The Prettiest Nursing Bras

A Special Treat For Moms-To-Be!

Scarlet Lingerie Boutique has a special offer for our very special readers. 

During the first week of July they will be offering 20% off on maternity bras, exclusively to Calliope + Clio subscribers!

Thank you, Scarlet xo

These must be the prettiest nursing bras with all the functional features and comfort of the best maternity lines.

Heidi Klum Elodie Maternity Bra

Walking into Scarlet Lingerie Boutique feels something like walking into a candy store. All the colours of the rainbow coming together harmoniously on the walls and tables. A closer look reveals delicate lace, sumptuous silk and tantalizing tulle. A closer look still, and you will find covetable labels: Implicite, Mimi Holliday and Heidi Klum Intimates (formerly Elle Macpherson Intimates), to name a few.

While Scarlet Lingerie specializes in fashion intimates, the boutique makes provision for their du-jour clientele en route to motherhood, in their own very fashionable way. Their limited selection of nursing bras are both fashion-forward and functional. I was fortunate enough to try to two of the prettiest!

Shown (above) in the sweetest Liberty print, the Elodie Maternity Bra in the silkiest cotton lycra fabric is like feathers against your skin. Functional features: full support slings, single-handed drop down cups and six hook and eye closures make this a fabulous find for any nursing mom.

Read more about what to look for in maternity intimates here.

Heidi Klum Madeline Maternity Bra.
Three piece lace cup with side sling and six hook and eye closures.

Single-handed dropdown cup with lace A frame construction for easy and comfortable nursing.

Must Have Pieces In Trimester Two À La Hazel & Jools

It's all about comfort, stretch and longevity in the second trimester (Read about First Trimester Basics here). My wardrobe needs to keep up with my rapidly evolving shape and it's time to invest in those key pieces that will carry me through my pregnancy and hopefully into nursing. I turned to lifestyle women's wear and maternity specialist, Hazel & Jools, to set me up.

A Vancouver staple for over 30 years, Hazel & Jools has built their business around comfort, function and fashion that is made to last. Their in-house line is all about thoughtful production, designed by owner, Susan Heyes, and manufactured in Vancouver with the finest fabrics sourced from local suppliers. In her business, Susan is laser-focused on offering an exceptional quality product with best in-class, personal service.

Entrepreneur, Maternity Specialist and all-round Mom-spiration,
Susan Heyes.

Susan and I had a lovely coffee-chat before my whirlwind fitting. Here's a little bit more about her:

Muse? 

My daughter (Julia of 'Hazel and Jools').

Facebook or Instagram? 

instagram

What items can be found on you at all times?

Gold heart ring I had made when Julia was born.

What word makes you cringe? 

Frumpy.

Advice to young women?

Take the risk of failure, or success and try something. Take your idea and go for it. If you don't succeed you will have learned a lot in the process. That is not failure.

And here are some of my fab finds from Hazel and Jools, perfect for your second trimester and beyond:

Hazel & Jools Swing Tank.

Stripes are always a good idea this time of year! Hazel & Jools tanks, designed in-house and manufactured in Vancouver are designed to complement your new curves. Not forgetting function, the neckline is built for easy pull-down nursing after baby arrives. Hazel & Jools is also your go-to destination for designer maternity denim in Vancouver. Their selection includes popular brands like Citizens of Humanity, Paige and Noppies.

Au Fait Mama Nurture T-Shirt.
Hazel & Jools Lavish Bamboo Leggings.

Eager to hop on a jet while you still can? For most of us, trimester two is the perfect time for a vacay.
A star among the many local labels carried at Hazel & Jools, Au Fait Mama specializes in breastfeeding apparel. The soft bamboo jersey, of the Nurture T-shirt (shown above) stretches with your bump and the pull-down neckline makes for the simplest and most discrete nursing top.
'Lavish' is not an overstatement when describing Hazel & Jools made in-house leggings. The luxurious fabric is so comfy, you'll forget that you're not in your pj's.

Finally, (and most importantly) let's not forget the underpinnings!

Hazel and Jools Lavish Bamboo Shorts.

The absolute softest & breathable shorty, from the Lavish Bamboo collection. Worn over or under bump; a must-have beneath your summer dresses. Our only complaint is that it isn't made in nude and white (yet!).

Cake Lingerie Croissant Smoothing Seamfree Flexi-wire Nursing Bra.

Such great shape and control with this bra. Purposeful design is evident in every beautiful detail of this bra. It will become your go-to t-shirt bra. 

Read more about What To Look For In Maternity Intimates here.

Outgrowing all my intimates means it's time for maternity!

With my existing stock of intimates slowly tightening around me, I've decided that it's time to invest in some new bras and panties (Read about First Trimester Must-haves). Fortunately for me, Calliope + Clio is friends with some of the best in the biz. We turned to the expertise of Kristin Wells at Forever Yours Lingerie. Mother of two and on board with FYL for 6 years, Kristin had a world of experience to share with us.

CC: Kristin, you are so authentic and enthusiastic about your work - I was immediately at ease with you. Where do you get all that great energy?
KW: Women come in with all kinds of body issues and hang-ups. When they walk out of here with the perfect fitting bra it is clear that they are also walking out feeling more confident about themselves. I find it so rewarding to enable that in women every day. Outside of the boutique, I have the opportunity to do this for in-need and at-risk women with Forever Yours Lingerie's Supportive Start Program. We collect new panties from our suppliers and gently used bras from our customers then go out into the community to fit and provide women with these very basic essentials.

Bravado Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

The most comfortable, buttery soft and stretchy fabric (stretches in four ways!)
that can be worn to bed. A god-send for tender breasts! 

