As much as we love black - as a great basic chic statement - we've embraced COLOUR for SPRING, hooray!  Orangeade is Pantone's COLOUR OF THE YEAR and we've got it for you!  We'll be delivering more colours throughout the season to keep it fresh at all times!  

Very interesting article from the Sydney Morning Herald - "Language skills linked to mother's time in sun".  A pregnant woman's Vitamin D deficiency can lead to language difficulties in her child.  


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/language-skills-linked-to-mothers-time-in-sun-20120215-1t6rx.html#ixzz1mV4ab3Lm

Great update from Marisa on sassymama.hk.com  on her exercise routine.  It's so important to stay fit during pregnancy (I admit I didn't exercise enough...) but it helps to be fit for the labour and of course for your recovery... read more at from the sassy girls!
Mel x 

We're proud to be part of the fastest growing online fashion business in Europe and the UK!  

Nelly.com started it's business in Sweden in 2004. Nelly.com is a e-commerce website with a focus on fashion and beauty. In total there are over 750 different brands in the company’s product range which mostly caters for men and women between 18 and 35.

Last day of the fair:

We had our loyal French customer lined up for a visit today after them trying to come and place an order twice yesterday but us being busy. Today they came 3 times and every time we were busy with someone else…..sooooo typical. Eventually, after we thought we had lost them, they came and wrote an order in the last hour of the show so 100% return on existing customers. To our list we also added our first German customer, kindly introduced to us by our lovely neighbours Love to Wait and then proudly we added Vienna and Milan to great cities on our stockist list! It ain’t happening fast but it is happening! The end of the fair, packing up and exiting is an adventure in itself but we finally managed to get us and all our luggage out and back to the hotel. Saying au revoir to our fellow exhibitors frantically exchanging last contacts and remembering who to cheek kiss twice and trice (dutch x 3) takes up a fair bit of time but we all leave on a high, if nothing else because we have all met so many amazing people with so much energy. Can’t wait to be back again in July.

A full day in Paris before set-up for the show and we spend the day visiting prospective customers and finding some very nice maternity wear shops spread around Paris. Best part, they journey to them takes us past the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomph and Champs Elysee, as well as along and across the Seine. At the spur of the the moment we jump out at Le Louvre, buy a ticket and run in to view Mona Lisa, run out again and on to the next shop.  A good day of work and play!

Set-up day. All went smooth and our banners covering our walls that I brought from Hong Kong fit and look great. Was a bit nervous about getting them there and stuck on the walls but it worked perfectly. It is great to be here for the third time as we have made many friends amongst the other exhibitors. We borrow ladders and tools and lend steamers and so on, we exchange contacts and ideas and admire each other’s progress. We are supposed to be competitors but we all feel like colleagues (of course there are a few exceptions…). It’s a long day and we collapse at the end of it enjoying a simple dinner at the Italian restaurant next to our little hotel.

Day one.  We left the fair last night with it looking very messy and return this morning to a perfectly set up show, the organisers are fantastic and it really is a lovely fair with fantastic brands showing a variety for merchandise.  We are all standing in and around our stands expecting and hoping. A slow start and we all remind each other that the Saturday is always slow as all the small retailers have to attend their shops. The day goes well and we are doing much better than last year as we now have existing customers returning and revisit, not being the new kid on the block anymore. The bigger brands seem disappointed at the end of the day but we are happy with ours. People with a great past are complaining that the tough economy really is affecting them.  At the end of the day the organisers hold a cocktail party and it is a fantastic affair with quirky acts, amongst them 3 middle aged women singing operetta and acting with it and a woman playing French accordian. A great mingle event and after that we end the day enjoying a very French meal, escargot and steak tartare, when in France……

Day two. Very busy morning and we even had to ask people to come back later as we had a customer each to deal with already and in a 2x4 m space, 2-3 people per customer believe me, that is a crowd! It is so typical, if one customer is there, inevitably another turns up and then nobody comes for an hour and the same happens again.  Just hoping now that the ones we turned away today will still be there tomorrow.  Long day today and we are so tired, have a feeling the Italian next door will be visited tonight…..no energy for anything more adventurous……

Lovely Renee from SV Australia shares her secrets of a happy marriage in Grazia.  

Vibrant jewel tones, shades of grey, solids and yarn-dye lux knits... here's a little glimpse of AW12-13!

Great shoot for our Autumn/Winter '12-13 collection!   We've got rich jewel tones, lux sweater knits and slinky jerseys!
Thanks SV team!

See us at the next Playtime Paris, 28-30 Jan for our new Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection!

Get a bargain in our Winter Sale, selected styles are 50% off, it's a great start to 2012!

We thank you for your support during 2011 
and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a
fantastic New Year 2012!

Melanie & Rita and the Sono Vaso team!

Thanks to our presenters and models on the November Blooming Bellies, if you're pregnant in Hong Kong be sure to join us on the next BB in March 2012!

Thanks Little Steps for mentioning us in The Bump Club!  Hong Kong mums-to-be can find a wealth of resources here - join the club!!
Little Steps Asia
 

Look chic in our winter fashion for 50% off!  Enjoy this Yummy Mummy deal while it lasts, offer ends Tuesday 29th November 2011.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kimochis on the weekend!  They are wonderful educational toys that teach children about their feelings... I'm in love with Lovey Dove!  Think adults could use these too!  They make perfect gifts for litte ones and even for babies!  

Join us at the Hong Kong Mandarin Hotel for our next Blooming Bellies morning on 29th November 2011.  
RSVP to rsvp@sassymamahk.com.

We've solved your maternity wardrobe headaches and in true "Gok" style, we've put together our 9 key pieces for Winter'11!  These 9 styles can be mixed and matched to get you from the office to a dinner out, from your doctor's visit to school pick-up!  We only use natural fabrics and Modal is our hero, kind to the planet and to your body!

Keep up with the kids tonight in style!  Team our ORNELLA SHIRT DRESS, or STELLA WRAP DRESS or CAMILLA TUNIC with our uber-comfy CARA leggings!  Who says Halloween can't be chic!

