Maternity clothes: the good, the bad, the ugly

roo_baby

@RedBaramid let us know what you end up finding. I also need to find a wedding guest dress, but I’ll be in a lot of the family pics so I want anything with too bold of a print. I’m thinking maybe a Kelly green, medium blue or rust. In your case you might want some sort of subtle pattern or floral so it’s obvious in pictures who the bride is. I’ve found a lot of sparkly options, but with the bump I’m afraid I’ll look like a giant disco ball. And I don’t want to (literally) outshine the bride. 

cornichonmam

I didn't think I'd have much to post here as I live in the UK but I just found out the one of my favorite maternity brands actually has a US distribution center so the shipping is only $8 and free over $100. I bought 4 dresses from them with DS and most of their clothes are maternity and nursing, so I got a LOT of wear out of them. In fact the first two I got are looking a bit past it after get washed at least once a week for over a year. The prices are defiantly higher on the US site to the UK, but they do have sales quite regulalry, and they actually have a bunch of dresses on sale for $14 at the moment. As for sizing they run a bit large so if your unsure I'd size down.

It might be worth a look for some more options esspecialy if you are looking for maternity/nursing clothes. https://www.jojomamanbebe.com/

coldlife

I actually have a maternity dress from there! It was a gift, I think off zulily. I actually don't like it, but it seems like it's good quality, and the color is pretty. (It's a sweater dress, and it has a crew neck and 3/4 sleeves. I do dress fairly conservatively, but that's just too covered up for me, and I think crew necks are just unflattering on me.) 

charhar0820

I went grocery shopping today at the Superstore (Canadian store) they have a no tax deal on today on certain things including their Joe Fresh apparel. I’m always looking for decent (quality & bargain) leggings. Well today I found super high waisted leggings on sale for $9.94! They’re comfy, not thin but not too thick, I can grow in them as well. Super pumped. 

https://www.joefresh.com/ca/Categories/Women/Women-s-Pants/High-Waist-Legging/p/WS9B186143_0053

psychobutthead

@charhar0820 those look prefect to use while pregnant!

ziggymama06

Anyone have a maternity shapewear/spanx that they like?  I would like one to wear under certain dresses just to smooth things out.

[Deleted User]

@ziggymama06 I feel like there was something that semi worked for me last time, I will have to go look and see if I can find out what it was.  For the time being, what's been working for me or just regular tights or pantyhose, but sized up enough that I can pull them all the way up to my bra line. 🤷

ziggymama06

@BusinessWife Thanks!  If you come across what had worked for you last time, that would be great.  Funnily enough, non-pg I pulled my pantyhose up to my bra line!  Haha totally does the trick!

[Deleted User]

@ziggymama06 When you're ready for something more intense... Lol
<div class=" Spoiler"><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/c2/2zulbp9me65q.jpg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/c2/2zulbp9me65q.jpg"></div>

ziggymama06

@BusinessWife Yesss!  Thank you!!    

cornichonmam

@BusinessWife @ziggymama06 I've been pulling my tights up to my bra for years, it's cheaper and comfier than Spanx. I'd suggest getting some maternity tights if you can find them, they are so much more comfortable than regular and they won't be too big in the leg compared to sizing up.

[Deleted User]

Oof, I had trouble with maternity hose.  Do you have any brand you can recommend that might be available here?  @cornichonmam the ones I tried were just horrible how the seam dug in at the pantiline.  😩 Like legit the most uncomfortable thing I ever tried to put in my body.  Luckily I was able to return the second unworn pair at least bc that was a disaster.

gomillis

Can we talk about how freaking clingy most maternity dresses are? They truly leave nothing up to the imagination at the worst possible time. 

lachnessmomster

@gomillis Haha! I actually don't mind a few that are a little more form-fitting. This is a time when I'm supposed to look as ginormous as possible, so it's whatever. 😂

I do love a more flowy vibe sometimes, too, though. Good to have options! Hatchgal popped up on my Insta feed today with what looked like some promising flowy options. Haven't looked much further into the company, though. I'm too lazy to go back through and see if the brand has already been mentioned, so I'm just throwing it out there. 

gomillis

@lachnessmomster Form fitting is ok with me, but I have several dresses with super clingy, thin fabric that were just not flattering towards the end.  A lot of the maternity stuff I’ve seen seems to be made of this fabric. 

