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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Maternity clothes - so frustrated!

23 replies

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 08:37

I am at that awful stage now where suddenly in the last week it seems like I've grown out of everything I own. Last pregnancy was a winter one so I have enough jumpers and long sleeves things and trousers etc but nothing for the summer we're having unexpectedly!

I have now ordered twice from ASOS and had to return all but one of 12 items because they don't fit/look awful (short sleeve "maternity" tops which are basically just massively wide looking like a horrible tent). I'm now giving up on ASOS despite its much bigger selection of maternity clothes than anywhere else.

Please can people recommend online places that stock clothes that fit well?? I'm a pre-pregnancy size 8. Is Top Shop any good? JoJo Maman bebe always comes up enormous on me but I like some of their clothes. I have a couple of things from Seraphine but they are mid sale at the moment and seemingly out of stock in everything!

Sorry - mammoth post. Hit me with ideas because I'm going nuts with nothing to wear out of the house...

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PastaBeeandCheese · 27/07/2013 08:43

How many weeks are you now?

My DD was a winter baby too and I have some lovely things waiting for me. I think I'll get away with waiting as not that far gone yet.

My friend had her baby a few weeks ago and didn't want to buy a load of expensive clothes for a month or so but obviously needed summer clothes. She got some dresses from New Look. I was really surprised by how nice they were.

Not great quality but no worse than ASOS and fine for the rest of the summer.

Original poster

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 08:47

Thanks pasta - am 24 weeks now. Will have a look at New Look

OP posts:

froubylou · 27/07/2013 08:48

Try New Look. In a store so you can try on. I got a load of stuff from there last week in the sale. Also H & M do maternity clothes. I'd try and get to the stores to be honest. What I thought would fit me (am now 19 weeks) are either too big, or will only fit for a month or 2.

I've also bought a couple of T-shirt type dresses for this heatwave. Gone up a couple of sizes and only paid a few quid for them. If you are a size 8 then you can probably get away with some maxi dresses as well, or maybe skirts and long vest tops. You may strugg;e to get actual maternity summer clothes just now. Most places will have had it out since spring and it will be in the sales if there is any left as Autumn/Winter stuff will be coming in!

JBrd · 27/07/2013 08:51

I second New Look, Next also do maternity clothes. Have you tried Boden? Pricey, but really nice. And Vertbaudet have also started doing mat clothes now.
I feel your pain, it's really difficult to find decent stuff!

TickTockTimesUp · 27/07/2013 09:01

I agree with newlook, got a lovely dress from there. I'm pretty much living in leggings and long tops as I'm having the same dilemma as you

gillybeandramaqueen · 27/07/2013 09:05

www.purpless.co.uk

chocolatemartini · 27/07/2013 09:13

I got nearly everything from Seraphine but second hand from eBay.

maggiethemagpie · 27/07/2013 09:15

Red Herring do maternity - the selection is quite limited but I've found I like their tunics and bought a few of those. You can try on in store as well. Also mamas and papas have some good things in the sale - they are pricey at full price but I got a dress reduced from £42 to £15 the other day.

Thyeternalsummer · 27/07/2013 09:17

eBay. Maternity clothes are hideous and you won't ever want to wear then again. You'll feel a lot better about buying grim clothes if they've only cost a couple of pounds.

I lived in my well cut pre preg size 6 day dresses supplemented with a JoJo Maman Bebè stretch dress until about 30 weeks, and since then I've pretty much lived in a pair of ASOS denim maternity shorts bought on eBay. I also bought a few JoJo Maman Bebè wrap style tops from eBay which look better the more pregnant I've got as they were a bit 'swampy' initially.

Have kept in mind the advice I read years ago, to wear a few simple pieces ad infinitum whilst pregnant and then there's no temptation to wear them afterwards. Theory is you'll be so sick of them, that you'll be dying to wear normal clothes again.