Moulded cups that can be removed, or replaced with nursing pads.
One-handed nursing clasps that can be switched to "regular" strap clips
when baby is no longer nursing.

Sizing is limited: S, M, L, XL; which can be a pain if you find yourself between sizes.
A must-have transition bra!

CC: On the topic of perfect fit, you are like a Fit Magician. You were able to gauge my fit almost exactly with a few quick glances and measurements. That must come from a lot of experience.
KW: At FYL, this is a requirement for fitters. There is 3 month training process before our employees fit independently. Training involves time on the floor getting familiar with the product, time shadowing experienced fitters and finally time being shadowed by experienced fitters.

Hotmilk Eclipse Nursing Bra

Not your grandma's nursing bra. Lace detail and crystal embellishment that you still feel sexy in.
Soft cotton-lined cups and straps don't trade style for comfort.

Stretchy microfibre will transition well from maternity to nursing, as milk comes in.
Convenient one-handed drop-down clasps, are great for nursing.

6 hook and eye extension gives a lot of room to grow and room to shrink again.

KW Tip: Dark dyes often cause the same bra to fit snugger in a darker colour, than a lighter colour. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you were fit for a white bra and now you are ordering black in the same style.

CC: When do you suggest that women come in for their first maternity fitting?
KW: Anywhere from 4 to 6 months. By this time you have likely had a significant amount of growth. You will need something with a stretchier cup that will grow and expand with your changing size. We also fit your bra to grow and expand with you; adjusting size and band width to give you the maximum amount of room for growth. We recommend waiting until about two weeks after baby has arrived before getting fit for a proper nursing bra. Once baby comes, size will change as milk comes in and things adjust. Some people can change one cup size while others can change up to five cup sizes.

Hotmilk Eclipse Brief
Update: This panty is so perfect, I have since ordered one in every style/colour combo available!

Not your granny's panties,with lace, ruching and surprise keyhole detail in the back,
but just as comfy.
Sits comfortably under bump. Silky soft microfibre fabric.

CC: What about underwired nursing bras?

KW: Underwired nursing bras, moulded cup bras, and generally those with a well-defined center gore, can be tricky. The fit must be perfect which means that growth should have plateaued. In the case of an underwired bra, poor fit will cause the wire to push against breast tissue and result in clogged milk ducts, which can be very painful. We recommend holding off on the purchase of these bras until after baby has arrived to get the best fit possible.

KW Tip: Same as a regular bra, the center gore of a nursing bra should lie flat for proper fit and support.

We'll continue chatting about all things maternity in the months to come. Follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram to join the conversation!

Four Must-Have Pieces In Your First Trimester Wardrobe

We have exciting news to share with you: 

We have a baby on board at Calliope + Clio!

I can honestly say that I am almost as grateful for the end of those early months of pregnancy as I am for my special new arrival. Before I move onward and upward (or outward, as the case may be) I want to share with you a few of the essentials that got me through this wardrobe unfriendly life stage, as gracefully and comfortably as possible. 

The glorious aesthetic attribute at this stage of pregnancy is, of course, the rapid growth of the girls (ouch!). Maternity and nursing bras will be your best friend in the year to come and being well equipped in this area is essential. The topic of maternity bras deserves an entire post unto itself (Read Nursing Bras 101).

Next comes the questionable nature of your new silhouette. Weight gain or expecting? It's unclear. For me, the feeling of being well 'tucked-in' was unbelievably comforting. The right underpinnings can save the day by giving you a sleek and smooth appearance despite the extra 'you'. Three of my go-to pieces in my own first trimesters (baby #1 and baby #2) were not maternity pieces at all. Keep in mind that your maternity investments are not only for nine months. Don't forget that fourth trimester!

1. The Perfect Smoothing Tank

In my opinion it's a must-have layer, prego or not. The perfect tank has a neckline that is concealed under most blouses. It has straps thick enough to cover bra straps. Finally, the fabric will have amazing stretch which holds it's shape (and yours) beautifully. If you plan to nurse, you will eventually need to invest in some great nursing tanks, but these pieces will transition you beautifully.

Babaton Bowie Tank.
Available here.

2. Comfortable and Supportive Legwear

The high-waist of Commando legwear is super-comfortable over your growing bump. The invisible edge means that you don't have to worry about the 'muffin-top' effect of conventional pantyhose. Again non-maternity, you may already own a couple pairs.

Commando Dig-Free Legwear.
Available at Coco's Closet Co.

3. The Shift Dress

You can't get more comfy than jersey. I love the feel of T By Alexander Wang. These classic t-shirt dresses are perfect trans-seasonal pieces; great with bare legs in the summer, then tights and a leather jacket in cooler weather. The short length and asymmetrical hemline draw the eye away from your blossoming bump to your beautiful legs.

T By Alexander Wang T-Shirt Dress.
Available at Farfetch.com.

4. Great Maternity Denim

Finally, I learned an invaluable lesson with my first: Great maternity denim is a must! Forget the DIY elastic band trick with the digging in  and the slipping down. Who needs it!? The right maternity denim will hug you in all the right places and be forgiving in all the right places. Chances are you will be wearing them through to your fourth trimester. Totally worth the investment, I say! I picked up two pairs of J Brand Mama J's very early on. I love the underbelly fit, but there are a lot of options that go over-belly as well.

J Brand Mama J Skinnies.
Available at Coco's Closet Co.

Are you or anyone you know expecting? We would love to hear from you.

What were your must-have wardrobe pieces during the first few months of your pregnancy?