Last week I posted that I felt stuck in a weird In Between Stage of my pregnancy in terms of my body. Thank you to everyone who commented. It seems we have people who didn’t buy any maternity clothes until very late in the their pregnancy, and we have some that wore them as early as 6 weeks. But I think the majority of the comments reminded me that comfort is key…and boy do I like comfort. So I figured it was time to bite the bullet and get a few pieces, and see what the maternity section was all about. All I can say is wow what an experience.
I started with Target in mind. I figured cheap was a good way to go. I really wanted maternity leggings since my leggings have been digging into my mid section and giving me muffin top. They really made me uncomfortable. To my disbelief the Target I went to DID NOT have maternity leggings?! I grabbed a few other items to try on, and felt that the dress just made me look even fatter, and since I couldn’t try them on with the leggings I decided not to buy the ribbed tanks. I left that Target empty handed. As I left I got frustrated! Sometimes, when I can’t find an item I just want it more, so I decided to try another Target in the area….
The second target was more successful. I found the leggings and tried them on with the ribbed tank. The leggings were SOOO comfortable, and the high waist slimmed out my midsection. I then tried a ribbed tank with them and realized that I just looked fat. My pregnant friend tells me that she prefers tighter clothes while pregnant because she thinks the more flowy items make her look heavier. At this point I have to say I disagree. I may have to stick with the looser fitting tops till my little bump forms more. I left Target with my goal item of 1 pair of maternity leggings. SUCCESS!
Saturday rolled around and my friend was going to Motherhood Maternity to look for a shower dress, I offered to go with her to help, and to be honest I was excited to see the store. Well what an experience it was! Let me paint a picture…You walk into the front of the store and the clothes look really nice. Like clothes that I would normally wear…jeans, nice shirts, cute dresses and all in great material. Then I looked at the price tag. My eyes bulged out of their sockets. $150 for jeans??!! $80 for a tank top?? $150 for a summery dress?? Ummm what? No way! Then my friend made me feel better and said the clothes in the back of the store are much more affordable…so I went to the back where I belonged. But the problem was that you could tell that the clothes in the back were just cheaper..they looked it. The material wasn’t as nice, the patterns looked cheap, and the bottom line is the clothes looked nothing like the clothes in the front. I may sound like a clothes snob right now, but I promise that I regularly shop at inexpensive places, and am very happy…maybe it’s because these clothes exist in the same store. It’s just not fair….”oh you can’t afford the clothes in the front? well let me usher you to the back where we sell our Mu Mu’s”..lol The clothes were perfect for a work type atmosphere, but if I wanted something for say a night out, there wasn’t much to choose from. I was bummed. Can’t there be a happy medium?
My favorite part of the store was the little fake bump they give you try on so you can see what you are “supposed” to look like at say 7 or 9 months. But I say it’s a crock! I put on the 7 month bump and I must admit I looked kind of cute. I wore leggings and that little ribbed tank with the bump, and I was happy. But what the bump doesn’t account for is the extra weight gain in the arms, legs, thighs, face…and pretty much the rest of your body. I should’ve taken a picture of with the 7 month bump at almost 11 weeks, and then compare it to what I really look like at 7 months. I am sure it will be nowhere close!
So that was my first maternity shopping experience. I hope that I can stick with my plan for now and wear summery dresses throughout the summer. I did buy a pair of cute white linen maternity pants from Motherhood and LOVE them. I plan on wearing maternity clothes FOREVER! It’s like wearing sweatpants everyday! Who wouldn’t want to do that?? lol Two thumbs up!!!
I think you should try again and go to JUST a Motherhood store, not the Destination or Motherhood/Pea in the Pod store. They have ones that are just MH, and maybe it will feel better to not even have to look at the expensive ones at the same time. I have had excellent luck at MH, BUT I have to buy a lot of professional clothes, so that could be part of it. But I’ve also found several pretty casual things, too…some jean capris that are adorable as well as some green cuffed capris that are very casual and really cute on. I’m a big fan of dresses, so I’ve had great luck with dresses for work or weekend there, too. Needless to say, I’ve managed to spend over $700 in that store and I’m only 16 weeks! (Thank goodness for several hundred in giftcards from credit card points and a really generous MIL!) I think I’m pretty set for a while but I wish I were near you and we could go together!!! Gap also has some maternity, and I think Old Navy things are cute online but the store I went to didn’t have much of a selection and they do run pretty big.
I say just enjoy it. I know it’s tough being in that middle stage (I still am), but I say buy some things that you enjoy for now and you can always get more later.
Lots of luck!!
ya maybe you are right. I still haven’t tried Gap, or Old Navy. I will give that a try soon. Yes I would love more people to shop with! when can ya come?! ?
