5 May 2011

Maternity wear in Canberra, where is it?

| Hosinator
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Ms Hosinator has just reached the stage in her pregnancy where she now needs to start buying maternity wear.

So far she has been to Pumpkin Patch in the city and being a fussy girl she only found a couple of items to her liking.

We’ve looked in the yellowpages and noted that there appear to be only three stores in Canberra, Pumpkin Patch, Mama Wear and Maternity Styles of Manuka, is there any suggestions on which ones are better or if there are any other stores hidden around town.

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Try the Gap or Topshop websites – better range and much cheaper than what I found in Australia
http://www.gap.com
http://www.topshop.com

averagejoeaussie12:03 am 02 Jun 11

The Labor club, Belconnen………….

Ummmm….its 2011….its on the intertube thingy

Have Ms Hosinator try SES in woden
(lower level, near the toilets that are being refurbished), as i picked up lots of flowing dresses and tops very cheap (no more than $20 each!) that became my staples the entire time i was pregnant.

I was pretty unimpressed with the maternity wear options in Canberra, and the last thing I wanted to do while pregnant was traipse around all over Canberra looking for them! A friend got me on to a couple of UK websites, Dorothy Perkins and ASOS, which have good maternity wear options – it ended up being cheaper to buy online and have them sent here, than to buy online in Australia.

Plus, because they’re on opposite seasons you would now be able to get their winter wear on sale as they try and get rid of it.

My first maternity hurdle came for a wedding we attended the other month – I couldn’t justify spending $160 on a dress from a maternity store – luckily, Target in the city had a black dress that I was able to dress up and will be my ‘formal’ staple for the next couple of months.

I found the target pants that cross under the bump to be really good, and all weekend is spent in maternity jeans from Jeans West – two pairs for $109 and they’re super comfy.

I bought up on maxi dresses so they’ll be under other tops as long skirts as it gets cooler, and I’ve bought up in places like Cotton On where loooong singlets are the rage and are stretchy (and cheap) so they’ll last me all the way through. A few cardigans and shrug type things has also meant I’m able to stretch this warmer weather wardrobe a little further – at least until I finish work. It doesn’t hurt that I’m running warmer than I normally would, so layering singlets and tops under cardi’s is also practical.

Target and K mart are the best and there are heaps of on line stores. I found the best thing though were normal clothes with empire lines or wrap style in a size bigger than normal. That way you could wear them post birth as well

Oh, should have mentioned Maternity Style in Manuka also closed down a few years ago…

Baby Wombats in Belconnen had some maternity wear (or it least it did when I was pregnant a couple of years ago!) I remember picking up a couple of nice dresses there.

Good timing – we’re working on a maternity post for HerCanberra so I’ve got a bit of a list!

There aren’t a lot of options around town, and previous commenters have pretty much covered them, but here are some suggestions for mainstream stores to try and online stores. Hope they help!

In terms of mainstream fashion that can be adapted – I lived in Witchery basics. Their tops tend to be really long and stretchy, so can accommodate the bump.

Supre and Cotton On are also great for stretchy basics…and cheap.

Country Road has some great maxi skirts (can sit on or below bump and so comfy) and dresses at the moment which would be perfect for winter. Also long line singlets and tanks which she can wear under things and cover her bump.

Jeans – Yim jeans are fantastic – not cheap but look so good she can wear them for yonks after bub is born. http://www.yim.com.au/yim/YIM%20Maternity%20Jeans.html

Other online options are Egg Maternity – http://www.eggmaternity.com.au/ , Barefoot and Beyond http://www.barefootandbeyond.com.au/cart.php , Szabo http://www.szabomaternity.com.au/ , Ripe http://www.ripematernity.com/ and Queen Bee http://www.queenbee.com.au

There’s also the Canberra-based Dressing for Two – http://www.dressingfortwo.com.au/

Unfortunately Mamawear closed its Fyshwick store last December and is now an online only store.

I was fussy too. I looked in Target and KMart and found them to be utter cr*p, Pumpkin Patch was slightly better but had a very limited range of sizes. I didn’t know about the Tuggeranong or Manuka store.

Breastfeeding tops are a good consideration – I’ve realised that too now that our baby is born and I have very few clothes that fit me.

If your partner wants to spend a little bit extra I’d totally recommend she visits Metalicus in Woden. They are not a maternity store but use this awesomely stretchy fabric and empire line cuts that look very flattering on a pregnant body – plus she can keep wearing them afterwards because they are one-size and hug the figure. She should be able to pick up a few basic tops and dresses there at least.

I also bought online at ASOS with mixed results.

Canberra does suck for maternity wear. Target have great pants though.

Make sure you do keep breastfeeding in mind when buying tops, I didn’t and I am now finding my wardrobe more limited than when I was pregnant! Kmart have great breastfeeding tank tops in plain colours for less than $15. Team these with nice non-maternity cardigans and you’re set!

Both Target and Kmart have limited ranges but they are very affordable so you can buy more 🙂

Ebay is great for tops too, and you will end up getting functional tops so cheap that you will have plenty to wear at home and you can splurge on a few nicer tops for work/going out.

Good luck.

Maternal instincts in homeworld tuggeranong. They have a great range including plus size items.

The difference with shopping here compared to Target etc is the service. They know their stock, they can order your sizes in, they will fit you properly and they have a range of clothes from casual to evening wear.

The staff are excellent as well.

Target has some fabulous maternity wear items. Or at least they did last year. I lived in their maternity jeans. Most comfy things ever. Also ebay and online stores are your friends. Canberra sucks for maternity wear.
For shirts you don’t really need maternity ones, at least not till the very end. Just buy the next size up of the big flowy shirts that are in right now.
Oh and keep a look out for comfy breastfeeding tops for later…they are even harder to find. Can reccomend the bonds maternity singlets and bras. Super comfy.
Good luck.

There is a maternity wear shop at Tuggeranong Homeworld (not the mall) that has a good range of not-designer-priced clothes.
For size 8 pants, you have to go to the designer place in Manuka and promise your firstborn to pay for it, or go to the maternity fashion outlet (Mama Wear?) in Fyshwick (conveniently next door to Elaine’s Pies).
Target is OK for maternity wear, but KMart and Big W are not good. And none of them go below size 10.
Or just look for empire line maxi dresses and Britney Spears low cut jeans.

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