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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 - in store?

23 replies

Icantthinkofastupidname · 31/08/2017 19:51

Can anyone recommend where to shop for maternity clothes in store? I have been all over my closest town (Sunderland) today, and found only a very small section (couple of tops, jeans and leggings) in H&M, no 'work' trousers at all, which is what I'm particularly after. Tried debenhams, new look, next, river island all with no luck.

I'm planning a trip to the metrocentre this weekend, if anyone local can recommend anywhere in there? I'll try H&M again, hopefully the bigger store will have a bigger stock. Last time I was there I asked an assistant in primark if they had any, but they said no, although I've read another post somewhere they they do? I don't want to spend a fortune on clothes I'm only going to wear a couple of months at best.

I really don't want to have to buy online, I like to look at things and try on first, I'm 5'1 so if trousers are too long (as they usually are unless they're petite or short leg, can't see me getting specifically petite/short maternity, when I can't even find standard maternity!) I need to look to see if they're suitable for taking up.

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mrskitty15 · 31/08/2017 19:58

@Icantthinkofastupidname I had this issue with my DD, the best place I found was Peacocks (if you have a branch nearby), otherwise I found New Look ok but Peacocks definitely had the best selection in store. I am 10 weeks with DC2 and will be going there this time too. Hope that helps 😊

mrskitty15 · 31/08/2017 20:00

Their jeans and leggings were super comfy ☺️

Alexandra07 · 31/08/2017 20:00

For some big brands e.g. M&S you can check if a product is in stock in nearby stores. Maybe this will give you an indication if the store has the items you want to try. I am in a similar situation. I need to find maternity tights but I don't want to pay the extra delivery charges since the order will be small, and I can't find any in stores...

MagicMoneyTree · 31/08/2017 20:01

It's really hard to find anything in store imo. You might find you have more luck in bigger stores at the metro centre though. I bought a maternity tankini from primark once, so they definitely do have some stuff, but not sure how much and in which stores. I bought most of mine on ASOS as I can't stand shopping. TopShop have a maternity range too. One thing they told me in new look once was to order online, do click and collect, try on in store when you collect and return anything that doesn't fit. Massive faff but might worth a try for specific items (eg petite work trousers) if you can be bothered??

Bubblesblue · 31/08/2017 20:03

New look, H&M and mothercare. I just got some work trousers that I ordered in store at Next, arrived the next day

GreenGoblin0 · 31/08/2017 20:05

h&m seems to be the only standard high street store where you can reliably find matenity clothes in store nowadays. when I was pregnant with dd1 5 years ago a lot more shops had maternity ranges in store.

if you have a jojomamanbebe then they will always have maternity clothes in store.

MinnowAndTheBear · 31/08/2017 20:05

Debenhams have quite a big Red Herring Maternity collection in the Metro Centre. New Look also have some maternity stuff in there too, which I think included more formal clothes. If you want to try H&M again their maternity range is in the H&M kids store (platinum mall at a guess) rather than the main Red Mall store.

GreenGoblin0 · 31/08/2017 20:05

oh yes and mothercare!

MinnowAndTheBear · 31/08/2017 20:07

Next are good for specific sizes e.g. Maternity petit but there's nothing in store at the Metro. You can order to collect/try it on/return in store though.

Original poster

Icantthinkofastupidname · 31/08/2017 20:07

Thanks all, I'll give them a go! Tried a peacocks today, but it was only a small store, so no luck.

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Sundaylunchhappy · 31/08/2017 20:09

Second jojomamanbebe GreenGoblin0 !

They have some suitable dresses for me to wear going back to school that's aren't too flamboyant neon and an appropriate length spits at all maternity dresses looked at so far finishing a cm under ones bum

purplemunkey · 31/08/2017 20:10

I got work trousers and skirt at Topshop in store. Most other stuff I got on ASOS, easy to return but obviously more of a faff than just trying on before you buy.

deaddeadgood · 31/08/2017 20:12

M and s in the metro had a small maternity section in 2015. That's the only m&s I've ever seen it in.
Your only other places would be H&M and some new looks.
Stores just don't think it's cost effective to waste floor space on maternity wear. It's so frustrating.

purplemunkey · 31/08/2017 20:15

Also, I got quite a few non maternity jersey dresses that stretched over bump just fine - and can still wear now DD is 2! No good if you're trying to hide bump obviously but in the 2nd & 3rd trimester these were really comfy but still smart enough for work.

Rosehyd2 · 31/08/2017 20:17

I know you said in store but I got some lovely maternity work clothes from asos. It's definitely worth doing when they've got a free delivery deal on as you can try at home and return anything easily.

cakesandphotos · 31/08/2017 20:22

I asked at the M&S in the metro and they don't have any in store. The next is pretty huge though and I'm almost sure the metro's Dorothy Perkins stocks maternity wear. Is there still a mothercare there?

I've recently bought stuff online from ASDA, not sure if they have it in store but might be worth popping round as you're there

Bisquick · 31/08/2017 20:35

I know you said you don't like online shopping, but asos lets you order the same thing in petite and regular in a few sizes and you can just return the ones you don't want? I found it quite good value for money for maternity clothes. In all of Oxford St I've only found a handful of maternity clothes at Topshop (which were totally not my style st all, much more like miss selfridge than work appropriate) and some at H&M. Online stores seem to have a much wider range!

laelti · 31/08/2017 21:33

I used to work in Primark ( wouldn't recommend it...) they did experiment with maternity lines in the last few years but never went as far as a full section, and I don't think they sold that well so I wouldn't be surprised if they've stopped now...

As a guess based on my memory of the metro centre (geordie now living in Bristol!) and a size comparison to shops here, I'd say Debenhams, New Look, Topshop and H&M probably worth a go?

sthitch · 31/08/2017 21:47

I'm also 5"1 - Asos had a petite maternity section so it's worth looking on there, otherwise I bought H&M maternity leggings and pulled them up a bit, as well as some cheap next size up leggings from primark to wear under the bump with longer tops -they didn't have a mat section. Also it's worth looking at the clearance section on next - I got some short legged mat jeans for £12 down from £40 x

LRL2017 · 31/08/2017 22:33

I saw some in new look and matalan, very limited though and ordered everything online. It's so frustrating that high street doesn't stock much!

dippypanda · 01/09/2017 09:01

I struggled to get anything at metrocentre. Debenhams have a smallish selection, though got most in the sales. New look was tiny, and never saw anything at H&M but may have been wrong store as pointed out above. There is no longer a Mothercare at metrocentre so not worth checking. Team valley retail park has a large Mothercare & mamas & papas.
Otherwise I found getting basic stuff online better unfortunately i.e. trousers, leggings and just buying other items mainly tops which stretch.

YouBetterWORK · 01/09/2017 13:25

I went into Birmingham the other week looking for an occasion dress. Ha! As if!! Only place that sold maternity wear was Mothercare and it was all casual (although their yoga pants are sooo comfy).

Resorted to ebay, one dress wasn't bad but the other fitted terribly (I'm only 5'2 with a dip in my back so I need to try stuff on or risk gaping fabric around the back which is exactly what happened).

I said to DH what a gap in the market for a maternity clothing shop! If there's a group of people who can't be doing with the faff of returning clothes that don't blummin well fit it's the pregnant!

wednesdayrobyn · 01/09/2017 14:27

I've only bought one item in store and that was a dress from mothercare, everything else has been online, i get wanting to feel the quality and like you im on the shorter side 5ft so i've found asos great as they do quite a few petite maternity options, i have their premier delivery so its really easy to send stuff back if you don't like it. I find it shocking how hard it is to find maternity on the high street.

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