To order clothes a size big preemptively?

[HappyHattie]

I treated myself to a very expensive dress I’ve admired for ages, as it had been reduced to a reasonable price on sale.

It arrived today and I love it!
DH commented that it’s a tad big and do I want to exchange?
No I’d intentionally ordered a size bigger as we are TTC this summer and I’d like to get some decent wear out of it. Not have to be ‘slimming back into it’ for years to come!

However, it does look a bit big right now on my tall size 10 frame. That’s unlikely to last long once pregnant pregnant though.

AIBU/ a bit crackers to do this?

Should I exchange it for the correct size?

Really depends on the cut of the dress and the fabric. I didn't need maternity clothes with either pregnancy because I was very overweight and had mostly fit and flare and jersey clothes that went over my bump Jo problem. I didn't gain much weight in pregnancy either so my arms etc stayed same size.

I wouldn't do it tbh.

If you haven't even started to try yet, and you have no idea if you'll take a while, I would rather wear it now (and maybe next year) than some date in the future!

I'd exchange it. I am normally a 12 and was in my non-mat clothes until gone seven months.

It has a tie around waist so actually it looks fine but when I lift my arms there is ‘room’ around my chest and waist ... if that makes sense.

It’s not hanging off me, just roomy- I imagine the 10 would be snuggly fitted!

Yes that’s crackers. I sincerely hope you don’t have the same drama as me ttc but you don’t know how long it could take. I used to think like this. 2.5 years down the line I would have liked a lovely dress to wear to cheer me up! Exchange it for a size that looks right now and wear it now! X

Keep it! If you get pregnant will hide your first trimester bloat. And see you through to maybe the end and after you never know

YABU

I think you're getting way ahead of yourself tbh - you don't know how long it'll take, you won't know how you'll "carry" assuming you do get pregnant, you won't know what will happen to your body post pregnancy (I'm lighter right now after having my second than I was when I conceived him). Buy something that fits now.

Get it in a size that fits! You won’t show for a while with your first and if you aren’t pregnant yet that gives you time - plus the larger size might not fit your new shape as you don’t know where the weight will necessarily go! Enjoy the dress!

You’re not even ttc yet. If it fits ok then fine but I wouldn’t buy a size larger in case you put on weight after a baby you’re not even expecting yet.

It's crazy business buying preemptive sizes. Bigger or smaller. Pregnancy is an ever changing distinctive size change. This dress might fit you for 2 weeks of that. But it's up to you at the end of the day.

If it ties around your natural waist (rather than empire waist) you may well find that even if it's roomy enough to fit a bump, it just won't look good on a higher up bump. I have lots of nice stretchy jersey dresses which fit me in pregnancy but make me feel frumpy because from about 16 weeks onwards they emphasised my increasing lack of waist at the place where the dress is supposed to pinch in!

As others have said, TTC might also take a while - get a nice dress and enjoy it fitting well now.

I'd exchange for one that fits now and buy another in a style that will accommodate a growing bump once you need it.

Ok, seems IABU, so will try it on again tomorrow to ask mother’s opinion (she’s popping round for coffee) and then maybe exchange it.

I think the 10 will fit, but it may be a bit snug. I shall try it and see.

I’m very concerned about TTC taking forever as I’m so desperate to be a mum, so that’s a very good point! Don’t want to start resenting the dress!

@happyhattie younwill resent the dress if ttc doesn’t go to plan. Trust me.

I was actually half a stone lighter within 6 months of having both my babies from all the extra exercise I did on mat leave. and my figure changed too. try the smaller size.

You should never buy clothes that don't actually fit now on the assumption that at some point you'll be a different size. That is a rule for life. Only ever buy stuff that fits you now.

I hope this doesn't happen to you but it's taken us 4 years.
Just started IVF, I did a similar thing to you and bought a dress slightly too big (as wanted the wear out of it, assumed I'd bloat durning IVF) I haven't. Now plummeting to below 58kg due to stress and in the position that NOTHING fits me. I really need to buy a whole new wardrobe but round 2 of IVF seems to hold higher priority than a new wardrobe. So now when I am buying bits I buy the perfect size and enjoy them for now. Would love to see a pic of the dress !!!

I'm doing the same OP! But going for stretchy jersey dresses and ones that are fitted under the bust then flare out (fit and flare style) so they'll fit the first part of pregnancy. And loose fitting tunic styles in a size up.

By the end of the second trimester I was living in maternity leggings and big comfy maternity tunics!

Within days of giving birth my maternity clothes were ridiculously baggy and the leggings fell down, I was back in my normal clothes within a week. I used a belly bandit (bamboo wrap thing for support) and my tummy flattened back to normal very fast. Then I lost a lot of weight breastfeeding and had to buy more clothes as my pre-pregnancy ones didn't fit!

If you plan to breastfeed, make sure any new dresses/tops have stretchy wrap fronts or buttons!

I agree with PP, you are getting way ahead of yourself. I was smaller within a year post partum than I had been since a teen. I wasn't trying to lose weight either. There's no way of knowing for sure how much wear you'll get. If TTC takes a while, you can it plenty this year