Become a Member
The Jewish Chronicle

Pregnant? Bump up the volume

No need to sacrifice style when you are expecting — the high street has much to offer

January 21, 2010 14:40
Ruched tank dress, £99, Isabella Oliver (www.isabellaoliver.com)

ByJan Shure, Jan Shure

2 min read

It really is possible to look fabulous when you are an expectant mum, even though you may feel elephantine and uncomfortable. And it isn’t necessary to spend the earth either, which is good news because if you are about to give up work or have already given up, you won’t want to splash vast amounts of cash on clothes which are strictly for maternity.

And do not delude yourself that you will wear pre-baby clothes post-baby. With the possible exception of maternity jeans — which will be invaluable for the first three post-baby months — you really, really won’t want to. All you will want to do after six solid months of wear is shove them into a bin bag ready for recycling at an All Aboard shop.

Happily, where the high street was once a wasteland for maternity clothing, expectant mums can now trawl Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Gap, River Island and Marks & Spencer, which all offer maternity ranges. A specialist like Mamas & Papas has a huge collection, although prices are higher than on the high street.

The internet has probably been the biggest blessing for mums-to-be. All the things we hate about shopping in the real world — cramped fitting rooms, AWOL assistants, overheated shops, exhaustion — all of which are magnified when you are pregnant, can be avoided by shopping online. And while it is a real benefit for first-time mums, for baby-bound second-time-around mums, internet shopping is utter bliss, allowing them to buy at home without having to shlep an easily-bored toddler on an excursion that will doubtless end in tears — mummy’s if not infant’s.