maternity clothes suggestions....

[Anonymous]

I am just about 24 weeks and believe I am ready for maternity pants. Any suggestions for someone who is tall and lean (5'9" size 4)? I am willing to buy the "fashionable" jeans such as Joe's or Seven's, but need work pants. I typically buy my work pants/suits from JCrew so I can get the "tall", but they don't sell maternity clothes. Also any suggestions on stores to purchase maternity gym/yoga shorts/pants?

[Anonymous]

I'm taller and I bought some really cute jeans at The Gap. I've always worn the long-and-lean jeans from there and they have them in maternity as well. I also know Mimi Maternity and a couple other specialty stores sell designer jeans.

[Anonymous]

Pea in the Pod has the best maternity designer maternity jeans - although expensive, well worth it. I am very similar sized and have loved them. They make them with this new "Secret Belly Fit" - which goes over the belly and is seamless. That is nice so you dont see the band through any fitted shirts!

[Anonymous]

I purchased several work outfits at the Appleseed in Old Town. My work is a step above business casual, but no suits so the clothes available there were perfect for me. I also purchased a few key items at A Pea in the Pod. And I purchased one fantastic pair of Seven jeans that look more like trouser pants. They're dark denim and worked for a more casual Friday work look but also something fun when going out. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Well, I am not your size (unfortunately!) but definitely recommend Gap because you can order your pre-pregnancy size and long lengths and they fit well. Not the best quality, but considering you only wear them for a few months, that never bothered me much.

[Anonymous]

I also bought two pair of work pants from Appleseed. One black and one brown so I could constantly rotate them. I was impressed that their work pants were not marked up. Just as expensive as non-maternity pants. Plus, the owner was very good and knowledgeable how I would likely grow throughout my pregnancy. I actually do not care for Pea and a pod. There sales people are pushy and not helpful. They do not give honest recommendations on what looks good. Plus, their return policy is horrible!!!

[Anonymous]

I typically buy work clothes from JCrew as well and I have been most happy with the maternity work clothes I have gotten from Isabella Oliver. They aren't cheap (although they are no more expensive than Pea in the Pod), but they are great quality and nearly everything comes in similar colors and fabrics so that a few pieces all work together to make more outfits than you might imagine. In particular, I recommend the "tailored trousers" in black. I am 5'5" and generally wear 3" heels -- I had to have them hemmed by a couple of inches so I would think they'd be perfect for you.

www.isabellaoliver.com
tailored trousers are here: http://www.isabellaoliver.com/maternity-clothes/maternity-trousers/Tailored-Trousers/D/30100/P/1:100:1030/I/TR43

[Anonymous]

I'm about your size and I love my Gap maternity tall pants with the roll panel. I am in my 27th week now and just got them in week 24. I did have to order a size 4 when I would have been a 2. I never shopped at gap pre-pregnancy because nothing fit quite right but these pants just fit my new shape really well. They are just black, straight leg, no fuss and I can wear them a bunch and nobody notices I am wearing the same pants all the time. And they have slash side pockets! What I really like about them is that they don't look like maternity pants and when I wear them with a tight top there is no line from the top of the panel. I splurged on jeans, got some nice secret belly true religions at pea in a pod, but didn't find one decent pair of work pants in there. Everything was overpriced, bad quality and too short. Good luck. The other thing about Gap is that even though a lot of stuff in only available online you can return it to any gap or they give you free returns by mail.

[Anonymous]

PP here. For exercise stuff check out Old Navy. And Old Navy and H&M have some inexpensive tops for work also. The H&M on F Street has maternity clothes where I got some tops and a pair of pants (that don't compare to the Gap pants), but it is a limited selection.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely go with the Gap. I am also tall, size 6 though, and always need to get "tall" or "long" pants and I got a GREAT pair of pants at the Gap. I got them in black, brown, and a light grey and they were perfect for work, looked great, and were very comfortable. I got my Chip & Pepper pamela jeans at Nordstrom online. They don't have them in store, but I just ordered my pregnancy size and they fit perfectly. The jeans are a splurge but definitely worth it. I wore them all time.

[Anonymous]

Motherhood doesn't generally have especially nice stuff BUT they have these new jeans that are absolutely awesome. This is my second pregnancy. I've tried tons of jeans... I probably have like 10 pairs - that I hate. Anyway, check out the secret fit by motherhood. http://www.motherhood.com/Shop_MotherhoodMaternity/SecretFitBelly.asp?website_Id=1&MasterCategory_Id=0 I LOVE these jeans. It's all I seem to wear now. If I had gotten these from day one, I wouldn't have any others and my husband says that the back looks good and not like pregnancy jeans at all.