Hong Kong Ladies - It's that time of the year again - CONRAD FAIR TIME!!  YIPPEE!  Get your flats on for a day of fabulous browsing and shopping!  Conrad Fairs bring together a fantastic collection of gift ideas - so many in fact that there's 3 days you should go to!
7 NOV, 21 NOV, 14 DEC 2011!

We'll be there with our Sono Vacanza Resort Collection, Sono Vaso Maternity Fashion and something for the guys!  Our Wesley Luxury Shirting Collection.... oh yes... remember your other half ladies! 

 We're looking for pregnant mums-to-be who would love to strutt their stuff in our next Blooming Bellies morning, November 29th 2011!  Email us on enquiries@sonovaso.com if you'd like to model!  We've got some lovely presents lined up for you!

Maternity style blogger Caroline from Pregnant Fashionista  reviews our sweater dresses for AW11-12.  This trend is strong and we are already seeing it again for next AW12-13!  


 

We have to recommend this fabulous photographer, Maria Z Photography!  How she captures the newborn baby is just mesmerizing!  So gentle and so caring, her images are truly beautiful.

Maria specializes in newborn photography, a rare craft, and in "belly" photography!   How fantastic!

Our model-mama Marloes is captured beautifully here, (wearing our oh-so-comfortable Cecelia Modal/spandex jersey pant).

Have a look at Maria's work, www.mariazphotography.com

We love hearing feedback from our customers; and this email from Ann Sofi was so lovely!  She has just had her baby, a little boy; Hugo, love the name! Congratulations Ann Sofi!

Firstly a big thank you for the incredibly wonderful maternity clothes, they are absolutely fantastic!! Have literally lived in some of them this summer.

I must say that the Cara leggings are totally wonderful, fantastic quality, unbelievably comfortable and they keep their shape really well. I have worn them a lot casually and dressed up.  The Evelina striped dress I have worn so much this summer.  It is very comfortable and I feel very casual and relaxed when I wear it, especially due to the pockets, at the same time it is nicely detailed with the pleats at the front.  Here, I could also have done with a few cm added to the length.

The Bettina tunic in 100% silk is also a favourite, I have worn it with different belts but also without and instead styled it with bit necklaces.  It has been very useful as it can be styled in so many ways.  It is a fantastic product in your collection that you can sell season after season in many colours.  I think this will also work very well in Sweden as it is oversized and can be worn as one wants.  Another favourite is the Delanna maxi dress. I have worn this a lot too. So comfortable and with a very good fit.  I also like that it is so versatile and can be styles (accessorized) in so many ways.  I have worn  this for casual and dressed up occasion.  I can see this too in a range of colours.

Geonna tunic dress I have worn for party occasions and have received so many compliments.  Superb quality and love that it is so stylish and “clean”.  Ruby tunic I have worn for dressed up occasions. Love it as it is comfortable and still a dressed up style.  I have also worn the Mara linen pants a lot, lovely and comfortable.  Another favourite this summer.

I have never felt so well dressed before wearing such comfortable clothes.  I think it is fantastic how you have succeeded in combining such beautiful design and luxurious clothes, with such a comfortable fit.  Have looked around a lot for maternity wear but what is on offer is extremely limited and what is there is mostly very boring and flat.  Have heard many pregnant friends saying “just because one is pregnant, must one dress so boringly…..”

Thanks again! You really saved my summer as I would have had problems finding nice maternity clothes.

Ann Sofi, fashion buyer, Sweden

We've just received this baby announcement card from our model-mama Marloes.  This has to be one of the best baby cards we've ever seen, little Muret looks absolutely beautiful in the little heart shape!  What a lovely idea.  Are you planning to send out a baby announcement card?

Our lovely agent - Trine - at TwoGenerations Atlanta/Dallas has showcased our AW11-12 collection in her showroom!

Valeria tulip sweater

Lucia sheath dress + Viola striped cardigan

Serena maxi tunic dress

Thanks Trine!

Being in the fashion industry, people always look to what I wore wear myself. Until I discovered the Sono Vaso range, I did not embrace the changes occurring in my pregnant body shape (this being my first pregnancy it was a new experience) and I became a little anti-social as a result. 

A friend of mine referred me to the Sono Vaso website and what can I say – WOW – finally I had found some classic styles I could wear everywhere. The very first time I wore my first piece in the Sono Vaso collection, I felt beautiful (Rita Tunic w/ Cecelia pant). It is as if my whole pregnant being had awakened... I feel stylish and modern, extremely comfortable (these fabrics are seriously special) and I now walk tall with a smile. 

I receive compliments from strangers and friends daily. My husband has noticed how my self confidence has reappeared and most importantly, I feel fantastic about my pregnant, ever changing and growing shape, I love being my social self and attend every opening/launch/invitation I receive. Thank you Sono Vaso team for helping me enjoy this magical time in my life, comfortably!  (Leanne is wearing our Delanna Maxi Dress.)

Leanne Stoiche, Designer & Founder – Tsarina Couture
www.tsarinacouture.com

   
Our beautiful blooming-belly models strutted our AW11 Lucia sheath dress and Ita tunic at the Blooming Bellies morning at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong.  All the pregnant mums-to-be were treated to informative talks and goodie bags!

Get your first look at Spring/Summer 2012 trends in Maternity360 magazine!

  
The SCMP Family Post (Hong Kong's leading newspaper) has featured our Luisa breast-feeding top today, a nice surprise for our morning!

Join us at Bralicious on Saturday 17th September, 10am-4pm for some fantastic bargains on Hotmilk and Sono Vaso!!

Join us on Wednesday 14th September at 10am-12noon for Blooming Bellies...
we're teaming up with Bralicious and Annerley for the Autumn/Winter 2011 maternity fashion show!

Love the new window at Tema Conversa in Lisbon Portugal, our Geonna dress looks very much at home!

How to keep your cool (& look ultra-chic) in a Hong Kong summer!

