Sharing maternity wear recommendations

[Bumblebzz]

I know there are loads of threads on mat wear, but they tend to focus on just one item (i.e. best mat jeans, etc). I thought it would be useful to share ideas on the ideal/minimum "capsule wardrobe" for pregnancy. I have a 5year old dd and all my mat wear got slowly bagged up and given away over the past couple of years as we gave up on the hope of having a second. Now here I am am, 20 weeks pregnant and I have to go and buy new mat wear (I'm not complaining though!). I am trying not to waste money but equally, I need to look respectable as I work in the City. Mostly though, I want to be comfortable, I've squeezed into my regular clothes up to last week and then the waistband of leggings/skirts started to become uncomfortable. So here are my tips so far (mainly due to a massive online spree over the last week) but I'd love some of yours:

• I am focusing on getting the basics right, foundation items like underwear (especially tights!) and leggings/skirts, with the intention of dressing these up with items that are not necessarily maternity wear (i.e. cardies that you can leave open, scarves, etc). In fact now I have maternity tights (bliss) I can continue to wear my usual work dresses for another while as none of them are very tight. I got mine in the Seraphine sale but nowadays I'm pleased to see even Boots tock these (things have improved since 2008!).
• For work I've invested in a few key items which I hope will see me through. I bought 2 great dresses in the Seraphine sale (plus bought loads of other items which I ruthlessly sent back, sale prices were very reasonable indeed but I do not need 6 work dresses!). I also just took delivery of the IO tank dress, which regrettably I adore (I was hoping to dislike it and get a refund as it's not cheap even in the sale). As it's a tank top style on top I am hoping I can wear it right through to the summer/due date, and layer it up for now and with opaque tights. To be honest, I'd love it in another colour too but I can' justify the price for a few months' wear (though ebay resale is good…)
• One of my best buys is the ASOS rushed maternity black skirt, a lovely length just below the knee, and I can see myself wearing it for work and home. Plus only £20 compared to IO prices.
• For sheer comfort I bought maternity jersey leggings (over bump) in JoJo's yesterday and they are so soft and comfy, I will probably also wear these for gym (when I ahem, start exercising properly). I also got a vest/sports type bra top there, as my regular bras are getting a bit uncomfortable. I should get measured up really for a proper bra but I couldn't be bothered.
• It's not mat wear but I sized up and ordered a larger Me & Em ruched cowl neck dress as it's very reasonable in the sale and the stretchy/ruched fabric should allow for some bump growth. Oh and I ordered a ruched top as well in the sale, these haven't arrived yet though so can't comment.

Other than these items I'm planning to pick up some dead cheap long line mat vests, and cropped mat leggings for when the weather improves. Actually it looks like quite a long list when all written down. Things I will not spend money on are : nightwear (last time I got by without needing these, can always wear a nightie or recycle day wear (maternity vests very handy), outerwear/knitwear.

I have a 3.5 yo dd so have things left from last time. Am on a mission to buy very little else as I prefer to save my money and get some new clothes when the baby arrives. I work in a smart/casual office so can get away with more casual clothes. Apart from maternity tights I have bought little else! I am sticking to my usual jersey skirts worn a bit higher and other random things I have found from last time. I looked in mothercare the othrr day at maternity wear and it was all hideous so it's pretty easy not to spend money.

I went to cos yesterday and got some really good very spacious, boxy sweaters in their sale. Whilst not maternity wear, their style seems like it will work for pregnancy. I just sized up and am hoping there's enough room for growth. No real bump yet at 10 weeks but everything I eat makes me swell up like a balloon and a nice striped sweater I got seems to be coping well with that so far. At the moment, everything is half price.

Another thumbs up for Cos (which I love anyway) for boxy tops and dresses. I'm 15 weeks and still hiding pregnancy at work - Cos is a lifesaver.

At home, am living in H&M maternity jeans which are a great fit on me (long legs) - so comfy I might wear them even when I'm not pregnant

I have a few Isabella Oliver pieces, they are expensive but the style shrinks back to normal so can be worn when not pregnant. I have the Urban Ruched Dress in Slate which I pretty much lived in at one point. Worth waiting for sales though.

Oh and LK Bennett jersey dresses work well except when full-term size bump. They seem to have the style where the waist is quite high and the belt can be used to nip the waist in or not so they have some give. I have bagged a few in the sales for £50 and they have lasted me for years pregnant or not.

Worth a look at ebay for IO dresses - there does seem to be a good resale market. I paid £35 for one and if I can sell it on again for similar then it has cost me practically nothing.

I work in the city too and finding JoJo wrap tops brilliant. Was given 2 and picked up 2 more the sale. Wear with maternity pencil style skirt from Red Herring and Isabella Oliver. They work well with jeans for the weekend too.
NewLook at Gracechurch st has a small section I've found a few great weekend tops (fitted, slash neck, 3/4 sleeves) great with jeans.

