What are your fashion wardrobe ladies?

[divamumplus]

Hi everyone,
I went shopping to get some clothes for my little bump.Went Next first told they do not sell maternity clothes in the shop now Looked at Topshop and Newlook for those this season tunic tops. I presumed they will be great buy. But when tried on Big No-NO. The ones smocked over the bust looks ridicilous. Went Debemnhams, only Redherring does maternity, and they have some masty looking strappy tops and t-shirts, but i found a lovely linen style top. That was it, oh yes, our M&S also got no maternity. So i got to order online or catalogue next couple of weeks. Just wonder where do you get your maternity clothes, and where is the best place at the moment.
Thank you,

You have my sympathies - trying to find maternity wear that you like and looks good can be frustrating! Sometimes it really is a case of shopping around, especially as some high street stores (like New Look for example) change their stock fairly frequently. I can only share with you what I've experienced so far, now that I'm 26 weeks.

Next - you're much better off checking out their website rather than their stores. Most of the stores don't stock the maternity range and the ones that do stock very little. You'll get far more choice from the website, to be honest.

Dorothy Perkins - most stores will stock the maternity range but not all of it. Again, it's better to use their website. They do seem to stock more in stores than Next do, however. I've found them useful for every day wear.

Warehouse - their website stocks their maternity range and it looks pretty good! Have been trying to resist the temptation to buy stuff from there, so can't vouch for quality or fit. Not sure whether their stores stock the maternity range.

TopShop - if you can get to one of their bigger stores, you should get a decent selection from their maternity range. I really like their stuff and especially the fact that their maternity stuff is mostly the same designs as their other ranges but in maternity, IYSWIM. Their website is very good and they deliver very quickly.

New Look - it's worth popping in now and again as they do seem to regularly change their stock. I've bought a few things from them now and have no complaints. Reasonably priced too.

H&M - again, not all stores do the maternity range but they're worth checking out for every day stuff. Bit hit and miss at times so again, it's worth popping in every now and again to see what they've got. Again, reasonably priced.

Internet shopping - there are some good maternity sites about and I would recommend checking out; picchu.com, funmum, crave, seraphine and Isabella Oliver. I think that the website for Littlewoods does maternity wear too and at very reasonable prices.

Hope this helps and that you find something you like!

GAP are really good for tshirts etc. as they are cut very long and are very stretchy. Try to find the ones made of slightly thicker material.

I also got some really nice stuff from jojomamanbebe.co.uk nice styles and good quality.

funmum.com has more fashiony stuff but not quite as good quality

I am 27 weeks and have bought most of my tops/dresses from Isabella Oliver which are lovely and expand with you.

For bottoms I have bought jeans and black trousers from Top Shop - look online or if possible go to the Oxford street store which has their full range.

Home mummy is also very nice.

Isabella oliver .

Home mummy

top shop

Have you tried Mothercare, our local has got some quite good classical maternity wear, black trouers etc, also have some pretty summerwear in atm As with the others, check out their website. The quality is good too, I bought loads from there during my first pregnancy and will be going back when I need to with this one. Only 8 wks atm so no rush

americanapparel is good for basics i.e. short dresses which can be worn as long t-shirts. Loads of simple styles and colours. I've bought a couple and they're great. They don't have everything in stock, but I found their service desk really good.

Also these knickers are great as an alternative to granny knickers. Don't cut in atall. I'm still wearing them at 26 weeks and hope to for many more to come:

floral lace shorts

On special offer at 3 fo £10.

thnx everyone, i think isabella oliver is lovely but the price is little expensive to me,the price ranges up to 50pounds for top, so it will cost me fortune to buy all my maternity wardrobe.
today i received vertbaudet catalogue, and they have some lovely summer clothes.
i will look at online shops and order some stuff later.

sorry to hijack your thread diva, but if anyone knows of a good website/shop for smart maternity wear I can get for a very posh wedding I'm going to in a couple of months? It doesn't have to be the most expensive dress in the world, because I'm planning on wearing a gigantic fabulous hat, but I need something a bit smarter, as it'll be full of people looking amazing!

dresses Some nice dresses for a wedding here...

mrsmar, what size are you, there are some brand new dress on ebay. i also have wedding in summer, too.
incy, IL looks lovely but the price makes me im sahm, and dh only earns for 3 of us, so i dont want splash his hard work for Il stuff, i wish i had thousands
well, i have been sitting here on my pc all morning, currently i bought linen kaftan top and linen trousers, and cotton tunic style top from cocoon la redoute used 25£off 50£ cost me 30 something pounds, what a bargain.
bought lovely blue 3/4 sleeve top and tshirt from vertbaudet used £10off £20 and plus free bear cd player for dd. what a day.
so im pretty chuffed. i could have just bought one t-shirt from Isabella Oliver instead all my stuff.
sorry incy im terrible aint i?

some nice dresses here too:

crave

Vertbaudet, La Redoute and Dorothy Perkins were my faves.
Have you got a Dot Perks near you? They always have maternity wear intore, unless its a teeny tiny shop.

