designs“ may be just the book for you or your kid!

It includes over 200 pages of designs and sketches and lets you design things like iPhone cases, biker jackets and dog outfits. You can apply make up to faces or design perfume bottles.

It’s a doodle book which features half-drawn sketches and suggestions that readers then fill in. The outfits range in styles from simple to sophisticated, from the streets of London to the runways of Milan.

It an ideal for both young fashion fans and older fashionistas alike as they decide how to design this season’s It Bag or stiletto.

You can get inspired by your favorite model, actress or singer and create a statement earring for her next red carpet event.

It’s great for long car trips or air travel. Perfect to stimulate creativity or offer a place to channell all the artsy skills you or your kid have.

Adult coloring books are a thing now so there are plenty of patterns in this book to engage an adult coloring book fan as well.

“This book has been designed to inspire and guide all ages and abilities to unleash their creativity and produce their own beautiful illustrations,” Moffatt writes in the book’s intro.

It’s very cool and retails for $19.95 though you can usually nab it for less at Amazon. Like right now, it’s down to just $14.95.

We’re going to give away two copies to two lucky Bellyitch readers!

Simply Enter here. Limit to US and Canada.

illustration: Francess Moffatt

Collage models: kuteclothes.com

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Fashion

Rebranding Posh The Socialite – GET HER LOOK!

Posted on September 24, 2015

After saying goodbye to our parenting blog, Bellyitch Parent, we decided to dedicate more time to fashion as opposed to music, hip hop lifestyle and culture on our sister blog, Posh The Socialite.

We’re going to shift the focus to be almost purely hip, trendy and chic fashion for the millennial to thirty-something cosmopolitan woman with a passion for fashion.

Look for it soon and pardon our dust as we reconstruct and refocus some of our most popular sites and brands.

Oh and if you like what Posh is wearing at a recent event celebrating our founder and Editor-in-chief’s birthday earlier this month, you can get a similar look here from our partners at Shopstyle Collective:

Sacai pleated skirt • Sacai • $158.31

Stella and Jamie IRIS CROPPED DENIM BUSTIER – DENIM BLUE • $218

Rebecca Minkoff Stud-Trim Leather Hobo Bag, Black/Light Gold • Rebecca Minkoff • $395

BCBGMAXAZRIA Women’s Everling2 Dress Sandal • BCBGMAXAZRIA • $83–110

Tahari Arthur S. Levine Seamed Stand Collar Jacket • Tahari • $90–139

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The J.Crew Fall Maternity Slim Pants You’ve Got to Stock up On

Posted on September 22, 2015

This fall, stack up on slim fitting and stretch maternity jeans and pants to wear underneath your crisp white shirt for a nice fall ride on a cool day thru the foliage.

Other occasions:

Throw on a stretchy long sleeve tee on top for a comfy day running errands on the weekend.
Pair them with a nice blouse and accent the look with big pearls or bold costume jewelry for an after-work networking event or a Sunday brunch.
Wear them with a black tank top or tee for a sleek cosmopolitan date night outfit.

The other thing I adore about the fit bottoms made out of stretchy materials is the fact they also have a comfy yet slimming effect of cinching you all in. These are versatile and stylish pieces to include in your fall maternity wardrobe.

I love J. Crew jeans for their chicness and durability in quality. They last season in and season out and are a great investment.

If you do too, you’re in luck as J.Crew is in the final stages of an Extra 30% off sale so jump on this and get ready for the cooler temps moms-to-be! Use code TIME TO SHOP at checkout!

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GOT’s Lena Headey channels character Cersei’s signature Dress Hue at the Emmys

Posted on September 22, 2015

You know who else was looking Amaze Balls on the red carpet to this past Sunday’s Prime Time Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California?

Second time nominee and brand-spanking 2nd time new mom Lena Headey looked stunning.

The deep auburn -colored-hair damsel was up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on The Game of Thrones, which took home a record number of statues including a coveted, first time ever Best Drama win.

The magenta Zuhair Murad Couture dress Headey wore is of the same hue of the signature gown she wears often when portraying Cersei Lannister on the hit HBO TV show.

The gorgeous Brit radiated in the gown she accentuated with Jimmy Choo shoes and Harry Kotler Platinum Diamond jewelry.

Headey welcomed her second child, a baby girl, on July 10.

She has a 5-year old son named Wylie with ex hubby Peter Louhgran.

