Maternity wear shopping trip in London?

[BallroomWithNoBalls]

Where should I head to? Ideally would like some kind of boutique that sells lots of different brands of maternity wear so I don't have to trek around, but realistically a few shops with good mat ranges and I can plan a day around them. Or do any of the naice department stores have an actual maternity department?

Thanks wise ones

You'd be surprised how few of even the main high street shops don't stock their maternity ranges in central London. Places like Next just don't do maternity wear in London.

No idea where you should go I'm afraid.

To be honest, I wouldn't really bother with a specific trip just for that - most of the shops have their maternity wear largely online only. It's really annoying if you want to see it in RL, but there seems to be v little on the shop floors. Of course there are still maternity brands like Seraphine (Kensington Church St) and some of the H&M stores have a maternity section, but when shopping w my, then pregnant sister, the answer was often "maternity wear is only online now"

I don't know about in London, but Debenhams tends to have Red Herring maternity in store. Also JJMB has a range.

Does the big Topshop on Oxford Street not do maternity?

There are very few that do it I store these days. Very annoying. ASOS is a good place to start.

topshop?

Yeah Topshop have it as do The Gap on Oxford Street and some H&M stores.

I just want to go shopping! I miss being able to hit Oxford St and come home with a couple of treats.

My hitlist is Topshop Ox Circus and then Kensington Seraphine. Maybe Mamas and Papas on Regent St.

Do M and S stock their mat wear in their Ox St branch?

I have used asos but want a rl shopping trip.

I asked in TK Maxx and they pointed to the plus size section

Do Gap definitely stock mat wear? I thought it was online only. That would be good.

Anyone know the best H and M for mat wear centrally?

mamas and papas on regent st (the one with the cafe) by Oxford Circus shut down.

Mamas and Papas Regent Street closed down a while ago.

Look, I work on Oxford St and did all my maternity shopping online. There really is nothing - Topshop Maternity is tiny and ad hoc, there's some bits in Primark, H&M Regent Street and ... um.... that's it. Unless you want to spend all day travelling between outposts of JoJo Maman Bebe, Mothercare and Seraphina in the suburbs.

Also M&S Marble Arch & Oxford Circus had no maternity clothes apart from bras and tights when I was PG last year.

Come to London for afternoon tea and other types of shopping.

There's not as much as you'd think unfortunately, but here's some ideas from last csummer so hopefully still correct!
Topshop Oxford circus
New look Oxford St (very small selection)
H and M Regent St (I thought it'd be the Oxford circus one, but no)
Debenhams Oxford StSt

Bizarrely shops you'd expect to have it e.g. the big John Lewis don't

Or you could try a leafy mummy area for the more high end shops e.g.crouch end, Hampstead used to have JoJo, Seraphine etc

GAP on Kensington High Street usually stock maternity wear (cos I always end up picking it up in sales and then realising in the changing room ) and H&M next door used to have maternity and I'm pretty sure I saw some downstairs in there last week. I would have thought that John Lewis on Oxford Street would have maternity stuff in stock.

I think this depends a little on your pre pregnancy shape. I was a size 10 and bought all my maternity specific basics online - bump bands, jeans and trousers. My favourite brand is seraphine. Shops just don't stock enough choice for you to find the right shape easily.

I then team maternity basics up with non-maternity clothes in different shapes, then a few nursing tops towards end of pregnancy. All you really need is either extra length on the top and a stretchy / jersey material on belly, or else a long line pretty and loose / floaty top. Jersey dresses are easy, especially wrap style, and you don't really need maternity specific ones until later on. This winter has been great for longer layered looks which flatter bumps beautifully.

This means by all means shop in London, but don't stop yourself going mad in whatever place you usually like to! You may find some gems.

Personally I really don't like the JoJo style of maternity wear, where everything has either stripes or a massive knot in the front and despite being the right size, just makes you look bigger than you are!!

Avoid anything too short and buy a lovely pair of flat shoes that you'll feel good in throughout would also be my tips. And scarves - they always look nice!

Have a lovely trip

John Lewis don't do it on Oxford St. Peter Jones on Sloane Sq has a very small Seraphine section but that's it.

Gap on Oxford St (the big one) always has some maternity - at least they did when I was pregnant in early 2013.

Thanks all! I'm glad I posted because I realised from your posts that it would be a mission. And I have zero energy at the moment so the energy requirements of Oxford St / tubes just didn't appeal today after all.

So I went to my local suburban town instead and had a nice browse. I bought:

These patterned trousers which are super comfy and lovely material, I think with a grey tee and flat sandals they will be fab.
And another pair of trousers which aren't on the website, basically these olive skinnies but with biker detailing at the knee and maternity.
This jumper in navy
And this black vest dress to go under slouchy jumpers like the above.
And two boxes of M and S mini bites for this evening.

I am very pleased with my haul