The days when pregnancy clothes resembled circus tents are, thankfully, long behind us. These days, even top designers are lending their cachet to maternity clothing and it’s not unusual to see maternity styles on the runways in Paris and New York.
So if you’re looking for trendy maternity clothes, you’re in luck. You can find them all over the place –in retail stores, online at sites like A Pea in the Pod, and in consignment and thrift stores.
Few things compare to going into a maternity boutique and trying on all the latest maternity fashions. Most maternity boutiques have a fake “tummy” you can wear so you can get an idea of how the clothing will look as your own baby bump grows and develops. Keep this in mind so that you can take advantage of seasonal sales. Lightweight fall clothes can easily double as a spring wardrobe, so keep your eye out for fall clearance sales during the winter season if you’re due in spring.
In addition, most retail stores have online counterparts. There are even a few maternity stores that only operate in the cyber world. The advantage of shopping online is that you can do it at your convenience – even in your pajamas. This is especially handy for expectant moms who work and have a hard time getting to the store, or moms who are on bedrest and can’t go out shopping. However, when you order online, be sure to check shipping charges and return policies – you don’t want to be stuck with a garment that doesn’t fit or isn’t as the store described.
Ebay is another great place to shop online for trendy maternity clothing. You can find gently used, as well as brand new, maternity clothing on eBay for a fraction of what you’ll pay in a retail setting. Another bonus of shopping online is, of course, that you aren’t limited to the offerings of any one geographic area, which is especially handy if you live in a rural area without access to many maternity boutiques. But, as with any online shopping experience, consider the seller's reputation, shipping costs and return policies before you buy.
Finally, the real unsung hero of maternity clothes shopping is the consignment store. After all, maternity clothing gets very little wear, and unless a subsequent pregnancy happens in exactly the same seasons as a previous one, you end up with maternity clothing that has a lot of life to it that you can’t wear anymore. Many of these garments wind up in consignment stores, where the people donating the clothing receive a small percentage of the final sale price.
Be sure to also check thrift stores, as well as consignment stores. Thrift stores often have lower prices, and you can unearth some really great finds if you’re willing to look. For best results, visit these stores often, as their inventory can change on a near daily basis. If you’re looking for something in particular, be sure to mention it to the store manager – they’ll often keep an eye out for you and let you know if something you might like comes in.
To find out what the latest hot trends in maternity wear are, check out popular online celebrity sites like People's Celebrity Baby Blog or InStyle's maternity section. You might be surprised to find out how easy it is to dress like a celebrity and enjoy your pregnancy like a star.
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