And by the way those photos of you with your newborn will be emailed to all your friends, posted on Facebook etc – they will be with you forever, believe me! So you may as well be looking amazing…

Bravado Body Silk Nursing Bra

Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

The biggest selling Bravado bra is the Body Silk Seamless Bra – designed to melt onto your body and give you comfort unlike any you’ve experienced from a bra before (nursing or not!) Our view -  Perfect as the comfiest T-shirt bra ever!

This bra is so comfortable and has such an excellent range of sizes I sold one to a wheelchair bound elderly customer last week – I’ll let you know how she gets on with it.

Bravado Essential Nursing Tank Top

Essential Nursing Bra Tank Top

Our other new Bravado product is the nursing vest top – perfect for day wear, nightwear, yoga classes, the beach…long enough to cover your bump, fitted and flattering without being clingy – once discovered, this top is one you’ll never be without.

To order go to http://www.harwayeslingerie.com/brands.asp?bid=31

Group One – The Yummy Mummies (aged around 30 – 45 with one or more children aged 0 – 14)

Our first group – the Yummy Mummies reviewed the Freya and Fantasie collections. All liked the tankinis ‘because when you’ve had a baby the texture of your stomach is papery and unfit for exposure’ said one. All liked the underwiring and bra structure – once you’ve tried it you will never go back to unstructured swimwear again! Halter necks are proving very popular with this age group this season.

Swim skirts were very well received and likely to be an enduring trend in swimwear design over the next few years.

Anything for a quick cover up on the beach was seen as a ‘must-have’ – so for example the fantasie kaftans, the stardust hooded tunic and the freya galaxy tunic all got the thumbs up.Have a look at the Freya swimwear collection now at www.harwayeslingerie.com

Group 2 The Choral Society (Aged around 60+ with grandchildren)

This group considered a bra structure essential to give shape, didn’t like too low a front or too high a leg – ‘probably unbecoming at our age’ they said. They didn’t want anything too jazzy or loud – more muted tones were considered suitable. Definitely no bikinis. Tankinis are possible, but need to be long enough. Halter necks were not liked by 2 out of 3 customers as they were considered unflattering. Control linings and ruching effects to disguise stomach areas were popular.

Top designs with our choral ladies were the fantasie Zante swimsuit (with control lining) and kaftan, the fantasie Goa swimsuit (muted colours) and kaftan and the fantasie Barcelona tankini. Shop for Fantasie swimwear now at www.harwayeslingerie.com.

Elomi Lingerie Range - For fuller Figures

A recent Sunday Times article by Eleanor Mills (24 Jan 10) celebrates that more manufacturers are offering lingerie for bigger cup sizes and the availability of shops such as Bravissimo to sell it at reasonable prices.

However, interestingly in the comments section, (http://women.timesonline.co.uk) readers complain that it is still difficult to get bigger back sizes. We are actively working on this, adding the Elomi range to our website which goes up to 46 back size. Elomi is a sister company to Freya and Fantasie, so we know their bras are excellent – ultra supportive and elegant.

We already list the Elomi sports bra (www.harwayeslingerie.com/sports) and we can obtain any of the range if you are interested – please phone or email us for a colour catalogue and price list. Phone 01780 766 936 (enquiries@harwayeslingerie.com)

Fantasie and Freya are owned by the same Northants based company and are viewed as one of the premier manufacturers of swimwear in true cup sizes. As a bra designers first and foremost they are able to apply all their bra making skills to create swimwear that is comfortable, supportive and flatters your curves. Yes some of the prices are a bit steep if you are used to spending £20 in a supermarket – but compared to the cost of a holiday – wouldn’t you rather look fabulous and feel comfortable?

