The mundane
Aug. 18th, 2011 09:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiI went to try and find some maternity pants for work and the fall/winter. I have plenty of shirts and skirts to get me through this whole experience. Why is this so difficult?
Target has next to nothing (despite their offerings on their website). They had a pair that I liked but could use the next size up (which of course they didn't have). Motherhood Maternity had limited options - tons of shirts, less dresses, and only a couple of pant styles. Not a huge selection! I did manage to get one black pair that fit perfectly, and asked if they had them in other colors. The medium black fit me, but the medium gray and tan were too tight (of course, they didn't have any large gray or black for me to try).
I did get a couple pairs of tights to wear with the skirts and few dresses I have - post Labor Day we have to go back to wearing hosiery at work. They only had 2 pairs at Motherhoood maternity in my size! I have plenty of stockings but the garter belts won't fit anymore (and I don't trust the thigh high/stay ups to actually stay up).
I was told that some Baby Gaps have a small maternity section in them - not the one in Burlington. The Old Navy website said that the Burlington location sold maternity clothing - not so. I was feeling defeated and didn't have the cope to try the Kohls in that area also, as traffic worsened and I just wanted to get home. I hate shopping - I love to just run in, get my thing and get out of there. I have been putting this off for a long time. :)
We were out in Framingham/Natick last night so that Brian could hit the Walmart there and buy more foot lockers for yet more armor (Walmart had no maternity!), and we hit Savers. They had all shirts and a couple of dresses - no pants! I did pick up a tank top and an Old Navy Maternity Halloween t-shirt, though those won't help me for work pants. There was no time to try out the Old Navy there (supposedly the one in Framingham has maternity) or the Baby Gap in the Natick Mall (the store I was specifically told sold stuff there). We got out there by 7:00, had dinner and then only really had an hour to hit the places we needed to go. That Walmart is terrible and it is always a long, frustrating ordeal to get in and out of there. Not a Walmart fan, but sometimes they are the best option for armor storage/transport, unfortunately.
Who knew this would be so difficult. There is also the challenge of figuring out where the clothes would be: near the baby stuff? near the plus size? mixed in the regular women's section? I could of course get to sewing some things for myself, but messing with weird panels in pants and strange mixes of fabric (some stretch, some not) in the same garment isn't something I'm looking to do. My local thrift stores have had a lot of shirts and dresses, but little to no pants. I'm thinking that women only have a couple of pairs, wash them to death, and then have to throw them away when they are all done with the process. :)
Again, I'm doing quite well if this is my primary complaint about pregnancy at the moment. It would be less of an issue if my workplace wasn't so business. These are the cushy, second trimester worries!
I did bring a few things up to the attic despite our going out. We're going to get the donation and trash stuff out of there on Saturday morning (need Brian's truck to do it - a lot of stuff), will bring up the remaining stuff that needs to go in its spot, and then we'll have made huge headway in getting the babe's room organized. At some point we'll need to get a crib and a rug for there, but not until the other stuff is out.
Target has next to nothing (despite their offerings on their website). They had a pair that I liked but could use the next size up (which of course they didn't have). Motherhood Maternity had limited options - tons of shirts, less dresses, and only a couple of pant styles. Not a huge selection! I did manage to get one black pair that fit perfectly, and asked if they had them in other colors. The medium black fit me, but the medium gray and tan were too tight (of course, they didn't have any large gray or black for me to try).
I did get a couple pairs of tights to wear with the skirts and few dresses I have - post Labor Day we have to go back to wearing hosiery at work. They only had 2 pairs at Motherhoood maternity in my size! I have plenty of stockings but the garter belts won't fit anymore (and I don't trust the thigh high/stay ups to actually stay up).
