Having (obviously) just finished my pregnancy and (most of) my postpartum period wearing a whole buttload of Boden, I definitely know what worked for me and what should work for the vast majority of pregnant ladies. There are some things that Boden does lack, and I will be mentioning them, but if you are savvy, and you do plan well, you should be able to grab the best prices on items that can work for the full ten months of pregnancy and beyond. :)
I specifically chose items that can work year round, with the exception of the most hot and most cold days of the year.
Below the photo of each item, I have included a link to the item, along with an explanation of why it works for either pregnancy, postpartum, or nursing. I will also make note of if it will work for any other period, for instance, if a top works for pregnancy, but can also be useful for nursing.
Onto the picks!
Pregnancy:
This is not a great top for nursing, however. As much as I love it, the longer length proves to be a hassle to pull up and the v-neck does NOT pull over enough for easy access for the baby.
This would also be lovely during the postpartum period since it is super soft and a bright and cheery fabric.
Again, not the best choice for nursing, for the reasons I listed under the Border Print Tunic.
I suspect this will go on deep discount, seeing as it is 40% off now. It may stay at 40% off for a while, but if the stocks stay high, my friend can get it for much more off when the second cuts happen (usually three weeks post the start of the clearance).
These will work for nursing as well. I do NOT recommend these for the postpartum period, especially if you had a c-section. Your body needs soft, NON-constricting waistbands, and these elastic bands, while normally comfortable, can feel noose-like right after having the baby. Do your body a favor and wear the loosest fitting items, at least until your body heals.
Leggings are such a staple that these MAY NOT go to sale. If that happens, you can still grab them by calling the company (at clearance, any "normal" priced items disappear). Or you can wait until the fall stuff comes on-line and buy it with whatever promo happens to be around then (it usually starts off at 15% off with free ship and returns).
This top will work for postpartum AND for nursing. It's a great buy. It is nearly sold out, and I doubt the savings will be significant in clearance time, but still, 35% off is better than full price.
I believe this could be worn postpartum, but I hesitate to suggest that because of its blatant "pregnant" style. Since you carry a lot of extra weight in your middle postpartum, it could make you look still pregnant. Once you shed that weight, the concern goes away, but bear that in mind if you want to wear it post-baby but pre-loss of baby weight. :)
Boden Maternity does NOT go to clearance sale for the current season (for most of the items, anyhow). This means the spring/summer maternity items will go to clearance next fall. That does mean, though, the fall stuff will go to sale this upcoming week. That works very well if you are going to have your baby anytime between October and January!
That said, the Boden Maternity stuff does sell FAST if it goes to clearance, especially to the very audience looking for it, so be quick if you see your item in the pink "low stock" box.
Postpartum:
This top would also likely work for a pregnant lady (not the late third trimester, though) and definitely will work for a nursing mom (wore mine last week, in fact).
This should go on some deeper discount but is also popular, so will need to be picked up within the first few days of the clearance.
Great dress for pregnancy, I wore its precursor while in my early third trimester, but definitely not a great option for nursing as the v-neck is not capable of being pulled to the side.
Now if you do need the higher coverage leggings earlier, obviously these are fantastic for the pregnancy, but like I said above, many of you can get by with regular leggings for 3/4s of your pregnancies.
These will probably not go on sale, but their current price is more than reasonable.
This could also work for pregnancy (stretchy fabric again) and nursing (pull the top up rather than moving the v-neck to the side).
This is literally the only color left in stock. It will likely be the only one to make it to clearance, and it won't be super-super cheap. I do know you will get a lot of use out of it, though!
Nursing:
Obviously a cardi can work whenever, so enjoy while pregnant and postpartum!
This will make it to sale and should make it to a great price.
This one can clearly be worn during pregnancy, and postpartum, but keep it around for later. :) It comes in a nice neutral so that in winter you can dress it up with a sparkly jacket or cardi and call it a night out.
This will not likely go to sale, but if you fancy longer gowns, then its current price will probably be decent enough to justify it (especially if you will wear it often).
You can definitely wear it pregnant, but bear in mind that it will be shorter in front the further you get into your pregnancy. It is definitely soft enough for postpartum, but it might be a touch too difficult to get over your head, so if your body is saying no to putting it on, just don't. LOL.
Will go to clearance in this shade, but will sell fast. I am willing to bet on that one.
Usable in pregnancy, but may be too short for use in the last bits of pregnancy, especially if you have a long torso and/or bigger belly. Definitely nice and cozy for postpartum.
This one should make it to sale, and be a decent price.
Yes it can be used by all sorts of women, even worn the silly way that Vanessa is holding it. :)
It is fully stocked in the floral shade above, but sold out in the ditsy pattern in the lower photo.
I don't recommend this for either pregnancy or the immediate postpartum period as those awesome easy access buttons will be gaping like mad with growing or shrinking bellies.
This will make it to sale, but not at a super great price. I have noticed Boden's linen items sell fast, too.
Not recommended for pregnancy (early pregnancy, maybe) or postpartum (possibly after a few weeks gone, though).
Notes on Sizing
I say in jersey fabrics you should buy your normal size if you are postpartum or nursing. If you are pregnant and want to wear it pregnant, buy normal size if you are fine with not wearing it the last few weeks OR buy one size up if you want to wear it all the way to the due date.
Boden Maternity is sized generously. I always take a size 4 in their dresses, tunics, and tops, and was taking a 6 in their maternity leggings. I did NOT give their pants a try because they got pretty dismal reviews and I already had a stockpile of AWESOME duo Maternity (JCP) pants from my prior pregnancies. I could have sized down to a 2 (!!!) for some of the dresses and tops because Boden gives a lot of room for growing bustlines, which mine did not (grow, that is).
In regular fabrics, the decision is harder. I would say size up one if you want to wear something immediately after birth, but plan on getting a tailor to help you bring the item in once you have lost all your weight. If you have never had a child before, I highly recommend waiting until you know what your body does. My body does return to its normal waistline fairly quickly and I don't have porn star sized ladies (sadly, lol) ever, even at Angus's most hungry. But I knew that from my past experiences.
So if in doubt on sizing, especially with non-jersey items, don't get it. Boden will likely make something just as lovely and be on sale when you need it in the future.
Boden is Lacking?
No shorts! I lived in my maternity shorts when I was pregnant with both CW and Angus (thank you, freaky warm winter). This is a big oversight for all of us warm-blooded American women. (They really don't have much in the way of shorts for non-pregnant ladies, so I am not all that surprised.)
Great Prices Elsewhere
Remember ebay. Many great past season jersey items are available there, so definitely look into that avenue if you so desire.
Good luck to all my pregnant, postpartum, and nursing mommas out there. Hope this upcoming sale does you well! :)
Any thoughts from any of you all on some possible good buys for this blog friend?
