Buying a dress for May

[Odonata]

DH's uncle is getting married this May and from a previous post (I believe the "what are you wearing to your shower" post) I was introduced to Seraphine.  I am lost on maternity clothing and where to start looking but I saved a link for the Khaki Green Knot front dress that someone shared the link to www.seraphinematernity.com/khaki-green-knot-front-maternity-maxi-dress.html.

I LOVE the dress, it's totally my style, my favorite color, and is perfect for this wedding.  I want to buy it now!  But I have no freaking clue what size I will be.

By the time of the wedding I'll be entering my 20th week.  I don't even know if I will be showing by then or not.  Also, the way I've been putting away the carbs, I have no clue how much weight I will have on me.  All of my dresses right now will not zip because I'm becoming a fat ass just from eating.  (I'm 8 weeks 4 days now).

So - those of you who shop here - do you think this dress will be around in May?  Or should I buy it now and if so should I go any sizes up from my measurements now?  I'm guessing I can always get it taken in.  Or should I wait until May?

[rbp]

All the maternity clothes I've bought are sold by your regular pre-pregnancy size with extra fabric in the belly to accommodate a growing bump. I started to show around 18 weeks but could have worn any of my maternity clothes before that. Seraphine dresses are beautiful and fit well regardless of how much you are showing.

[Odonata]

OR - now that I'm thinking of it - can I get away with a regular dress and don't have to worry about a maternity one?
Which would then mean I need to find that exact dress somewhere because I'm now in love with it....

[purrbox]

I have no advice, but I love that dress!

[Odonata]

Mar 10, 2014 13:02:49 GMT -5 rbp said:

All the maternity clothes I've bought are sold by your regular pre-pregnancy size with extra fabric in the belly to accommodate a growing bump. I started to show around 18 weeks but could have worn any of my maternity clothes before that. Seraphine dresses are beautiful and fit well regardless of how much you are showing.

OK, so if I buy it now I should go off my measurements now?  I know my midsection is kinda bigger but my bust is the same.  I was looking at their size charts and they say to measure your hips "under your bump".  I don't even know if I'll have a bump by then. 

I guess I can get it and if it looks good w/o a bump be OK with it in case I'm not showing.  How are their returns if I decide it won't work out?

[rbp]

Mar 10, 2014 13:05:12 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Mar 10, 2014 13:02:49 GMT -5 rbp said:

All the maternity clothes I've bought are sold by your regular pre-pregnancy size with extra fabric in the belly to accommodate a growing bump. I started to show around 18 weeks but could have worn any of my maternity clothes before that. Seraphine dresses are beautiful and fit well regardless of how much you are showing.

OK, so if I buy it now I should go off my measurements now?  I know my midsection is kinda bigger but my bust is the same.  I was looking at their size charts and they say to measure your hips "under your bump".  I don't even know if I'll have a bump by then. 

I guess I can get it and if it looks good w/o a bump be OK with it in case I'm not showing.  How are their returns if I decide it won't work out?

Seraphine runs the same as most mall stores. I wear a 10-12 and bought a 10 in Seraphine. 

[Odonata]

Mar 10, 2014 13:06:05 GMT -5 @charky said:

The Seraphine dress I have is my usual pre-pg size. Right now it just looks flowy but there's definitely plenty of fabric there for an expanding bump.

You could always go one size up to be safe.

"COUPON10" gets 10% off $100 until the end of March.

COUPON!??!  AWESOME!  thanks!  I'm totally getting it now. 

I might go one size up just to be safe.  I will be devastated if that dress doesn't fit come May.  And, I would love to wear it for the rest of the summer! 

[MrsDarcy]

Mar 10, 2014 13:02:59 GMT -5 Odonata said:

OR - now that I'm thinking of it - can I get away with a regular dress and don't have to worry about a maternity one?
Which would then mean I need to find that exact dress somewhere because I'm now in love with it....

Personally, I'm 19 weeks and could wear a regular dress if it was more of an empire waist fit. It all just depends on how/where you gain your weight, and how fitted the dress is.

[Nenibay]

Mar 10, 2014 13:02:59 GMT -5 Odonata said:

OR - now that I'm thinking of it - can I get away with a regular dress and don't have to worry about a maternity one?
Which would then mean I need to find that exact dress somewhere because I'm now in love with it....

I wouldn't buy it for 20 weeks. You probably won't have a bump large enough to complement the maternity style.

[Odonata]

Mar 10, 2014 13:15:08 GMT -5 Nenibay said:

Mar 10, 2014 13:02:59 GMT -5 Odonata said:

OR - now that I'm thinking of it - can I get away with a regular dress and don't have to worry about a maternity one?
Which would then mean I need to find that exact dress somewhere because I'm now in love with it....

I wouldn't buy it for 20 weeks. You probably won't have a bump large enough to complement the maternity style.

That's what I was thinking.

But I really like this dress and some have just said that it looks fine w/o a bump so I don't know.  I guess I'll get it and if it doesn't look right by the wedding I can at least wear it all summer when I am showing and find something else for the event.

[IndiaInk]

I ordered my Seraphine knot front dress in my pre-pregnancy size. It should arrive sometime today, so I can't tell you about fit. But judging by the amount of extra fabric in the front of it, I would think it would fit most anyone throughout their pregnancy, if they ordered it in their pre-pregnancy size.

