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Original poster

WHERE on earth can I find 'nice' maternity clothes????

26 replies

hannahmary · 20/08/2007 13:34

Actually...somewhere in the Hampshire are would be best!
I was dragged around Chichester and Portsmouth on Sat and we didn't find A SINGLE pair of maternity trousers. I don't feel like I'm asking for a lot, just something that I can be comfortable in that doesn't make me feel like an idiot. Lots of people we asked just said "oh, just buy a couple of sizes bigger" and "the style is baggy at the moment anyway, just go to...fill in name of place where they sell brightly printed flowery tops that I wouldn't usually ever wear". My friends were falling over laughing and I felt like I should go into hibernation for 6 months. I can't just wear flowery empress waist tops because it will be winter soon and the rest of my body is not getting that big so whats the point of buying size 12/14 trousers????
What has everyone else done? if buying on the internet did you just get your own size and hope it was adapted for maternity?

OP posts:
Jazzicatz · 20/08/2007 13:35

Next maternity are always good.

kitsandbits · 20/08/2007 13:36

topshop do maternity

GooseyLoosey · 20/08/2007 13:36

H&M always had a surprisingly good range if Next stuff doesn't generally fit you.

kitsandbits · 20/08/2007 13:37

these are nice

scorpio1 · 20/08/2007 13:37

Isabella Oliver.com (no gaps and small letters)

scorpio1 · 20/08/2007 13:37

Ebay?

Original poster
hannahmary · 20/08/2007 13:48

cool thanks guys...we went into next and h&m and topshop (in ports and chichester) and were told they didn't have anything! but againt the question about how do you know if it will fit on the internet as you are not the same as your regular size...when you have a good idea?

OP posts:
Nip · 20/08/2007 13:50

dorothy perkins had some lovely stuff when i was pregnant and H&M

Original poster
hannahmary · 20/08/2007 13:50

ahhh, just followed the link, they are nice, AND they answer my sizing question!
cheers

OP posts:
ImBarryScott · 20/08/2007 14:04

Hannahmary - you're not a million miles from London. May I cordially invite you to visit us in the smoke?

The Oxford Street branches of Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, H&M and M&S all have maternity gear. I know it's not fair that they don't do these ranges in the rest of Blighty, but once you been once, you'll know your sizes and find it easier to shop online.

Jazzicatz · 20/08/2007 14:09

I was the same size in maternity clothes as I was pre-pregnancy. Next is best online, and the clothes last well and are not too expensive.

MaryJB · 20/08/2007 15:00

I did well with New Look - we have a big one in Chester - so they have maternity wear.
But I bought on-line - shopping centre mirrors mademe cry.
Try www.everydaymaternity.com

incy · 20/08/2007 15:09

In Southampton (West Quay shopping centre), the H&M has a maternity section as do the Dorothy Perkins and the Top Shop.

Next used to have maternity section but stopped doing it earlier this year.

I was always advised to buy the same size in maternity as pre-pregrancy and fit has always been ok.

Personally I bought most things from Isabella Oliver (online) which is fantastic.

MellowMa · 20/08/2007 15:10

Message withdrawn

incy · 20/08/2007 15:11

Should also add that the Debenhams in Southampton also has their Red Herring maternity section.

The M&S in West Quay doesn't stock maternity clothes but the M&S in Hedge End does.

I had a baby in May so I am good at knowing which shops in Southampton sell clothes for pregnant ladies.

incy · 20/08/2007 15:14

The nearest Gap maternity to us is in Guildford.

BellaBear · 20/08/2007 15:16

most interent sites say use the same size as you were pre pregnancy. I was size 12/14 so I went for 14.

MaryJB · 20/08/2007 15:21

Everyone says buy same size - but I was a 10 before - and found 12s fitted better in pregnanct stuff. Especially jeans - hated the tightness

florenceuk · 20/08/2007 15:58

I saw maternity stuff in Zara last week! This is in Victoria St, so likely to be everywhere.

I found that from about 7mths I had to go up a size esp in "smaller" brands (DP, Hennes).

Original poster
hannahmary · 20/08/2007 16:30

yaaaa...I will be planning a trip to Southampton this weekend then. I was thinking of accosting women with young babies to ask them what they did but seems as though I can save myself the embarrassment. I didn't want to buy online before at least checking out a 'real' shop to see about sizes so this has been really helpful

OP posts:
incy · 20/08/2007 16:47

Keep remembering other ones - Pumpkin Patch in West Quay has a maternity section. Good luck

shreddies · 20/08/2007 22:29

Another vote here for Red Herring maternity at Debenhams. When I was pregnant I bought a couple of really lovely stretchy jersey dresses in great prints. Gap maternity definitely worth a look, if I were you I would buy the best maternity jeans you can, as you ain't gonna get back into your normal ones for a while . I had crappola ones from H&M which I hated by the time I chucked them out. I bet the Gap ones are good

Gemy · 21/08/2007 15:30

Isabella Oliver for tops and dresses (found their trousers quite short and fabric a bit low-grade)

Maternity jeans from Seraphine.

FioFio · 21/08/2007 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MsMommy · 21/08/2007 15:50

These are pricey, but if you needed something for a special occasion...
www.tiffanyrose.co.uk/