Help! Maternity clothes for occasions?!

[hunkermunker]

Why do clothing manufacturers seem to think you either go to work or slob around in tracksuits when you're pregnant?!

I have a wedding, a posh weekend away and a christening to go to between the end of August and the end of September (so will be about 20 - 24 weeks pg). Can't find anything that fits the bill!

Don't want black particularly, don't want mid-calf length or shorter and don't want my armpits on show. Is that too much to ask? It would appear so...!

Help! Find me something gorgeous! Or, frankly, adequate would do me at the mo!

[lunachic]

have you looked in blooming marvellous or jojomamanbebe give them a google

[lunachic]

next as well

[Halster]

Have you tried Business Bump? (google) - they have recently started doing smart going out stuff aswell as their business stuff.

[hunkermunker]

Have tried Blooming Marvellous and Next - will look at JoJo MamanBebe now.

[hunkermunker]

Will also try Business Bump - thanks!

[hunkermunker]

Nothing

[lunachic]

what you dont like anything there at all ?

[lunachic]

picchu vertbaudet laredoute ??

[hunkermunker]

I'm very fussy, Lunachic

[lunachic]

elizabeth oliver 'endorsed by trinny woodall' apparantly

[hunkermunker]

There are some lovely clothes there, don't get me wrong - but I am a peculiar shape and only certain styles of clothes fit me, let alone suit me!

[hunkermunker]

WOndering whether that's a good thing or not, Luna! LOL! Looking at your suggestions - fantastic, thank you!

[lunachic]

sorry its isabella oliver
i remember looking but it was out of my maternity wear price range ! it might be within yours !

[sweetkitty]

additions catalogue have some nice cheap things some formal stuff too

[gingernut]

What size are you? (sorry for cheeky question , but I have something that may suit, and I was thinking of putting it on ebay. It's a size 10).

[hunkermunker]

I'm a size 10-12, but have enormous boobs (and...oh...dear...lord, they're getting bigger!), hence things often looking peculiar (dresses in particular!).

[gingernut]

Hmmmm, I have teeny boobs but I can't remember how big the outfit was up top.

Actually, I have just found JoJo are still selling the exact same dress in their sale here for £9.99. I had it in the blue and wore it with an oatmeal jacket from Blooming Marvellous.

[hunkermunker]

I tend to need something with a bit more stretch than linen for boob-related reasons! Thank you for the offer though!

[gingernut]

Hmmm, yes I can imagine your problem. I guess that dress was probably small on top as well, otherwise I would have sent it back!

Hope you find something.

BTW, the jacket was lovely, is a swing style with no fastening at the front so if you find a dress but still need a jacket and think it might do let me know. Can't find a piccy of it at the mo.

[alux]

I have no exact suggestions HM but last Xmas I wore a non-maternity dress that was cut on the bias that was one size bigger than my normal size.

Because the cloth is cut on the bias, it pulls and moves differently from the normal cut so it may stretch over your boobs and bump if you can find a dress (mat or non-mat) like that.

[hunkermunker]

Thanks, Gingernut!

Have just been to all the different sites and have an Isabella Oliver brochure winging its way to me (but don't hold out much hope - short dresses abound on the site!).

Can't see anything suitable for me, thought there are some lovely clothes. Good idea re bias cut dress Alux - will have a hunt!

[SweetFudge]

HM, Are you near London? Bluewater shopping mall has a specialist maternity clothes shop called Cache Cache.

I'd the same criteria as you - got more and more exasperated. Pregnant does not equate loss of fashion sense or sudden desire to dress like a walking tent. Traipsed Oxford St major stores and looked at Formes catalogue (yeah, right. The models put me off. Mini skirts, little dresses, etc. Couldn't see my growing boobs squeezing into any of those tops without looking like overstuffed sausage), Isabella Oliver (too little variety for the money) and the other major online maternity wear stores.

Cache Cache were the business for me - good selection of clothes in all colours, many different cuts/styles and helpful, obliging assistants. Quite pricey but worth it as the 3 tops and linen pair of trousers (together with some formal Next stuff) I got were used for a number of swanky functions I went to. Got quite a few compliments about how unmaternity like/stylish my outfits were. Which helps as the pregnancy pounds start to make an appearance!

[Twiga]

HM, have a look at this website - some of their formal stuff is nice, having sale just now so may have to keep going back to it - funmum