Would You Shop Maternity Even If You're Not Expecting?

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April 21, 2009

The other day while shopping at Target, I fell in love with a sharp-looking trench coat with the cutest blue satin lining. It fit well, the price was right, but something made me leave it on the rack—the little tag inside that read "Liz Lange Maternity."

I've purchased clothing for myself in the men's department and even in the children's department of various stores over the years, but I've never crossed the line into the maternity department. But that Liz Lange for Target has been delivering some pretty cute stuff lately, and I've been really tempted to just buy what I like, regardless of the what the tags say!

I also know friends and relatives who admit they shop maternity sometimes simply because the clothes fit better. With limited size options, I think shopping beyond one department of the store totally makes sense.

So how about you, have you or would you shop maternity even when you're not pregnant to save a buck?

Comments (35)

Posted in: Budget Fashion, Target

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Comments

Ha Ha, this is so funny. I actually have before, but have had no luck. However, I do own a couple maternity items.I actually work out in a "Liz Lange Maternity" tank top that is most comfortable, and sleep in a LLM cotton shirt.

I would never guess that jacket was maternity.

#1 Dina on 2009-04-21 12:26 (Reply)

That trench is super cute! Go for it. No one will be peeking at your tag, plus you will probably get tons of compliments on the coat.

#2 Nicole Michelle on 2009-04-21 12:30 (Reply)

YEP! Done it and will continue to do so if the outfit is cute!

#3 jeni (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 12:44 (Reply)

I say that if you really like it, buy it and cut out the tag and nobody ever has to know!

#4 Kelly on 2009-04-21 12:48 (Reply)

haha that's what I would do!

#4.1 Angela on 2009-04-21 14:34 (Reply)

I do shop maternity! lol. I love empire waisted tops because of my big bust and small waist, and maternity lines always have flattering tops with that cut.

Maternity clothes have become so hip over the years that no one can really tell the difference between regular clothes and maternity clothes. My friend was actually kind of sad when she had her baby because she couldn't wear her cute tops anymore. lol.

#5 Joann on 2009-04-21 12:49 (Reply)

I actually haven't purchased anything from a maternity department or line... however, sometimes I feel like even regular women's clothes are like maternity, with so much empire waisted stuff out there

When I get pregnant I will already have plenty of things I can wear

#6 Claudia on 2009-04-21 13:08 (Reply)

I read your title and first thought, "No way!" but then saw your picture and changed my mind. It doesn't matter what the label says if it ticks all the boxes - price, fit, and how much you like it!

#7 Leia (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 13:08 (Reply)

Strange! I was just in Target a few days ago, I wandered over to the clearance section and I saw the same exact trench coat and oohed and ahhed over it. But then I looked at the tag and saw the LLM logo and put it right back! :o)

Anyway, I have a friend who sometimes gets things from that section. Like pants, etc. They fit her well and she's usually able to get them for $5 or less... so, it's a pretty good deal. I bought from the kids section before too! A dress in large, it was a B&W striped jumper-- you guys would love it. And PJs from the men's section. But for some reason, the Maternity section seems so taboo.

#8 Claudia on 2009-04-21 13:17 (Reply)

Yes, I have shippoed maternity and it was at Target just recently!!! I had the same feelings that you did when I sa w the tag but I went for it anyway! You can check it out on my new blog here...

http://fashionablyalaskan.blogspot.com/
Let me know what you think...Could you tell?

It is the post titled "First Attempt"
Danielle

#9 Danielle (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 13:26 (Reply)

Why not?! I especially like maternity dresses...very cute!

#10 eda (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 13:52 (Reply)

Ironically enough every time I'm in Target I find one thing that I love, but I leave on the rack because I discover it's maternity. Target does maternity well.

#11 Kayla (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 13:53 (Reply)

Ahh yes I have also walked through the maternity section and found things I thought were really cute, but hesitated because something about that maternity label freaks me out. As a matter of fact I was walking through Target a few weeks ago and saw an exact replica of a shirt I had bought at Armani last summer and I was stunned because of the smiliarites, I picked it up only to find that Target had to turned my Armani into Maternity wear and laughed a little bit.

