Does anywhere actually stock maternity wear in-store???

[emsyj]

I'm currently 12 weeks pg with DC2 and I will not be long out of maternity wear. I've got a few tatty bits from last time, but will need to buy at least one pair of jeans, some trousers and a couple of dresses (easiest thing to wear for work). I don't mind buying dresses and tops online, but I really would prefer to try trousers & jeans on first - I don't want to end up order 50 pairs to find one that fits (and traipsing endlessly to the post office to return the ones that don't...)

The only place that seems to have stuff to try on is Next, and it's a very sorry single carousel type affair - with about 3 items on it. Any tips for where I can find a bigger selection??

TIA

The only shops I've found round here are Dorothy Perkins, Mothercare and H&M. If I drive to the nearest shopping centre or city then Debenhams have a few bits in.

H&M had some really nice things in a few months ago, I got most of my clothes from there or online. Totally agree though - it's such a pain returning things that don't fit all the time. Sizes vary so much, even within the same shop (Next - grr!)

Topshop & H&M had a few bits in when I looked but a much much better choice on their websites, along with New Look, M&S etc

I found shops very disappointing. Some of the larger New Looks and H&M stock maternity wear, but not a huge selection. I bought most stuff online from Next or New Look. For Next I had it delivered to store and returned to store to avoid delivery charges, and with New Look if you spend over a certain amount there's no delivery charge. Matalan was good for cheap basic Tshirts which I bought a size bigger, they wash well and are stretchy. Also H&M had a good selection of non maternity long length stretchy Tshirts that look good over leggings.

H&M was the only place that had more than one rail of clothes, and in fact, had enough there to see me through the whole pregnancy. I also added in some of their non maternity vests as they are very long so covered my bump for the whole pg and havent been stretched out of shape so am still wearing them now.

I gave up on every other shop as I felt it was a waste of time even trying to find the teensy section dedicated to maternity wear which only included one pair of jeans, a t shirt and a checky shirt.

I find mamas and papas jeans great, especially over the bump ones. I find that if its a big store then they will stock maternity wear. But it depends on where you live. I live in cheshire, so we have the trafford centre, and there is a mamas and papas store there, with a good selection. I also have a massive mothercare near me, and they too have a reasonable maternity selection. But if its a small store then they probaly wont stock maternity wear. Alot of department stores like M&S, and NEXT only have maternity online as aparently they are not good sellers

H&M do maternity wear too however the sizing is rubbish, im a size 14 pre pregnancy and have to buy a 18 maternity in there.

Newlook do maternity wear, however the under the bump jeans were a nightmare, they kept falling down!

It might be worth having a day out and travelling to another town or city were the department stores are larger as you may have more luck.

Out of town Mothercare and Mamas & Papas stores near me both had big selections.

New Look, Next, Dorothy Perkins and H&M near me also stocked maternity clothes, with New Look having the biggest selection (relative to other shops).

Big Marks & Spencers near me did not stock any maternity clothes at all, despite the on-line store guide claiming they did.

Good idea about having Next maternity stuff delivered to store, then try on and return there and then. Will do that!

I'm about an hour's drive from the Trafford Centre so will have a look in there - going to meet a friend there in a couple of weeks, so will go early and have a good look round before we meet for lunch.

Thanks. Anyone else think a giant shop stuffed with nothing but maternity wear could be a great business idea?

Dorothy Perkins only do maternity wear online now. But if you order and don't like it, you can return it to any DP store.

Gap have quite a bit in store.

H&M always win for me and asos online though it is a pain. If you don't mind hand me downs ask other mums of they have maternity clothes to lend/give away. I got two huge bin liners from 2 friends itching to get rid of it - it was best for work clothes as if you have to have smart casual/office clothes this is one area you pretty much have to buy for. I ended up with lots of work dresses and tops but both my friends are shorter than me so I Cath wear the jeans!