I was told that some Baby Gaps have a small maternity section in them - not the one in Burlington. The Old Navy website said that the Burlington location sold maternity clothing - not so. I was feeling defeated and didn't have the cope to try the Kohls in that area also, as traffic worsened and I just wanted to get home. I hate shopping - I love to just run in, get my thing and get out of there. I have been putting this off for a long time. :)
We were out in Framingham/Natick last night so that Brian could hit the Walmart there and buy more foot lockers for yet more armor (Walmart had no maternity!), and we hit Savers. They had all shirts and a couple of dresses - no pants! I did pick up a tank top and an Old Navy Maternity Halloween t-shirt, though those won't help me for work pants. There was no time to try out the Old Navy there (supposedly the one in Framingham has maternity) or the Baby Gap in the Natick Mall (the store I was specifically told sold stuff there). We got out there by 7:00, had dinner and then only really had an hour to hit the places we needed to go. That Walmart is terrible and it is always a long, frustrating ordeal to get in and out of there. Not a Walmart fan, but sometimes they are the best option for armor storage/transport, unfortunately.
Who knew this would be so difficult. There is also the challenge of figuring out where the clothes would be: near the baby stuff? near the plus size? mixed in the regular women's section? I could of course get to sewing some things for myself, but messing with weird panels in pants and strange mixes of fabric (some stretch, some not) in the same garment isn't something I'm looking to do. My local thrift stores have had a lot of shirts and dresses, but little to no pants. I'm thinking that women only have a couple of pairs, wash them to death, and then have to throw them away when they are all done with the process. :)
Again, I'm doing quite well if this is my primary complaint about pregnancy at the moment. It would be less of an issue if my workplace wasn't so business. These are the cushy, second trimester worries!
I did bring a few things up to the attic despite our going out. We're going to get the donation and trash stuff out of there on Saturday morning (need Brian's truck to do it - a lot of stuff), will bring up the remaining stuff that needs to go in its spot, and then we'll have made huge headway in getting the babe's room organized. At some point we'll need to get a crib and a rug for there, but not until the other stuff is out.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 01:21 pm (UTC)My problem wasn't pants, though. My problem, somehow, was that the shirts that were appropriate for work didn't fit pregnant busty women. I know that has changed, but geez!
Good luck. You might also consider putting out a "wish list" on your local freecycle list. Someone might have maternity clothes in your size sitting around. :)
Maternity
Date: 2011-08-18 03:21 pm (UTC)Pants kill me in general. I have to try them on to make sure they fit OK. Freecycle/thrift is fine, ording where I can return is fine (albeit a pain). But I hate shopping - I'm very much of a 'go out and just get it' kind of person. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 01:45 pm (UTC)I work in a business casual environment, meaning khakis and polos for guys and slacks and blouses for girls - and the dress code is eased for pregnant women, for sure. People are understanding about the fact that pregnant women need to be comfortable. I'm sure if you found a nice pair of non-descript black or grey pants, no one would blink an eye if you wore them every day.
I just ordered from BabyGap online. The Cambridgeside Galleria has a maternity section, but it's small. The selection is better online.
the Old Navy stuff looked cheap to me, not work appropriate. Their baby clothes are cool though.
have you seen this place: http://www.isabellaoliver.com/maternity-clothes/us/100/maternity-pants.html?viewall=true
It seems to me that if you could find one _good_ pair of pants for work, you'd be all set, even if that pair of pants were expensive, you'd wear it so much that the price-per-wear would be reasonable.
work pants
Date: 2011-08-18 03:22 pm (UTC)My office is business (not business casual), so I can't wear the khakis (hence, why I'm having this issue - there were some lovely pants in your stash that I couldn't get away with here unfortunately). I did get that 1 black pair. I'm hoping to find at least 1 or 2 more.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 03:43 pm (UTC)I ended up buying two pairs of chinos from ON: one khaki and one black. Those were my go-to work pants for a good chunk of my pregnancy. I also got a nice gauzy blouse from there.
My biggest score was a garbage bag full of maternity clothes from a mom on Craigslist. Most of the clothes were in excellent used condition, and some were new. I still wear the black Gap maternity t-shirt as a workout t-shirt. ;)
ETA: it was a pain, but eventually I found some good stuff at Target. Target and Old Navy have good clearance sections, try on things that are L and XL or XXL. They might work even though they technically aren't maternity, especially tops.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-20 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-29 08:09 pm (UTC)Crib
Date: 2011-08-30 12:11 pm (UTC)I have to coordinate with you to come and buy/take things from you. :)