Has anyone been shopping recently and attempted to buy a non-maternity shirt? What is going on with all the shirts? Really, ALL OF THEM. I challenge anyone to try to find a shirt currently in stock that is not cut for pregnancy.
Please see exhibits A and B below. The first photo is a shot of all 20 or so shirts I tried on recently, ALL OF WHICH had blousy mid-sections. In the second photo, I am shown wearing a shirt that APPEARS to be tailored, that has NO NEED for an expanding tummy panel, YET HAS ONE ANYWAY.
What is the deal? Women, non-pregnant ones anyway, have WAISTS. To avoid looking square-shaped, most women would like to accentuate this area. Why does the Fashion want us all to look dumpy? It’s a great time to be pregnant, that’s all I gotta say. You could do all your shopping in the regular section.
This is particularly unfortunate should you be a woman of child bearing age whose every friend and relation is having a baby. In the name of fashion, and for lack of other options, I’ve actually purchased a shirt or two of this ilk. I feel the need to always be holding an alcoholic beverage whenever I wear them, otherwise people understandably jump to conclusions. How stinking lame is that? As if my mother, all my friends, and my increasing age weren’t enough pressure, Fashion seems to want me to wear maternity clothes, too.
I am in total agreement about the fake pregnancy clothes. I’ve been complaining about this for months and feeling like the clothing industry is out to get me. Can’t someone manufacture something without the words “baby-doll” on the tag?
I know what you mean. It’s awful! I feel so pressured to get knocked up in general and now by fashion too?
As a particularly busty lady, those types of tops do nothing for me.
I welcome the maternity shirts. I am not pregnant, but I seem to have misplaced my waist.
Maybe by the time normal shirts come back in style I will be thinner.
I have to agree with you, it worked out well for me to be pregnant at this time. I hardly bought any maternity shirts, and now I can keep wearing my pregnancy shirts without feeling silly because they’re not from the maternity section. Now it would be great for me if nursing tops became fashionable, because good lord is it hard to find a cute one of those.
Now that I have my waist back, it is heartbreaking to not be able to show it off. I couldn’t agree with you more, Jenny. And it’s so well put. I actually have hardly bought anything besides fitted t-shirts because of these reasons. I am getting bored.
I like my waist, but there’s this “Belly” issue that I have. So I search for decent shirts that have the wrap-around-look, and they are often so stretchy that I feel skinny, actually! But I digress…I’m not pregnant either and would appreciate the designers putting that extra fabric towards another shirt.
Don’t even get me started on finding a decent pair of jeans…ugh…
These shirts have been in style in HK ever since we’ve been here and continue to be. So get yourselves ready for the long haul ladies.
I cannot agree more. Even as a bigger girl myself there is nothing flattering about a load of extra fabric. Personally, I don’t even think them flattering in pregnancy. I think a nice fitted shirt to show of the BEAUTIFUL belly, much more attractive.
Um, I mean to show of the beautiful preggo belly.
Well! It seems like veryone is in agreement. (Except for you, Sarah. You win!)
If anyone is interested in further commentary on this issue, check out this AWESOME post:
http://jurgennation.com/2008/03/15/fashion-trends-i-wish-would-die-in-a-fire.php
Oh, the shopping. I have not run into this problem because 1)I’m very cheap and will not buy new clothes, but I whine about it with Kevin, who is tired of the whole conversation
2) I’m not lovin’ on much out there anyway
Jenny M: Yes, me too with the cheap, but also VERY FRUSTRATED by having to create outfits every stinking day. You are a nurse, right? Ahh… the freedon of scrubs.