Maternity Clothes

[theTramp]

Where is hot and where is not. Online stores worth checking out. High street stores worth visiting. Good for petites. Good for giantesses. Second hand e-bay bargains - worthwhile? Views and reviews of the maternity gear you have bought.. all for the benefit of everyone who is desperately looking.

All this is behind me now, but can I put in a good word for babeswithbabies.com?

Despite the horrible name, this site provided skinny black trousers and a tunic top that were my all-time most useful maternity buys, as well as a couple of good for work black dresses. The quality is good, as is the service.

Just passing through but I got some amazing clothes from a shop called mummy and me or mummy and little me. Staff very helpful.

Some good tips, thanks ladies

Here ya go ladies, some maternity coats at ok prices from yummy mummies. I haven't bought anything from them so can't comment on size or fit.www.yummymummymaternity.co.uk/maternity-coats--maternity-jackets-69-c.asp

And there are maternity dungarees on this site www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-bottoms.htm?page=1&nbproduits=120

I bought a bump support slip, well two - one black and one nude - from ASOS, because I like wearing slips and I figured additional support would come in handy and I am v pleased with them. www.asos.com/ASOS-Maternity/ASOS-Maternity-Exclusive-Seamfree-Dress-With-Support-For-The-Perfect-Bump/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2329239&cid=5813&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Nude

At £28 each not the cheapest underwear items in the world, but as I will prob wear every day that I am wearing a dress (so most days) I think on a cost per wear basis a bargain.

Hello ladies! I live in Edinburgh but next weekend I'll be in London and on Saturday afternoon my Mum's taking me maternity clothes shopping...trying to work out where to go. What I really need is a decent winter coat, given that I live here and am due in March - will get at least 6 months out of it! Dare say a dress or two might come home with me too.

Are John Lewis Oxford St and H&M Regent St my best bets? Anywhere else near there, or should we head elsewhere entirely? Budget mid range - thinking up to £100-£120 for a decent dress coat, though less ideally. And I'm a generous size 16 at the best of times, so nowhere too high fashion/skimpy sized. Thanks!

Tea I'd check online before going. I was in JL Oxford St last week, not specifically looking for maternity clothes, but didn't see anything. I think sometimes they don't include mat clothes in their flagship stores... I wonder if not many pregnant women can be arsed with trailing round central London.

There used to be a Mamas and Papas at Oxford St tube though (south east side) so that might be worth checking.

Tramp those coats look interesting! Wish I had seen them before ordering the Jojo one this week! Maybe if it isn't right and I have to send it back...

I would suggest Westfield (Stratford), they have a Mamas &Papas with a decent maternity section, H&M Mama and I think the Topshop would also have maternity. The mothercare also has maternity clothes. Much less stressful than Oxford st as not do crowded and nice food places too [smile~€u

just an update on the Seraphine leggings I bought. They went very very bobbly after 2 wears. They took them back and gave me a full refund. I've now got these in a size up, which while not actually maternity leggings, sit fine below my bump, and are non transparent.

Ooh, thanks Silver never been to Westfield (I'm a Londoner but left more than 10 years ago) might try it... Or go to a posh yummy mummy suburb that has a JoJoMaman Bebe and a Seraphine, as they both look to have nice coats.

yummy mummy suburb is a good idea... Hampstead / West Hampstead?

TeaOp - don't bother with Oxford St. John Lewis has no maternity gear, but does have bras. Top Shops maternity section is pretty small, so too H&M and you do have to fight through the tweens to get to them - which I personally find annoying. There is a Mamas & Papas at Oxford Circus but there is very little clothing in it. All in, you can cover the maternity wear of Oxford St in little over 40 minutes to an hour - even with crowds.

There is a Seraphine in High St Ken apparently (see website for address) and Marleybone High St has a few places worth a peak. I haven't been to Hampstead so can't comment - there are a few stores in Dulwich but personally I'm not that impressed.

So in short, don't specifically go mat shopping, you'll get disappointed. Mix a bit of general looking at baby stuff shopping with one store and buy all else online.