I am not the kind of person that would call herself stylish, but of course I always try to be. So when I got pregnant last winter, I was already dreading the hot sweaty summer that was waiting for me. As in the summer I would be pregnant at the fullest, with my belly always being 1 step ahead of me.

When I was looking around me, I saw a lot of locals ‘hiding’ their belly by wearing big tents. That was my greatest nightmare, to look huge, like a tent. So I thought, why not show of my belly. After all, I am pregnant! I didn’t want to buy too many maternity clothes which I would only wear for a few months, but of course it is good to have some good basics. So I bought a good pair of jeans, as walking around with an elastic hairband holding together my jeans, wasn’t that flattering. 

Then I did a shoot for Sono Vaso and found out they have so many stylish shirts that are colorful and stretchy….which is what I like. During my pregnancy I have also been wearing their Cecelia pants, which are stretchy and great for the gym, and their linen Mara pants, which are perfect in hot weather. Besides those basics and shirts, I also looked in my own wardrobe and found a lot of things I could continue wearing. Like a nice simple t-shirt dress, which I pimped up with a cute belt, earrings and a bracelet. I also had some trousers that already had an elastic band. With a nice sexy top (a one shoulder top or another tight t-shirt), that looked great. Again nice earrings and flip flops and I was ready to go. I also love my maxi dresses. You can grow in them and they are very comfortable in the hot summer here in Hong Kong.

Of course clothes are not the only things that make me happy while pregnant. From time to time I treat myself with a facial, or mani-/pedicure. I try to eat healthy (but of course I eat chocolate cake or muffins every week, because I LOVE it) and I go to my prenatal yoga classes at the Pure Yoga. Teacher Dora is great and she gives me energy by doing squats etc. And although it’s hot, I still walk around in Hong Kong a lot (not forgetting my bottle of water) to catch up with my friends. Of course I also take my rest from time to time, because in the end:

I AM PREGNANT (for a couple more weeks :0)

Marloes Sont (fashion model and soon to be mummy!)

Here's what we've been up to today.  We did our Essenziale photoshoot of all our Essential basic bottoms!  Thanks Marloes; our beautiful model who looks fantastic at 37 weeks, and we must say a big thank you to her baby bump who was so well behaved!  Thanks baby!

Also a big thank you to our perfect gentleman photographer Peter, a pleasure as always, and a huge thank you to our fabulous assistant Vani - love your work!

Mel & Rita

We've translated the global trends for your fashionable pregnancy,
here's a snapshot of the hot colours, themes and silhouettes!  
Available online NOW, and in-store early September!

I've just returned from a wonderfully inspirational trip to Italy with my family and 4 other families, yes 10 adults and 14 kids, we were definitely out-numbered!!  We stayed in a divine farmhouse in Tuscany, and (hang on I'm going to name drop here) - a certain SJP checked out just before we arrived! 

As a designer I get a lot of ideas from the environment around me... I've always said that if I didn't get into fashion design that I would have been an interior designer... here's my favourite inspiration pics of the trip.

We've been totally inspired by Morocco this season, here's your sneak peak of our Autumn Winter collection - rich, sophisticated and totally desirable!  Available very soon!  Watch this space!!

Well here is where I tell all my secrets!  How to dress for work, kids, dogs and a busy life!  Read all about it here:

http://sassymamahk.com/my-mama-wardrobe-melanie-of-sono-vaso/

The exhibition finished today and we are very happy with the result. Some very good orders and some incredible contacts to work on going forward AND talks started with a French agent, fingers crossed. Tomorrow we are off to Rotterdam to meet with our Benelux agent who we met at Playtime in January and between then and now, we have finalised all the details. It will feel great to hand over the collection tomorrow knowing they will now start their selling season. Wednesday will be rather long for me, train at 11.00am Rotterdam to Paris then train to the airport saying goodbye to Lena who returns to Sweden. I then have about 7 hours wait for my flight at midnight, I think I will sleep well on the flight back home to Hong Kong! Here is a photo showing some of the scenery from our daily walk to and from the fair, how nice is that?

Today was if possible even more beautiful outside, which made it very uncomfortable inside, too hot and the customers obviously preferred to lie on the grass in the park! I dont blame them. However, we did have a good day and our contact book is filling up. When we left the show today, the park and the whole area looked as if all of Paris had come here to enjoy the fantastic weather. Here is a photo of the trend area of the show, our red TARA jacket was chosen to represent the red theme the stylist had created.

This morning we were up bright and early and walked to the fair, again loving our beautiful 15 minute walk in the early morning Paris sunshine. All the stands looked fantastic and our co-exhibitors looked as excited as we felt. Then begins the wait.....and wait..... We had a good day all in all, some orders, some very exciting possible customer whom we hope will come back and talk some more tomorrow or Monday. There is a fantastic feeling of friendship amongst the exhibitors (bar a few!) and of course some of them we have seen several times now over all the Playtime fairs we have participated in around the world. Our closest neighbour is a French maternity and nursing lingerie company and we had to call on their help a few times to help and translate as our French is only good enough to order food and wine basically. In return, we shared our US contacts with them which they were thrilled about so we have several browny points for the next few days to use as translation services. The day ended with a cocktail (or champagne rather) party thrown by the fair organisers, where we were entertained by an apparantly very famous jazz band, I am sure they are very good! We had a very interesting introduction made by our Isreaeli friends from La Robe Bleu......hopefully more to write about this tomorrow. Watch this space! Just to give you an idea, today we have talked to people from: France (of course), Holland, Belgium, UK, Israel, Jordania, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Norway & India, some customer material and some not, either way,  we love it!

Paris greeted us with wonderful sunshine and was looking its absolute best. So good in fact that a trip to Montmartre was called for in order to stand of top of the world and see the sprawling Paris in all its glory, utterly beautiful and well worth the exorbitent tourist prices at the restaurant, it is great to be a tourist sometimes. Today though, we were back in business and when the business is conducted in Parc Floral, there is no need to complain. Tha Playtime exhibition is a boutique style fair with quality vendors and the venue is set in a beautiful park and at this time of year, one may wonder if the buyers will even bother to come inside! Today was set up day and here is a photo of what our stand looked like after we had just started, tomorrow, I will post a photo of the finished booth.

