Why are maternity clothes so dire? AKA please dress my fat tummy

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

First things first: I can't afford the nice brands like Seraphina.

I am 15 weeks and just starting to grow out of normal clothes in the tummy area.

I do not want:

• to ONLY wear black, white or Breton stripes.
• bootleg black trousers or jeans.
• look mumsy.
• T-shirts that say 'Mummy to Be' or 'Baby on Board' OR hoodies OR check shirts.
• I work in an office with sexy young media chicks - I do not want to wear floral tents.

I do have some things from my last pregnancy (way back in 2008) but that was a summer pregnancy so they wouldn't be suitable.

I went through all 600+ maternity items on ASOS (one of the better retailers) last week and found 2 things that I would consider wearing - so I bought them:

New Look Black Maxi Dress - I would prefer another colour but I can wear it with flats, scarf and cotton jacket for work and a statement necklace for night dos.

Breton Striped dress - quite nice, don't want to drown myself in stripes but this would look nice for work with ankle boots and sheer tights.

There are couple of other dresses that I've just realised I like as well:

Orange, cheap & cute

Too summery?

Dresses are not really the issue - what I would really like is

a) really good maternity skinny jeans in black and denim. Last time I wore my usual skinnies all the way through but waists were lower back then. I was thinking about just stocking up on Primark super-soft skinnies as they sit under my tum still - are there any equivalents in maternity ranges?

b) some really lovely blouses - I just bought this non-maternity purple Zara blouse in a size up and really like it but heavens, trying to buy nice, non-black, colourful tops this season is a challenge - even in non-maternity - any ideas?

c) maternity tube skirts or miniskirts that aren't a-line denim. Plus any tight fitting dresses that are NOT black or striped.

d) fashionable but professional work clothes - I work in a creative environment - I can't show up in black suit or frumpy frock which seems to be the maternity office wear on offer!

e) nice mid-height heels - everything seems to be flat or sky high - looking for office pumps (in the American sense) and black strappy ankle boots.

Any ideas would be welcome. I am 5' 8, 12-14, hourglass figure (so pregnancy does not play to my strengths!), light spring, blonde & blue-eyed with good-ish legs (when I can be arsed to wax them). I am also 39 but I wouldn't worry about age-appropriateness mutton dressed as lamb

Thank you so much in advance and excuse the length of this post

[TheBeanpole]

We sound quite similar in style and shape, only I'm a few inches taller. Second the suggestion for Cos- at 32 weeks I'm still wearing quite a few things from there. Sale on atm too.

If you're a trouser person H&M have some slim tapered trousers, I think called 'suit' trousers, that are a non frumpy cut. I have been wearing them cuffed with brogues. I always need to size up in h&m. Their jeans are also the best. The topshop leighs are good but lose shape quite quickly. I got a great spotty shirt in topshop too, which gets lots of compliments.
I don't know what the obsession with polyester boot cut is. And apparently you cannot be pregnant AND tall- my legs haven't shrunk ...

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Ironically the ad displaying next to this thread is Zilily Maternity Wear - in FUCKING STRIPES

[twoboysundertwo]

my answer to everything is- a nice scarf:)

[Quodlibet]

With you on the avoidance of maternity ranges generally - most of it is sooo middle of the road and mumsy. I don't want to look like a completely different person in a stripy uniform ta.

Try Cos - practically all their stuff is waistless but doesn't look 'maternity'.

I've also bought a bright digital print top in Oliver Bonas is a size up which works well.

For vests, Gap basics (non-maternity) are long and stretchy enough to bump-cover and come in loads of colours.

[TheThinksYouCanThink]

Can recommend Topshop maternity skinny jeans - they were the best I found but also wore Dotty P's skinny jeggings, they have an elastic waistband and lasted throughout my pregnancy and were the most comfortable jeans I found.
New Look had some nice bits, I took some of their short dresses and took a couple of inches off the hem to make long tops that looked good with skinny jeans, and found that their stretchy dresses went over the bump showing it of nicely.
HandM also had some nice bits.
If not, it was skinny jeans, long vests that stretched (river island or New look!), bright scarf and either cardigan or blazer over the top!

[TheDetective]

Asda do a pack of 2 vest tops, white and black. I am still wearing the black one 11 months later. Very flattering, long, arse covering, but still define my shape. :)

I bought 2 pairs of maternity leggings (H&M recommended - they are thick, comfy, and good for after too!) 2 pack of maternity tights (H&M) again, 2 pack of vest tops as above.

The only other specific mat stuff I bought (other than bf bras) was a summer dress from H&M and then when I was 40 weeks I wanted a nice dress to wear from my birthday, which I got from Next.

