I know I spoke in the last blog about maternity shopping, but this week would have been a new low if it weren't so humorous! Luckily, I had my husband to share in what I like to call the shunning of pregnant women.
I decided to do some real maternity shopping this week. The jeans and shorts are just at that point where using a rubber band to hold them up is not quite comfortable. So my husband and I set out on a mission: find cute, stylish clothes for this ever growing body. How hard could it be?
Here's the run down...
We started at Old Navy because I have found some great summer tanks there in the maternity section and we decided to go check it out again. As we walked in the store, we were surrounded by bursts of color! Spring was everywhere. I sort of felt giddy. That is until my husband reminded me that I needed to be checking out the maternity section. So we walked back and as we get closer, those beautiful colors started fading. The front of the store was just a big tease. What are a pregnant girl's options? Denim. Gray. Khaki. Black. I will say they have great knit shirts and tanks in color. But what about the shorts? I tried on a pair of denim shorts, but on a whim decided to try on some of those brightly colored shorts from the "normal" section in two sizes too big just for fun. The maternity denim shorts were skin tight in the legs, an awkward length and tapered. They must have had size 2 pregnant ladies in mind with those. So I put on the "normal" shorts and decided that I would buy those. I know, I know...they won't last long because they don't stretch, but they were so much more fun!!
Our next stop was the Woodlands Mall. Should have lots of success there, right? As my husband suggested, we hit up some department stores. (Side note: I realize Motherhood Maternity is the only maternity store with plenty to choose from, but quite frankly, they are pricey and still did not have fun spring options like I wanted). So we wandered in to JC Penney and Sears. After having to ask where the maternity section was because it was not visibly marked, we were sent to tiny, back corners in both places. It's like they are saying, "Oh...you're pregnant. Here, let us hide you away from our normal shoppers in this dark corner of our store. Oh and because you have that belly, we are only going to give you three racks to choose from." Yes, once again...denim, khaki, gray bottoms with tops so long and baggy they looked like tents. I felt like they were saying that being pregnant meant you needed to hide yourself for the next few months. And give up all sense of style and fun while you're at it.
Defeated, my husband suggested Macy's. Yes, they may be more expensive, but surely their selection would be larger. The first lady we asked directions from was in the shoe department. Her response was, "I don't think we have a maternity section." I thought to myself NO WAY! That has to be wrong. So I suggested we go ask in the clothing section. We found two ladies working and asked where the maternity section was. I kid you not, one of the ladies looked down at us over her glasses and said snootily, almost scoffing at me, "We don't have a maternity section." And went back to work!!
Well, I am so sorry my husband and I decided to have a family resulting in me carrying a life inside of me. I felt like she was saying, "we don't take your kind around here. Try not to come back until that bump is gone. But once you have the baby, come on back and spend your money on the precious things we have for your baby. Just not for you while you are carrying it inside you."
Fortunately, Matt and I got a huge laugh at my failed attempt to find maternity clothes. I realize I am somewhat picky when it comes to clothes, but I just don't see why I suddenly have to become frumpy. I mean its hard enough to feel attractive when you are expanding everywhere, so can't I at least have cute clothes while it's happening?
The only solution I see at this point is to start my own maternity clothing line. Who's with me?
Side note #2: If you haven't watched movie trailers for "What to Expect When You're Expecting" you need to. I have no idea what the movie will be like, but the trailers sure made me laugh.