Just wrapped up our Spring/Summer 2012 shoot, so glad we were shooting inside as the heavens opened up outside!  SS'12 will be bursting with colour and texture, inspired by a "Tuscan Holiday".... you'll just have to wait to see what we've designed!!  

A big thank you to Peter our photographer, a true gentleman as always!  And to our beautiful model-mum-to-be Marloes!  She is 26 weeks pregnant and just so great - she didn't let the hectic schedule phase her and glowed all thru the shoot, well we did make sure she was properly fed and hydrated!!

M&Rxx

 

10 Maternity Designers have submitted a style from their current Spring/Summer collection. Pregnant women vote for the designer's style they like best.  Each designer will award a $200 shopping spree to one random person who votes for THEIR SPRING/SUMMER STYLE!

All 10 shopping spree drawings are held on July 1st!

Feeling The Heat - Part 2











Stay cool in natural fibres, Modal (from regenerated beech wood) and Cotton are your best options for these hots days.

MELITA swing tank, MAURA black/white stripe pleat front top and CAMEO spaghetti strap tank are our recommendations for keeping your cool.

We know it's way too hot out there, but don't worry we've got the cool styles to come to your rescue!

During pregnancy, a woman’s core body temperature rises leaving her prone to becoming hot and uncomfortable. Wearing lighter, natural-fibre clothing allows the skin to breathe, creating the conditions for coolness and comfort, both day and night.  

Our CARI Cropped Legging (in Modal/Spandex) and SIMONA City Short (in Cotton/Spandex) are perfect for beating the heat.  All shorts feature our signature Modal/Spandex fold down waistband for super comfort!

The GiggleGuide has featured us for Mother's Day, thanks Giggle Guide!

http://thegiggleguide.com/features/2011-05/moms-be-expect-be-remembered-too

Sono Vaso is Thoroughly Modern Maternity

Sono Vaso

Who could resist beautiful maternity wear with an Italian definition that means, “I am a vessel”? Since 2007, Sono Vaso has helped moms delight in a modern approach to maternity and postpartum fashions that focus on the mom-to-be in every detail. Sono Vaso takes a lifestyle approach to maternity dressing that includes everything from loungewear to work wear and special occasion.

For essential pieces, the exclusive label Essenziale brings the whisper of Italian fashion houses to the pieces every mom-to-be needs: tanks, dresses, skirts, pants, leggings and nursing tops, all in sizes XS thru L. Sono Vaso clothing pieces aren’t just stylish options; they also address the body temperature changes in pregnancy with light, natural materials.

Bring some new life into your maternity section with Sono Vaso by browsing their collection at www.sonovaso.com.hk or by contacting Rita Yaworsky at rita@sonovaso.com

My Designer Tip for Today:

We all saw how great Victoria Beckham looked at the Royal Wedding last week, I personally think she really did herself proud, styled impeccably in a great simple shift dress with the boat neck, very in right now!  

Our Bettina Oversized T-shirt dress lets you keep up with VB's look, it's in 100% luxe Silk Sateen, cool and comfortable in the summer heat.  You can wear it with the self belt as shown, or for my "Designer Tip for Today" - snip the belt loops off (carefully) and wear it loose like Victoria.

Mel x

We love Sassy Mama HK, it's a great site for chic mums by chic mums!  Read about our new Vacanza line here:  http://sassymamahk.com/sono-vasos-new-vacanza-line/

According to the ChicagoTribune.com “when couples marry, they traditionally go on a honeymoon.  Now many parents-to-be take it one step further and go on a babymoon.  Almost 60% of new parents take some sort of babymoon, enjoying a “last hurrah” trip.  Defined as a special trip for couples who want one last fling before their new baby arrives, the babymoon is designed to help expectant couples spend what remains of their quiet time together and to reconnect, relax and rejuvenate."

We make shopping for your Babymoon wardrobe a breeze with our Spring/Summer 2011 “Portofino Summer” Collection.  We focused on the coolest fabrics in super comfortable styles, the classic tunics and shift dresses... go on tell hubby it's Babymoon time before Baby arrives!

CARMELA tunic and CARA leggings, GINATA boat neck dress, ORIANA sequinned tunic and ZIA white jeans.

With thousands of fully categorized business profiles covering the entire spectrum of today’s children’s and maternitywear marketplace, The Giggle Guide™ is a veritable “who’s who” of the industry.  See us featured in The Guide on our NYC trip to Playtime.
 http://thegiggleguide.com/shows/2011-03/playtime-new-york/report/playtime-ny-back-school-event-was-classy-show-and-tell





 

Inspired by the long hot days of a Portofino summer, the Sono Vaso Lifestyle Maternity  Spring/Summer 2011 collection reflects the metallics of ancient bronze artifacts and the nautical stripes of Italian coasts.

The season is light and airy, using our signature Modal/Spandex jersey and lightweight Cotton/Silks. 

Black/White stripes are on right on trend in our new summer Evelina Maxi dress and pleat front Maurizia Magyar dress and Maura top.

The colours are faded Charcoal teamed with Khaki, Nude, and Black, and embellished with Bronze, Gold and Silver matt sequins.  The collection is popped with Peach and Electric Blue in strong solids.

The focus is to bring comfort and style to the modern pregnant woman, we have taken the trends of the season and morphed them into super chic and easy-to-wear styles such as the Ruby Sequinned Tunic, Geonna Shift Dress and Evelina Maxi.

Wishing you a cool, comfortable and fabulous Spring/Summer 2011
Melanie x
 

We are featured in the new Maternity360 trade magazine, read about my inspiration for our new AW11-12 collection; "The Streets of Marrakesh", tunics and sheath dresses taking cues from Morrocan style...

We're so excited to see the first issue of Maternity360, the world's first retailers' resource dedicated to maternity wear.  We've teamed up with Maternity360 to give our insights on AW11-12 trends and inspiration, check it out on www.maternity360.net.

