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Pregnant Pause: Shopping for maternity clothes
Filed under: Your Pregnancy
This is my second pregnancy, so you'd think I had some clothes from the first time around. Instead of small in summer to large in winter, I'm pregnant in reverse this time. It's still damn cold up here in Canada and the cute floaty summer dresses that got me through my second trimester just aren't cutting it.
(And there's the small fact that my pregnant brain can't actually remember where I stored the box of maternity clothes.)
So I dragged my sister out to the mall a few weekends ago. First stop, Motherhood Maternity. Their ads always show some glowy blonde looking very fashionable sporting her bump. We're in the store for nearly 10 minutes and no one has bothered to acknowledge our presence. The staff are deep in conversation and the clothes don't look that hot close up.
We skip Thyme Maternity (where I had some success last time) and head straight for the Gap. I need some jeans. Stat. I am so much happier in the Gap. The same Gap jeans I've loved for decades, just with stretchy waistbands. Hallelujah! I can't believe I'm spending $80 on jeans I'll be wearing for 6 months, but I convince myself I'll hand them down when my girlfriends get pregnant. Just like Kristin was saying the other day, I still can't get my head around spending 200$ on maternity jeans. I'll just stretch out my old lo-rise Sevens when I need some jean-tucked-into-boot action.
My last two stops are my faves when it comes to mat wear. H&M and Old Navy. You can't beat Old Navy for basics like ribbed tanks and simple tees. And H&M always manages to make something so stylish your deluded brain makes you think you'll wear it post-baby, too.
So many of us today are not content to hide in a corner when pregnant. I want to flaunt my bump! I spent the last 15 years of my life sucking in my tummy. Now I'm ready to let it all hang out. It seems that finally, stores are responding and making flattering and affordable options for us preggies.
Where do you like to shop for maternity clothes? Are you finding things that flatter you?
(And there's the small fact that my pregnant brain can't actually remember where I stored the box of maternity clothes.)
So I dragged my sister out to the mall a few weekends ago. First stop, Motherhood Maternity. Their ads always show some glowy blonde looking very fashionable sporting her bump. We're in the store for nearly 10 minutes and no one has bothered to acknowledge our presence. The staff are deep in conversation and the clothes don't look that hot close up.
We skip Thyme Maternity (where I had some success last time) and head straight for the Gap. I need some jeans. Stat. I am so much happier in the Gap. The same Gap jeans I've loved for decades, just with stretchy waistbands. Hallelujah! I can't believe I'm spending $80 on jeans I'll be wearing for 6 months, but I convince myself I'll hand them down when my girlfriends get pregnant. Just like Kristin was saying the other day, I still can't get my head around spending 200$ on maternity jeans. I'll just stretch out my old lo-rise Sevens when I need some jean-tucked-into-boot action.
My last two stops are my faves when it comes to mat wear. H&M and Old Navy. You can't beat Old Navy for basics like ribbed tanks and simple tees. And H&M always manages to make something so stylish your deluded brain makes you think you'll wear it post-baby, too.
So many of us today are not content to hide in a corner when pregnant. I want to flaunt my bump! I spent the last 15 years of my life sucking in my tummy. Now I'm ready to let it all hang out. It seems that finally, stores are responding and making flattering and affordable options for us preggies.
Where do you like to shop for maternity clothes? Are you finding things that flatter you?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-17-2007 @ 8:51PM
MelG-F said...I actually am having a hard time finding cute maternity wear. I'm also plus-sized and will be working in a very professional environment this summer (re: business suits). Apparently no pregnant plus-sized women need business suits that don't have bright flower prints on them. I've seen stuff in catalogs -- OK, only JC Penney -- that looks OK, but nothing spectacular. If anyone could point me to cute, well-made plus sized maternity, please let me know!
Reply
3-17-2007 @ 10:01PM
Ethel said...MelG-F,plus sized is hard to come by, Lane Bryant should be offering a line soon (the store not the catalog, the catalog has a line that is ugly but fits): http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/pagebuilder/lb_maternity_landingpage?PAGEID=1617
If you want the catalog, just Google. JCPenney's plus sized maternity runs small and short, which means the tops really match Motherhood Maternity in tininess. If you are fat and short, good for you, if you are 6' and fat (I was and am) I'd try Lane Bryant's line.
Reply
3-17-2007 @ 11:17PM
Crystal said...I'm borderline plus sized, and I found some cute things in Motherhood Maternity. Some MM stores have a plus sized section. I also found a plus size tankini that I LOVE.
If I'm not mistaken old navy has plus sized maternity clothes. Only in select stores or on oldnavy.com
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 12:48PM
MelG-F said...Thanks for the suggestions! I looked at the Lane Bryant online, and it looks like they may have what I need! I just wish that they had it in stores -- they probably will, right after I give birth, ha ha (just as Old Navy and Gap did with my first child).
