Where can I buy a nice maternity Christmas dress?

[Melly]

Anyone know where I can buy a nice dress for the Christmas season, preferably mail order or on line. I have seen quite a nice dress in Dorothy Perkins which isn't maternity but it does have 10% elastin !! I have a thing for velvet at the moment but doesn't really want to spend more than about 50 quid. There seems to be a huge, huge gap in the market for fasionable but reasonably priced maternity wear......I saw a really pretty dress advertised by Formes but at £98.00 they can forget it. Any ideas gratefully received.

I was 7 months pregnant at Christmas and bought a stretchy black velvet dress from Dorothy Perkins one size up. It was marvellous and a bargain £30! As I'd reached the Looking Pregnant stage, rather than just looking fat, I didn't mind it clinging to my (not inconsiderable) bump a little.

Melly, I bought a size 16 top from Top Shop on Saturday, it's got ties at the side and might even do for breastfeeding! IKWYM re: affordable maternity that's not crap. so far I've used my Formes trousers (lent to friend's sister - just got them back, thank God) bought last time for £60 but price per wear is v low! and they're so comfy. also bought new stretch slightly bootleg black jeans from Hennes for £25..only the Marble Arch branch seems to have maternity though. I also bought a dress last time for a wedding - smallest Evans's size (a 16) which was cheap. I think I saw some vaguely ok party dresses in Mothercare. good luck

Have you had a look at www.Jojomamanbebe.co.uk ? Silly name but nice clothes and pretty reasonable. They have some party clothes. You could also try Blooming Marvellous (can't remember their website address).

Thanks for the replies. I think I may well go for the one I saw in DP and buy a size bigger than normal. Like you Soupdragon, once I am at the definitely pregnancy bump stage rather than just a bit porky around the middle, I rather like to show off my bump too.
Yes Bundle, I have heard that Hennes is quite good, but living in rural Tavistock (!) and nearest big shopping centre being Plymouth (groan) my choices are very limited. Lisac, I've got catalogues for both BM and JJMMBB but couldn't get inspired with their party range!
Thanks again for the replies.

Just a word of warning on JJM&B - I bought a party dress for xmas party at 8 months pg and found I had bought a tent in which I could comfortably house a family of refugees!

I'm not that small - 5'4'' and size 12 normally - and so I bought a 'medium' but it had to go straight back and I ended up going for the Dorothy Perkins 2 sizes up approach - much better.

Have just been to Hennes today at Croydon which do the mama range. bought 2 prs great cords for 25 pounds but very lacking in party stuff. In fact the only evening thing there was a flared cat suit (sexy up top for voluptous ones ) but rather disgustingly revealing around the venus mound (or whatever that place is politely termed). I would have loved to get it as I'm going to the xmas mumsnet outing and it's my first xmas do.

As it is, still have no xmas wear, and need to go to a ball soon, jeeezz, I haven't done one of those for years. Must say v. disappointed with blooming marvellous shop and catalogue esp as quite pricey (over 25 quid anyway).

thanks pamina,

I'll have to go there tomorrow night to return the rubbish I bought without trying on(bad habit). There were some nice BB things but I just rushed and didnt bother looking.

p.s. How are you getting up to SW7 on Sat?

Melly - don't know if you'd only want a brand NEW maternity dress for Xmas, but have you considered looking on ebay (www.ebay.co.uk) - a friend of mine bought a 'worn once' Xmas ballgown for a fraction of the original price?

Thanks again for further replies. Ooooh Clucks, I'd love a catsuit, have been trying for ages to get one, thought I had found one on Funmum.com but they've sold out I think. I am a real catsuit addict, they are sort of my trade mark! Oh just my luck there isn't a Hennes anywhere near me.....I wonder whether if I rang Hennes they would send me one if I paid by credit card or something.

melly, you are a tart

Just a word of warning, this catsuit is flared, so if you have pregnant legs you really should try it on. The trouble with mail order is sending it allback. If I was a nicer person, I would try it on, buy it for you and post it. Dream on..

Pamina, will e-mail you today, would love company on the train. or I might drive us as a dry evening for me.

Yes I know shocking isn't it but good fun!

Have rung Hennes in London and they said they definitely wouldn't be able to send me one, they don't sell anything unless its over the counter....oh well, their loss.