Just started Playtime New York and already have met some like-minded maternity retailers who "get" our range... we love their slogan from "Bump" in Brooklyn; "Give up wine, coffee, sushi - not fashion"!  Exactly!!!

We have taken inspiration from our best selling tunics and interpreted them into easy chic resort wear, and the best thing is all styles work perfectly for maternity too!

Sono Vacanza Resort Wear
for all women anytime

Metallics are key for Spring 2011 and our Ruby Tunic is perfect for fashion-forward maternity style.  Available in Charcoal/Bronze sequins and Black/Silver sequins in our signature Modal/Spandex jersey... shop online and get Free delivery in Hong Kong and HK$100 webshop voucher for every $1,000 you spend online!

Last night was press night at the show, we'd had a long day but it was great to end it with meeting loads of Japanese press and fellow maternity wear and kidswear brands.  Playtime Tokyo showcases the funkiest new brands for the region and there are some amazing new collections coming, here's a sneak peak of some great new trends out there!  www.playtimetokyo.com

Playtime Tokyo - today's been a better day than yesterday...!  Started set up yesterday thinking we were so well prepared with our 2 garment steamers and what do you know; we had not planned to bring a transformer so we spent many hours hot and sweaty steaming our garments at half steam, lucky it's cold in Tokyo!!  So that took us right up to dinner time and a bottle of vino... more blogging tomorrow!  Sayonara!!

If you're in the maternity wear business, we'd love to show you our AW'11-12 collection at Playtime NYC, 5-7 March 2011; BOOTH B05.
www.playtimenewyork.com

Visit us at Playtime Tokyo next week 22-24 Feb to see our AW'11-12 collection... Booth C04.
Go to www.playtimetokyo.com for more information.

Sandra our model was great today - she embraced the Sono Vaso Lifestyle Maternity look and her new belly!  Our photographer Peter was a star!  Tokyo here we come!

Paris in January is COLD! I was very much aware of this on set-up day. Just below 0 degrees, 2 big bags with over 40 kilo of stuff, very unsuitable ballerina shoes, no gloves and dropped off at the wrong end of the big park that held the exhibition hall! Our distributor from Sweden who was arriving that morning from Gothenburg calls me from the airport to say that the box containing our mannequin and half our hangers had not arrived…….Not a good start to say the least. However, it got better as the day progressed and by the end of it we had a nice looking stand and felt very deserving of a bottle of wine!

The fair was held just outside of Paris city centre in Vincennes, in the big park there called Parc Floral, very nice and I can’t wait to see it again in the summer. Our little hotel was within walking distance (without luggage!) and the route was through the castle itself. We had 3 very productive days, met lots of people and most of all learned a lot! This was the first time we participated and there are most certainly ways to do things and for a first attempt, we did not do too badly. And after a long tiring day, flogging ones wares, it does help to be in Paris!

We will be exhibiting at Playtime Paris 29-31 Jan 2011, if you are interested in representing our brand in retail / distribution or as an agent we would love to meet you at the fairs!
www.playtimeparis.com
www.playtimetokyo.com
www.playtimenewyork.com

Playtime Tokyo 22-24 Feb 2011
Playtime New York 5-7 March 2011
 

Great styles now reduced in our Winter Sale, find them in our OUTLET section!

 

You'll feel beautifully warm in our breathable lambswool blend sweater knits, new stock has just arrived in time for the colder days; Natalia cardigan, Nicci sweater dress and Gina wrap cardigan.

Yummy Mummies and Yummy Mummies-to-be, get professionally fitted by our Bralicious Bra Docters at our
Festive Morning Tea and we'll make sure you have an uplifting Christmas!

Please join us on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th December at the Conrad Christmas Gift Fair
(Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong).  Our first 20 CUSTOMERS will FREE Mummy or Daddy Nappy/Daiper Bag with Changing Mat!

Over 4,500 shoppers visited the Conrad Fair in November, so don't miss out on
the next great 2 days, Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th December 2010!  Shop
from our Preview Sono Vacanza Spring/Summer 2011 Resort Collection; "for
all women, anytime" in our signature uber-soft Modal/Spandex & get a real bargain
at our Sono Vaso Maternity Outlet Sale, all outlet styles HK$200 each - up to 70% off!

Lots of Xmas gift ideas and looking forward to the next one in
Dec, 13th and 14th...
Thanks to everyone who came to the Conrad Fair!
from Rita and Melanie
Sono Vaso

Come and get a real bargain at our Sono Vaso Maternity Outlet Sale, all styles HK$200 each.
And preview the new Sono Vacanza Spring/Summer 2011 Resort Wear Collection;
"for all women, anytime" in our signature uber-soft Modal/Spandex.

2 great fairs:
Conrad Fair - Monday 22 November 2010
Christmas Gift Fair - Monday & Tuesday 13 & 14 December 2010 (2 days!)
at the Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong.

Design Inspiration:  Venetian Nights
Our inspiration for AW’10-11 comes from the light of Venice on a cool Autumn evening; colours
reflect off the calm water and bounce up into the night sky.  The rich and captivating colours and
textures of Venice are highlighted in the AW’10-11 collection through the use of opulent glamour;
deep dark colours, sequins, flowing bishop sleeves, textured tweeds and supple knits.
o Colours:  Venetian Red, Midnight Black, Charcoal Grey.
o Embellishments:  Dark tonal sequins reflect the light.
o Fabrics:  100% Wool tweeds, Modal/Spandex jersey knits, Lambswool sweater knits,

AW’10-11 TRENDS AND KEY STYLES:
o Maxi dresses
o Wrap tops and dresses
o Cape jackets
o Wrap jackets
o Sweater dresses
o Red, rich and dark
o Tonal sequins, tonal stripes

