maternity wear

[geekygiraffe]

Baby number one is en route and I'm determined to become and remain a yummy mummy ; 0
I have no idea about maternity wear. I don't want to look frumpy, and would like quality stuff rather than pri-mani. I'll be getting stuff from ebay, and am watching a lot of Topshop stuff. Any other brand recommendations?
And when do you start wearing maternity clothes? I'm only 14 weeks, so able to wear my normal clothes for now, but they're getting too tight - do I move right into maternity, or just buy bigger sizes?

Next, JoJo Maman Bebe, Dorothy Perkins were my staples but don't think I ever made it to YummyMummy status!

I started in maternity clothes at 12ish weeks because it seemed easier than buying bigger sizes that I would ultimately have to ditch and I didn't like the pressure round my tummy when I bent over that non-maternity clothes created. Wore quite a few non maternity tops right through though. Plenty of styles around just now that are long and loose enough to cope.

Just do whatever suits you, there's no rule.

I bought mainly Jojomamanbebe and Isabella Oliver stuff (and a couple of other random bits and bobs), and I found I was basically washing and wearing the Isabella Oliver stuff and ignoring the rest, as it was so much better quality and nicer designed than the rest of my clothes. This time round I'm just going to add to my IO bits and admit that I am a maternity wear snob.

Although I did find the IO under-the-bump jeans crap - they kept falling down and I had permanent builder's bum. the other trousers I had from there were lovely though. I've heard good things about Seraphine jeans, or Blossom ones if you can afford designer jeans :)

People put nice second stuff up on here, if you're interested

www.nappyvalley.co.uk/?Nappy_Valley_s-1

I prolly wasn't as yummy as you. However, I wore stretchy trousers until almost the end.

I did get a nice pretty dress in New Look and a black one in Mothercare (MC is generally rubbish for maternity wear though). Also picked got some vests and a pair of legging for under dresses from ASOS who had quite a good mat wear selection.

Jeans always seem to be a nightmare, I got some Next ones from ebay that were OKish.

Oh andI used belly bands to cover the bump when wearing normal clothes.

Am not at all yummy - thought I'd try to become so!

Seraphine is good - all maternity jeans fall down, but theirs fall down rather less than most. I'm definitely no yummy mummy, but bought most of my maternity stuff on Ebay and find that I wear the Seraphine stuff more than anything else as it's flattering and comfortable (you look pregnant but still with a shape, whereas other brands often just make you look vast). Isabella Oliver stuff looks good but works better if you're tall - I'm very short and their necklines are much too low on me.

The other thing that's worked for me is Gossypium yoga trousers - I had two pairs when I got pregnant and somewhat to my surprise I'm still wearing them (baby is due on Saturday). They're really comfortable, don't fall down and look pretty good with most things.

I had a pair of citizens maternity jeans. They did not fall down. And were gorgeous. Mama la mode sells them and if this is your first pregnancy you will get lots of wear out of them.

Seraphine do fab jeans - wearing mine 2nd time round.

IO fab too and hammered their tops last time and still look good second time round. Topshop stuff okay for one preg but fades a bit and doesn't wash as well - but dresses etc are good. Just the cotton stuff. Jojo great too.

I pretty much wore my normal clothes throughout, just put leggings waistband under bump and wore tunics and cardys. Only ended up putting 1 1/2 stone on so a few of my mat items went unworn (sold them on ebay in the end).

ASOS is brilliant, they always have maternity sale items knocking about. I had a grey jumper dress and a long length polar neck from there which were just brill. Peacocks Maternity was actually ok for fashiony items like a draped dresss I had and a smocky shirt.
Red Herring Maternity was great too.
Mothercare - avoid...frump central.

Isabella Oliver stuff comes up quite often on eBay, and because it wears well it's normally in good nick.

I actually got a nice summer dress from Mothercare this year, but generally it's a bit iffy.

I got a few nice things from Mothercare when I was expecting DS, in fact I've just dug them out again ready for when this bump pops out.
But I went in there today and had a look and it is all horrid! Really cheap and nasty 'office wear' type stuff. Grim.

Why oh why do places make maternity clothes out of polyester? Surely you are hot and clammy enough?

JoJo and Next are probably about the best. Isabella Oliver things are lovely, but very dressed up apart from the t-shirt type basics so for me it's too expensive considering that I think i'd hardly wear it.

wishes I was pg again so I could buy this

and this...I bloody love Asos

lovely dress

Gah stresshead I have just bought this - wasn't meant to be buying anything maternity just yet!!!!

I have a few bits from IO and they are really comfy and look Fab, but be warned they come up large.

Blooming Marvellous also good as well as the others mentioned above. I found it was better to get maternity clothes than wear bigger normal sizes because then the big sizes are big all over rather than just round your tummy.

I also found this was v handy for that stage where the waist on your normal clothes are a bit on the tight side. It buttons on to your jeans so that you can wear them undone and the stretchy fabric covers it all up - then looks like you've got a vest top layered under your regular top.

Lola I agree on the Blooming Marvellous but they have just been taken over and don't exist anymore!

I wore IO too and also seraphine for jeans.

Surprisingly, topshop were good too if you like to look fashionanble.

Lola - I had a bumpband too and it was ace...bought me quite a few weeks extra in my normal clothes...

I splashed out on a pair Seraphine jeans and it was well worth it as I lived in them right up till the end.

I also got a couple of their tops in the sale and despite me totally hammering them week in week out for the best part of 5 months they still look like new.

Got basics from H&M - I'm still wearing a black stretchy long line vest from there as it's so nice and DD is 8 months old!

Thank you so much everyone. Am eagerly awaiting the postman with my first ebay haul - looks like ASOS is next. Lovin' the little baby even more now that I get an excuse to buy new clothes!!!
Can't hit the yummy standard while I have no kids, so god knows how I'll achieve it with vom and poo to contend with... but thanks for your top tips!