Maternity capsule wardrobe!

[Masha31]

What key items of clothing would you recommend for pregnancy. I don't want to spend loads if money but would love just a few items I know look good and will be comfy. I have to dress smart for work. Can't really picture what I has last time but I know I didn't feel very good in the clothes (6 years ago)

Things I already will get:
Over bump jeans
Maternity black work trousers
Decent non wired bra
Seen some nice black cotton dungarees...

I struggle with tops because I've got a fairly small frame on top but big boobs....that are getting bigger by the day!

Any good bits you couldn't go without during pregnancy please? Xxx

I love body con dresses or anything empire line so it goes in under the boobs. You can get relatively smart versions that would be good for work.

I had a couple of Isabella Oliver dresses that I got on eBay for about £12 each. Gorgeous quality, very smart. I got loads of comments on how nice my maternity clothes were!

If you want to get some cheap items Lidl have a maternity event on at the moment. Think it ends today or tomorrow. Over bump jeans are £8.99 and actually fit pretty well.

I've been trying to do the same and it depends a little on when you're due. Because I will be quite big in the summer, I've bought a long black maxi skirt, a black work skirt and a couple of t-shirt type dresses. For work, I tend to stick with maternity bottoms (trousers, smart jeans on more casual days) and normal tops - I've just sized up a bit because maternity tops aren't great. H&M are quite good a find because they have some long shirts which work quite well. I've also bought one smart maternity dress but luckily I can still just about fit in my other work dresses.

I'm 30 weeks and have also been thinking about this.

Haven't found many maternity trousers that sit right, so have mainly been wearing skirts and dresses for work. Pencil skirts one size up still seem to work, as do ordinary loose dresses that suddenly have a nicer shape to them because of the bump. I haven't found many good maternity tops either so have been wearing ordinary ones - especially oversized ones from Phase Eight and Zara. Good boots and shorter but chunkier necklaces also handy (my v long ones not so good with a bump!).

Isabella Oliver dresses also excellent. Seraphine less so. I'd say my biggest lesson on maternity dresses has been to go for non-clingy ones (good on bump, less so on lumpy backs!) and to go for something with a bit of a v-neck because the boobs plus bump can make you look quite round with a higher neckline. Some higher end maternity dresses also have a (taseful) drawstring around the bump that you can adjust according to size, I think that's really handy and doesn't look as naff as it sounds.

I got quite a lot of summer stuff in the sales over Christmas, perhaps you might be able to do the same for more wintry items.

I've got a lot of open fronted cardigans from pre-pregnancy anyway but they have been invaluable as always have something to throw on if a bit chilly.

Depending on your size you might not need maternity at all. A lot of Monsoon, John Lewis own brand and Hobb’s dresses come up loose around the waist and bust area; you might be able to get away with just a size or two bigger.

I can't imagine not needing them, I was huge!

Jeans and a pack of basic maternity t shirts. A few dresses for work and a maternity coat. Tights too.

Leggings & dresses is all i wear at anytime pregnant or not.i never wear maternity clothes my usual clothes fit well just have to go up a size in leggings to fit over my bump.

@Dermymc - My sister didn’t (size zero pre-pregnancy and then at most a size 8/10 even with her bump) and a lot of younger / fit women don’t as their tight abs prevent the bump from getting too big. I even know bigger pear shaped women who didn’t need maternity clothes because they expanded along their hipline rather than get a proper bump.

I, however, am showing at 8 weeks so I’m clearly going to be huge!

I've been really impressed with Asda for maternity bits. I went for jersey dresses for work as were ok in both summer and winter and can be dressed up and down. Generally just bought black and then changed accessories. Debenhams also worth a look.

Leggings with dresses and a few long cardigans from primark and H&M.

Thanks everyone! I got the over bump jeans from Lidl today, for £8.99 they are amazing!

An over bump black maternity pencil skirt is a game changer for smart office wear. Actually works better with pre-maternity tops, so gives lots of options for work without much outlay.