Also ebay is worth a looking at.
Theres a seller called Nokeweeman (I think) and he has some beautiful maternity tops and dresses and really reasonable prices.

Divamum glad you found some great clothes - maternity wear is really difficult IMO. Enjoy your new clothes

crave dresses here.

have you these ?

oh no, why did I look at this thread?? Have just spent 50 quid on 2 skirts on jojomaman. That's what happens I suppose when you're stuck at home, still with morning sickness trying to study. None of my clothes fit but it's still far too early for maternity wear.

It was divamumplus's detailing of discounts - can't resist a bargain...

Thanks for all of those, the crave and isabella oliver sites look great. I'm going to have to hold off buying just yet, as I'm only 9+2 and I'll be 26 weeks by the time of the wedding, but you know, gotta plan early....

This last pg i bought 5 itms from isabella oliver at massive cost (for me) and lived in them. Also wore them for a month post-birth. Found them very flattering (I hate being pg because i feel so fat and ugly) and was complimented on looking good which i never was in 1st pg when i was wearing dh's clothes basically. Had a couple of items from next and m&s but i got bored of them very quick because i didn't enjoy wearing them in the same way as the isabella oliver stuff (i looked passable but that was it iykwim).

they do look lovely! unfortunately I live in nappy valley surrounded by yummy mummies, and I don't want to schlep around in trackies all the time!

This is great thanks ladies! what would you say the basics really are? This is my first time, I'm 7 weeks and the only thing I have outgrown at the mo is my bras but I think I need to get a back up wardrobe soon.

MrsMar - there's a lovely long dress in the JoJoMamanBebe Catalouge. I have 3 weddings this year so have been keeping an eye out for nice ones.

oooh, they do look nice, I've got a jojomamanbebe in my road (told you it was nappy valley!) so I might trip down there in a few weeks! I'm always nervous about these places being really sizeist, as before pregnancy I was a size 16, and I had trouble getting clothes normally (I'm v tall too, with huge feet, triple whammy!) but it looks like they do a 16, so hopefully it'll fit!

Yes yomellamoHelly , IL things does look lovely, im s tempted but i have been very good girl. I will probably look on ebay, im sure someone was selling stuff on for sale board before xmas, i was then only ttc
MrsMcJnr, i think basics means simple tops, and jeans or loose trousers, t-hsirts, and etc..
I bought a few 3pk of tops from Next, and jeans and trousers, but i wanted something stylish for coming spring. I quite like clothes
from new vertbaudet catalogue, looks really simple but sophicated.

NbgsYellowFeathers...divamumplus .... Don't touch
EBAY
Thailand seller Nokweeman with a bargepole!

The maternity wear is cut for Asian measurements, despite the auctions being categorised in UK sizes; this means the armholes are tiny ( an 8 year old would just fit her arms through ), the seams are skewiff (for example an empire-line bodice sits on the bust instead of under it) and the bust area will only fit a maximum 32A bust !

I have purchased several items in one go and after email contact he did admit they were cut small, especially the cheaper 'Buy It Now' items, as they are sourced from a wholesale factory which cuts smaller.

He has thousands of good feedback (he sells worldwide) but the bad feedback all relates to the tiny sizing. My advice is to buy 2 sizes up from your usual, ie if you're a UK 10 buy Nokweekman's size 14-16 but remember the armhole warning! He's popular because the items are very cheap and the postage quotes are listed in US dollars, Australian dollars, Eskimo kippers, whatever's the cheapest exchange rate at the time! - so double check the postage conversion before you buy too!

The fabric is very itchy and cheap and the ruching (elasticated area at the front for Bump cover) will not stretch beyond the average 5 month Bump size.

Lastly, the original designer of these quite funky looking maternity items had her designs ripped off and produced wholesale, which is where Nok buys them from. Her designs are only a little dearer but the cut and fabric is better quality. She can be found by typing in 'Victorian style maternity wear' on an eBay search page.

PS....

H&M Mama (larger stores only)

has some trendy combats which are a surprisingly flattering fit and Peacocks (like Primark)have this season's 60s geometric print floral smock tops in now, which fit and flare below the bust to cover even the largest bump.

As for eBay ; farmgirls (asterisks included) sells maternity combats and smock tops at cheaper than retail price and has good Feedback too.