Chic makeup is an easy way to update your look whilst pregnant. Summer is usually the time for minimalist beauty; however this season dramatic colour and bold features are both key trends.

Smudgy grey bedroom eyes are ideal for an easy evening look. To perfect this doe-eyed style, ditch your faithful black liner in favour of soft grey shadow for sultry sophistication. Keep the focus on your eyes with a nude pout and barely there blush.

We love bold lips for the summer months. Try to avoid classic red and dress lips in desert tones. From sandy colours to coral hues, this warm shade suits a variety of skin tones and works well with a rosy glow or on olive skin. Wear with matte skin and minimal makeup for a relaxed look.

Your lips are not the only feature getting the technicolour treatment this season. Bright eyes are another way of incorporating the rainbow trend into your everyday style. We recommend steering clear of the theatrical shades seen on the Spring Summer catwalks and instead opt for more subdued shadow. We love light bronze for an understated take on the trend, or layer your lids with gold for full-on glamour.

If you find beauty maintenance a little tedious when pregnant, you will be relieved to hear that big brows are big news. Bin your tweezers and let eyebrows grow for a more natural beauty look. We love clear brow gel for polished everyday style or why not add drama and shape with an eyebrow pencil?

We hope you feel fabulous!

Images courtesy of www.harpersbazaar.co.uk and www.handbag.com

Yesterday was a record sales day here at Isabella Oliver. We love it when ou sales record is broken and we would like to say a big thank you to the Customer Services team who did a fantastic job.

Today we launched in to Canada and to celebrate we have started our summer sale where everything in the collection is on sale with up to 40% off.

Canada has been a project that has been going for months and months and everyone here has helped make this happen. However we'd like to say a special thank you to Becky, Susan, Amy, Claire and MNP who have put an enormous effort in to making this happen! Thank You.

Vanessa, Geoff and I have a lovely PA called Kirsten who is an absolute gem. I just received an email from her asking if we could "pretty please" put up a few pictures of the Mojito night that a few of the girls here held at Isabella Oliver a few weeks ago. Of course we want Kirsten to be happy, so Kirsten this one is for you...

Here are a few pictures of the evening (thanks Sarg and Ania) and a few of the faces behind Isabella Oliver.

It's friday morning and it's been a crazy busy week here. The marketing, brand, design and purchasing teams have been working hard on the final preparations for the launch of the Autumn Winter collection. In August it will go live. For the Autumn Winter season we also have a few new categories that we are launching in to, more details will follow when we can share this.

Meanwhile, Vanessa and I have been making progress on the SS 09 collections (for the maternity line and for the non maternity ready to wear line). It is double the work we usually face as there are now two collections. But also double the fun. Making decisions on designs, colours and fabrics is one of the most exciting parts of this business. Before going in to this business I had absolutely no idea how technical design is. Vanessa has been a fantastic mentor and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning.

Our launch in to Canada looks imminent, it is now solely dependent on all internal and external systems doing the job. Sounds easy, but it probably is the most complicated project (technically) we have done ever. Far more complex than our launch in to the US. I will spare you the details but there are quite a few people here who have gotten grey hairs in the process but the end is in sight and then finally our Canadian customers can have a seamless local service. We are very excited about it here and we are very grateful to the team.

The next few weeks are busy with the finalisation of the SS 09 collections followed by shoots and international travel. Vanessa and I try to keep the travel to a minimum as we miss our children and they miss us. In August we will be in LA for an exciting event which we will let you know about when we can.

All is well here at Isabella Oliver, exciting times as always.

Have a nice weekend, Baukjen and Vanessa

When the days are breezy and the nights turn cool wrap up in a bright scarf. Diane Von Furstenberg’s Floral Print Scarf will add vibrancy to classic black or white. Another fabulous way to inject colour into your summer wardrobe.

... to all the women who have emailed us good luck messages for our non maternity collection. The Customer Services team have forwarded them all on to us and we are very appreciative of the kind words! Thank you.

Four and a half years ago we launched Isabella Oliver. The journey we have gone through has been wonderful. It has not always been easy but it has been absolutely amazing and the support we have received from our customers, family and friends has been fantastic. And not to forget the fantastic team that we have here at IO (as we call the company in short) whom have worked extremely hard and with whom it has been an absolute pleasure to learn from and work with.

With great pride we can finally share the news that early next year, Isabella Oliver will launch our first collection for non pregnant women. We have been working hard on this the past few months and we still have a lot to do, but it's finally something we can share. Of course we will share further details as and when we can.

Vanessa, Geoff and Baukjen