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This Very Smart, Savvy Mom Consignment Shopping Secret in MD just got BIGGER – HUGE!

Posted on September 21, 2015

Okay. This luxury baby products consignment extravaganza hosted in Maryland twice each year has to be one of the most innovative things around!

The schtick: Get savvy, sophisticated, smart and eco-conscious moms who love and value quality designer clothes, baby goods and products together to upcycle items they and their children no longer use and fit and earn some extra cash in the process.

And for those who don’t have much to sell or are brand new moms or mega shoppers, invite them to come shop for FREE and stock up on durable top brand merchandise and gently-worn clothing for their brood at a tiny fraction of the cost of buying new!

That’s the idea behind Wee-Sale of Maryland which is going on this weekend. The organizers outgrew one of their old locations and have decided this fall to combine their Anne Arundel, Charles and Prince George’s County sales they host each year into one mega sale at the Wayne Curry Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, Maryland.

“If you loved any of our sales in the past, this mega sale promises to be the best yet ,” said Mimi Shea, founder of the Wee-Sale. “We simply outgrew our old locations and are thrilled to now work in the most spacious of venues yet! The Sport and Learning Complex is ideal to display the thousands of kids/baby items our consignors bring season after season. It is centrally located for most of our past consignors and shoppers and we hope to add some new fans of the Wee-Sale too! We are so very excited about the Wee-MEGA-Sale!!”

Gymboree, Baby Gap, Ralph Lauren, Janie and Jack, Wheat, Peg Perego, Graco, Fisher Price, Pottery Barn Kids, a wide array of boutique fashions and much more to fit newborns to kids size 16 – all will be available.

And, I love the fact it has a New Mom day for brand spanking new moms or those who have recently adopted a baby. For $10, they get to come a day ahead of the 4-public days and shop first. Sadly, space for that day is already sold out this year, but isn’t it a great concept?

Those who donate must give a minimum of 30 items to sell but with no max, tho there are max limits for clothing for space purposes. The hosts keep 45% of the sales but those who donate clothes can earn a higher commission on their items by volunteering!

So, for example, if you work three 4-hour shifts, you can keep 70% of your sales and get chances to shop early yourself.

It’s a super ingenious way to staff the event without having to incur added overhead costs of hiring sales staff.

And it pays. The creators say the average consignor pockets about $250 in cash. Sweet!

But what if you’ve got too much going on and don’t have time to sort, wash, prep and price your stuff? Don’t sweat it!

You can pay a $30 drop off fee and give up a small percentage of your consignment commission to a “Busy Mom” associate who will do all that for you! So smart!

At the end of the weekend, all unsold merchandise get donated to charity so it’s a win-win-win situation!

Public sale hours are Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept.26 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (25 percent off day) and Sunday, Sept.27 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (half-off day). Admission and parking are free. Due to safety concerns with a high volume of shoppers on opening day, no children are allowed at the sale on Thursday, Sept. 24.

The Fall Wee-Sale will take place Sept. 24-27 at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, MD. More than 800 consignors will bring over 80,000 items and 75,000 square-feet worth of children’s clothing.

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SYTYCD’s Host Cat Deeley Bumped it up for Emmy Week

Posted on September 21, 2015

So You Can Think Can Dance host and 2015 Emmy nominee Cat Deeley had a grand ole time this Emmy week taking her bump to all the parties and the big show.

The statuesque Brit beauty and her husband Northern Irish comedian hubby Patrick Kielty are expecting their first child together since marrying in 2012.

Deely, who was up against the winner The Voice host Carson Daly for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Programming, stunned in a low cut jeweled and beaded gold gown.

The Friday night before, the former DJ and hubby attended the Emmy Awards’ Performers Nominee Reception at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel on September 19 in Beverly Hills, California.

She wore a tuxedo jacket over a black mini dress concealing her bump. And those shoes were the bomb.com.

The Thursday, she was out again in a black wrap dress with gold embellishments on the shoulder, and carried an Yves Saint Laurent clutch at Entertainment Weekly‘s Pre-Emmy Party at Fig & Olive restaurant on Melrose Place in West Hollywood California.

On Wednesday, she did black again at the Audi Celebrates Emmys Week 2015 at Cecconi’s Restaurant on September 17, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, wearing a black, grey and gold long sleeve mini dress with a box clutch.

The party started the week before actually, when she attended the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, in a high slit floor-length black with side embellished dress and sexy strappy heels.

photos: Getty

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