I didn’t have good luck at motherhood either. I went there when I was 14 weeks pregnant and the girl looked at me like I was faking it, nice. I only ended up getting some jeans there. They were great, I must admit. I didn’t have any luck with Target either. You’re lucky you found some clothes at a different store. I found the clothes I lived in at Old Navy. They have great dresses, skirts, tanks, etc. Try them out. I was comfortable all hot summer long (my baby was due in September).
Maybe I should’ve tried on a few things…but the hanger appeal wasn’t so great. I have to give the old navy ones a try!
Oh ya, I’m stopping by from SITS! ?
Well, I think Motherhood (regular) is a little cheaper. Still, probably $50 for jeans and $30 for blouses. Not Target prices but less than what you saw before.
Also I have no idea where you live, but here in TX we have Ross (which is kinda like Marshalls or TJ Maxx) and they have a maternity section. The stuff is always really cheap and trendy. Yes, the fabrics are a little cheapers, but seriously, the prices are super awesome.
Stopping by from SITS! Sorry I’m so late!!! Hope your day was great.
I wonder if my marshalls has a maternity section? May be worth a look! Thanks for visiting! ?
Stopping from SITS! I got my favorite maternity clothes from Sears. They weren’t expensive.
I went to Motherhood Maternity for my first pair of maternity jeans, and I loved them. I still wear them sometimes, since I’m still not in my pre-pregnancy jeans.. And they were less than $40, if memory serves!!
Oh…I remember trying to figure out what to wear and the maternity clothes were so limiting.
Found you from SITs…I am a little behind on checking out FBs. Glad I found your blog! Congrats on the pregnancy…so exciting!
this is my first time here, so I don’t know yet if you are crafty or can sew at all — BUT have you thought about making your own maternity clothes? there are SO many tutorials online to work with. I made a pair for one my gfs. we bought a pair of jeans at target that she liked, fit her legs and butt, but didn’t fit her belly, and some supportive spandex material and elastic. they weren’t hard at all.
look on craigslist or try some yard sales. have any of your friends had babies? one of my other gfs has a group of ladies that shares maternity clothes. they just pass them around whenever someone gets pregnant.
stopping by from SITS! Happy Monday!
Thanks for visiting!! I am very far from crafty so I thnk any clothes making is out as an option. I wish I could though!
As for friends having babies I am in that stage where I am pregant at the same time as some of my friends…others who have babies we aren’t the same size or they’ve already given them to family. I was kind of bummed about that ? I was hoping to get a bag of clothes from some friends!
Since I want more kids I guess maybe its good to invest in some things..maybe visit a consignment shop?
If you dont have an Old Navy that sells maternity stuff, definitely get them online. For Target, I had to go to a bunch of different ones too, because not all Targets have a good maternity section. There’s one an hour away from my house that has a fabulous selection, and it’s probably a good thing it’s far from my house.
http://www.bumpbargains.com has some good stuff too. I got maternity jeans (the underbelly with the adjustable waist) from one of their sale and they’re wonderful. Motherhood also has some with the adjustable waist, but I bought mine online and from JC Penny.
Definitely try on, because everything looks huge in maternity. But you’re only 11 weeks, so keep in mind you’ll grow into it faster than you think. Good luck!
I actually do have an old Navy that sells it so I will have to check that out. I hesitate ordering online b/c things fit me so wierd. I have a wide waist and skinny legs so pants always fit wierd…Maybe once I get comfortable w/ the sizes?
Oh, and to answer your twitter question (my account is private, so I can’t answer your tweets) – I was hungry but so nauseated the entire first trimester it didn’t really work. But around 13 weeks the nausea went away and in it’s place was “feed me NOW or I’m gonna chew off your arm and eat it because this baby is starving and will punish me if it doesn’t get food in 0.5 seconds” mindset. I’ve been told I’m quite scary when I get hungry and food isn’t available.
My best tip…shop Old Navy. I loved it because they have long inseams…the prices are great and the clothes (in my humble opinion) are good quality for what you’re paying. I couldn’t agree more about Motherhood Maternity…they do a terrible job at their tiered pricing approach and execution…the lower priced stuff is aweful!!!
My other saving grace, believe it or not, was Forever 21. They sell so many flowy dresses in the stretch jersey fabric, that when you do start showing…they’re perfect!
Hmmm I like the idea of forever 21! I haven’t been there in forever..I do love me some flowy dresses!!! ?
I got tons of cute stuff at Gap. Once you know what size you are, you can order stuff online since they have a bigger selection online…and you can always splurge and get one great pair of jeans and one fun top and that will just be your go-to outfit. I wore my jeans ALL the time! And I’d rather have one great top than four that I don’t love.