I don't have to dress up for work so I'm lucky that I only need one 'wardrobe' for mat clothes.

I love Cos anyway and am another one finding their stuff ace for pregnancy as it's so boxy (and a lot of their dresses have pockets - awesome for work and storing snotty tissues for DS). Mamalicious jeans are the best I've found as they have big bump bands, proper back pockets and adjustable waists. Next maternity leggings are also good. Other than that, Primark's vests are so long anyway that I've been wearing those under normal tops.

I wear skinny mat jeans (GAp 2011 and asos more recently), a long fitted maternity top or vest (asos/new look) and a shorter, looser, non maternity top which cuts bump in half. And long line cardigans. This us my third pregnancy and I've found this the least attention drawing and most comfortable combination.

I also like the babes with babies palazzo pants

This place has just opened (yesterday) and is selling a huge range of second hand maternity wear plus I think they do a bit of a swap-shop system if you have things to bring in.
They have large changing rooms for buggies and facilities for feeding and changing.
Yet to check it out but will report back and would love to hear from anyone who has...
m.facebook.com/anchorandhope

I'm another one who works in the City and I had some great trousers from Slacks &Co, which I basically wore all the time with IO ruched tops, one or two bits from Seraphine and non maternity jackets, worn open. I finished work Friday and this is second and last baby so I can't wait to ditch it all now!

I recommend charity shops I love them anyway though I have had a couple of proper maternity things (Topshop jeans for £4) but have bought a few jumpers and tops with the intention of stretching them out of shape then getting rid. When a jumper has only cost £3 it doesn't seem so bad. I found last time some things I wore never regained shape and had a 'pouch' so never wore again.

Echo primark vests

H&M mama has been good so far for cotton shirts, and their regular fitted jersey scoop neck tshirts are fab for layering or wearing under shift dresses and tunics. I've got a great shift dress from them too as well as a couple of wrapdresses from Isabella Oliver. Add a pair of wide leg trousers from Formes (not sure if they are even still going) and a few little non-mat cardis and scarves, that's my work wardrobe done.

Casual- it's long line cardis, more H&M jersey t's, over the bump jeans and leggings, couple of tube dresses and tunics. Need to get some mat tights but have struggled to find any that don't bag round my ankles like Nora Batty!

Thanks all, some good tips here. Sounds like I should check out Cos and H&M.
Any recommendations for cropped/stretchy leggings - suitable for the gym as well as everyday wear come the spring/summer? Not sure if many shops stock cropped length at this time of the year.
SicknSpan I got mat tights from both Seraphine and JoJos and both pairs have been fine so far, Seraphines a better all round fit (think they were reduced in the sale) But I'm also going to get some from Boots as they are probably cheaper.
PlateofCrumbs - good point about IO resale value, could nearly-but-not-quite justify buying the tank dress new in another colour… I'm watching out for it on ebay in the meantime.

I lived in Bump Bands www.bumpband.co.uk/
I'm petite and never grew into maternity tops as the shoulders were always far too wide for me. I wore my pre-pregnancy tops with bump bands. They just looked like I was layering vests but also helped give my bump some support.

I work in the City as well - and in the beginning I wore Phase Eight stretchy tops (in fact they still fit, but too summery), then moved on to one size bigger M&S dresses + my non-preg jackets. The third trimester, it was Seraphine dresses, Serphine long pregnancy cardi (not particularly keen on showing my backside right now), a couple of preggers pencil skirts from Seraphine and JoJo, and JoJo wrap tops. This is my second pregnancy, so I decided to be comfy and smart instead of trying to buy cheaper brands (it really improves the mood!). I wish I knew about Bravado bras last time I was pregnant! I also had to get one size bigger flats for the office, as my feet swell so badly in later pregnancy...

I now have 2 more weeks left in the office and can't wait to chuck all these clothes on ebay or in the bin, and spend the rest of the pregnancy in leggings and the baggiest jeans I found in Mamas&papas... women who don't have to dress up for the office are so lucky!

Having bought cheaper stuff from h&m and new look in my first 2 pgs, I can't believe how much better quality and fit IO stuff is. I have only bought dresses in the sale and am not a delicate pg person and they fel so lovely on and I get really genuine sounding compliments!

They have 70% off some things at the moment including some of the super flattering dresses I paid much more for (humph!). I may have just put in a cheeky order...I like seraphine too.

ASOS was brilliant and inexpensive. I was also pleasantly surprised by New look and have a number of lovely tops from them. H&m for jeans and leggings and M&S tights. ASDA too had some great pieces, got my cozzie there and also a couple of work and home pieces. I'm on a budget so cheaper is better for me!

Cropped version of the cotton leggings from JoJoMama.

ThereIsNoEleventeen they look perfect (and great reviews) - thank you!