#12 Talk Pretty To Me (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 14:30 (Reply)

I wear a pair of really cute maternity jeans to Thanksgiving every year. You can't tell it's maternity, and the stretchy elastic waistband means I don't have to do the embarrassing "unbutton" after dinner.

It makes sense to buy maternity -- especially because most maternity clothes these days are designed to be "transition" clothes -- meaning they can be worn while pregnant and all through the year after wards, whether you're nursing or just losing weight or whatever. My favorite cocktail dress was a maternity dress I bought while pregnant with my first, and I still get compliments on it every time I wear it.

#13 Mer on 2009-04-21 14:31 (Reply)

YES!!!

#14 Carolyn (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 15:27 (Reply)

Oh man! LOL! I go through this, too. It's not really a dilemna. If it's cute, it's cute right? But that maternity label makes me feel strange. I got rid of all my maternity wear after having my boys and that was the end of it.

You know how some criminals in movies yell "I ain't GOIN' back!"? Hahaha! Well, that's how I feel about maternity wear.

As for that jacket, no one will see the tag, girl! That's a cute jacket. DO IT!

#15 Maglet (Homepage) on 2009-04-21 16:42 (Reply)

NO WAY! I think you may be addicted to Target and are running out of things to buy there. If there were such a thing as Target patches I'd stick you on them asap. Not to mention, had you just saved up the money that you've been spending on cheap canvas totes, plastic shoes, and maternity trenches, you could've bought yourself an everlastingly chic pair of Louboutin heals or something... sometimes it's just best to hang on to your money. Not to mention- it's HOT HOT HOT out!

#16 Kam on 2009-04-21 16:42 (Reply)

Maybe a pair of Louboutins aren't practical for her lifestyle. Purchasing $1000 shoes isn't relevant to this website.

#16.1 Joann on 2009-04-21 21:57 (Reply)

I was in Target over the weekend and saw that trench too. I thought it was adorable, but actually found another (not maternity) trench that I ended up buying. I think that if it fits, looks cute, and doesn't look like it's maternity wear, then why not? I'm usually leery because they sometimes have extra fabric at the front to accommodate the expanding stomach region.

*On a side note, and in response to Kam's post above, I would rather have oodles of items in my closet that I love and didn't spend an insane amount of money on than have 1 exceptionally nice item that is essentially a status symbol. I mean, why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a pair of shoes if I then don't have the money to buy an outfit to wear them with?

#17 Erin on 2009-04-21 18:13 (Reply)

Yes!! That coat is adorable, and if you need a "Target patch" then I need a Forever 21 patch. I splurge on Seven for all mankind jeans, but refuse to spend more than $20-$25 for a top, especially if it's trendy and know I won't get much wear out of it. Same with bags, I have a 2 year old and ruining a beautiful Louis with apple juice and goldfish crackers is out of the question. But then I might splurge on a pair of shoes that I know I will wear a lot.
I know it's off topic but... anyway, fashion is about expressing YOU and if that so happens to be in the maternity, men's or little boy's section .. ENJOY:)

#18 Nora on 2009-04-21 20:07 (Reply)

i had no idea just from the looks of it that the trench was even a maternity one. go for it. it's super cute. now i want to go to target and check it out. like everyone else says, every time i pick up something cute and find out it's from the maternity line, i immediately put it back. but now hearing from other people that they would sometimes buy it even though, makes me reconsider. let us know what you decide!

#19 cynthia on 2009-04-21 21:55 (Reply)

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I'm all about a bargain, but I'm all about fashion and careful shopping too, and while the maternity trench is cute on pregnant women, there are plenty of similar trenches out there that don't cost a mil, and don't have all that extra room in front. And by the way, while BudgetBabe needs a Target patch, I need a BudgetBabe patch, so there. Just trying to throw my opinion out there like everyone else, I'm not trying to get anyone excited.

#20 Kam on 2009-04-21 22:36 (Reply)

No offense taken. Hey, could the patches be shaped like Target bull's-eyes?? Then maybe I'd wear them, hehe

#20.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-22 08:27 (Reply)

Funny post--the same thing happened to me. I saw a beautiful two tone dress at Target a few weeks ago. Checked the tag, and it was maternity too. I tried it on anyways. It fit well and looked nice. It wasn't made to be a form fitting dress. But, I didn't end up buying it. I don't know why. Maybe it was because it was a maternity dress or maybe I was just trying to save money. But, I think if it fits and the price is right, go for it.