Also, for the record, you will get tired of wearing the maternity clothes. I was SO excited, but then I reached a point where I couldn’t buy anymore and I got tired of wearing the same thing all the time with no option to buy something new. ? I think it was just the “no option” part that bothered me! AND, if you go two weeks late like me, most of your stuff won’t cover that “cute” belly bump and you’ll really be at a loss!! LOL
Good luck and enjoy every minute.
Ya i can see where options get hard…I mean you can’t buy a whole new wardrobe cause your pregnant. Looks like my friends will see me in the same outfit each weekend! hahaha I am sure the novelty will wear of quick to…so I should enjoy it while it lasts!!
I’m so glad you found something comfy to wear! I think that really is the most important thing. ?
Hey! These posts about the Inbetween Stage are so right. It takes me back. I remember just wanted to get to that stage where I “looked” pregnant and not like my jeans were just gettin’ a little snug.
Also, I am passing an award on to you. Stop by and pick it up!
Have a great day!
Def. stick with Old Navy and Target….. you don’t even need the clothing for the entire 10 months and I too was totally miserable with Mimi Maternity and Motherhood…. what was affordable I fouind good for a woman who is pregnant at 40, not 25-30!!!
I thought the same thing. The clothes looked “older”. I guess since I don’t have to go to an office every day I was looking for cuter weekend outfits…no such luck! I will have to try out old navy.
I have no clue where to shop and that kinda scares me whenever a BFP happens for me…I totally think you should go back and take a picture with the bump!!! ?
You should go back and take a picture!! LOL!
Oh yeah, I have an award for you on my blog!
Maternity clothes shopping is a big step! Congrats!!
Ya it is a HUGE step! But my belly and butt made the decision for me! lol
Saw you on SITS. Cute blog!
I live in Canada so have no opinion on Target or Motherhood Maternity (although MM sounds similiar to a maternity store here called Thyme Maternity, only way I bought anything there was on a really good markdown) but I agree with a bunch of your readers who recommended Old Navy. They are low cost and comfortable. We didn’t have them here during my first pregnancy but did during my second and I was soooo much more comfortable in my clothes the second time around. LOVED their maternity underwear, best ones I found.
Like a lot of the other people who have left comments, I got a lot of really great clothes at Old Navy and the Gap. I never found anything in the stores here, but the things I bought on-line were the same size as my unpregnant self. They even had my long and lean jeans in maternity sizes (although I didn’t really feel much of either, now that I think about it!)
I also agree that Motherhood Maternity was terrible. I walked in and then right out! My one splurge was a bathing suit from pea in the pod. Getting in a bathing suit was a HUGE step, and I wanted to feel as cute as possible :o) Well worth the money!
as others have said, gap maternity is great. i loved the jeans and wore them ALL THE TIME….and they were reasonably priced. i got a few things from motherhood maternity, but the quality wasn’t good. My suggestion is to go with a few really great pieces that you can wear with different things. the other thing that i wore a lot was a fitted tank top with a draped shall of somesort… it showed you were preggers, but still allowed you to not feel like you were in something too fitted. good luck!
I am glad that you found some comfortable maternity leggings! I was at Ann Taylor Loft yesterday and they have a special going on where some dresses are $25. They are loose fitting and have an empire waist. The one I got is very comfortable, and I think you definitely could wear it being pregnant. I agree with some of the other posts that Old Navy online is definitely a place to look. They have some goods deals and run specials with free shipping. I remember getting a lot of clothes from Old Navy online when I was just starting to wear maternity clothes. Good luck!
And let the shopping begin ? How fun! Your wadrobe will build- a piece here, a piece there. I only wore a few maternity pieces in the beginning- many of the styles now are flowy in dresses and tops and you can get away with non maternity, i think, for awhile. After about 5 months, most was maternity b/c of the bump. Dresses still for me were 80% non maternity. I was always on the hunt when we were out lol. It will be easier when the bump grows b/c then the clothes just fit and look better. However, I’m sure you look GREAT and will be totally all belly and just look fabulous!!!!!
Hey Jen-
Hope you’re feeling well ?
Have you scouted out Kohl’s? You can use coupons too!!
Their prices are pretty reasonable.
Happy Shopping!!
thought one-i was recently in the maternity section at old navy (for a friend’s sister) and they had really cute summer dresses. i even saw some actual pregnant women (lol!) shopping and wearing said dresses, and they looked very nice. thought two-reading about your sticker shock, i couldn’t help but think ‘oh just splurge!’ it’s ok to spend a bit more every now and then to get something that will make you feel really great, which i’m assuming is something one needs during pregnancy (and, well, any other time, too!)
Your right..maybe I could splurge on a good pair of jeans? lol You are right I have a feeling I will need something to make me feel good while I’m preggers! Thanks for the reminder!