The fashion highlights of the season:
o Sequinned tops, tunics:  Aida, Jasmine, Astrid.
o Tunics:  Jasmine & Astrid, Camilla & Rita; tunics play a big role in our line every season,
we feel that they are the perfect style for the pregnant woman to look good in – effortlessly…
so we offer the tunic style in several lengths and fabrics, to suit all figures and tastes.
o Cosy sweater knits in soft lambswool; great to dress up for career wear, or casually on weekends.
o The must haves cape jacket Amalia, and wrap jacket Aletta, in soft wool, breathes naturally.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said “we are the sum of all of our actions. Therefore it is our habits that make all the difference”.  A habit can be defined as something we do on a regular occasion, so if we apply this simple formula to our health and fitness, energy levels and longevity we can keep a common thread and say Simple things done very well on a regular occasion have the greatest influence over these integral parts of our lives that greatly influence how we look and feel, how we perform as a parent, partner, friend, an employee or employer. If we can attain and more importantly maintain good levels of physical fitness and support that with adequate nutrition, sleep and hydration, we create the platform for greatness, and then all the other areas in our life take less strain. 

In this blog entry let’s look at water.  The Human body is 30% solid matter and 70% water. Brain tissue is said to consist of 80%water. It is our primary component! It stands to reason that an integral part of the formula for insuring health, well being and sustainable levels of being able to perform above and beyond our capacities is to maintain a steady supply of it!  Experts conservatively estimate one third of the population is dehydrated. In his landmark book ‘Your Body’s Many Cries For Water’, Dr Fereydoon Batmanghelidg, M.D. links chronic dehydration to chronic fatigue, depression, hypertension and even asthma. When we exercise a lack of hydration will increase muscle soreness and will literally change our muscles from what should look like a fresh uncooked steak to a dried out piece of beef jerky.

On the flip side a recently published study showed us that drinking two glasses of water before every meal was an incredibly effective way to shed unwanted body fat.  The equation for water is simple - Drink half your bodyweight in ounces daily of pure water and add if possible add a pinch of organic unrefined sea salt to every litre to maximize absorption.

Following this equation of half your body weight in ounces of pure water daily:-
My weight is 170 pounds (77kgs), half of 170 = 85.
Therefore I need to drink 85 ounces of pure water daily.
To convert that to metric – 32 ounces = one litre.
85 divided by 32 is nearly 3. So I need to drink nearly 3 litres of pure water daily. More when I exercise. 

When pregnant your hydration levels are key to both you and your baby’s health. Dehydration is a particular risk if you are suffering nausea from morning sickness. Ask your physician for some advice on pregnant friendly electrolytes which will aid in keeping you hydrated during those early months and when possible sip on water to the extent your system can accept it. My wife during our first pregnancy (ours?...more hers than mine, but I was an excited partner in the whole process) could only take small sips all day as she felt even drinking water would be difficult to keep down. It was the bet thing she could do to stay hydrated. Stay well away from coffee and caffeine as they can also interfere you’re your body’s ability to hydrate. Also because the hormonal responses to extracellular dehydration are known to increase salt appetite, if you find your cravings have increased for salty foods take that as a gentle reminder to drink the correct amount of water for your bodies needs – drink half your body weight in ounces as mentioned above.

When exercising it is important plan your hydration strategy. Know that you will need approximately 750ml of a carbohydrate electrolyte beverage (such as Nuun) an hour to keep you going and maintain adequate hydration when training at moderate to high intensities. Drink 240 to 500 millilitres (depending on intensity of work about to be done)of water or electrolytes about 10 to 15 minutes before exercise to stimulate fluid delivery from the stomach and then keep the stomach volume high by drinking smaller amounts every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. Drink enough to minimize the body weight you typically lose during a similar type of training session or competition, but do not drink so much that you gain weight. After your workout check your rehydration needs by stepping onto a scale and weighing yourself. For every half kilo lost, you need to drink half a litre of additional fluid. To periodically check how you’re doing, look at your urine. It should be clear or a very faint yellow. We live in a time when we have never had more access to information of health and fitness.

We have never had more products, pills, potions and formulas for optimal health but we have never been as unhealthy as we are now. Experts such as Dr Dean Ornish, author of the book ‘Eat More, Weigh Less’, tells us “this generation born now is the first generation that is expected to have a shorter life span than that of their parents”. This is due to the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, with poor nutritional choices and inadequate hydration. The formula for health and well being is not as confusing as it can appear to be in our 24/7 world. Simple things done very well on a regular occasion, such as drinking the right amount of water, and even drinking at strategic times, is a huge step towards creating and maintaining the health we are by design supposed to enjoy.

Stay tuned for exercise and nutrition. Till then move well, eat well and think well. Andrew Cox – www.innatefitnesshk.com

I’ve found that a quick way to make people feel uncomfortable is to describe myself as an Image Consultant.  It’s almost like announcing that I am a mind reader or psychiatrist and then the person starts looking uncomfortable, fidgeting and eyeing me up and down warily.  So I began to think about how I explain what I do do and why I love it so much….

My primary focus when working with my clients is to find out who they are on the inside – their likes, passions, personality and dreams – and to overlay this onto their outside.   This forms the basis of their style ‘recipe’ and armed with this info I am then able to put together ‘looks’ for my clients that represent their own sense of style. I love my work because it can really help people to express who they are and in doing so discover a new confidence.  Gone are the days of peering into a closet crammed full with clothes and thinking “I haven’t a thing to wear”.

This of course can be particularly hard in pregnancy (I’ve been through a couple) when your body is morphing into something that you don’t recognize and you feel tired and irritable.  However I’ve found, from experience, that we feel much better when we know we look good and can get on with the important business of the day.  So in pregnancy you can still focus on who you are and a great way to do this would be try and think of 3 words that relate to you e.g. dynamic, edgy, elegant / calm, cozy and vibrant – if you find this hard get a friend or your partner to help you out?  Whatever your ‘words’ try and dress with them in mind; it could mean fun accessories, funky shoes or a unique way of wearing a scarf.  I promise it will make buying maternity clothes and getting dressed so much easier and it will also help to remind yourself of who you truly are (aside from all this ‘Mommy’ stuff).

