Is it just me or are maternity clothes at the moment completely hideous?

[MadameCheese]

I'm probably, realistically a size 16. Has anyone of a similar build found any remotely flattering tops? I don't do flowery or short sleeves as they just don't suit me . The colour range too is so boring. I'd quite like to get a white smock/kaften type top but ones I've tried have been like sacks and also see through (what's that all about?)

It's me then, doooooooh!

there was a piece in the newspaper about this - apparently in recession maternity ranges go out of the window - from the manufacturers/shops' pov they're not worth it

They are really, really crap. I've been getting desperate. Jojomamanbebe have got some nice bits - I just got a really lovely 3/4 length sleeve breton boat-neck dress from there. I'm desperately hunting for something to wear to a few weddings and can find nothing that isn't frumpy as hell. Really bloody annoying.

Oh, they are hideous.
I had some lovely things from when I had ds nearly 4 years ago. This time I have found sod all. I am tall so everything is at half-mast too if it is not deliberatly long and floaty.
I've ended up in mainly regular smock tops with maternity trousers - H and M aren't bad.

Tall maternity basics here?

I have bought from the main bit and the clothes are nice/wsh well.

Yep, desperate choice this time.

I've bought a few non-maternity tops in bigger sizes, a couple from Sainburys - a long floral shirt with pintucks that create a gather over the bump, and some t-shirts.

I hate short sleeves too, but being due in August means I'll have to wear something shorter or boil. Really envy anyone pregnant who has good arms for vests...

H&M summer stuff might be coming in? - sale just finishing.

Phew glad it's not just me then . I did find one top from H&M which I bought, it has both short sleeves and a floral design I do have to wear a cardi with it though. I'm not sure about when the season changes so I assume it's the spring stuff out at the moment? Thanks for all your suggestions, will try ebay and sainsbugs.

I hardly wore any maternity clothes when I was pregnant a couple of years ago (and I was a size 16/18 and had polyhydramous (sp) so I was huge. Almost everything I saw was horrid.

I just bought stuff from the high street in size 18 that could accomodate a bump. Things like skirts with elasiticated waists and baggy sleeveless tops from new look and dorothy perkins.I was pregnant throught the height of summer so I also bought those kaftan type things you get in summer and wore those. You can get maternity denim pencil skirts and minis and cropped jeans. These would look fine with tops and t shirts from the taller ranges in some shops (longer so cover the bump)

You can also look in the plus size sections , say in new look and get things like elasticated linen trousers and tops.

It was all cheap and cheerful and I binned it once I had given birth. In hot weather I only cared about comfort really although I did have to look ok for work.

Have you tried asos?

There are a couple of nice tops there breton or light denim shirt or white shirt

Next isn't to bad. Their maternity jeans are comfortable with a huge over the bump band that works well.

i am more like an 18 but the 16 was fine on me so they are generously sized as well.

not bad for tops either.

Have just been on a desperate shop as normal things just weren't cutting it.

Gap have got some very nice bits in at the moment - got a couple of very nice simple vests (stripy with ruching around the belly and lace edging at the top) and some lovely shorts - just above the knee, slight boyfriend cut with turn-ups. There's a 30% off voucher on Martin's Money Tips at the moment, so felt very justified in my purchases!

Did, however, spend 5 hours trawling every shop in Bluewater looking for a maxi-dress with wide enough straps to accommodate my maternity bras and my 8 month bump in August. Any suggestions?

Am wearing stretchy stuff from Whitestuff, Dorothy P & Debenhams rather than maternity wear, as agree am struggling to find things I want to wear.

My favourite online maternity shop is everyday maternity but it's not exactly cheap, although they often have nice things on offer.

How about Asos
Asos 2

M&S has been pitiful this time. a few trackie bottoms and Lycra vests do not make a proper maternity range.

I'm just grateful I didn't throw out my old maternity stuff from two years ago.

I love Seraphine - real clothes for grown up women who happen to be pregnant. Can't afford it new so all mine has come from E-bay.

MadameCheese, I'm a size 18/20/22 so my options are non existant

seraphine and Isabella Oliver completely out of my size range and budget - am resigned to looking like an elephant dressed in a 6 sleeper tent for this pregnancy

have you tried New Look?

Ebay is your friend. I've bought the vast majority of my things there this time round. There have been some misses, and you do have to keep an eye out for things you like all the time, but my maternity wardrobe is now better than my normal one (which isn't saying much).

Also, you know that maternity things haven't been worn that much. Buy things ahead of season - e.g. I bought my now / summer stuff in January.

I'd recommend Isabella Oliver too. When I was pregnant I bought a couple of things from there, and thought it was a fortune. However, I wore them all the time - they looked fantastic from the "barely showing" to full out "when's the day" stages.

I actually thought the £50 or so I spent at Zara and H&M was a waste of money, as it always made me feel fat. IO made me feel fabulous and it was very comfortable.

oh and the quality of the Isabella Oliver stuff is really REALLY poor considering the cost of it

try going to Tesco/ASDA/Evans/Matalan and just buying clothes in larger sizes too

I am mostly wearing H&M maternity leggings or GAP maternity trousers with cheapy primark tunics a size or two too big.

H&M and GAP are the best of a bad bunchat the moment if you do go for proper maternity tops.

I had this in blue and wore it all the time, yet it never looked old.

Also liked this black top - lovely to dress up or down, e.g. with linen drawstring trousers at home or with tailored trousers for work.

Have to say, the IO bits that I've bought I've found to be quite poor quality. But that is clearly going against the vast majority, so don;t listen to me!

Hmmm, I am thinking of selling on some of my maternity stuff size 18-20. Maybe this would be a good time then to declutter and share the fashion love?

yes aarghhelp it would . Great suggestions everyone. I've had a look at some of the websites you've suggested and for the most part I think I'd avoid that kind of clothing, I'm just not fashionable or girly. Also am I the only one who dislikes tops that hug the bump? Big old tents for me then

MadameCheese - my friend has very kindly brought me a pile of her matty clothes as I gave them all away after DC3 - they are ALL flowery/patterned/embroidered to within an inch of their life and not what I would normally wear - budget stating I should suck it up and wear them but I just can't bring myself to do it - off to the Rogers & Rogers section in Matalan and New Look for me

best of luck and remember its only for a wee whilst so whilst Isabella Oliver might be lovely (however crap the quality) unless you can manage to keep it clean and sell it on (never going to happen with me and the 3 dc) then its a huge waste of money

additions direct/mamas & papas were others that I used as well