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

Blossom mother and child - is great for branded maternity jeans.

Also great for dresses and things for events. They also have a great sale!

I second New Look. Best selection on my small high street. I bought a couple of work dresses there (admittedly in black) and feel great in them. I'm normally a 12, and for the dresses bought a 10 (smaller top half) and trousers still 12 (generous hips!).

I'm surprised so many people are just going up a size in clothes. I feel so much better in proper maternity stuff - look like i have a nice bump rather than just fat! Mind you, that's true for dresses. Many of my normal tops do stretch.

ASOS sizing - I got some lovely maternity skinny black jeans in size 12 which fit well. And a skirt also in 12. So from that I'd just order normal size. I like the fact their models have their height listed, often, so you can figure out if the pretty knee length dress with actually end up around your ankles if you're short like me!

DameFlatYouLent I got my jeans at Mamissima. I went to the boutique not the website. The website is terrible and the clothes poorly modelled (sp?) but the boutique is small but really lovely. Mine are the Citizens of Humanity jeans.

I have brought skinny jeans and a shirt from ASOS, I have just brought my normal size and it fits well. Although mail order can be a pain it is free delivery and free returns on all items which helps.

Mamalicious online is really good. All prices come up in euros but convert to GBP at checkout. Stylish and reasonably priced.

I've found ASOS sizing to be really random. I'm normally a size 16. I got 3 dresses before Xmas. The size 16 in one I couldn't get into and I hardly had a bump to speak of! One size 16 dress fitted perfect. And one other dress I had to get in a 12!!!!!!

I like mamas and papas clothing tbh. Especially as they do short leg jeans. They ALWAYS seem to have some kind o sale on. Their sizing is VERY generous. Im a size 12 in there. Not been that size since I probably was 12!!!!

gap have only just started doing online and their maternity section is quite nice to be honest - a bit more fun. also, they do these amazing over the bump trousers where the bump covering bit is made out of tights material - fits brilliantly!

OP, you may not need maternity clothes. Lot's of clothes are stretchy. I've been wearing non-maternity cotton dresses from New Look, DPs etc and I have a BIG baby. Also, now it's a bit warmer, you don't need to button jackets, cardis etc. Do a Carla Bruni and leave them open.

I third new look.

Isabella Oliver is expensive, but they often have good sales and you can get as much as 40% off sometimes. Their tank tops and polo necks are good after pregnancy when everything is still a bit wibbly - ditto wrap dresses. Worth signing up for their emails to catch the sales.

Otherwise eBay (anyone want my wrap dresses? Gave birth just last week ... [Wink]. )

Last time I was pg, I bought a decent pair of jeans and a few pg strappy camisoles and then put normal cardis and blouses (open) over the top.

Boden's range is better than most (but then, I was just grateful to find anything that fitted when I was pregnant).

I've never actually bought anything from here, but they have some nice things that I am eyeing up for the near future, hopefully

Does anyboy know of anywhere that sells petite maternity leggings? Can't find them anywhere (ok well, been in New Look, Next & Asda!)

I loved Noppies - a brand of maternity clothing. I got mine from a shop in York, but I think that there are various retailers around the country.

I found H&M non-maternity stuff good, as their tops are longer length than most stores, so fit over my bump without flashing until the very end of my pg.

PieMistress the JoJo leggings aren't very long for petites. Size up though if you want them to last throughout your pregnancy as the over the bemp bit isn't generously sized for the third trimester.

But I have found that wearing my normal leggings is the comfiest. I just push them down underneath my bump as the tops I wear are long enough. Normal M&S leggings have plenty of give in them.

www.expectingmaternity.co.uk/

Sorry don't know how to do a link but this is where I got some stuff last time, mostly in the sale as really good. A bit more pricey than high st but I found my new look clothes was falling to bits because warn and washed so much. But the stuff from here has been given to 2 friends and back to me (only 5weeks thou).

www.expectingmaternity.co.uk/ that's where I went too. Fantastic shop with great selection and really helpful staff.

This thread suddenly had me panicking - it's not so much an issue now but in the summer, I'll really be showing. So I just bought several pairs (in several colours) of crepe wide legs trousers and several camisole tops - the kind that are shaped under the bust and flare out over the belly.

Trousers

Camisoles

A couple of sizes up though. Obvs

I figured the wide leg, wide nature of the styles would account for the bump but not make me look huge. Hopefully

I just bought things from M&S in the size 10 rather than the 8 and they do the trick. xx

I've been wearing leggings and boots and dresses or tops I bought from primark in stretchy fabrics. Maternity stuff is so dull ad even the size 8s always drown me.
But I am getting fed up of my stuff so will be noting down all these shops!

I have been living in some Mothercare overbump maternity jeans - they are totally fab and cost just £30 in the sale! I had some gap jeans but the elastic was awful and they kept sliding down - so uncomfortable. I can't rave enough about my mothercare jeans! That and a couple of lovely bump hugging tops, cardies and some pretty necklaces and that's kept me entertained! Otherwise long jumpers I already had are working quite well. But yes it is getting quite boring living in the same short list! I couldn't bear the thought of spending a fortune on stuff that would barely last me, I'm going to motivate myself for a few treat purchases when I've hopefully lost some of the chubb

My trick this time is to not be too adventurous with the maternity stuff - I've got some good jeans and long sleeved and short sleeved Ts... but I accessorise :) I bought a couple of jacket-cardis which are non-maternity and good boots, loving my scarves and necklaces. And I adapted my favourite work trousers so that I can wear them while pregnant

BUT... I put on weight EVERYWHERE when I'm pregnant and any sort of detailing makes me look like a balloon.

I live for Isabella Oliver sales, something about the way their clothes are cut just works for me.

New Look was my friend too, bright and good prints, cheap and cheerful. Best fitting maternity wear by far.

I must admit I bought alot of my stuff second hand, got a few on eBay and the local NCT sale was quite good.

Bought a lovely pair of serephine maternity jeans that fitted really well and were so comfy, would never have bought them at full price at £75 but happy to pay £4.50. So good in fact a friend has them on loan at the moment.

I had the jeans, two pairs of leggings [Blooming Marvellous closing down sale], a pair of linen trousers [next], all over bump as I really had an achey bump and SPD and it helped having that feeling of support.

I had a dozen tops, mostly floaty shirts [New Look]. One Jumper [Gap].

I had two support vests as well, which were brilliant to help with the support of bump and boobs.

Yeah New Look for sure. I am living in my inexpensive, super comfy New Look maternity jeans! Also got some great leggings from Mothercare. They can have some good deals in their sales.