I don't think I would purposely shop in maternity section. But, if I stumbled upon something, I would be okay with it.

#21 Jenn on 2009-04-21 23:13 (Reply)

yup..i tried on this jacket once and then couple days i came back, noticed the same jacket at the maternity section and found it its some maternity brand lol. i've also been attracted to lots of maternity clothes at target

#22 piggy on 2009-04-22 02:53 (Reply)

I most certainly have shopped maternity! I'm petite and typically wear a small in Target clothing, but I bumped into a coat accidentally and feel in love with it before I knew what line it was from, so I bought this Liz Lange coat in an XS at my local Target for twelve bucks!

http://www.target.com/Liz-Lange-Target-Wool-Coat/dp/B001EIF0A2/sr=1-1/qid=1240402620/ref=sr_1_1/190-5371531-2240456?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Aliz%20red%20coat&page=1

I admit that at first I was hesitant after spotting the "maternity tag", but my mother brought me around to see the light...who's going to see that tag??? Cut it out if you're worried...

I say the trench is super cute and you should go back and get it!!

#23 Lovelee_79 on 2009-04-22 07:21 (Reply)

Thanks, everyone, for the great feedback! I half expected some people would think I'm crazy for shopping maternity but I'm glad to see I'm not alone. If the shoe fits... =)

#23.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-22 08:25 (Reply)

OK BB you are freaking me out b/c I have tried on that coat and have considered it!!!!!! AND I have bought some liz lange stuff before b/c it is super cute!!I just remove the tag

#24 Real Style Real people (Homepage) on 2009-04-22 07:27 (Reply)

just buy it. the other day i got this really cute black and white ikat-ish print cotton tunic for $5! only after leaving the store did i check the tag and it said liz lange maternity. but i rocked that dress all the same that night at a school play and got lots of compliments, including some from the dudes.
at least you're not like my roommate. she picked up jeans with an elastic waistband from the juniors section and had no idea they were maternity jeans until we saw them and told her!!

#25 chels on 2009-04-22 08:41 (Reply)

That is one cute coat!

Who cares if it's "maternity"? Better yet ... who knows it's maternity lol! If it does bother you even a bit then consider cutting the label off.

I don't usually buy maternity stuff because I'm too busty and top heavy for most maternity styles, but I have a maternity skirt I got from Gap (on clearance for $4!) that I absolutely adore. It's a soft cotton, floor-length Indian-print maxi skirt ... with a stretchy cotton "waist". I loved it so much I could care less that it's maternity, and no-one can tell anyway so it's mine and I wear it very happily!

#26 Anusha (Homepage) on 2009-04-22 09:52 (Reply)

I was also recently at Target and saw some cute things in the maternity section,but didn't have time to try things on...

Love the trench! you should go for it! It dosen't matter what the tag says as long as you love it and it fits well!

#27 Ally (Homepage) on 2009-04-22 13:05 (Reply)

ha! I saw that jacket the other day and thought...hmmmmm, should I get that? And then I didn't, but only becuz I didn't have the cash. I've gotten items from the liz lange line and not been prego. Who will know? Cut the tag out if you don't want anyone to spot it. You'd better get that baby before they sell out...which the maternity line tends to do.

#28 angie on 2009-04-22 14:51 (Reply)

I'm sorry, maternity clothes are not not flattering. If your not pregnant, don't wear the clothes.

#29 claire on 2009-04-22 17:28 (Reply)

I just bought my 1st maternity item today. The cutest cardigan for $6! How is anyone going to be able to tell its maternity?? HA!

#30 Chrissy on 2009-04-22 18:10 (Reply)

I could see wearing it if you're rather curvy and thus the clothes just fit you better, but you seem like a fairly slim person so aren't maternity clothes totally baggy on you?? It's cute in the photo, but I am doubtful about that elastic waistband shudder I'd rather save my money on a chicer trench coat. Things like jackets and coats are worth splurging on since they should be made to last and are classic items.

#31 MizzJ (Homepage) on 2009-04-25 17:48 (Reply)

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