Hi °C | Lo °C > ME AND MY BUMP Maternity wear no longer means months of dressing as if you've given up, as these days there are lots of high-fashion offerings tailor-made for you and your bump. Nelo Maternity is a super-feminine and smart collection full of down-time staples, elegant office wear and flattering occasion wear. The outfit (left) is a case in point: cream jersey trousers, €89; burgundy knit, €109 and knit beanie, €45. Its own label, Ooh Mama! offers directional dresses and tops at a budget, plus maternity spanx! Check out their stores in Dublin and Limerick and online at www.nelomaternity.com.
>MUM'S THE WORD Expectant mothers would also do well to check out Fearne Cotton's (right) designs for Littlewoodsireland.ie. We like this velvet trim spot swing dress, €54. This was available well before she announced her pregnancy but is ideal for the task in hand.
> WHAT A TREAT It's around 10 years since I had a salon facial and I had forgotten what a good facial can do for your complexion. I opted for the Murad Aha Rapid Exfoliator Facial in Therapie Clinic on Molesworth Street -- it takes approximately 40 minutes.
This exfoliating treatment sets out to reduce lines and wrinkles and improve tone. "A unique blend of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators soothe and smooth the skin to reveal brighter, softer, healthier and younger-looking skin," says the blurb.
Mine was tailored with some redness reduction hydrators. There's no magic solution for lines and wrinkles and some of us fair better than others. But I did notice an improvement in the tone of my skin from the one-off treatment. A course of five to six is recommended but at €100 a pop this would be too pricey for most of us. As a one-off it was a luxury treat with good results. Therapie Clinic (1890 650 750 or visit therapieclinic.com).
>PS... London designer Nicole Farhi will launch in Kildare Village later this month and will house the autumn/winter 2011 contemporary collections for men and women. Log on to www.kildarevillage.com
