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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone else distinctly underwhelmed by maternity clothes?

64 replies

OhTheDrama · 17/04/2014 18:13

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?

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irishgirlinlondon · 22/04/2014 15:11

Thank God I'm not the only one - I'm loosing the will to live looking at maternity clothes.
They are possibly the most horrible clothes in the world - we're pregnant not off to go hibernate in a cave for 39 weeks.
I'm making do with my normal jeans, top button undone and tucked in :o/
I work in fashion and luckily can wear jeans but need smart tops - frumpy jersey wrap tops just don't cut it!

So far the most inspiring brands I've found are:

Mamalicious
ASOS
Topshop

GAP, Next - rubbish, designers and buyers should be fired!

mrsnec · 22/04/2014 15:30

I agree but this thread opened my eyes to places I hadn't even considered! Asda and vertabaudet for example but neither of those would help you with smart tops unfortunately. Have you looked at dotty ps I saw a top I liked there, and anyone seen my asos order, still not here!

Didn't look at gap when I heard it described as a bit beige I didn't bother! Next have never fitted me well so I don't bother much with them.

Plateofcrumbs · 22/04/2014 21:15

I'm rotating a range of non-maternity jackets, blazers etc worn open to add variety and smarten up plain jeans + t-shirt combos.

I've also got a number of unstructured / cocoon style dresses from Cos which have lots of room for an expanding bump.

And I'm digging out bold jewellery and bright shoes to accessorise plainer items.

So far have not succumbed to the wrap dress!

irishgirlinlondon · 23/04/2014 09:51

mrnec & palteofcrumbs thanks for the tips, will have a look at dotty ps and Cos.

mrnec hope your ASOS order turns up soon, they are normally so good, maybe the delivery man has taken a shine to some maternity clothes :o)

Greenstone · 23/04/2014 10:20

My sister gave me some of her maternity clothes recently and included in the pile was an ASOS dress I bought her for her first pregnancy 3.5 years ago. I was amazed to discover that it was 100% silk! I definitely didn't spend that much on it at the time. There's no way ASOS would do an inexpensive 100% silk dress now.

Not sure if this has been said before but I feel like all of the maternity ranges only carry T-shirts, tops, dresses and trousers -- where are all the decent cardigans and jumpers? For my last pregnancy I had a longline Zara sweater (normal range) which I wore all the time but I can't find anything of that ilk at all.

Have my eye on this stripe dress, I think it could easily accommodate a growing bump and look cute with some jewellery and trainers/flat sandals.

GoooRooo · 23/04/2014 11:01

Another vote for Bon Prix here. I've got all my maternity clothes from there and eBay this time. Maternity clothes sell for surprisingly good prices so I will be flogging it all again afterwards!

mrsnec · 23/04/2014 17:32

I was wondering that Greenstone! It took 2 days last time. We had an extra bank holiday here yesterday so that might have something to do with it, i also placed the order on the last day of the big sale when they had the extra discount too so they would have had lots of orders that day!

I have loads of jumpers like that from mango. I lived in them at the start but it was 30 degrees here today so I won't be needing jumpers for a while!

I don't have anyone to get hand me downs from. I haven't looked on ebay but amazon looks ok too. I got soft cotton bras from there for a fiver. I agree about selling stuff on. I've said this before that my local thrift shop was selling second hand tops the same price they were new on asos! I'm still going to check it out again though might be a different story with dresses etc.

From bon prix I like the playsuit but I wish it was a 12/14 not 14/16 that really annoys me!

Plateofcrumbs · 23/04/2014 20:09

I've seen some cute playsuits and jumpsuits but think jumpsuits and the need to pee every five minutes are not a happy mix!

I normally wear cardigans open so not found need for anything maternity specific and most of my jumpers have had enough stretch in them to get my through to the end of the second trimester - I think they'd last longer but I don't really need to wear them now spring has sprung, and I don't want them to stretch permanently out of shape.

JeanneBecker · 30/04/2015 07:30

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Bluepetra · 30/04/2015 08:22

It's a nightmare for us short petite women
When choosing maternity clothes do you just go with your regular size or a size up??

lightgreenglass · 30/04/2015 09:12

Always go with your normal size or the size down I've found with maternity clothes.

H&M is good but not their maternity section which is boring but I've got some dresses in the next size up and there's room to grow.

I had a thread on style about it and was told to basically like it or lump it, or go to ASOS but I can't seem to get on with ASOS.

I was pregnant last time in the peak of summer so all my old maternity clothes are really thin material etc so this time round has been a massive chore!

tindel · 30/04/2015 10:36

Bluepetra I agree - I'm short and I couldn't find much. I ended up looking on eBay for petite maternity trousers and I ended up paying about £12 for 3 sets of work trousers that are the right leg length. I would also definitely advise going a size down, as I've got a few things that are a bit baggy on me.

thechinaclogs · 30/04/2015 12:42

Totally! I find the colours (lots of pastels?!) really limiting and most of the styles do nothing for my shape (5'2" and still petite on waist and hips, just have a big belly). I spent a day or two googling maternity style at around 20 weeks to get some inspiration and since then (I'm 34+ now) I've mainly been wearing stretchy dresses in pencil shapes or slim fit long line jumpers - just a size or two up from what I usually buy. They give a nice silhouette, and are comfy over leggings.

For summer, Topshop maternity have got a gorgeous ribbed dress in both black and grey. I bought both since they're only £22 and they look so nice. They're also really easy to accessorise, which makes me feel that my wardrobe isn't that limited. I plan to live in them until the baby arrives (and probably after, since I hear it takes a while for the stomach to go down). There's also a similar and totally gorgeous dress in pale blue on the Isabella Oliver website but it's a good bit pricier. Good luck!

Twinklestar2 · 30/04/2015 13:51

I was in maternity clothes from feb-April last year. While the weather was cold I wore skater dresses from new look (you get them in packs of two) with tights, scarf, jacket and boots. Or jeans (from new look again) with vests or long sleeved tops - packs of 3 from new look.

When weather got warmer I wore cropped trousers from mamas and papas.

I went to a wedding after giving birth in a dress from Seraphine.

I found New Look a godsend!!

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