Everyone is different of course, but I'm still wearing non-maternity empire waist sweater dresses, and I wore a fairly fitted non-maternity dress (it had a little bit of stretch) to a wedding at 23 weeks. I had gained about 11 lbs at that point. You can get away with a lot when it comes to dresses, so I think you'll be fine.

[rbp]

Mar 10, 2014 13:49:26 GMT -5 @charky said:

Mar 10, 2014 13:17:20 GMT -5 Odonata said:

That's what I was thinking.

But I really like this dress and some have just said that it looks fine w/o a bump so I don't know.  I guess I'll get it and if it doesn't look right by the wedding I can at least wear it all summer when I am showing and find something else for the event.

I'm in the "if you really love it, get it" camp.*

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'm starting to prefer maternity styles even this early because they seem to highlight that I'm growing a baby not a beer belly, while my midsection is looking more "10 pound sausage in a 5 pound casing" in non-maternity clothes right now.

*Also I just ordered 2 more of the Seraphine knot front dresses thanks to this thread.

Ooh, which ones did you get? I want all the Seraphine dresses

[Odonata]

I really think I just wanted everyone to convince me to buy the dress. Lol.

[Odonata]

I've got a few knot front shirts that were always very flattering considering I have a small bust. I'm loving all of these dresses!

[IndiaInk]

Mar 10, 2014 14:34:49 GMT -5 Odonata said:

I really think I just wanted everyone to convince me to buy the dress. Lol.

Buy it!  I think they'll be flattering post-partum, though who knows since I don't have mine yet.  The knot front will be good for breastfeeding too, IMO. So, it's a worthwhile purchase.  Haha!

[Odonata]

Mar 10, 2014 15:15:51 GMT -5 IndiaInk said:

Mar 10, 2014 14:34:49 GMT -5 Odonata said:

I really think I just wanted everyone to convince me to buy the dress. Lol.

Buy it!  I think they'll be flattering post-partum, though who knows since I don't have mine yet.  The knot front will be good for breastfeeding too, IMO. So, it's a worthwhile purchase.  Haha!

Done!

[IndiaInk]

Mar 10, 2014 15:48:32 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Mar 10, 2014 15:15:51 GMT -5 IndiaInk said:

Buy it!  I think they'll be flattering post-partum, though who knows since I don't have mine yet.  The knot front will be good for breastfeeding too, IMO. So, it's a worthwhile purchase.  Haha!

Done!

Mine just came and I tried it on.  It's super flattering and just gorgeous.  DH LOVES it.  I got this one:  www.seraphinematernity.com/royal-blue-knotted-dress-with-cropped-sleeve.html

It makes my belly look even bigger than it already is, IMO, so it will flatter you even if your belly is still small at the time of the wedding.  

[mannah]

I think it was me who linked to this dress last week and it just came today--to help you with your decision here are some pics--I'm 27 weeks on Wednesday and I'm 5'4'' with gigantic boobs. This is a size 6. The dress is a great length for me and there is a ton of fabric in the bust area so you can move it around to accommodate big boobs but have more bunching of fabric with smaller boobs and it will still look good. Since there is a tie in the back, if it's a little big you can adjust by tying the back to fit so there is a lot of room to have it not fit perfectly. The fabric is super soft and just what I was hoping it would be. Only bad thing is it smells like cigarette smoke which is weird. Overall I'm super happy with it and I probably could have gotten a size smaller and it would have fit fine too so I would just order you're usual prepregnancy size as others suggested. It will def accommodate different size bumps too-there lots of fabric!

[Odonata]

Beautiful! I can't wait for it to come in!

[SJ]

Baaaa! I am sure I will be ordering this soon

[D2M]

You look great, mannah!

I ordered a dress from the Seraphine Luxe collection (the convertible dress in cornflower blue) and am dying to try it on. I missed the FedEx delivery today but hopefully it'll get re delivered tomorrow.

[dana2006]

That's it. I'm getting this dress too.

[IndiaInk]

Sounds like we need to have a Seraphine knot dress fashion show, since half the board owns or is buying the dress

[SJ]

Yup, just bought the Blossom Knot Front Dress, a top, and a jean skirt.

I have several weddings this summer, and this might just be perfect.

[Odonata]

Mar 10, 2014 23:59:01 GMT -5 IndiaInk said:

Sounds like we need to have a Seraphine knot dress fashion show, since half the board owns or is buying the dress

I'm thinking we all need some $$ tossed or way for such a good job advertising for them!

[centralsquare]

Ok, you sold me. I just ordered the fuschia one! We are headed to florida in 10 days, and this looks super comfortable for warmer weather.

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 11:45:51 GMT -5 centralsquare said:

Ok, you sold me. I just ordered the fuschia one! We are headed to florida in 10 days, and this looks super comfortable for warmer weather.

The fabric is so super comfortable!  Yay!  

[anna7602]

I am too short to get away with wearing a dress like that, but it's super cute.

[SJ]

I bought the floral knot dress and I LOVE it! I will try to get a picture up.

I also bought a jean skirt and a top that while also fit great, I am debating returning just because I'm not sure they are worth the price. But I want more knot dresses!

[narockshard]

I just ordered the fuchsia short sleeve knot front dress, I hope it works out! I plan to wear it for Easter and my shower.