Thanks Tramp Lizard. I think we'll go to the King's Road - there's a JoJo nearby, a Seraphine in Peter Jones, and a Pretty Pregnant. It's really an excuse for mother/daughter shopping/bonding, and as the King's Road is my mum's favourite place to shop, and easy to get to from South London, I think that's the way forward. Suspect I'll actually get everything online anyaway!

Aaaargh, I miss living in London... I'm 180 miles from the nearest John Lewis, let alone anything else useful. Just done a load of internet shopping (Seraphine/Jojo/Boden) so will see how this turns out. Oh, and they're not actually maternity wear but I've owned a pair of these for ages and they're still as nice fitting and comfortable as when I bought them so I'm living in them at the moment and considering a second pair.

That must be a bit annoying, WW - hope your home is great in other ways that make up for inconvenient shopping! Like the name btw - please can you magic the rain away?!

Have fun Tea, I am a bit as your trip sounds lovely.

Mamas and papas looks like its added some stuff to its sale - I bought some pjs and a cami, also 'dance pants' whatever those are - but they come in a short length and look good for lounging around the house

Still trying to find some decent short length jeans which aren't skinny or boot cut! I have a gap boot cut pair which need shortening so might get them made into straight jeans at the same time if that's possible. Has anyone seen any?

I got the dance pants from the Mamas and Papas sale too silver - they are a bit of a weird shape and style but nice soft material and definitely good for lounging - which Is currently my number one activity

TeaOp - you'll have a great time! I was just forewarning cause if you are seriously up for clothes shopping and you start looking in Oxford St its depressing as heck. General niceness shopping and Kings Rd is fab.

Dear IO, why don't you offer a maternity vsn of this dress? www.isabellaoliver.com/baukjen/uk/600/dresses/DR502.html It is precisely what I am looking for.

Shall I risk it?

Pregnancy & birth magazine has 20% off of isabelle Oliver clothes this month ladies.

Seraphone has 20% off autumn essentials at the mo, which could be handy ladies.

Hi - I'm 26 weeks and had some success recently in getting maternity clothes (or should I say clothes that fit!) that I thought I would share...

I went on holiday last week and was desperate for summer beach clothes and ended up with these:

www.laredoute.co.uk/vertbaudet-maternity-bikini.htm?ProductId=013003015
www.laredoute.co.uk/long-printed-dress-with-adjustable-shoestring-straps.htm?ProductId=324261485&t=3

The bikini fitted well and was really comfy but did get chased by wasps a bit thanks to the orange colour...

Dress is non-maternity but just bought a size larger and it did the job.

I had managed to outgrow most of my work clothes and have recently bought the following, which I'm really pleased with:

www.asos.comASOS-Maternity/ASOS-Maternity-Exclusive-Maxi-Skirt-With-Foldover/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2305508
www.asos.comAsos-Maternity/Asos-Maternity-Exclusive-Vest-In-Soft-Touch-Fabric/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2045996

The skirt is really long, but rolls/folds down and is made of a really nice fabric (was expecting something horrible as a lot of maternity clothes, esp the cheaper ones seem to be horrid fabric!)

I got the vest top in black too and again the fabric is really nice.

And then I have bought this to wear with it:

www.greatplains.co.uk/product/womens+Knits/J8BA8/Twycross+Cocoon+Knit+Jumper.htm

The cardigan is nice and long (and so covers up my expanding rear end!). It's not maternity and did cost a fair bit but I just love it and it will be great after the baby is born too. And a few people at work have said I look nice in my new clothes, which was great to hear as I do feel a bit self-conscious at times waddling around a big open plan office!

I wasn't planning on getting a maternity coat as don't really feel the cold much but found a nice maternity wool camel coat in New Look reduced to £10 so I nabbed it.

Now I just need to find a way of glamming up the skirt for Xmas time as have a horrible feeling it will be the only thing that fits me then...

Serious bargains there. How about a top with sparkles to go with the skirt for Christmas or a wrap around bf friendly top from IO in black with a fab statement necklace so you look like you're wearing a beautiful long maxi dress?

Great ideas theTramp! I will keep an eye out for something sparkly closer to the time. I will also see if I can wear the skirt as a maxi dress as the waistband seems to go up to my chin when you unroll it!