Maternity clothes?? Indispensable item? Where did you buy?

[gypsymoon]

Pregnant with DC3 and showing much earlier....can't help with all the rubbish I'm eating....but that's not why I'm posting! (mmm...fried fast food....)

I'm from OZ and maternity clothes over there were either HIDEOUS or ridiculously expensive - I just bought clothes a wee bit bigger and flowing tops. I looked a bit of a mess to be honest and did nothing to enhance the beauty of pregnancy but just managed to look like a walking kaftan.

So...from a purely superficial and vain perspective where can I get all those lovely maternity clothes I see women in the UK wearing? That obviously won't cost me a bundle...

And what was your most live in item and where did you get it? bear in mind that comfort is a big thing for me and I don't work so I don't need suits etc.

Actually if anyone has a nice winter maternity coat they no longer need, i might be interested [email protected]

I lived and died in a black wrap top from Isabella Oliver which although initially pricey, paid for itself a million times over. It just accommodated my growing bump and could wear it with a pair of jeans or dress it up with a pair of trousers. Not sure if they ship to Oz though.

sorry, just re read thread and realise you live in UK so no worries on the shipping

Im now pregnant with my first child (and very excited!). I dint really know where to start looking for maternity clothes but I found that, like Activity Apple, ASOS was a life saver. Got a lovely black maternity dress that I simply wear all of the time now. Here is where I got it from: www.asos.com/Women/Maternity/Dresses/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8343 :)

I've bought my maternity clothes at ASOS, New Look, Dorothy Perkins and Jojomamanbebe, all of which do reasonably cheap things, albeit fairly boring, not a lot of bright colours or interesting prints.

However, last weekend I stumbled over The White Stuff in the sales by pure chance, and they do great tops - tunics in stretchy material, bright colours, lovely prints. Get them about 1-2 sizes bigger than you normally wear, and they are perfect maternity tops! I was getting really depressed about the lack of colour in most maternity ranges, and if you manage to get them in the sales, they are really cheap (up to 50% reduced).

I feel a lot more fashionable now

Will second JBrd on ASOS, got some great and cheap stuff off there that looks fashion forward without being naff. Also topshop has had some good stuff. This has all been online.

One piece of learning I've had though is I bought lots of stuff quite early on but I didn't start getting really bumpy until the last weeks 20+, and I now hate lots of the stuff i got early. My boobs haven't grown that much and all the maternity tops are massive at the moment, Dorothy Perkins and Gap normal women's T shirts are quite long so I hope will keep me going for a while. It's possible I'll grow into them.

I need to be quite smart for work but suits were phenomenally expensive to buy sight unseen from the internet and I don't really want to invest that much in something I'll only wear for a few months, rather than the 3+ years I get out of my normal ones. I seem to be getting on with stretchy jersey dresses & wraps with scarves. Maternity tights are a bit pants though.

Not exactly maternity clothes but I couldn't do without the £5 bump bands I bought in topshop (they come in black and white) I'm 26 weeks and they've enabled me to keep wearing two pairs of non-mat jeans (that are v. low cut and were a little on the big side) and quite a few tops that would otherwise now be too short for me. Saved me a fortune, although it does help that I don't need to work wardrobe and wear jeans most days.

dizzy77 You may have already tried them but I have H&M tights and leggings and they are really comfy.

Also a good tip from a friend was to check out the tall ranges in places like TopShop & DP as the tops will often be long enough to cover a bump.

I borrowed/ inherited some things from relatives, and have bought some tops from H&M and New Look. I got jeans from Dorothy Perkins, which is the only shop I have found them short enough for me. Then I went to Primark and got some jumpers and cardigans a few sizes bigger than normal, which is much cheaper than actual maternity clothes.

I don't think anyone has mentioned ASOS!!! They do lovely fashionable maternity stuff!!! And it is very cheap well worth it! I got some great jeggins there and a lovely maxi dress!

definitely don't look at the baby shops they aren't trendy! go to high street clothes shops, most have a maternity section!!!