Everything else was my existing wardrobe adapted with the leggings/vest tops/tights. Long arse covering cardi's leggings and vest tops was my staple wardrobe, with scarfs, and some dresses thrown in for good measure. You don't need maternity cardi's, and can get loads in the January sale just when you will need them, eh?!

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

OK, I have purchased over the past 24 hours - with help from you lovely ladies

• bright pink Isabella Oliver wrap top (Ebay bargain)
• Kimono style top (not maternity), vests, teal dress and skinnies (New Look)
• Lime & Floral scarves - Forever 21
• Lovely pink print blouse from Collectif in the sale - not maternity but a size up
• Bright blue and red mid-height court shoes from Dottie Ps.

Do you sense a theme? BRIGHT and NOT STRIPED

I'm not sure about the joggers - they seem a bit too radical for me. Although I did like the blazer that was linked to it.

[Skinheadmermaid]

What about those lux style patterned joggers?
this sort of thing
Would look really nice with a plain vest/t shirt and blazer on top.

[WillSingForCake]

I find H&M stuff good, but it is quite dull admittedly. Try eBay - there's usually some good quality stuff as people wear maternity clothes for such a short time.

[Speccymummy]

Asos own brand maternity skinny jeans are good. I also wore lots of maternity vests with my normal cardigans over the top. And h&m black skinny trousers for work.

[Stevie77]

Not read other comments but here goes -

I'm pregnant too and concur with everything you've said. Everywhere is stripes, stripes, stripes. Can no retailers come up with other prints for pg ladies?

Have you thought about jeggings in a size up?

Everybody seem to brave about ASOS's maternity range, I found it generally

[cartoontrickster]

I've tried on some under bump jeans in primark (they only seemed to have the one style) and in true primarni style the sizing was way off. I'm about a size 10 and tried them in a 10 & 8 tight on legs massive on the waist. I forget exactly when it was but I must have been around 20wks so did have a bump! I don't understand why they are soo big.
I've been after some not too expensive straight leg trousers patterned or plain but I find over bump much more comfy and all the ones I've seen are underbump. anyone seen any?

[Gurraun]

I second ebay. Got lots of lovely Isabella Oliver stuff i wore to death and two great tiffany rose dresses. Stuff is barely worn and cheap as chips.

[GatoradeMeBitch]

I watch Anna Saccone on YouTube and she recently did an ASOS maternity haul I remember she showed off some skinny jeans in it!

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I'm going to buy the Lana dress, topshop orange shift and IO pink wrap top when I get a bit bigger. Hopefully Father Christmas will bring me lots of money!

[EeyoreIsh]

I love the IO Lana dress, I've got it and it's great. I wore it to work the other day and had lots of complements.

[bigbrick]

You were lucky - I always put on so many kilos that I'd have to lol when the size chart said get your normal size.

[SundaySimmons]

Pootlebug, I did just that! I refused to wear maternity clothes when I was pregnant both times because back then maternity clothes were dire.

I was pregnant in 1994/95 and 1997/8 and just wore my normal jeans trousers and gradually wore them undone with a soft hair bobble band pulled through button hole and looped around button.

I managed to get by wearing normal clothes but ones that were shamed to fit under the bust and flare out.

[bigbrick]

La redoute has some nice things www.laredoute.co.uk/women-maternity/cat-654.aspx

[nosleeptillbedtime]

My fave dress was not a mat one but a stretchy wool dress in teal that I found in a charity shop for a fiver

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I've ordered the New Look skinny jeans - but will also try the Leah ones.

Matalan ones are no good as I have 34" inside leg.

[evertonmint]

Helpful thread for me - am 6 weeks with DC3 and already slightly panicking about what I'll be wearing. I have a few bits from last time but wore dresses most of the time as they are so much nicer and varied than the hideous tops and jeans that fall down which I suffered in my last two pregnancies. However, I was in an office the last two times so could be really smart, but now I am largely a SAHM with some WFH so I just need casual.

I found Crave had a few nice things last time I was pregnant so may be worth a look.

[amandine07]

Leah skinny maternity jeans from Topshop are fabulous!
I've got them in 3 colours, they come in different lengths which is amazing considering some brands do just one length eg 34" in their normal ranges.
They are so soft & comfortable to wear

[Mrspebble]

Hi, what about these
www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/maternity/s2519983/maternity-skinny-jeans-31-inch-leg

I found peacocks new look and hm to be the best

Would recommend the check pjs from new look.. Just of comfort.

A lot of girls go up a size or two in Primark.. Worth a look. Wishing you s healthy pregnancy.. Congrats!!

[ThisIsMeNow]

I know it's striped but it's lush on

they do a navy one too