Maternity clothes shopping around Oxford Circus query

[KikiRC]

Hello ladies, hope someone may know..

I'll be up in London & doing a bit of a shop in the next week or two- want to try things on in the shops if possible, rather than buying online. I know the big Topshop at Oxford Circus has a maternity section- is this reasonably stocked, or it is just a handful of things?

Also, I know there are a few H&M stores along there- does anyone know if any of them stock their 'Mama' range? Their website is hopeless- it doesn't list their maternity clothes in one section, you have to scroll through everything else to stumble across them...

And are there any other good maternity clothes shops nearby I should try while I'm there? Does the big Primark sell maternity?

Thanks for any advice! X

[vinchaud]

The Topshop is not bad. The Gap further down Oxford Street near Bond Street tube has quite a lot of maternity. There is also a Mamas & Papas in Regent Street near Oxford Circus.

[dreamofgenie]

The H&M on Regent Street right near Mamas and Papas has a large maternity section on the lower ground floor. Also, if you're shopping maternity at Topshop, you have your own big dressing room, so no waiting in the dressing room queue and you get taken straight up to the til, so no standing in line waiting to buy.

[laracroft2001]

the new look next to marble arch also has a maternity section, and there is a mothercare opposite the Primark. The primark does maternity, (its huuuuuuugggeeee that store is. Also you have John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Selfridges all up Ox street all who do maternity wear to varying degrees.

[CitizenOscar]

Topshop, h&m and mamas and papas all within very easy reach. Don't know how far along you are but I found mamas and papas stuff way too big until quite late in my pregnancy. I was surprised topshop's maternity section was quite limited but I might have had too high expectations. Dorothy Perkins is close by too, and that's where I bought my most comfy maternity jeans.

[Gooseysgirl]

Hi Kiki, I'm only coming up to 16 wks so haven't had to get too much yet but here's what I found so far... The Gap at Bond St is great, well stocked maternity section when I was there yesterday - all of their stuff is too big for me at the moment but will definitely be paying a return visit in due course if needs be. Found Debenhams useless, a small section and the clothes were mostly awful... but maybe they haven't got their full A/W stock in yet.
I liked the Topshop (Oxford Circus) maternity section (although not huge) and got a black bump band there which I've been wearing over my black work trousers which no longer close - that's been a godsend. I also got a great pair of underbump maternity jeans (called 'Baxter') there which were in a short length, have been living in them the last week or two. Have to say though I nearly collapsed when I saw the maternity denim hot pants shorts - maybe I'm just gettin long in the tooth but wouldn't be caught dead in them :o
Haven't been to Mamas and Papas on purpose as I know I won't be able to bypass the baby section without splurging!! Went to New Look at Marble Arch and didn't see any maternity section there however I didn't actually ask any of the shop assistants to point me in the right direction (it was the end of my shopping trip and I was too tired and cranky to be nice to anyone!!)
Happy shopping! :)

[KikiRC]

Wow, thanks everyone- that's really helpful. Can't wait!

[wompoopigeon]

John Lewis Oxford St doesn't have any maternity BTW.
M&S Marble Arch used to be good but has now gone all on-line unfortunately (except tights).
If you're in the area and are D cup plus, consider dropping into Bravissimo to get measured for a decent bra. There's a big one just behind Top Shop.
H&M is only in the Regent St branch not the big one on Oxford Circus. When I went recently it was v dowdy colours, but maybe you'll find summat.
Good luck!

[katherine2008]

I think the Next on Regent Street does Maternity too - but haven't been for a while, so do check!

[herethereandeverywhere]

Was mat. shopping there yesterday. Would agree about the dowdy colours at H&M. You walk through a sea of lovely varied colours to the maternity section which looks like a variety of Mao-ist uniforms.

Also the sizing range at Topshop was awful. Everything was an 8 or a 14 and NOTHING in between. I managed to find one pair of size 12 leggings which were a bit too big but I was desperate by that point!

[wompoopigeon]

I can confirm that Next on Oxford Street (the large branch which is east of Oxford Circus) has a small and woefully shit maternity section right at the back. Don't know about the Regent Street branch.

[KikiRC]

Thanks, ladies. Disappointed to hear Topshop is so limited with sizes at the moment. Tempted to leave it a couple of weeks in the hope they stock up. I had hoped H&M would have quite a variety, too.

My v limited experience of maternity wear in my small town is a hopeless corner of shapeless & nasty items in Debenhams- was hoping Oxford Circus would prove a bit more inspiring & varied.

This is all really useful though- thanks.

[Scaredycat3000]

So my list is;
Top shop, Oxford circus.
Mamas & Papas, Regent St.
H&M, Regent St.
Zara, Regent St.
And starting at Oxford Circus heading towards Tottenham court road.
Gap, Oxford St.
Dorothy Perkins, Oxford St.
New Look, Oxford St.

Debenhams do stock maternity.
I'd not get to hung up on if the label says maternity, especially for tops, or you are limiting your choice and paying double!

[BabCNesbitt]

The Oxford Circus Gap doesn't have the maternity range - it's only the Gap near Bond Street tube that has it afaik. (The Baby Gap store in Covent Garden has a small selection too.)

Really annoying that M&S have stopped doing their maternity range in store. When I asked one of the assistants at Marble Arch about it, she said that she'd already had about four or five women asking her that day where to find the range!

[wompoopigeon]

One of them was probably me Bab!

[Scaredycat3000]

Oh, Bab, have they changed it back again? 2/3 years ago Gap only did maternity in the Bond st branch, but 3 months ago it was also in their Oxford circus branch.

[BabCNesbitt]

Ah, maybe they've changed it since then - the last time I went in was before then. Just ignore me!

[Vesselo]

I am desperate to buy some reasonably priced maternity clothes IN STORE. Any advice?

[mrsmugoo]

Which H&M website are you looking at?!

[KipT77]

So many stores have moved their entire maternity range to online now (really noticing the difference since my last pregnancy and now). It's irritating! I think H&M and Topshop are your best bet (H&M kids is usually where you find the range, rather than the regular stores). There is a Mamas and Papas in Westfield and, for the things you'll live in and don't mind paying a bit more for, Serraphine on Kensington High St. - both fairly easy to get to from Oxford Circus on the Central Line.... If you are looking in London.

[Vesselo]

Thank you for the tip. Anyone know if Debenhams on Oxford street any good. It does say that they have maternity range

[cantbelieveImquittingcoffee]

vesselo have scoured Oxford St and from what I could find debenhams just has maternity wear in the red herring department (unless anyone wants to correct me?) - 2 rails of stuff including jeans, so it's super limited. When this post was originally written it sounds like there was more available than there is no! gap no longer sells instore, mamas and papas in Oxford Circus closed down, so it's basically topshop if you are miniscule, the H&m on regent street (the one closest to Oxford Circus) and debenhams 2 rails.
As an aside I'd also recommend checking And other stories, Cos and even the anthropologie sale (all regent street) for good non-maternity clothes in bump-friendly shapes and sizes! monki on Carnaby St comes recommended by a v stylish friend of mine too though I'm not stylish enough to find anything in there.