To want a major city centre branch of Next to have more than one maternity dress to choose from

[faintpinkline]

Well am I? I made a special trip to Next to get a dress as I didn't want to buy from the website as I'm a difficult shape (huge chest) so wanted to try things on. They had just one dress, a few T shirts, couple of skirts and a few pairs of trousers. It was a tiny section right next to the Petite collection with some of the rails being mixed petite and maternity

Hated the dress so didn't buy it but went to H&M instead where there was plenty of choice, better prices and designs I actually liked.

Next have got loads on their website AIBU to actually expect to find something in store (and to wonder which genius decided petite and maternity could go on the same rail )

No you are not, but on the plus side my local next (also in a major city centre) maternity range consists of 2 different tankinis, black trousers and 2 different coloured vest tops.

i find dorothy perkins also think its a good idea to put their maternity range right next to there petite range, only 6 weeks left to go and it wont bother me so much anymore! i do all shopping online now, then take it back when needed, saves me getting all worked up thinking ive found something lovely to fit into only to realise its from the petite range

YANBU, but none of the major city centre branches of high street shops where I live stock ANY maternity clothes, apart from H&M. Really winds me up. None in Next, Topshop, New Look, Dorothy Perkins...Until recently Dorothy Perkins did, but they got rid of it. So unhelpful.

Why shouldn't petite and maternity be next to each other? Don't petite women get pregnant too?

It is surprising how little choice there is. I'd managed without any maternity stuff at all until 24 weeks, but went into Manchester centre a few weeks back, hoping for some maternity trousers, couple of tops and a jacket. Virtually nowhere even had a maternity range in store. Even M and S! For some reason I was really expecting them to have stuff, but no, not a thing. I got the trousers from New Look and tops from H and M, so that was ok, but there wasn't a single maternity jacket or coat to be seen anywhere at all. It was odd- I'd expected to be fleeced, but not for my business to not even be courted. We're not exactly talking back end of nowhere here, either.

I can see why there's low availability, especially for things like dresses and cardis where it's easier to manage in your pre pregnancy stuff. But things like trousers and coats are more of a captive market. Nobody seems to want it.

Where I live only New Look has a maternity range available in store - Next, Dotty P's, Debenhams, etc. have all stopped stocking maternity gear but will direct you to their shops in a nearby same-size-but-better-shopping-facilities city 15 miles away or point out you can order online or from their catologues. NOT helpful. New Look had also stopped stocking maternity until they realised literally EVERY other shop in the city had done the same, so they reintroduced and extended their maternity range and now every pregnant woman in the city looks like they're wearing uniform!

Our local H&M has maternity, and that's all locally. It would seem that most stores now has the majority of their 'special' ranges online - including tall, petite, maternity.

I've kept an eye online, they often do free delivery and you can return in store which suits me better anyway (our town centre costs an absolute fortune to park, so even paying for next day delivery can be cheaper!!)

This really annoyed me too! Maternity clothes have to be one of the things I most want to try on in person - the one time I tried buying jeans online they were totally the wrong shape/size.

Gah.

With most recent baby I think almost everything I bought came from H&M because they were the only place with stock.

Yeah, online shopping is particularly difficult when your body keeps changing. I would've thought if there was ever a time you can't assume something will fit, it's during pregnancy. Had to go up a trouser size despite arse having actually shrunk, because of trousers pinching fanjo

Still, anyone who doesn't want my money or business doesn't have to have it. Primark are missing a trick, though.