I love clothing. I’m also plus-sized and have been since I was a teen, which means I have a complex relationship with fashion. I love it, but it doesn’t always love me back. When I got pregnant, I worried I’d have to give up my sense of style. There just aren’t many plus-sized maternity brands out there, especially in Canada. But never underestimate the power of the internet to help you find brands that specialize in just what you need.
One of the brands I discovered was Momzelle, a Montreal-based company that makes nursing clothing. “Did she just say ‘nursing clothing’? Wasn’t this supposed to be a post about maternity wear?” Good catch. I was also confused when my Google search sent me to Momzelle’s website, but then I found their maternity section. They have clothing that goes from pregnancy to nursing! Double duty clothing is a staple of my regular wardrobe. I believe in the power of a jacket or cardigan to transform a casual summer dress into a work-appropriate outfit. Momzelle maternity/nursing clothing actually does quadruple duty (my math may be a bit off here), not only by transitioning from pregnancy to breastfeeding but also by being versatile enough to pair with pieces that are already in your wardrobe. Their clothing comes in a variety of solid colours, and the cuts are also pretty timeless. A year from now, I know these pieces won’t look dated.
Now let’s talk a little about fit and sizing. As I’ve already mentioned, I’m a plus-sized gal. Pre-pregnancy, I usually wore a 16/18. At twenty weeks pregnant, I haven’t gained any weight yet, so I can still fit into most of my pre-pregnancy clothing. However, some of it feels uncomfortable. What I’m loving about my Momzelle pieces right now is how comfortable they are. With all the ruching in the waists of the tops I chose, I know I have room to grow into them as I finally develop a proper baby bump. (Seriously, I kinda wish I had a little something more to show for this pregnancy. I know that people who popped earlier will probably be cursing me, but I am getting a little tired of the shock when I tell people how far along I am. It’s like they think I’m making up the pregnancy.)
The fit of all the pieces I tried on, even the ones I didn’t take, was very flattering. Most of the dresses emphasize the highest/smallest part of the waist, often with empire cuts. They use ruching to allow for tummies that aren’t perfectly firm. They also make pieces that hug curves. Seriously, I’d wear this stuff when I wasn’t pregnant or nursing.
As for sizing, I got all my pieces in XXL. I was lucky enough to be able to try on a lot of different cuts and sizes when I went to their Montreal boutique. I know most of you will be buying online, so I have a few suggestions for you, especially for those of you who are plus-sized like me:
- The materials Momzelle uses have a lot of stretch. This is part of what will help the clothing go from pregnancy to breastfeeding. It’s also why I’d say some of their XXL clothing could probably fit up to a size 20. Their XL pieces fit me but felt a bit snug, which is why I sized up. I wanted to make sure I left room for the baby belly to grow.
- The shirts are all quite long which will help accommodate a growing belly. It also means that if you’re comfortable showing off that belly bump (and you should be!), their shirts will most likely fit someone who wears a size 20. I’d say this is especially true of their tank tops, since the arm holes are cut generously.
- The dresses are a bit short for my taste. I’m a teacher, so I tend to be conservative about dress length when I know I want to wear something to work. I thought about buying the XL Suzy dress, except that when I bent over to pick something up, I felt like I was showing off my undies. I went with the XXL to give myself that extra length. I wouldn’t say the dresses I tried on would really fit someone above an 18.
- If you’re really busty, be careful about the tops and dresses that “flip up” for breastfeeding, like the Molly tunic. I was able to do an arms-above-head test to see if my bra would be exposed. It wasn’t, but it was a close call for a couple of the tops. For women who are bustier, I’d suggest the dresses and tops that come with a nursing panel or criss-cross design, like the other pieces I got to test.
- The nursing bras are cute and comfortable, but I wouldn’t recommend them to busty gals. They aren’t designed to support large breasts. I tried on their largest size and it didn’t fit. (I’m currently a 36G for reference.)
- Perhaps most importantly, Momzelle offers free returns for Canadian customers. As a plus-sized online shopper, I know how unreliable sizing charts and even reviews can be. We are all plus-sized in different ways, so my suggestions may not work for you. Free returns mean you can try something without fear of being stuck with a piece of clothing that doesn’t fit. (According to their American website, Americans can return their orders but must pay for shipping costs.)
I’m very happy with my Momzelle pieces. Not many brands will fit both Maman Loup and me yet look good on our very different body types!
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Pieces in Dani’s new maternity wardrobe:
Suzy dress in navy blue, size XXL. This dress isn’t listed in their maternity section, but I feel like the fit-and-flare style will easily accommodate a baby bump. (My husband did have to tell me my bra was exposed at one point during the day, but only after I was bent over digging through some racks. I wouldn’t say bra exposure will be a regular issue.)
Molly tunic in black, size XXL. This top is great with leggings! It’s long enough to cover your bum and doesn’t roll up when you sit down. For those of you who are more daring than me, it could even work as a super sexy mini dress.
Josiane tank top in haute red, size XXL. This shirt is so versatile! Plus, check out that gorgeous colour! (Although it’s listed as red, I find it a bit pink-ish.) I like to wear it with a stretchy pencil skirt to work. Since I don’t have enough belly to hold up maternity skirts/pants yet, I love that this shirt covers the zip closure so I can leave my skirt/pants partly undone for comfort.
Amanda tank top in navy blue, size XXL. Like the other tank I tested, very versatile! It’s not quite as long as the Josiane tank, so it’s working a bit better right now as I wait for the bump to pop.
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