Totally agree, I was really excited about my first trip maternity clothes shopping and came home completely deflated. I'd looked online and seen lots that I liked, but the selection in stores was awful! Next had one rail, New Look had a better selection but hardly any sizes (and basically nothing in my size). Topshop was too trendy H&M was the only store with a decent amount of stuff. Since then I've mostly ordered from Next and New Look, and as milli2512 said, you don't pay delivery costs if you pick them up from a store. Also ordered a couple of Dorothy Perkins bits; I'm actually yet to find a DP store that stocks any maternity wear (have looked in 5 or 6 branches).

It's a nightmare. I'm not too far from many of you and went shopping in Manchester city centre. The only places that had anything much were H and M, New Look and TopShop (the best) then Next had a few bits and bobs. Nothing in DP or M and S which in particular surprised me. I was reluctant to order online, but was pleasantly surprised with a posh dress I got from New Look. But it's much more of a risk for trousers of course.

H and M maternity tops are nice but the stretchy ones seem a wee big snug. I never found them particularly accommodating of a bosom even pre pregnancy though, and I was a smallish D cup so not massive. If I were doing it again, I'd get large instead of medium.

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/pu+all-stores+storefinder-all+1
They have a branch in Chester. Good quality stuff and not too expensive

M&S no longer stock in any of their stores (which has changed in the 2.5yrs since I was pg with my DD).

DP is the best maternity shop, barring Mothercare, in the whole of the Bluewater shopping centre and even then it was only 1 carousel/rail. Nothing in Gap, little in H&M, nothing in Next. Even John Lewis is without maternity clothes in any of their ranges!!

I find it incredibly frustrating that, at the one point in your life when you are likely to be least confident about the size you are/garment you need, you are expected to shop online for everything!! The only options are to buy sufficient to qualify for free delivery then return all of the things you don't like/need...

you are happy to shop online, try La Redoute.

I've just ordered 2 pairs of jeggings in the DP sale online - let's hope they fit. They have good reviews... Seen a few bits on Next online too, will get those delivered to store and try on before I take them home.

Didn't know there was a JojoMaman in Chester, good tip thanks! I've got my eye on one of their maternity/feeding dresses.

Hmm. Just back from town and my local Next (Bristol) no longer sells mat wear in-store as of this week.

Got some nice cheap under the bump jeggings from H&M though.

Off to check out La Redoute - didn't know they did maternity...

The Liverpool branch of Next used to have 2 or 3 carousels of maternity, and now has one (with, as someone has already said, one pair of jeans available in sizes 6 and 22 only, a checky shirt & a ruched side top). ((sigh))

La Redoute and Vertbaudet (the childrenswear site connected) do. And theres a sale on.

H&M's maternity trouser sizing is a joke! I am normally a 12-14 pre pregnancy and have not gained weight apart from neat bump. When I couldn't even pull up the size 16s past my thighs I left I got a lovely versatile black stretchy floor length dress from New Look (it comes in purple too but they didn't have anything near my size!)
I also have a pair of New Look maternity jeans with the stretchy over- bump band, but I don't really wear them much as they dig right in under my bump despite being roomy. It's just not a terribly good design, though they look great on!

Hmmmmm interesting on the sizing front - what's New Look sizing like? I've never shopped in there so I am a bit clueless. Normally a 12 pre-pregnancy and I've been merrily ordering size 12 maternity clothes (most of my stuff last time was Next though and their sizes are generous...) Will I need a maternity 12 in New Look or am I better off with a 14?

I dont think The Trafford centre is great for maternity clothes. There is a M&P and Next, but lots of stores like Gap, New Look, Debenhams all have their larger stores in Manchester city centre, so have more maternity stuff there. Debenhams TC had one small rail of Red Herring stuff when I looked.
Although M&S have expanded their store at the Trafford Centre so might have a small maternity section now but you might be better going into Mcr itself.

Not sure where in NW you are, I'm Wirral and other than Mothercare have to go to Liverpool for other high street stores. I did get some good basics in Asda in Queensferry though.