Why are maternity clothes so depressing or am i looking in the wrong place?

[GinPalace]

I cannot be the only pregnant person in the world to want to look like I have a little style!

I don't have the money to have a large maternity wardrobe but want a few pieces which won't make me feel like a fashion dead-zone!

I do not have a large budget so the likes of H&M, Next, Dorothy Perkins would be my limit price-wise. I have looked at the offerings and they are lots of dull colours - greys, blacks etc. No nice little style features like cute buttons or ruched shoulders, cool patterns or some such.

It is just dull dull dull t-shirts, 'boyfriend' shirts etc.

Surely the designers aren't all childless people who think you just want to fade into the background when you are a parent to be??

Can anyone help me (I admit I haven't trawled all the shops)? Pleeaase

ASOS has some good bits but on the whole I agree with you. They are horrid! I have got a couple of bits from Topshop too but there really are slim pickings out there!

Totally agree! I went into H&M last week and saw lots of lovely bright, unusual ish things that I liked. Headed to the maternity section at the back and had a choice of grey, navy or black. I was desperate as had nothing that fitted, so did buy a few blue items!

I 2nd asos I got some cool skinny jeans and some nice dresses from there :-) I also got a couple of nice bits from next

oOOOoo have googled ASOS - quick glance revealed at least 4 items not black or grey!!!!! WOW I am ridiculously grateful!

Pity it is online so you can't try on, but at least it exists !!

Keep 'em coming ladies I knew you would not fail me.

What are ASOS sizes like?

Ebay is great - lots of inspiration there. Isabella Oliver stuff is lovely for work and occasions but very expensive so I've only ever bought second-hand.

ASOS and Gap can be okay for casual-wear but I agree that so much of the high street stuff is vile and masculine.

I bought very few maternity clothes last time and mainly wore things that weren't actually maternity-wear but accommodated the bump - longer length vests and tunic tops.

Best thing I did for my confidence though was to get a really expensive pair of maternity jeans. They are the most expensive item of clothing I have ever bought but they made be feel fantastic and looked great with everything. I was very sad to have to give them up at the end of the fourth trimester . My DH bought them for me for my birthday because he knew how down I was feeling about my new shape. If you don't want to break the bank. you could try on some expensive ones, make a shortlist and then wait for your size to come on in a pair on ebay.

I haven't bothered buying maternity tops. I've just bought loads of colourful per una jersey or smock tops either new on ebay or in my local m&s outlet (and not paid more than £5 or so for any of them) in my usual size and I still have some growing room in most of them.

Debenhams have some pretty tops with gathered shoulders and sides for £15. x

great advice misspolly

I got away with normal clothes for nearly whole pregnancy last time and as was nice warm summer a few t-shirts sufficed, but this time I'm rather rotund already (first trimester) and struggling to fit stuff and it only going to get worse!!

Not sure I'll have time for the wait+see on ebay game - though it sounds cunning enough to stick a tail on and call a fox so I may give it a go.

Thanks brownbear

It's true there are 2 pretty t-shirts in debenhams maternity. Hooray.

I do rather feel like it is panning for gold out there.

Think there is a gap in the market if some reasonably priced high street type would fill it for me in the next few weeks that's be great

Any other gems gratefully received.

Two of my friends - one of whom is fashion buyer at Liberty, the other some other fancy fashionable job - said they would have been lost without ASOS during their pregnancies.

I've bought a couple of pair of H&M skinnie jeans but have thus far resisted maternity tops, instead buying normal tops a few sizes bigger. I love COS for classic tops etc and their sizing tends to be generous.

Bought this on Friday:

BLUE & WHITE STRIPED BOAT NECK JUMPER

Along with a white stripy t-shirt that isn't on their website.

Highly recommended :)

Have you tried Pretty Pregnant? Some lovely maternity stuff there.

Looks promising - though vest top at £85.00 is a bit much for me, maybe I can find it second hand. :)

I'm also in despair at high street offerings - for now I can manage with getting the next size up, but that won't last, and I sorely need some smart trousers for work which aren't black, the only options anywhere it seems.

I have bought a few things from La Redoute, but in general I hate buying online because I've no idea about the sizing and it's such a hassle having to deal with packages through the post / returning them (I buy from La Redoute anyway, so have a basic sense of their sizes - but even so the few maternity things I've bought have come up on the generous side so they still swamp me).

Jojomamanbebe and Gap.
Primark stretchy t shirts.

Oooh MrsLister, I love that stripey top and there's a branch of COS right next to my office. May be paying a visit tomorrow .

MissPolly do you mind if I ask where you look for expensive maternity jeans? I also struggle to find anything half decent maternity. Spent my last pg looking like I was wearing sacks, and am determined to look presentable this time

The dull colours drove me mad - but I was thrilled to find Jojo Maman sold coloured tights, which brightened up an outfit. I don't know if they'll still sell them now their spring/ summer collection is out.

Along this theme - I accessorised. Chunky jewellery, scarves, shoes, bags - with the bonus that it will last longer than 9 months. It was easier than tracking down better clothes

Try h&m but not the dull maternity section, just their regular stock, they have some nice gypsie summer type tops, 100% cotton and at good prices too, good luck. X

I bought some black leggings in Pretty Pregnant. They were expensive, but well worth the money.

I was quite lucky to have lots of hand-me-downs from my sister so I didn't really spend that much on mat clothes.

As others have said, I bought a few non mat items in larger sizes.

I made the mistake of buying a size 16 dress in Next. I didn't try it on as it was too much faffing. I didn't realise that it was maternity and I'm usually around a size 10 (probably 12 now) and Next sizes are big (I think) so I was walking around dressed in a tent.

Oh god, I am so with you on this one! Everything is so boring and expensive
I keep hoping sainsburys or asda will stock mat stuff again. I was going to suggest debenhams, red herring is quite good.

Have you tried New Look? I don't normally shop there but the maternity section was great, they have everything online too and very reasonably priced

New look is worth looking at. LOADS of stuff there.