Where, oh where are the nice maternity clothes!?

[Stase]

Third time at this getting fat malarkey, and every time I have a kind of fashion-related identity crisis, where I feel like I'm wearing someone else's clothes for 6 months. I'm a pretty loyal Warehouse girl, the odd bit of Monsoon, mostly the Fusion stuff, and I dabble in Gap.
Help, please! I don't want things that cling under the bump, and I don't want to live in skinny jeans that fall under my arse the whole time. But I still want to look nice without buying shares in Isabella Bloody Oliver!
Is it possible?
Thanks in advance...

I hate to say Boden Maternity .....

Sorry, can only really recommend Isabella Oliver, as the only place that I have found the fit of maternity clothes to be good. Price of one Isabella Oliver dress = price of two Monsoon dresses, yes, but perhaps just buy less. I've tried quite a lot of the H&M maternity wear, but I don't think it's very flattering.

Perhaps I need to get used to the range being so much smaller, and the cuts so much less interesting. There's a limited choice of shapes in maternity wear: empire tunic over skinnies/empire dress/jeans and massively baggy t shirt/jumpers that swamp...
Thanks for the suggestions. I've looked at both those ranges, and just can't get excited. The IO in particular looks overpriced for basic jersey stuff. Are the jeans any good?

Topshop has some nice blouses:
butterfly print and floral but also some with open backs! For showing off lovely wide maternity bra straps! Madness!
Keep it coming if you can ladies!

Have never tried IO jeans, but dresses and tops from there are really great. There is 47% off online today...voucher code is on their website.

My advice is, get on ebay and bag yourself some Isabella Oliver stuff more cheaply. Good luck!

I saw some nice bits in Matalan at the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised they had a maternity section.

Gap have a reasonable maternity selection - though depending on where you live, you may have to go with the online option. I also got quite a few bits for work from Seraphine, again online.

Not sure why the high street seems to hate pregnant women.... John Lewis doesn't do any maternity wear in store and even the usual trusted M&S's selection is pitiful!

M&P got me through last pregnancy. I'm really struggling to find anything nice this time, knowing it will be last pregnancy, all being well, and not wanting to spend too much.

i bought everything online from destination maternity in nyc. very trendy stuff and high quality for a fraction of price you'd pay for this in central london... love it! you have to know your american size, though... i was size 8-10 pre-preg, and small fits perfectly now than i am 30 weeks and gained 8 kg...

Ooh lilly I am loving that website! Thanks for the tip!

Stase you could also try ASOS and JoJo Maman Bebe have some nice things in their summer catalogue.

Dorothy Perkins was good for jeans but didn't change my world.

[[http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/maternity_30100?trail=1002%3Acat30100&extcam=ppc_ggl_ukm_475&tmcampid=47&tmad=c&tmplaceref=ppc_ggl_ukm_475 New Look] is a bit hit and miss. I liked their jeans and got a great maternity coat from their when I was having DD - all my friends borrowed it after me.

I agree that H&M isn't very flattering though their maternity bras were quite good.

New Look do some nice tops, and Jojomamanbebe. I also found a lot of nice colourful tunics and dresses in The White Stuff - not maternity wear, but they are stretchy material, which does very well! Just bought 1-2 sizes bigger than my usual size, they are great.

I have got some great things From Pretty Pregnant. But they're not cheap, so I've only bought things I can wear a LOT there.

They have a few stores but you might have to buy online. Only thing I will say is that you should be prepared to send stuff back - I tried on a lot of their dresses and the stuff I would have chosen online is not necessarily what then looked best on me.

Their plain black work trousers have been an absolute godsend and I wear them about three times a week.

I can't find maternity wear on Gap's uk website - am I being stupid or is it only available in store?

Hi
I had a maternity rant on here last week, and got some great suggestions. Seraphanie has some really nice dresses (just ordered one), been looking on ebay which is turning out to be good, Next online haven't been able to find a next yet that stocks maternity clothes), but got a nice top from there last week, and found a Dorothy Perkins where I bought a colourful T-shirt that actually fits really well.

I agree though it is really hard to find stylish clothes - alot of the maternity wear seems to be really boring or really unflattering. And High St does seem to hate pregnant women!!

I feel your pain! Seraphine is lovely, although a bit heavy on the black and grey- I had a spree there in the winter sale but lord knows what I'll do in springtime.

Loving Destination Maternity website! Thanks for that link :)

I bought a couple of items from Seraphine - they are reasonably priced - and do good sales.

Check out www.justmaternityjeans.com...there's a huge variety of bootcut, skinny and straight leg maternity jeans. Maternity Jeggings and denim maternity skirts too... You can search by bump style, length, brand and budget.

I got some nice bits from topshop, ASOS and mamas and papas.
Got some nice work trousers from new look but found there jeans crap as only ever seems to have over the bump ones which just fall down

I am with you with your struggle ! I went to my local shopping centre today (all the big shops - m&s, john lewis, next, h&m) and NOT ONE had a maternity range ... need to go online and get prepapared for the enevitable returns ....

daimbardiva if you are being stupid, I am being stupid too. I can't maternity clothes on Gap Uk's website either.

I had a frustrating session in a Gap shop recently trying to get a second pair of my favourite jeans that I am currently living in. They seemed to have 20 pairs of size 8 and no size 6. The kind assistant suggested I look online, and I was very restrained in politely saying that they don't have maternity stuff online, but he did then say that I wasn't the first person to say to him that the maternity clothes aren't online.

I did ebay and then just sized up in my normal clothes from my favorite shops...

Gap does a fab maternity range but unfortunately does not seem to be available online on the UK website. A couple of the central london stores stock it and they may do it in their bigger stores elsewhere? have bought loads of stuff there - the sale stuff was partic good - gorgeous knitwear for £4.99!!

Have found Mamas and Papas great for stretchy tops (3 for 2 deals), a couple dresses and some pretty undies and nightwear. Also easy to order a load of stuff online and send back what doesn't fit. Their stuff seems really nice quality and I bought loads a few weeks ago when they did a 30% off all mat wear promotion so was very reasonable.

Topshop was great for basics like jeans although now am 27 weeks they don't seem to fit anymore so suggest you go for bigger sizes than normal.

Also been able to wear my normal size 8 tunic style dresses and wrap cardies from places like Kew, Jigsaw and Whistles.

M&S for best maternity tights I have found.

Have stuck to cheaper places like H&M, New Look /Dotty Ps for stuff like leggings and yoga pants.

Hope helps!

www.Jojomamanbebe.co.uk (there are stores too - Exeter and Bath are the ones I know). Also, Red Herring in Debenhams had some nice stuff 3 years ago - I haven't looked yet as I'm only 10 weeks.

I loved Blooming Marvellous but apparently they were bought out by Mothercare - shame they didn't keep the clothes selection!

Next sometimes do nice stuff, but our store doesn't have any you can try.

I received two online orders today and delighted with everything:

Jojo - the boyfriend cut jeans for 29 quid are ace and i love them. the tops are fun but probably not amazingly good quality.

LOVE the two tops I ordered from boden. just such a lovely fit and pretty and summery.

still need MORE things though!!!