I'm at the cusp of Old Navy and Gap, but I might be able to find some cute stuff. I'm more worried about the the business formal clothes I need. The MM store I went into the other day had one smushed plus-sized rack, and I'm worried about their return policies, they're so rigid. I may try the outlet -- I had good luck w/my first pregnancy there.
Thanks again!
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 1:15PM
Tara said...I found Old Navy to be a godsend because they carry XS sizes. I have a tiny frame and a size Small in most maternity stores left me with baggy butt. The last thing any pregnant woman wants is unflattering clothes. I probably would have liked Gap too (assuming they carry small sizes and they are related to Old Navy) but I am also cheap and Old Navy fit my budget.
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 12:11AM
Katrina said...I love oldnavy for materniy. They have things to fit tiny women, normal women and plus size. My only issue is the sizing is NOT consistant. I bought 2 pairs of the same jeans....1 fit (actually room to grow)....the other would not have fit me if I lost 50lbs....yet the lable said they were the same. When I called customer service (I buy online) they werent surprised at all. And I have yet to find a shirt (in any brand) that is long enough-especially when im 8/9 months preggo.
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 11:39AM
LS said...I was pregnant before Lane Bryant started their maternity line, in fact, I wrote an angry letter to them asking why they DIDN'T have one.
Anyway, at the time, I could find absolutely NO clothes that fit me, and I was barely a plus size - in my "normal" life, I was a 16-18. In my 6th month, *nothing* fit. So I got creative... I looked in the fitness section for stretchy, but not fleece, exercise pants, and loose but stylish tops. I looked through different sections until I found skirts (mostly), shorts and pants with elastic waistbands and a "generous" fit. I was due in Sept, and wasn't working, so admittedly, I didn't need anything extremely fashionable, but I was able to put together an acceptable wardrobe that didn't make me look like a pregnant bum.
Reply
3-19-2007 @ 11:47AM
Mammacheryl said...I'm a plus-sized pregnant lady as well. For my first pregnancy, I was dressed head to toe in JC Penney. This time around, I'm trying to find some other places. I've ordered some stuff from Motherhood Maternity (Sizes XL and XXL). I'm an XL on the bottom, but an XXL on the top. My biggest problem is the tops. Maternity shirts tend to have empire waists for obvious reasons, and they cut in right below the breasts. I don't know why, but my ta-tas are a big too big for these shirts, and the seam usually falls at my nipple level. So I have to get shirts a size too big just to fit my boobies. -- I found a couple tops at Kohls (Sz XL) too. But here's the deal with one of those... There's a cute neckline/tie detail. But it has beads on the ends of the ties. And the first thing my toddler did was bite them off. Talk about chocking hazard!
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3-19-2007 @ 1:29PM
christine said...Right now I am wearing a Motherhood Maternity long demin skirt, an H&M blouse, and Uggs. I feel very fashionable!
Tha Bay (eaton centre location) has an amazingly large maternity section. I bought a few sweaters and shirts there, but the bulk of my stuff is from Motherhood or Old Navy.
The staff at the Motherhood store in Yorkdale practically fall all over themselves to assist... what store were you at? and the Motherhood outlet in Mississauga is a great place for deals. I got a pair of (slightly damaged, but you totally cannot tell) cropped jeans for $4!!
Reply
3-26-2007 @ 6:29PM
Jovana from Baby J's Boutique said...Hello Ladies, just like many of you... I also struggled to find maternity clothes that were trendy, and affordable. Well... let me share the cutest designer clothes I found and now sell in my boutique. Unfortunately, we don't carry plus sizes, but will be soon!
Our website and retail store are currently being built, but you can find our Boutique Store at
http://stores.ebay.com/Baby-Js-Boutique?refid=store
We have monthly drawings for great prizes!
Jovana Johnson
Owner, Baby J's Boutique
Reply
3-31-2007 @ 4:44PM
LK said...I am on pregnancy #4 and gone through a lot of maternity clothes, and Motherhood clothes don't hold up. If you think you might want more than one kid, don't shop at Motherhood. Gap and Thyme maternity clothes have by far held up the best. I have worn some of my Thyme maternity clothes for a total of 3 years, and they still have the original spring. A high quality bathing suit is a great investment too.
Reply
4-02-2007 @ 3:39PM
shoppingsmart said...Salutations from Europe! I am not familiar with the stores you mentioned, but bought some maternity wear at H&M when I was pregrant. Good value, although the pants were sagging. Didn't fit properly. I encourage you to take a look at my web site, as I recently wrote something about maternity wear:
http://www.smallshoppingworld.com
Reply
11-24-2007 @ 11:13PM
Kathy Parisien said...I am the aunt of a pregnant young woman and we are both wondering what the purpose of the zippers are in the "duo" maternity shirts. They are only on the left side of the shirt and run from the armpit to the hem. If anyone can fill us in, please let me know. Thank you!
Reply