Anyone else distinctly underwhelmed by maternity clothes?

[OhTheDrama]

So my trousers are getting tight and I'm starting to think about accumulating a few maternity bits but there's very little catching my eye, most of it looks a bit dowdy if I'm honest. Granted, the choice is better than the last time 6 years ago but still not great. Anybody else feeling the same or am I just being fussy?

I know what you mean with the tops. I like mine plaune. I got some cropped jeasns from new look, wore them one day and they were fine, wore them the next and they kept slipping down and there are no belt loops so gonna have to put the belt round and hope they stay up!!

Asda has some really nice pieces for maternity at very good value. I resented spending a small fortune on stuff just because I was pregnant so it was good to shop there. H&M for jeans and a few things from ASOS.

I was very disappointed with maternity tights from M&S they were crap and fell down the whole time. Glad to be moving out of tight weather.

Now I live in ginormous maxi bandeau dresses and flip flops as nothing else is comfortable!

What is frustrating is that so many stores have taken their ranges online only. I'm 14 weeks now and so will be heavily pregnant in the summer. Last time I got some great summer trousers from Next, but I want to try stuff on! (And Next is hideous to order online from).

I can recommend H&M for maternity tights. Their trousers never fit me, but I bought a pack of black tights and they are so comfy...

Squizita what's the sizing on purpless like?

I just placed my first order with asos as I noticed maternity wear here consists of trackie bottoms and bump hanging out of old t-shirt. Not a look I'll be going for! Anyway I've looked at everything online quite impressed with dotty p's as it goes so when I get bored of my asos stuff (if it ever arrives) that's where I shall be going to next. Went for asos cos of the prices, I'd even looked in the thrift shops here and buying basic seperates from asos still worked out cheaper! Very tight budget here! Wish I could afford IO.

mrsnec just to continue with my love of Asda, try looking to see if they deliver to you. They only charge £5 to deliver to the Netherlands. Tesco and Debenhams also do too. Mothercare also but they charge £10.

Hi living, hadn't thought of asda tbh. Just had a quick look. A few bits I quite like but they don't deliver here. Got lots of visitors over the next few months so can always get them to bring stuff. Tesco charge 10 quid to deliver here. Have Debenhams and Mothecare here and next but I've not been in lately to compare prices with uk and I still feel a bit scared to go in Mothecare still feels a bit early!

Testing I found it OK but I am quite a small-boned build (except my pelvis) so others might find it small.

Thanks, Squizita, think I might size up a little.

Squizita just been looking at Purpless, would like some of the tunics/dresses to wear over leggings. What is the quality of the material like?

I'm going to consider purpless too I. Hadn't heard of it and it was more reasonable than I thought. Can I go slightly off topic and ask a silly question? Noticed there are a lot of bandeau dresses about. I have one I might be able to get away with for ages but what do you wear under them I've got bigger in the boob department than the bump at the moment. Can I still wear such a thing or need to look for another style?

mrsnec I definitely have to wear a strapless bra with mine, even when I'm not pregnant. You can get the stretchy bandeau style bras with a bit of padding in and nor under wiring if you think that will be supportive enough. I think Asda do them really cheaply.

Pre pg I was doing that but Im very nearly an f cup now! I might look at those in asda though. So I was thinking the other options are to wear my oh so attractive mat bras and cover the straps with a shrug or wear my swimming cossie underneath as I have ordered one that goes strapless or halterneck.

Fed up with maternity clothes. I do not want stripy t shirts or endless 'I love my bump' t shirts! FFS!

And as I'm only 5ft 2, it's really hard not to find clothes that aren't too long.

I have the bandeau strapless bra from Asda, it is really good. I'm gainormous as well (at least a 40 F) and it holds then in with enough support so I can wear my enormous strapless dresses . Very cheap too.

direct.asda.com/george/womens/lingerie/seam-free-bandeau-bra/GEM299559,default,pd.html

Lifesaver. I got two bandeau dresses from Asda plus have two I had already and I am living in them when I can bear to get out of my tracksuit bottoms. I thought they would be practical post-materinty as well as I am going to be giving birth early June.

Sounds like that's going to be my next purchase then! Thanks! Oh and I agree about stripey tops but I have to say I think most places have them all over their normal ranges too. Not a fan myself.

Am a 34f now I rekon and dress size12-14,m and s12 is how I put it normally what size do you think I should get? Thanks for the link!

I am exactly same size as you and have the medium, I think anything bigger than medium would keep slipping down. I find it fine for wearing at night but like a bit more support if I'm wearing all day, try it you may find that you find it fine.

Yes, try the medium and see how you get on. I did try an underwired one on and found it really painful but you might prefer it and you are still smaller under-chest wise. I looked longingly at some lovely bras I had bought the other day just before being pg. Hope they will fit again one day!

I hate those tshirts that have hand prints over the bump or anything baby related too (bah humbug) and I have no idea why they make so much stripey stuff. Very annoying.

I found the 2 packs of 'big girl bras' (for a big girl I am boobwise not height or brain wise sadly ) from Primark for £8 very good for the times I need to heave my pregnant booboids into something needing more smartness than a stretchy-cropped-comfort-bra or maternity bra. I went a cup size up from usual. Made them bearable for a working day or night out not both owwww.

Also my top tip from a mate is M&S maternity bras are a rip off - get their boxes of x2 non-wired bras, like the grannies wear. They're not the 'full support' ones, they're just called non-wired bras: they come in an all-over lace pattern or a plain no-lace 'cross your heart' shape. About £16 for 2 I think.
They have this design on the website but many more instore (evidently not trendy enough for online) www.marksandspencer.com/2-pack-non-wired-crossover-a-e-bras/p/p21078931

Just found some nice things on bon-prix :) and there affordable x

Boogles Bon Prix! Never even thought to look, there's not one near where I live at the moment- will check them out either on line or next time I visit mates near one! :)

I've found some really nice bits in Vertbaudet but find their prices a bit inflated and the discount codes are really hard to use because of their pricing strategy . Back to the drawing board!

Thanks for your help everyone! Some great tips. I'm also a bit worried about going overboard and buying too much so I think I'll just get some more underwear for now and then buy a second batch of stuff when I get bored of the first lot which isn't even here yet. My asos order has taken over a week I'm so impatient!