Freya Bikinis

The Freya range is aimed at a slightly younger audience, so bikinis, tankinis, on trend towelling hoodies and slash neck tunics are the order of the day.  But knowing that our customers are real women rather than stick-thin models, we have chosen the styles that include shorts, swim skirts and bikini bottoms with fold over waists – we may as well be practical and buy bikinis we are comfortable in, as well as looking fantastic. Have a look at the range at www.harwayeslingerie.com

Fantasie for Control Swimming Costumes

Fantasie is aimed at ladies with curves – so D+ with underwire as standard and all the visual tricks some of the best designers in the UK can cram into a single small garment! In addition to all the technical advantages Fantasie have access to as underwear manufacturers – tummy control front panels, side shaping and cleavage enhancing for the bust, they have researched the common problems women say they have with swimwear, such as the bust appearing too heavy and really made strides into helping to even things out! And if you are really lacking in confidence you can quickly cover up with matching swim skirts or floaty kaftans. See the range at www.harwayeslingerie.com

So all we have to do is swim up to the poolside bar knowing we look amazing and all that hard work has been done for us – cocktails anyone?

Hotmilk Nightwear

First up – the nightwear – looking for something glamorous to pack in your hospital bag? Then we suggest the cotton camisole with drop-cup for discreet feeding. The fashion forward gathered floaty look defies the power fabric support.

The matching long PJ pants are perfect for a hospital stay – a Valentine’s gift perhaps? Made from deliciously crisp 100% cotton, the mineral blue and cloudburst hem add a flattering splash of colour – to your night, or your day!

Hotmilk Lingerie

HOTmilk’s Ever After theme has an enchanted forest setting to promote a powerful and provocative lingerie collection. Recall your favourite fairytale heroine and empower her!  The HOTmilk woman is sexy, strong and scintillating. She is at her most feminine, she bewitches and beguiles.

We have selected two of the lingerie sets for you to try:

‘Radiant In Her Rescue’ -  exquisite fabrics and styling. Perfect for pregnancy and beyond. A sumptuous apricot floral print on the cup is beautifully offset by delicate ivory gardenia lace.

‘Tamed By Her Sensuality’  – striking, sexy full cup bra is befitting of every new mother’s wardrobe of seduction – stunning, strong and sophisticated. Jet black lace and microfibre decadently lined with deep purple cotton, giving richness and depth.

Both collections feature a bra in size 34 – 38 C – FF, with power support sides and A frame design to ensure fantastic support and one-handed drop cup clips for ease of feeding. Matching g-string, brief or French knickers complete the look.

New Zealand based HOTmilk founders Lisa Ebbing and Ange Crosbie are both young mothers who believe intensely in their product. ‘Beige, bland and boring‘ was once the offering for the maternity and nursing market – but not anymore.

‘Our mission is to make women feel fabulous when they most need to,’ says Lisa Ebbing. ‘Being pregnant is a time to celebrate; it is one of the most feminine times in your life so pregnancy and nursing lingerie needs to reflect that.‘

(Quotes from an interview by Kate Pope, Lingerie Buyer Magazine Jan 2010)

The Freya Active shorts are just perfect for a smooth line under lycra joggers or running tights. The ice finish coolmax fabric and signature Freya Active logo trim prevents them from resembling big pants!

Runner’s World Magazine rated these briefs very highly, observing: ‘They wicked away sweat very well and proved exceptional at keeping our runner cool. Fit was slightly on the small side but they held their shape without digging in or chafing.’

We have stock of this Fab bra in red, black or white, AND the matching briefs. This bra is designed for D – H cup, but for larger back and cup sizes, have a look at the Elomi Energise range, to be added to the website in the next couple of days.

Triumph: excellence of fit

When selecting new lingerie for a mail order and web business, the key is to stay one step ahead of fashion and ensure products selected for the next season are bang on-trend.

Harwayes wasn’t traditionally a fashion led business: The purchasing policy was that of selecting bras that fit really well, so brands such as Triumph and Playtex have always been, and continue to be at the fore. However, with new brands seemingly popping up daily, and every celeb endorsing a lingerie launch, how is a retailer to continue to ensure excellence of fit, whilst responding to the demand for fashionable undies?

Luckily, some of our newer suppliers have made it their mission to put fit first. This is why we have chosen to feature DiMurini, Royce, HotMilk, Fantasie, Elomi and Bravado in our new collections for the Spring.

The collections encompass ‘dressing up box’ feathers, polka dots, taffeta and ribbons, architectural slate and charcoal greys, layers of antique ’shabby chic’ french embroidery, lacing and bows galore and a preponderance of raspberry pink …. and we haven’t even started on the swimwear yet!

We hope you enjoy the new collections, keep an eye on the website for all the latest in bra design!