Maternity Clothes

[Rhubarb]

I'm now at the stage where none of my trousers will fit me anymore, but why can't I find a decent pair of maternity trousers at an affordable price? Why do they think it's ok to charge £25 + for something that in my case, I will never wear again? And why are they all in appauling taste? I don't wear jogging bottoms, or combats, or flares, or Andy Pandy type striped ones - do they think that my mind has shrunk so much that I am prepared to go out and about looking like a sack of potatoes??? And pay over £25 for the priviledge???

All I want is a pair of plain, straight-legged trousers for an affordable price. Where can I get them from?

Might not be the most obvious place to try, but have you thought of looking at Argos Additions Maternity range:

here

HTH

Oops - forgot to say, more trousers on Page 3.

I ended up with one pair of jeans from Mothercare ( £25 I think ) and one pair of black velvet trousers from Blooming Marvellous, which, although £40, I wore constantly from month 5 onwards, so I thought it was worth it!
Are you anywhere near Reading? There is a fabulous maternity wear shop there called Swell. Not sure about the name, but the clothes are great and they often have a sale. Service is excellent too.

Also, Dorothy Perkins online have Maternity black jersey trousers on offer at £12 as well as some other offers:

Dorothy Perkins Maternity Wear

I have had their trousers in the past and was more than pleased with them (not these particular ones though, so can't comment on them).

HTH also

butterfly

Ha, I'm having the same problem.
What is the story with maternity jeans - they are all so horrible - stonewashed tightlegged 80's leftovers - why would anyon want to wear them.

What about those panels that will help your normal clothes fit you a while longer - I haven't tried them but they sound interesting.

Another question - why is maternity underwear soooo expensive. All the bra's I've seen cost at least twice what I'd normally pay. And they are horrible big tent like structures.

ahhhh

Ooops......problems with Dorothy Perkins link. Try

here

then click on Maternity from left hand list, then bottoms.

hennes. lived in them (three pairs). good cut, comfy and nothing seems to cost much over a tenner (esp in the sale)

ooh, maternity underwear, my favourite gripe! I only ever found a choice of boring white or scary leopard print ( dh would run a mile ).
Salvation has partly arrived in the form of Elle Macpherson's range - lilac! Pink!
However, unfortunately, the bra is £30 and the knickers £16, so I haven't bought them yet.

Rhubarb - try Hennes - I got some basic trousers there - stretch material rather than loads of elastic and gathered waist. Only £20! I also bought some stretch jeans in Next (normal section)in a bigger size which are quite good. I also got some nice tops - black v neck long sleeve t-shirt type from Blooming Marvellous.

Rhubarb, what size are you. I have some black Formes maternity trousers, big size 12, very plain, with elastic front panel. very expensive - £60 or so - but too worky for my life now - I hardly ever wear trousers anyway. Any good to you?

Any other takers?

Hi Rhubarb. Me new to mumsnet. Trousers never fit me very well as I have (make that had before ds) a small waist and large hips so I started buying plain black trousers from Etam's and New Look's bigger sizes ranges. They are elasticated at the top (they don't look hideously old fashioned, honest) but have lovely wide-ish legs. I wore them all through my pregnancy and still wear them every day for work with tops that cover the waistband.

Vertbaudet have some nice maternity clothes and reasonably priced too!

Hennes have some nice pieces and the prices are quite nice too!

aha women in the same predicament as me.where i live we only have mothercare and as i got big very early i actually didnt have any clothes to go on holiday with.i ended up buying clothes 2 sizes bigger than i was ,now these dont fit me either but I have found a solution....ebay,the majority of maternity clothes on there are brand new and still tagged and the others are being sold like new.i got a beautiful pair of next jeans on there for ten pound-their the ones with a adjustable waistband,i dont like the stretchy tummy panels and they are like new.i also got a brand new h&m dress for six pound that was brand new and still had the tags on.there is a woman on there selling brand new mothercare stuff really cheap.also brand new underwear.
i suggest alook it really is good stuff,but believe me very addictive

I would but one pair and war them all the time.

Next sale on this w/e and they have maternity stuff reduced from the directory.Find someone with the directory and stay aon the phone till you get through

I find Hennes trousers are all massively long on me & therefore jeans unwearable. I'm 5'2". Also, their selection this 'season' is dire. I got some stuff there with 1st pg, but thhis time round it's all horrible. Jojomamanbebe isn't too bad.

I fonud stuff in DPs in Debenhams and in the Mothercare sale rail....

Have you tried the maternity exchange website? As the name suggests she has an exchange service going where she sells on people's used materbity clothes. I got a couple of things, & they were in great condition - didn't really look worn. Obviously what she has in varies, but it's always worth a look.
I plan on sending all of my stuff to her when I've got it back from a friend (& if I've definately decided not to go for number 3 )

Click here to see it.

Hennes Hennes Hennes, I would have been naked if it wasn't for this shop (doesn't bear thinking about).

Formes is also good, but fairly expensive, good if you are a career queen and need to look smart though, or have a wedding to go to and want to splash out.

karenanne's post has led me to a query re clothes on Ebay. I have looked at this and asyou say there is loads of still tagged stuff being sold. Why? If people don't want it why don't they just take it back and exchange it rather than sell it at a loss?

I have to say I spent most of my late pregnancy in drawstring 'ordinary' trousers, which I'm still wearing. From charity shops, most of them. Found great pair of Monsoon linen mix ones, and suchlike. Worth considering (especially pushed down under bump, which honestly isn't something I'd dream of doing normally!)...

I bought some stuff in sales that I lost the receipt for hence would sell on e bay (well I wouldnt but you know)

Oooh, loads of suggestions - thanks! Aloha, yes please! Can you contact me?
We don't have a Hennes up here, and I'm reluctant to get into internet shopping. The reason I don't buy from catalogues is that they then see any order as a green light to send you loads more catalogues and junk mail.
Nope, I simply have to buy all my stuff on a seen first basis from the High Street. I've had a look in DP, but no sale on and trousers all fit my first description. I wouldn't have thought of Mothercare though. And we have bought stuff from Argos before so I might try that link.

Hi Bluecow - my dd loved that in the Storymakers by the way! The trouble is that I'm just way too fussy! I can't wear anything that is baggy around the leg, I don't like it. Most of my trousers are straight-legged jeans. Boring I know, but that's my style and I like it! I've bought some elasticated long skirts that I can wear after the birth too, but I love my jeans and hate the thought of being parted with them for 5 months or so. I did think about those panels eefs mentioned, but they look like you've left your flies undone and your big knickers are showing! I know you're supposed to wear long tops over them - but that leads me to another problem......!

Underwear is not a problem however, why do you have to buy those big maternity knickers? I just carry on wearing my ordinary ones. As for bras, well my cup size doesn't seem to have changed alas!

Maybe I should have a look at the maternity exchange site, it does sound like a good idea!

Ok, just had a look at the maternity exchange service and their prices are still a bit on the high side, around £30 for trousers. DP had some nice looking fitted, boot-cut trousers in their sale for £12 - I got very excited about those, but would you Adam and Eve it? There were none in my size (12). Had a look at Argos Additions and they do have some nice trousers in there, but all at £20. Call me tight, but I'd rather spend the £20 on dd's birthday pressie. I don't need the trousers, I could spend the whole pregnancy in skirts, so because they are not a necessity, I'm loathe to spend more than around £15 on them.