On the other hand if you would like me to help you put together your unique sense of style during pregnancy (or at any other time) you can contact me at claire@imageunlimitedhk.com. 

Mention this article and you will get 10% discount on your personal style appointment with Claire at our showroom and 10% discount on any Sono Vaso Lifestyle Maternity clothing purchase during your style appointment.

Claire Edwards is a qualified image consultant with a diploma from the Academy of Image Mastery/London Image Institute and the Body Beautiful Institute, USA. She is accredited (FLC) with the Association of Image Consultants International. Claire also holds a graduate diploma in counseling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology.
www.imageunlimitedhk.com

Sono Vaso was welcomed to the US at the Atlanta Apparel Maternity Wear Show.  "We were so excited to see our designs on the catwalk where Fall/Winter 2010-11 collections of fashion forward maternity brands were being showcased to the buyers."

Pregnancy - that wonderful, amazing state of being, where everything is new and you learn crazy things about your body everyday. What I wasn’t prepared for was how absolutely sick of being pregnant I would be by about week 38! I also wasn’t prepared for how absolutely sick of my modest array of maternity clothes I’d be within 4 months of buying them. 4 months doesn’t seem that long to the happily unaware non-pregnant person who has a full wardrobe of years’ worth of clothes to choose from. But 4 months of wearing the same few basic items is just depressing. At about 35 weeks I caved and had to do a bit of retail therapy, damn the cost, to stem the boredom.

Unfortunately, I live in Beijing and when I had my first baby in 2006 there was no maternity clothing available here except for the ubiquitous smock dresses that all Chinese mums-to-be step into immediately upon learning they are pregnant. And of course, radiation aprons designed to stop radiation from your computer causing untold damage to the developing foetus. There was no way I was going near any of that stuff – my husband was teasing me mercilessly about my huge belly anyway, I wasn’t going to give him any more ammunition. What to do? A tailor, brilliant! This is what China is great at – making clothes! So that’s how I found myself 8 months pregnant in a tailor’s shop with a few A4 pages of printed designs from Gap Maternity for them to try and copy.

Having clothes made at the tailor is an unpredictable experience at the best of times – sometimes things turn out brilliantly, other times the best place for them is the bin. I think this is true everywhere. But nowhere is it more difficult than in a country where you haven’t yet mastered even the basics of the language, where people laugh at the unusual sight of a heavily pregnant foreigner venturing into the real world (shouldn’t she be at home in bed?), sweating in the 38 degree 95 percent humidity day, and when it’s maternity wear.  But suffer the laughs and strange looks I did, choosing lovely brightly coloured linens and office-worthy pin-striped cotton for some tops and shirts. My tailor tried to up the price when she found out how much material this was all going to take and I felt a bit sorry for her, so didn’t bargain too hard. Finally, it was time to try the new outfits. Needless to say, the results were not glamorous. After the 4th fitting I was getting a bit cranky to be honest, but to her credit, my poor stressed tailor did manage to make a few decent pieces to get me through the last 5 weeks of crazy heat until July 7 when my daughter was finally born. And it was a relief to finally wear something different to brighten up my days.

Now, in 2010, things are improving for pregnant mums in the capital. One or two foreign brands of maternity clothing are now available here, and fashion conscious Chinese mums appear to have discovered a couple of Chinese brands turning out some cute and quirky designs. Sono Vaso has revolutionised maternity wear for the Beijing business set and those wanting something glamorous for those very regular evening events, ever since my store, BabyGro, started importing it a few months ago.  We hope to further assist Chinese and expatriate mums to look their best at all times of the day or night with Sono Vaso’s fabulous new winter 2010 collection. On the other hand, I am certain Beijing hasn’t seen the last of the smock dress – or the radiation apron!
Johanna Selth
BabyGro, Beijing
www.babygro.com.cn
johanna@babygro.com.cn
 

This is a very interesting article from Kidspot.com.au - it's information we all need to know about the link between artificial food colouring and hyperactivity, to read more click here:
http://www.kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/Family-Health-Healthy-Living-The-artificial-food-colouring-and-hyperactivity-link+3545+190+article.htm
 

It's great to be mentioned in the South China Morning Post newspaper today, read on....

by Nicki Perry, Lingerie Specialist, www.bralicious.com.hk 
Finding the perfect maternity and nursing bra…
Congratulations on your pregnancy or the birth of your little one.  This time is exciting and filled with many changes … one of those changes are your breasts!!

If you are pregnant you may find that your boobs have an explosion in size in the first few weeks…this is perfectly normal and some women can even increase up to 3 cup sizes throughout their pregnancy. It is also perfectly normal if you do not explode – every woman, every pregnancy is different. You will also expand in the back as your ribcage expands due to the growing baby – don't worry this goes back pretty fast after!  It is extremely important to be wearing a correctly fitted and supportive maternity bra throughout your pregnancy and while nursing. At bralicious we stock the range of HOTmilk maternity lingerie and sleepwear . The HOTmilk range is non underwired and has clipdowns for easy breast feeding and even without the underwire they provide excellent support and also the materials used allow flexibility for breast size fluctuation. The importance of wearing a non underwired bra during pregnancy and feeding is recommended – firstly you will feel much more comfortable and secondly underwired bras may cause blocked milk ducts therefore restricting milk flow. I have seen a number of women also that have been bruised by underwired bras – so I highly recommend to stay away from underwire!

The HOTmilk bras have soft cotton lining and the seam construction ensures that you have absolute comfort and support of tender areas. Another great feature is the back of band has six rows of 2 or 3 hook and eyes to allow for expansion of the ribcage. 

When we fit bras we make sure that the whole breast is encased in the cup – spillage over the top or out the side is not a great look but it is also not giving you the best support. We make sure that the band is also firm as you should take most of the weight of your breasts around your back rather than taking it on the shoulders as this can also lead to major back problems.  

We also recommend that you wear a bra to bed at night to support your breasts – both during pregnancy and after. We have a range of bedtime bras from another range called Nearly Nude that I myself lived in! they are soft and supportive and comfortable! 

