Ugly, ugly

Well, I've looked everywhere and there are no good-looking maternity clothes. My oldest (of three) daughters is having her second baby in July and we went shopping yesterday. Destination Maternity is a store here which carries Mimi Maternity, A Pea in the Pod and other brands under the same roof - and it's all ugly! I checked out Sears, Motherhood and Penney's today - ugly, ugly. And cheap-looking.

Who decided that the "look" for pregnant women is an empire line (which hits most pregnant breasts about the nipple) and thin, jersey-like fabric which clings so closely that nipples and bellybuttons are in high relief? Ugh.

Looking back on pictures of me in maternity clothes back in the 60s and 70s, I'm surprised I wasn't arrested they were so short. But they did cover the vitals. They were dresses (for the most part) which hung from the shoulders and were made of thicker fabric. They didn't disguise the pregnancy but they didn't thrust it in the face of passersby, either.

I'll bet they were also more comfortable and cooler (a big advantage for a big, hot body) as well as being easier to navigate the frequent bathroom stops.

I had the bright idea of finding a maternity jumper dress made from a wool crepe or light gaberdine which Elizabeth could wear with or without a blouse or T-shirt underneath. She could wear that to the office, to lunch or even out for dinner with appropriate accoutrements. I couldn't find anything like that. They do have denim ones with cutsie embroidry, but anywhere you would wear that, you could wear jeans.

Maybe I'll have one made (I gave up my sewing machine after the disaster of the purple velvet pants suit, which I made with the nap going up on one leg and down on the other.)