or lack of it....why is ALL maternity wear so UGLY?

[mazzystar]

Can't find anything that I like anywhere.

Has anyone seen anything nice?

I think part of my problem is that I don't really do casual. Rarely/never wear jeans, don't think bump bands work with my usual cute little a-line skirts.

Topshop has a few nice things, but it is wildly hit and miss and you have to keep popping in. And I want something to wear NOW!

just buy jersey or (whisper) lycra skirts in your normal size or next size up and wear them with a longline top.

stupid question for bump band experts - do you think that they would work with a denim skirt (soft aline monsoon type variety?) could be answer to all problems. just leaving me with the thorny issue of deciding what to wear on my feet.

yes they work with everything, then wear comfy ballet pumps or flat mary janes.

I'd recommend hold ups over tights too, john lewis stock some really lovely ones.

whoops, I didn't mean hold ups on top of tights , hold ups rather than tights might have been a better way to phrase it.

Got lots of trousers from Cache Cache - very good and fit really nicely and as roll tops can wear them fo a while afterwards.

M&S do pregnancy stuff now and littlewoods catalogue have some nice stuff for mums to be that I happened apon the other day.

Above all though I have to say Hennes and top shop were the best!!

has anyone else said: hennes hennes hennes!

saved my life when preg, but you have to find out when your store takes delivery and get in there on that day as it flies out of the store.

they do fabulous, trendy stuff and very cheap.

where are you based, if in london there are some fab shops but all more pricey

Hennes is great, and also good for stylish but cheap baby and kids clothes.
Our local one is currently running a 'trial' line of cot and childrens bedding and it's so lovely.

Am a bit allergic to Hennes. Self-confessed clothes snob, though other people always seem to look alright wearing it.

Soph, am going to Lndon this weekend, where do you suggest?

ok hold on: a place called maternus i think which was in dulwich (any mners live there?) err, there is a place on wakehurst road in clapham that does beautiful stuff, let me google and hennes marble arch have a good maternity range, errr....formes like people have said, but expensive, but that is up west end too and obviously if money is no object then make an appointment with 9 (designer maternity wear by appointment only i think) hang on going to google wait a sec.

Maybe you could get over your clothes snob thing and buy cheaper maternity wear, then save the money which will be much needed later!

But if you insist, the Kings Road has a few designer maternity shops.

London

Blooming Marvellous: 725 Fulham Road, London SW6 5UL. Telephone: 020 73710500

Brimell 96 Ltd: 5 Harman Drive, London NW3 3EB. Telephone: 020 8452 8555

Bumpsadaisy: 45 The Market, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8HA. Telephone: 020 7379 9831

Bumpsadaisy: 157 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15HH. Telephone: 020 8789 0329

Bumpstart: 119 Revelstoke Road, Wimbledon Park, London SW18 5NN. Telephone: 020 8879 3467

Formes: 28 Henrietta Street, London WC28NA. Telephone: 020 7240 4777

Formes: 33 Brook Street, London W1Y 1AJ. Telephone: 020 7493 2783

Formes: 313 Brompton Road. London SW13 2DY. Telephone: 020 7584 3337

Gooseberry Bush: 15 Park Road, London N8 8TE. Telephone: 020 8340 2212

Great Expectations: 78 Fulham Road, London SW3 6HH. Telephone: 020 7581 4886

JoJo Maman Bébé: 3 Ashbourne Parade, 1259 Finchley Road, London NW11 0AD. Telephone: 020 8731 8961

Maman: 79 Watton Street, London SW3 2HP. Telephone: 020 7589 8414

Maternus: 22 Dulwich Village, London SE21 7BW. Telephone: 020 8299 6761

Nine Over Twelve Ltd: 69 Wroughton Road, London SW11 6AS. Telephone: 0800 169 5431

the last one is where i meant in clapham, wroughton not wakehurst road doh!

hang on back in a sec

Push Maternity

see, it can be done. It'll just cost you a small fortune....

Try 9 London (020 7838 0703), an appointment-only showroom in Knightsbridge, which has been getting lots of press coverage due to its popularity with the likes of Liz Hurley, Elle Macpherson et al. It specialises in high-end labels such as Diane Von Furstenberg and Maria Grachvogel, whose clothes have been specially 'maternitised' alongside designer jeans by Earl available in six washes. Visit its newly launched website www.9london.com, where you can see the clothes then contact the store for mail order. More affordable fashionable maternity wear can be found at www.formes.com, a French site that stocks stylish, up-to-date maternity-wear for all occasions.

phew. look at the 9london website. where kate moss got her stuff.

errr...isabellaoliver.com also fabulous, pph bought an amazing slinkly party dress from there when she was v preg iirc

Believe me, AvaLou, I have tried. But clothes are my only vice, though I'll have to think up a new one if I can't find any to buy. I'd rather buy one well made thing than five cheap ones. Also get the heebie-jeebies if things are very cheap as can't help worrying about how they've been produced (not that lots of posher stuff is any better).

wow soph are you a fashion pr or something?

what about this lot?

www.cravematernity.co.uk

lol @ formes being 'more affordable'.

no i just like the thought that you're going to look fabulous whilst preg! and i love researching.

the long links were cut and pasted from googling btw!

I might be going to London this week. Whereabouts is Hennes Marble Arch? same side as Selfridges? Is their maternity better than at Oxford Circus?

mazzy thats understandable, and I must say not indulging in clothes whilst pregnant did get me down.
If you can afford it then go for it, but i'd personally rather save, especially as you get so little wear out of maternity clothes.
I'd much rather buy cheapy ones and treat myself once back to normal size.