We recommend that you visit us for a professional bra fitting at the 3 – 4 month mark to ensure that the right bra is chosen for you. The depending on the development of your bust size you should be fitted again at 36 weeks , though if you feel at all restricted, have a fitting straight away.

Our range of HOTmilk maternity and nursing bras are tested on pregnant women and nursing mothers which ensures they meet all criteria before entering the market. 

The collection is available in cup sizes B to G (H to be released in September) and bands from 30 to 44.  The HOTmilk range is completely different to anything else on the market…it is feminine, sexy, sassy and best of all comfortable! Who said you had to wear boring nude, black or white and feel like you are wearing your grannys undies whilst pregnant or feeding.

The HOTmilk philosophy is to empower women, to remind them that they are beautiful, confident and SEXY.

To arrange a professional fitting appointment with bralicious contact Nicki on 97723864 or email nicki@bralicious.com.hk

Whilst I was pregnant with my third child Charlie, I totally lived in my Sono Vaso wardrobe. I was very busy promoting my books at the time and did numerous interviews, radio and TV appearances as well as fairs and seminars around Europe which of course involved a lot of travelling. The schedule is usually quite gruelling when I am on promotion tours and normally I get whisked away straight from the airport to the first interview and then it goes on to the next one through the day and finally a late dinner! This is hard work at the best of times and wearing clothes that can work through all this at the same time as looking ones best, is not always easy. The Sono Vaso stretchy modal dresses were my absolute life saver during these events, together with styles like Camilla (yes, named after me!) and Cara leggings. I love tunics and their fashion tunics at the time appeared in several magazines and TV shows. I adored these tunics and I remember one time when I was doing a photo shoot and interview for a big fashion magazine and the topic was being a famous mum and all that. The stylist had chosen the clothes (as they do) and I had asked if we could use some of my favourites from Sono Vaso and she reluctantly allowed me one item for the last shoot. I chose my favourite tunic and make-up artist, photographer and all other staff all commented that they loved this tunic and wanted to know about the brand. The stylist was not too happy as nobody had commented on the clothes she had chosen!

During my previous pregnancies I hated buying maternity pants as there was always something so frumpy about them but the Sono Vaso pants are just great as they are a comfortable pair of stylish legs and what goes around the tummy is just soft and comfortable. The Sono Vaso jeans and, yes, a tunic was what I wore for casual days. Now, I have to admit that, as glamorous as I need to look when I work, you would not recognise me at home, I just love lounging in total comfort with no make-up and my hair in a ponytail. Again, the Sono Vaso basic modal styles are just comfortable bliss and I still wear those at home. Ok, I still wear some other things too, they just don’t look like maternity wear so that’s fine.

I only have one complaint, where were you when I was pregnant with my other two children?  Camilla x

Spicy colours, embellished tunics and flowing silk, naturally...

This season we bring draping and natural fabrics to life in flowing tunics, tops, long tees and dresses. Inspired by 1960’s A-line silhouettes and vibrant colours, highlights include embellished tunics and silk dresses in hot, ethnic colours - spicy cayenne red and warm violet teamed with the season’s must-have nude, black and white.

Today’s schedule: 3 client meetings followed by a night out with the girls.

You want to look stylishly professional for the day, and casual glam in the evening.

And do it all in comfort. We have just the thing for you in 5 great options:

1.  Camilla Tunic + Cara Legging

2.  Melanie Tunic + Ella Capri Pant

3.  Bettina Dress

4.  Hannah Shirt + Nicoletta Pencil Skirt

5.  Vanni Jacket + Cameo Tank + Elena Skinny Pant

We love Modal!  There we've said it!  It's made by a very smart company, called Lenzing, from 100% beech wood pulp; a natural raw material.  It's the perfect fibre worn next to the skin as it breathes naturally like cotton and is incredibly soft.  Long lasting, it's designed to be washed again and again yet retain its softness and colour.  Best of all the fibre is a bi-product of the timber industry from sustained forestry plantations and produced in the highest environmental standards.

When you’re pregnant your appetite changes along with your food preferences.  Maybe you used to be crazy about cheese – and now you can’t even intolerant the smell.  Or you never get hungry at meal time – just at every other time of day and night.  With your growing belly, you are likely to be a lot more conscious of what you eat and how it affects your health.  Our philosophy is to eat what you want – but all in moderation and with a mind to the ingredients.  A balanced diet is the key.  Here are some tips to eating healthy through your pregnancy: 
1.  Maximise the good by eating fresh fruit and vegetables.
2.  Make your own fresh juice – it’s an excellent source of vitamins.  And you can bring raw carrots or other fruit and veg to work to eat as snacks through the day.
3.  Minimise the amount of foods containing preservatives.
4.  Try to choose organic where your budget allows so that you minimise the toxins you eat.  This is most important for soft skin fruits.

Renee's Grandfather's recipe from Australia;

1 ½ cups brown sugar

Pinch of salt

½ cup (125g) butter (salted)

3 eggs, separated

2 cups self raising flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

½ cup (125 ml) sour milk (cream)

1 cup of mashed bananas (old and black)

Method:

- Cream sugar, salt and butter until light and fluffy.  Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.

- Add alternatively flour sifted with the bicarbonate of soda and the sour milk to the creamed mixture.

- Add mashed bananas.  Mix until well blended.

- Beat egg whites until stiff.  Gently fold in the cake mixture.

- Bake in a 180 c (350 f) oven in a 18 cm (7 inch) cake tin or a loaf tin for about 30-40 minutes.  Enjoy!

Our "Rita" Tunic is one of our best selling styles because it's an amazingly flexible addition to your wardrobe.  it's in our signature Modal spandex jersey with 100% silk sateen trim, resulting in a stunning look and super comfortable!  Dress it down with Ella capri, Cari legging or Cecelia lounge pant with flat shoes.  Or dress it up with Donata wide leg pant, Elena skinny pant or Zia jean with boots or heels and large pendant necklace!