Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Maternitywear Supermarket Sweep in H&M - what to buy?

35 replies

MrsBadger · 01/03/2007 12:13

I'm going up to London for a meeting tomorrow, and this will likely be my first, last and only chance to get at an H&M (or indeed any shop) that has mat wear.

Any tips on what's good there at the moment, and/or any suggestions for summer mat wear essentials that I can be fairly sure I'll wear (no chance of returning anything)?

Any help gratefully received, also any tips of anywhere else in the Kensington / Chelsea area that does reasonably priced stuff.

(And yes I will be going to the LK Bennett sale shop on the King's Road to look at handbags )

OP posts:
Piffle · 01/03/2007 12:14

The basic v neck t shirts have been my wardrobe staple, wash very well, keep their shape and colour and last the whole way through.
not overly thrilled with some of the trousers though.

mamma2kids · 01/03/2007 12:30

I hated all my mat clothes esp the jeans with the stretch blue bit at the top as they always fell down. In winter wear track pants and long t shirts. In hot summer I did buy a mat dress that was so comfy (as no waist) that I would literally wash at night to wear again next day. Also long mat tops as hate the bare midriff thing (esp with falling down jeans).

Original poster
MrsBadger · 01/03/2007 15:26

any more for any more?

what maternity clothes could you not have survied without?

OP posts:
motherinferior · 01/03/2007 15:27

Hey, MrsB, I emailed you

Original poster
MrsBadger · 01/03/2007 15:28

oh god, so you did
no news as yet

OP posts:
pishwasher · 01/03/2007 15:29

how far along are you?
I was preggers during a hot summer and wore lots of skirts (H&M have nice non-maternity linenish ones that you can get in big sizes) also for the future they have nice BF bras and t-shirts

Gingerbear · 01/03/2007 15:32

£3.99 strappy vests - long in the body to cover all your bump and a godsend!(just buy a size or 2 larger than normal from non-mat section)
Cross over mock wrap tops with ruched belly are great.

Also - try Red Herring Maternity franchise in Debenhams. Fab dresses.

Original poster
MrsBadger · 01/03/2007 15:36

Not due till Aug so looking for really summery things to put away and whip out at the appropriate moment.

Hadn't though about getting dresses but they would be good in the heat...
[strokes chin thoughfully]

OP posts:
Gingerbear · 01/03/2007 15:38

Crave Maternity lovely too (online, not sure if they have shops too)
Crave

Original poster
MrsBadger · 01/03/2007 15:42

I have a veritable plethora of online links (homemummy, crave, push, seraphine) but this is my one chance to do real-life shopping!

OP posts:
motherinferior · 01/03/2007 15:44

Floating about somewhere in the MN ether is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge linen frock I purchased in one of my pregnancies, which went to WWW and then to Prufrock...

prufrock · 02/03/2007 08:22

And then onto harman....

Debenhams have actually got a great new range of maternity stuff in at the moment

incy · 02/03/2007 17:34

I was pregnant in the summer last time and lived in skirts and dresses. Must admit I am not a fan of H&M maternity (but I seem to be the exception) as their clothes come up very big. I love Isabella Oliver and their wrap dresses are lovely. They have also got some lovely white trousers which I would get but I am about to give birth in May so not really wort it.

Last time I also wore white linen trousers which could be worn with a variety of tops. I notice Top Shop maternity has some in and although I don't like their tops ( a bit young for me as I am 35 but you may be younger) I think their trousers are fab.

I also like the everyday dress from Homemommy which Geri Halliwell had (yes I know she's not exactly a style icon but I thought she looked nice late pregnancy!)

This time round I have lived in maternity jeans and Isabella Oliver tops but it has been the winter. TBH I think it is easier to look nice pregnancy wise in the summer as a nice dress looks fab.

incy · 02/03/2007 17:36

isabella oliver

incy · 02/03/2007 17:37

{http://www.hommemummy.co.uk/\Home mommy perfect day dress}

incy · 02/03/2007 17:38

home mommy perfect day dress

treacletart · 02/03/2007 17:39

Has anyone ever ordered from Piccu . Their stuff looks lovely but I'd never heard of them til I cam across the site last night.

incy · 02/03/2007 17:40

Top Shop linen trousrs

incy · 02/03/2007 17:41

Never bought from Piccu I'm afraid but it does look nice. Perhaps ask on the pregnancy thread as well X

Belgianchocolatesmama · 02/03/2007 17:43

When I was preg H&M did this most comfortable black jersey trousers. Rather than a jersey pannel with an elastic band, the whole trousers where elasticated, this meant no pressure anywehere and they stayed up! I lived in them and then my sil, who wore them till they fell apart.
I'd say definitely a few T-shirts, poss a pair of jeans, though I still have to find a comfy pair of mat jeans, tbh.
Maybe a simple, easy to pair with anything skirt. If you'll be big in summer, definitely a dress.
It also might be an idea to have a look at something a bit more dressy if you think you might be going out to a party or something in the next few months.

tassis · 02/03/2007 17:49

i loved the H&M black linen trousers that I got last summer with a jersey top

next have some lovely things as do Red Herring at Debenhams

Mothercare is worth a look - it's mostly horrible but I see the odd nice thing in there when I'm not pregnant!

TopShop is full of great tops that aren't maternity wear that make me look v pregnant!

(finally, sorry to contradict incy, but I think H&M clothes are small so if I were preg again I'd try large not medium as I out grow quite a bit of the medium stuff by 34 weeks - i'm usually a 12)

Belgianchocolatesmama · 02/03/2007 17:49

All these links look lovely. But am I the only one who could never ever afford any of those clothes? I wish there were more cheap and cheerful maternity shops out there like H&M

Belgianchocolatesmama · 02/03/2007 17:52

Just to add. I loved H&M as there trousers have long legs, as opposed to Mothercare which makes clothes for shorties , and which I must admit has not the most trendy selection in the world.
Tassis, Topshop now has a maternity range too, did you know. Not just normal tops that make you look pregnant

bambi06 · 02/03/2007 17:55

IVE JUST BOUGHT A PAIR OF BLACK STRETCH JERSEY MATERNITY TROUSERS from h&m and theyre wondeful and comfy .im going to buy another two pairs[they also have them in chocolate brown..they arent leggings but have nice shape to them..slightly bootcut even and then there is a wide elasticated waistband type thing which can go under or over bump, they keep there shape and so far have washed well..plus i bought loads of their basic white and black long sleeved tops which are a good fit although ive had to buy bigger size than normal..ima 12 and i had to get lare as they were too tight otherwise!

smurfey · 02/03/2007 17:58

I agree the clothes in mothercare aren't the most trendy and very short! i'm 5"2 and they're even short on me ;) Do most Debenham stores have maternity? Didn't know that and may give it a try. Agree with you Belgianchocolatesmama - there needs to be more cheap stuff out there. I'm still hunting for size 6 maternity...living in a pair of mat jeans my sister sent me from USA at mo. Only £15 for the jeans and posting!! normal clothes in lge size looking silly ..help !!!!