Maternity style -- help required, please :)

[electra]

The last time I had a baby was 2003, and at that time all maternity clothes only fitted literally at the time you were about to give birth (before this they looked like tents on me)....which left nothing to wear in between 12 and 36 weeks. Is this still true or have things moved on?

I'm struggling a little. I'm nearly 16 weeks, usually a size 8 and my size 8 Topshop jeans topshop are on the small side anyway!) are getting too small because of my emerging bump but I'm not sure what to buy now.

So does anyone have any tips or recommendations?

TIA

bump

Bump Bands are fantastic for the in between stage www.mamafeelsgood.com do some, and their maternity tops are really funky and take you through your pregnancy without looking mega baggy and gross.

I would say if you want a more fitted feel order a size down in their maternity tops.

Topshop Maternity is pretty good, they also do bumpbands.
I got some very reasonable jeans from Next last time; they were the comfiest, most flattering maternity jeans I ever had and also the cheapest!
JojoMamanBebe have nice thiings; I got a lovely knee-length denim skirt from there, looked great with boots and tights.

You could try non-maternity jumper dresses and wrap dresses; I see no reason why these won't work

isabella oliver

I'm 8 too. Am 19+2, and around 16 weeks bought some great wide-legged black trousers for work from New Look - £20, really comfy and don't look (too) cheap, some under bump jeans £12 in sale, although they are still a little too big. Am LOVING my carpenter baggy jeans from Blooming Marvellous (£25, I think), although their tops are still too big (a friend did tell me that BM tops were the only things that still fitted her at 8 months, though, which is a useful tip for later). Also have Isabelle Oliver mini-skirt but size 1 (6-8) strained a little on the hips, so got size 2 instead and it's really comfy and cute, too.

Other than that I find non-maternity jersey dresses (wrap or otherwise) from H&M are great in a size 10. I reckon they'll last me till 7 months.

Am loving those mamafeelsgood tees. Never heard of them before - they're fab!

H&M have maternity stuff in different sizes and a good range, also they're not too expensive. I had a pair of skinny jeans and a denim skirt out of there that I wore when I was still quite slim and I grew out of them. I think things have (thankfully) moved on since the days of tent dresses.

I really like Gap maternity stuff and had a couple of nice tops from new look

I've 7 weeks to go and normally a size 8. I've been living in knitted dresses (non-maternity) and am still buying size 8- so they'll fit me afterwards too.

Got a couple of lovely ones in Gap kids sale for about £8 in age 13-14! Gorgeous grey one in H&M for £12.99, one in Zara kids for £12.50 and a couple from LaRedoute.

When I'm not in a sweater dress I'm in maternity skinny jeans (vertbaudet), top and cardi.

My 'capsule' maternity wardrobe came from H&M - great tops, combats, etc. Got a "BellaBand" which is the same as a bump band. Excellent for wearing my regular jeans. Also there are plenty of swing jackets and empire line/ smock tops in the regular depts of Top Shop and the like.

Gap, Gap, Gap, Gap, Gap.

And stretchy t shirts from Primark, at £2 a pop, I got a couple in a bigger size every few weeks.

Thanks so much for your replies

So, at 16 weeks do you think I should actually buy maternity clothes or try to improvise a bit longer?

I've put a picture on my profile so you can see how much of a bump it is

Aw what a lovely 16w bump! (I'm finished with pregnancy now and miss it I know - I crazy )

If I were you, I'd buy a really nice slightly stretchy non-maternity jumper dress (+ some comfy cosy flat boots if you don't already have some) and leave it at that for now. Maternity jeans won't fit you properly yet, and you might be able to hold off until the sales

h&m had some good clothes when I was preg - fitted all the way through. I also wore them afterwards & they looked fine.

improvise!! try leggings, tan boots and extra long tops/jumpers look great and comfortable... no pulling up jeans and no need to buy maternity clothes...

Thanks again! Lots of good ideas

Can anyone advise - is Isabella Oliver small or generous?

Isabella Oliver is smallish - their size 1 is 6-8 which was OK but pulled a little, so I've gone up to a size 2, and I'm an 8 like you.

Cute bump

Ooh, yes, and Gap is lovely too. Got a really nice maternity dress from there the other week.

Thanks daisyj - will be interesting to look at the Gap stuff.

i used isabella oliver and formes for workwear

Did you rate them Ronaldinhio?

Ooh, Isabella Oliver have a big sale on. Some sizes not available, but worth a look as stuff up to 60% off .

Blooming Marvellous current A/W stuff is lovely I think

get one really nice pair of mat jeans (I have JBrand love story and wear them all the time)
mat vest tops/t-shirts from somewhere that does good basics, wear with long cardigans (I think they are called 'boyfriend cardis' now
and nice boots

Isabella Oliver stuff is gorgeous but if you have norks the tops won't work... Only for the small breasted - or I found that you have to layer with vest tops underneath all the tops come with really plunging necklines. If you are size 8 you should be ok though! they have nice going out clothes esp the wrap tops

I loved Isabella Oliver enough to have just looked at their sale stuff although I'm not pregnant
R4eally decent weight to their jersey so that it falls properly and drapes well
Washed very well, looked stylish and smart and I didn't feel a whale in it

Thanks! yes that's what I'm looking for - something that doesn't make me look like a whale