[Deleted User]

Yess @gomillis I get it, I'm big.  We don't need to hug and cling to every curve and leave zero to the imagination!!! 😣

ziggymama06

@cornichonmam Haha, glad I'm not the only one!  MH makes fun of me lol.  If you happen to have the name/link to the mat hose you like, that would be appreciated!  I also like having Spanx for when it's too warm for pantyhose.

@gomillis That is exactly why I want some type of shapewear!!  All the dresses are super clingy!!  I have a big booty and thick legs and I don't need my underwear line shown to the world, thank you.  NM my love handles...  I found a cute dress over the weekend on Pink Blush.  I'm going to try to hold off on buying more until I see how my bump is forming.  I'm so bummed that so many stores don't carry mat in store, only online.  How am I supposed to know how things will fit?!  And of course Motherhood is closing once I'm preggo, figures.  lol

ziggymama06

Another question... anyone have a rec for good footwear?  I'd like to get some new sneakers, etc that will be supportive (and hopefully assist in my feet not growing!!).  In the summer I usually wear flip flops everyday, so this is going to be tough!!

coldlife

@ziggymama06, I have small, medium and large maternity tops/dresses in my closet right now. 

And get this. I just was checking tags, and I have a small top and a large top IN THE SAME BRAND!!!!!!! that both fit me well. My brain just exploded. 

ziggymama06

@coldlife

coldlife

ziggymama06 said:

@coldlife

I was looking for a head exploded gif but couldn't find one that accurately portrayed my brain right now, lol. 

Liz Lange Maternity for Target, for the record.  Which isn't available anymore since Target switched to Isabel. I still love that brand and have several tops and a pair fo pants from there but definitely wouldn't buy online! 

cornichonmam

@ziggymama06 @BusinessWifeUnfortunate my favorite maternity tights are Boots (UK drugstore) own brand, so I don't think you'll be able to get them in the US. But they are different in style from a lot of other brands. They are like a usual pair of tights but the front seam has a V shaped panel set into it, and they are all made from the same material. Quite a lot of brands I've tried have panels in different thicknesses of knit but I found these cheaper simpler ones fit better. Hopefully you can find something similar.

@lachnessmomster I'm with you on the form fitting, at this point I just want to look pregnant and not look like I'm wearing a sack.

RedBaramid

What happened to empire waisted clothing for pregnant women? Why is it all BODYCON?! Still window shopping for a dress to wear to this wedding in June.. I'm regularly furious. 

coldlife

I'm halfway in between. I like flowy below the bust, but NOT above. There has to be something to make it fitted through the bust, whether it's a belt below the bust or an empire seam or whatever. If it's boxy all over, I think it just makes me look huge. 

I don't mind a little bit of form fitting, but not extreme. I have a sweater dress, but it's not super snug. No, banadage dress-type for me, thanks!

charhar0820

I ordered a pair of maternity jeans from old navy over the weekend.. they have the side panel stretch. They arrived today and I LOVE them. I’ve heard great things about Old navy maternity clothes but was hesitant since I’m not certain of sizing. It truly wasn’t terrible, I just based in what my size would be in their regular clothes. They have a lot of nice / cute dresses on sale as well! Form fitting AND flowy type dresses. Lots of stuff in their sale section plus a bonus code for extra savings!! 

laur84ns

@charhar0820 I get most of my maternity stuff from old navy! I frequently check out their sale/clearance section and they usually have an additional % off as well. I have had some issues with sizing though so I tend to order two of each item in varying sizes when I find a good deal, then just return the sizes that didn’t work in store. I found some cute summer dresses on clearance that I’m excited to wear when it gets super hot out. 

