Maternity stores have come a long way in recent years. The days are gone when you were limited to shopping for maternity clothes from a single rack at your local department store. However, shopping at small maternity stores is often not much better. While there may be a larger selection than at a department store, you still only have a minute selection of clothes to choose compared to before you got pregnant. You can also expect the clothes purchased at a store specializing in maternity clothes to typically cost much more than for the same quality non-pregnant clothes.
Now pregnant women can increase their selection of maternity clothes by expanding on the definition of "maternity stores."
Online Maternity Stores
If you look up "maternity stores" in on an Internet search engine, you will find there are literally thousands of online maternity store links to choose from, both internationally and nationally, and each one of these links will lead you to a slightly different assortment of both fashionable and comfortable maternity fashions. This also gives you more flexibility to bargain shop for the best buy on like garments.
The biggest disadvantage to shopping at online maternity stores is your inability to try on the clothes before you buy them. Online vendors realize this and compensate by often offering more liberal return policies than you would find at a brick and mortar maternity store. At your local maternity store, if you return an item, the best you can hope for is an exchange or a store credit. Many online maternity shops will give you a full refund.
Consignment Stores
Since Maternity Clothes are only worn for a few months, they are often in like new condition when you have your baby. Many new mothers opt to take their maternity clothes to a consignment shop, where you can buy them at a considerable discount off what new clothes would cost. Maternity consignment shops can be found in local neighborhoods and online.
One take off to the traditional maternity consignment shop is online auctions. In the case of online auctions, the clothes are listed for sale, and buyers bid on them rather than paying a flat price for the purchase. This process allows the seller to maximize the return she receives from the sell of her maternity clothes. It can also be a great way to find bargain buys on used maternity clothes.
Maternity Rental Stores
Maternity rental stores are found both in neighborhoods and online. They typically specialize in Maternity Formal Wear and maternity professional clothes. For pregnant women who are expected to dress in suits or who have a formal affair to attend, maternity rental stores can be a godsend. While a maternity suit may cost $350 when purchased brand new, a pregnant woman may be able to rent one for several weeks for half the money. Typically formal wear is only rented out for a few days at a time, and may cost a woman as little as $75 for a dress, where buying the same maternity dress might cost several times that amount. One great place to shop is at Rent Maternity Wear. They offer designer maternity dresses for a one time rental fee, great for parties and special events.
