Plus-Sized clothes verses Maternity Clothes

myskyegirl · July 2012

Hi Fellow Preggos,

When I first became pregnant I was finally down to a size 10 and now in my 15wk I'm in-between a 12 and 14, with the 12 being snug and the 14 a bit loose. I started looking at maternity clothes, but they are so expensive and I'm on a budget. I don't have a problem with buying plus-sized clothing if it means saving $.

How many ladies how here have stuck with plus-sized clothing and which have only bought maternity, and which do you think is better?

jillychris · July 2012

Maternity are much better suited to your growing bump, the extra fabric will be in the right spot, whereas at some point, you'd have lots of extra fabric hanging everywhere if you buy plus size to.fit your bump. Try t.sever, or m.otherhood m.aternity...usually very reasonably priced. Eta: target...not tsever. Who knows what my phone is doing this morning!

katiekate_ga · July 2012

My pre-pregnancy size was 16/18. Plus size clothes give your belly the room but also everything else. There are some cute shirts that work great. Pants are where I struggle. The legs, crotch area and the butt are where the plus size stuff doesnt fit me. I would suggest trying some stuff on.

tobysnuggles · July 2012

My grandmom mentioned to me just buying plus sized clothes instead of maternity, but the way I look at it either way you are buying new clothes so I'm not sure where the savings are coming from. I would hope that I wouldn't have to wear the big clothes after birth, just like I hope not to have to continue in maternity sizes. Plus it's my 1st child so I figure I will be using these clothes in the future. Have you tried target and old navy? I've gotten really good deals and haven't spent a fortune on maternity clothes. I have 3 pairs of pants I rotate and some plain color maternity tees, plus like 4 dresses. Oh well, people will start to see different combos of the same clothes but I only need things to get me through about the last 4 months. Up until that point I was able to wear normal clothes + a bella band.

Also - at 15 weeks you may be fine with regular pants, but there is no way now I'd be able to live without maternity pants, especially jeans. Buttoning them under your bump will be really annoying every time you sit down (IMO) and that's the point I got to in my regular clothes when I switched to maternity.

amb5353 · July 2012

I invested money in a couple pairs of full panel capri's. I think they are the greatest thing ever. I have only bought a couple maternity tops. If you find empire waist tops they normally fit very well and don't look to silly, you don't even have to get these in plus size if your lucky.

Take a look at your local 2nd hand stores, yard sales, and Craigslist.

Delphianraven · July 2012

There are a couple things you can do. If the price for maternity is too much, try shopping at kid's resale shops (they usually have maternity discounted), thrift stores and/or the good will. I've picked up many pieces of motherhood maternity as well as old navy maternity brands at all of these places. Everything from dressers, to pants, to shorts and some t-shirts.

I personally couldn't justify spending thirty dollars on a pair of pants that I was going to wear only a few months. After you are done with them you can hang on to them if you plan on having a second or sell that back to the resale shop for store credit to buy your lil one clothes or anything else you might need.

*LrCg* · July 2012

Athough I'm not a plus size, I rarely buy maternity cloths. I've always just bought a size or 2 up (and generally I go to the junior departments and then I get a really large size since juniors are so much smaller because juniors are much longer- or I specifically target misses shirts that are long). I like going this route because after birth I don't fit into any maternity stuff but wearing the bigger size cloths looks and feels so much better until I can get into my pre-pregnant cloths. I always tell my friends go to a second hand shop when you are 5 months pregnant and buy a pair of jeans that fit right now because after you have the baby maternity pants will be way too big but those jeans will first perfect the first 2-4 (or whatever) weeks it takes until you are in your pp jeans.

Eaky77 · July 2012

Plus size shirts you can get away with. Pants, not so much. I found JC Penny had some really cheap, and cute maternity pants. Cheaper than plus size actually. I am on a very tight budget, and even they fit the budget!

myskyegirl · July 2012

Thanks ladies! Smile You've given me some great ideas. I have no idea that Old Navy had a maternity clothes, I do like Old Navy. And I hadn't thought that children's consignment shops sold maternity clothes, there is on in Somerville, MA that I'll have to try. I'm definitely going to invest in a Bella Band though. I'm also hoping to get up the outlet mall in Wrentham, MA.

I'm a bit leery of Craigslist, has anyone used it to buy clothes, maternity or otherwise?

cedenton · July 2012

Totally different fit and you'll grow out of the plus size clothes faster than you would maternity so I don't think you'll save much $. Try consignment store, thrift stores, Burlington Coat Factory (GREAT prices), clearance racks, friends who've had babies (got a ton of my clothes this way, though I didn't ask, they just offered, and even Craigslist and Ebay.

PittPurple · July 2012

I lost about 50 lbs. couple years ago and saved all those clothes thinking they would come in handy now. They haven't for me, I'm the same size legs with just a very clear bump. I can't stand having anything digging into my stomach now so I got some maternity jeans. Shirts are easier, I had several longer empire waist flows tops that I'm using but I think I'll need proper maternity stuff soon. I've found great stuff on eBay if you don't mind used.

cporfido1981 · July 2012

As a fellow boston girl , go to Burlington Coat Factory ...

myskyegirl · July 2012

cporfido1981:
As a fellow boston girl , go to Burlington Coat Factory ...

Just discovered a maternity consignment store in Salem, MA. Going to try to check it out this weekend, and I'm going to see if I can get over to Burl, Coat, the closest one to me is in Peabody. I need to see if the bus goes up that way, I don't drive.

chance_encounters · July 2012

Goodwill...well really any 2nd hand store and craigslisr are my friends

saved lots of money there!!

christinasullie37 · July 2012

I can't afford maternity clothes from motherhood either and I actually found that walmart.com has a decent selection of maternity and it is super cheap. The only problem is that you can only get it online. For casual weekend stuff I have resorted to plus size elastic pants. They fit my belly but have a lot of extra fabric below that but for weekend stuff I don't care. I only by the good stuff for work since I have to be profesionally dressed.

cporfido1981 · July 2012

Go to Billerica , off route 3 .

cporfido1981 · July 2012

or Braintree, 5 corners . Near the plaza is one

skibi83 · July 2012

prncebride:
Thanks ladies! You've given me some great ideas. I have no idea that Old Navy had a maternity clothes, I do like Old Navy. And I hadn't thought that children's consignment shops sold maternity clothes, there is on in Somerville, MA that I'll have to try. I'm definitely going to invest in a Bella Band though. I'm also hoping to get up the outlet mall in Wrentham, MA.
I'm a bit leery of Craigslist, has anyone used it to buy clothes, maternity or otherwise?

Just an fyi, Old Navy Maternity sizing is different then regular sizing so if you can go to the store and try some on do that before you buy online. I find target and kohl's to be some of my favorites and they seem to be pretty true to size.

kbhaynes · July 2012

Maternity clothes will be a much better fit, IMO. Either way, you are still buying clothes. Shop yard sales, goodwill and craigslist for maternity clothes and only buy a few pieces from the stores that you will wear all the time, appropriate for all seasons. I had lots of luck at yard sales and found some great stuff for super cheap.