Repeatedlydoingthetwist · 27/07/2013 09:32

I was going to say New Look too but it appears that's been covered! My other suggestion would be Primark. They don't do maternity clothes as such but you can get loads of cheap stretchy/long tops, and they've got some dresses in currently made out of t shirt/jersey type stuff that will fit round a bump.

fuckwittery · 27/07/2013 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Laquila · 27/07/2013 09:50

Get yourself to H&M online!! They also stock some stuff in their bigger stores. Their spaghetti strap and sleeveless vests are great (and cheap) and I also have two pairs of their slim fit maternity jeans, which are fantastic. I'd say their sizes come up pretty true - I was. 12/14 pre-pregnancy and am wearing 14s in their jeans now. Their Mama leggings are the best ones I've found, too (but they only do them in black).

I also had some fantastic shorts in the Mamas and Papas sale - worth looking to see if they've still got much sale stock online as I know their new season stuff came in recently. The best linen trousers I found were from Mothercare although having said that, I only wore them on hols - have been living in the M&P shorts!

Another good buy fro me was a cheap jersey maxi skirt from Sainsburys - elastic acted waistband, so fits anywhere over bump, really, and very comfy in this weather.

Lj8893 · 27/07/2013 11:17

Try ebay!!

I have got lots of maternity stuff from there now, for very little money.

Yes, you can't return it but when its that cheap it doesn't really matter and you can always sell it on.

TinyCC · 27/07/2013 11:33

I haven't really got a lot of maternity stuff, mostly living in bodycon style dresses from H&M with leggings, and maxi dresses from George. With leggings and dresses, I've just gone for larger sizes (primark leggings are fine - primark also do lovely long vest tops which come down right over bump). Am 30 weeks and have a massive bump. If anything, I find maternity stuff makes me look more pregnant. Of the maternity stuff I have got, my favourite is the mamalicious range that Newlook do online.

TotallyEggFlipped · 27/07/2013 11:43

I loved H&M maternity wear. I got some great jeans, leggings, cropped leggings & t-shirts. I have a few 'normal' dresses that I wore with leggings too.

laura2323 · 27/07/2013 12:28

Next have some really nice stuff in at the mo. They have lovely smart clothes too for work/parties x

TTC1Madness · 27/07/2013 13:12

I agree Next have some gorgeous stuff I just bought:

www.next.co.uk/x52226s5

It looks lovely on!

suntodayplease · 27/07/2013 14:43

I've relied on H&M, Gap and Isabella Oliver this pregnancy. As much as I love the sun, I find its much easier being pregnant in cooler weather!

Kelly1814 · 27/07/2013 15:40

I would still say asos but just go for some of their bodycon dresses, agree that the tops are all too tent like.....

Have had lots of positive comments on these...can be dressed up or down..

www.asos.com//Asos-Maternity/Asos-Maternity-Exclusive-Bodycon-Dress-With-Colour-Block-Stripe/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2868347

www.asos.com//Asos-Maternity/Asos-Maternity-Exclusive-Bodycon-Midi-Dress-With-Half-Sleeve/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2958455

Original poster

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 21:48

Thanks everyone, looks like I should investigate new look. Thanks v much for all suggestions

OP posts:

Pollaidh · 27/07/2013 22:25

Gap no longer do maternity in shops which is a pain, so you have to go on-line. If you want long length stretchy vest tops I've founds that Sweaty Betty is a good bet - especially in their sale. Just don't tumble dry them as then they go too short.

JOJO tend to flap on me, especially the tops. Seraphine is good but as you say, out of stock.

As I'm quite a small size too despite being 32 weeks, I've mainly been wearing non-maternity. Lots of Boden normal tops and dresses are quite maternity-ish (empire lines etc) and fit me better than maternity clothes. Otherwise I've gone up a size or two in normal clothes.

Chocolateteabag · 28/07/2013 09:03

Usually vv expensive but Crave Maternity have good pair of black straight leg trousers in their sale for £28 and still have lots of sizes left. They are a sateen shiny stretch - not too shiny for work/day but smart enough for evening too. I struggled to find anything not boot cut

Also worth looking at the Babes with Babies sale site, they are £££ but do have some different dresses

However eBay is really the best option to be honest

Sleepthief · 28/07/2013 11:14

I love Topshop maternity. Have been pretty much entirely kitted out from there with a few bits from H&M in all four pregnancies. Have tried a fair bit of stuff from Asos this time, but it's all gone back as it just looks shit on me. Also, if you pay by card on Topshop website (rather than PayPal) you can return in store, which is handy.

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