gomillis

@ziggymama06 I live in Birkenstock sandals all summer and suspect I’ll continue this summer. They’re really supportive and relatively stylish (if you are ok with a slightly crunchy vibe 😂). 

rivercitynik

Anyone have suggestions for wear to look for a bathing suit? I'll need one next month and I'm hoping to get something that can last me through the summer. 

tara4910

@coldlife I went looking for Liz Lange brand at target this time and was so bummed when I couldn’t find it! I have several shirts and dresses from last pregnancy by that brand and was hoping for more. I bought one of the Isabel brand shirts and the quality feels so much cheaper. 

I have 3 pairs of maternity jeans (one side panel and two over the bump) and I don’t really like any of them. They all slide down and look frumpy. In normal life I like high waisted fitted jeans, so I feel like maybe I just don’t like my pregnant body in jeans and should give up. I feel so lazy wearing leggings and pjs 24/7 outside of work. 

[Deleted User]

@tara4910 StitchFix just sent me The. Most. Amazing. Jeans ever!  They are actually comfortable(!) and also stay up.  I'm donating my old maternity jeans.  Then she sent me full or demi panel pants that actually fit. 🎉🎉🎉 Please let me know if anyone wants to try SF for maternity, 1. I will send you a discount code we both get to enjoy 2. They will send you clothes that actually fit + flatter.  I have been super-pleased with both of my fixes so far. 🤗

tara4910

@BusinessWife I’ve never done stitch fix. Will you message me more info?

ziggymama06

@gomillis Thank you!!  I have seen Birkenstocks listed in a few sites, but have never tried them.  I think I will need too!

@rivercitynik I ordered a bathing suit online from Motherhood and I actually really liked it and kept it.  Good luck!  Let us know what you find.

I'm actually really loving the full panel jeggings at Motherhood.  Sizing is a bit weird (usually a 6 in jeggings and I wear a large in these, possibly because I have thick legs?)... But they have a variety of colors, including black, and are really comfortable.  Plus since they are closing they are having sales basically everyday.

roo_baby

@tara4910 Stitchfix is so good! The pieces are a little more expensive than I might normally pay, but not crazy expensive (you choose the price ranges). And sometimes I get pieces a little outside my comfort zone but then I wear them all the time. I have a $50 referral code if you want it (or businesswife may have one too). 

WishesSheCouldCook

@rivercitynik I’ve noticed a lot of off the shoulder suits this year and that would drive me crazy! I also have an older dd so I envision flashing a whole group of people while she’s hanging off the front! Straps are a 100% must for me. There’s one at old navy I’m eyeing currently. 

[Deleted User]

I had a limited time $50 that I guess expired, and it looks like it's back to $25 now? 🤷 ETA @roo_baby

pengy16

@tara4910 if you don't mind pre-owned, check out poshmark. You can find all kinds of clothes on there, especially older brands or styles that most stores have gotten rid of and cheaper than retail. Sometimes you get someone selling new with tags items as well. 

tara4910

@roo_baby send me the code! Thanks! 🤗

[Deleted User]

@tara4910 YGPM

WishesSheCouldCook

I didn’t do maternity underwear the last time I wore VS thongs that were OS and super stretchy. They’ve changed them and now come in sizes that aren’t as stretchy and i don’t like them as well. I ordered some from kindered bravery this go round and I’ve been pleased. I got them from amazon for the free 2 day shipping. I sized up because some of my regular sized underwear had been cutting into my hips. 

https://www.kindredbravely.com/products/under-the-bump-bikini-underwear-assorted-5-pack

maelove

@charhar0820 @laur84ns I absolutely love old navy maternity. It is where most of my stuff is from. @rivercitynik I just got a really cute basic bathing suite from here and its perfect! 

@BusinessWife If its not from old navy, my maternity stuff is from stitch fix! I used it a lot with my first pregnancy, but haven't had any fixes yet for this one. The only down side is the price...but for those clutch items like jeans its worth it!