Plus sized Maternity Clothes?

[Tinks]

Where do you buy maternity clothes over a size 18?

My sister is about a size 22, we went shopping for maternity clothes but there was nothing over a size 18. She has grown out of her normal clothes and needs something other than trackies to wear. She ended up getting some size 26 tops from Kmart but she will probably grow out of them towards hte end of her pregnancy.

Surely there are funky maternity clothes out there for bigger girls? Does anyone know where?

[Shanti]

Yeah "apparently" you have to be tiny to be pregnant
I found it hard getting maternity wear and I'm a size 16-18...i could only ever find nice maternity clothes in sizes smaller it was so frustrating!!!! I know Kmart is pretty good with their clothes.... has she tried online?
Hope she finds something and reasonably priced. Sounds like there is a gap in the market there.... need more clothing for the bigger sizes.

[Counting Days]

good luck maybe try ebay or internet but could end up $$$

[Sterla]

Yeah "apparently" you have to be tiny to be pregnant

It's ridiculous! I'm a bashful size 18 , and I found it really hard to find clothes. I basically lived in a pair of black maternity pants I got from Target. They looked a bit like business pants, but were stretchy at the top with no buttons or zips. I was still wearing them at 41 weeks!
As for tops, sometimes it was just better to buy the plus sized tops a few sizes bigger. Perhaps not overly flattering, but by the time I was full term I didn't care, lol.

You're right Renstar - there really is a gap in the market.

[Danni]

ebay has a few shops on there but not many. its depressing hey

[Just Me]

I have ordered maternity clothes online and noticed that some of them do seem to have some of their range of plus size. Try searching for plus size maternity wear on the internet - a whole heap of hits came up when I did it just then with sizes up to 26 & 28.

Internet ordering is really good - there is soooo much more range than what you can buy in department stores at the moment (most of which is pretty dismal) and there are no other places to buy maternity clothes in Townsville so I had to. Most of them will let you return what you order if it doesn't fit and let you try a different size or go for a refund. You can also find lots of really good specials on the internet of end of range stuff in one or two sizes. I got a black satin maternity skirt in size 16 reduced from $90 to $15 in one of my orders. I love a bargain!

I hope your sister can find some maternity clothes - half the fun of being pregnant is dressing your bump

[Tinks]

Twonsvillegirl - Are the sizes generous or small?

[angelaartsstudent]

Give me a few weeks and I will be selling mine if she wants 2nd hand.

Have tops and bottoms I'll be selling.

The maternity jeans I have are a 24 from memory (but I can check) and have only been worn a few times.

[Tinks]

Thta would be great. Let me know when you do. She is desperate for jeans especially.

[Just Me]

I think it depends on the different brands of maternity clothes. Most of those clothing sites have sizing charts so she will need to have a tape measure handy so she can decide what size she needs. If the place she is buying it through doesn't have a sizing chart, she could probably look up the individual brand and go to their website to find a sizing chart.

I think that is the hard part about buying maternity clothes on the net. Because they don't have to be as fitted as non-maternity clothes, I find they are bit more forgiving if they are tiny bit too small or a tiny bit too big.

[alipetrina]

I've just bought some maternity jeans and dress trousers on ebay. They are Pumpkin Patch and their sizing is realistic and generous (at least for trousers). They have a measurement chart on their website.

Ali

[Astrid]

Last pregnancy I got my "maternity" wear mostly from Autograph. Thankfully the fashion was very maternity like, so I would just grab a size bigger and look for stretchy clothes. I did pick up the odd item from Target that was an 18 and a few left over from last pregnancy. I found most actual maternity wear only did me for the first part of my pregnancy. I did get some work outfits online, but I found the quality awful for the price along with the style, they did not get worn second time around.

For jeans, definitely Autograph and look for the ones with extra stretch. Grab a belly band, I think ebay may have some larger size ones, for the last month or so.

[Tinks]

Thanks Astrid, I'll check out Autograph with her.

[Astrid]

Thanks Astrid, I'll check out Autograph with her.

Hopefully the ranges are suitable this year for maternity. I would often tell them they should have a specific maternity range, as the shop assistants would comment that a lot of pregnant women shopped there. Good luck!

[ACJ]

I am a size 18-20 in maternity jeans and fit into a Large in pumpkin patch jeans so maybe she should try a XL in there and see if she fits them. Very comfy too.

[Just Me]

I find that I am a medium in Pumpkin patch skirts and pants but a size 16 normally. During my first pg I bought a skirt from pumpkin patch in a Large and it was still falling down by the end of my pg. Their clothes are VERY generous in the sizing. I am usually a medium in skirts and pants from there. I am still a large on the top though.

[briggsy's girl]

you can look at Autograph online - a lot of their stuff is shaped to be flattering to ladies with bigger bellies, so it cuts in under the bust and then flows - i have lots of Autograph stuff i bought pre-pg and have been wearing all the way through. love their stuff. they also have a newsletter you can sign up for and a "membership" card (which is free) - i think it's this week if you spend more than 100 you get a 30 voucher to spend later in May. and ummmmm, they have 20bucks off all knitwear at the moment too.... pants - the have lots of elastic waisted styles - so comfy. if you sign up for membership online you get a voucher to use in the next 2 months too. i can never remember the website but tend to google 1626 cos that's what they used to be known as....

if you're looking online - maternity revolution have lots of plus sized stuff and cheap=ish - but not sure if there is much in the way of dressy clothes or more just casual - really depends on what kinda stuff you're looking for.

i've managed to, as a plus sized girly, get through pregnancy without a single item of "maternity" clothing - i couldnt' see the point. the one thing i've had most trouble getting is plus sized bras - if you want pretty - well, it just isn't happening!

[Tinks]

She's having maternity bra issues atm too

Thanks heaps for your suggestions BG!