The Fashionista's Place to Buy & Sell Maternity Clothing
General Questions
How often do you have sales?
We have sales in San Francisco every month and in Contra Costa, Marin, Alameda & San Mateo counties on a rotating basis.
Where are these sales located?
Sales move around San Francisco and the Bay Area. They are located in the areas that our customers live in.
How much will I receive for my sold clothing?
Sellers will receive 50% of the selling price for each item sold.
How are prices calculated?
Prices will be set at the discretion of MaternityXchange. Original price, condition, current trends, and supply & demand will all be taken into account in determining clothing prices. Resale items in good condition typically sell for between 30-45% of original price.
What happens to unsold items?
Unsold items will be kept and sold for at least four sales or as long as remaining items are in demand. Any clothing left at the end of your selling cycle will be returned to their owners. Items that our sellers do not want back will be considered donations.
What if I don't want my unsold items back?
Items not recovered will either be donated to an organization benefiting low-income parents and expecting mothers or the items will be sold and the majority of the proceeds will be donated.
When will I receive the money for my sold clothing?
Checks will be sent out by the fifteenth of the following month.
What if my clothing is stolen or damaged?
MaternityXchange will make every attempt to ensure that the Seller’s clothing is well maintained while in our possession. Seller’s choose to use our service at their own risk. MaternityXchange is not responsible for any loss, theft or damage of Seller’s clothing.
What forms of payment will be accepted at the sale?
for reminders about upcoming sales, special events, and Drop Off Days and locations.
F.A.M.F.Q.s
Frequently Asked Maternity Fashion Questions
Why should I buy maternity when this tunic top will do?
It's
very tempting with the current style trends to try to make do with
non-maternity clothing. While there are some items that work beware of
looking sloppy or "tented" in your makeshift maternity wardrobe. When
trying on non-maternity items make sure that the shoulders fit
properly. Since you may need a larger non-maternity size than your
normal size you may find droopy shoulders which may lead to a sloppy
look.
Look for tops that fit in the shoulders as well as the
chest area. Tops that are generally loose tend to look tented on a
pregnant woman especially if there is a lot of extra material such as
pleats. (Trust me I tried!) However, beware the "bosom line." You've
probably grown in your pregnancy and usually that means most normal
allowances don't quite hit the right spot.
Another
consideration is that while maternity wear can be an investment, there
is can be some return on the money you've spent on your wardrobe
(especially if you've bought them at our sales). You can get a
percentage of what you've spent back by selling your designer wear, in
good condition, through us. Those trendy tops will probably just end
up in the back of your closet at the end of the season.
Best Bet
Knitted
/ fitted tops especially those that are fitted in the chest area, such
as empire tops or tops that have side cinches to gently hug your
growing belly. But as always your best bet is to wear clothing
designed to fit your lovely bump. Maternity lines take into account
current fashion trends and fit their garments according to your new
shape.
Low Cut, Below the Belly fit
Demi-Panel, Mid Belly fitting jeans
Full Panel Jeans
Below the belly, mid-belly, foldover, hidden band, transition, overbelly,demipanel, full panel, ....Finding the perfect pair of Jeans deosn't have to be a mystery!
A
good pair of jeans is a staple in any wardrobe and that goes for doubly
for maternity when you want to be comfortable and are most conscious of
your figure. Luckily, there are not lots of options to find the perfect
fit. We'll cover the three basic styles: low, mid/demi and full
panels. These are the most common types of bands you'll find in today's
maternity jeans. And if none of these work we'll cover the more
unusual waistbands in the next FAQ email.
One
fit you'll encounter is the below the belly or transition pants. These
may come in various forms. Habitual makes a jean with super low front,
which hugs your rear and rides low on your belly as you expand.
There's a hidden adjustable belt inside for a secure fit. If you like
low riders these may be the ones for you. Katie Holmes & Angelina
Jolie did well in them during their pregnancies. However these'll run you $185-200 retail, unless you find them at our sale for $89!
For a less expensive alternative look for Babystyle's transition jeans
which also ride low and have a stretchable non-obvious waist.
Probably the most common waist band you'll find is mid-waist/
mid-belly or demi-panel, as these seem to be comfortable for most
figures and can potentially last till the end. 7 of mankind, Citizen,
& Paige designer brands have opted for this style as have other
less pricey brands. With this style of jean, you'll want to make sure
that the legs fit just right as there isn't too much support in the
nylon panels. The legs should fit but with room to stretch or you'll
find yourself tugging on those jeans all day. For a more secure fit you
can also look for brands that use a wider elastic on the waist such as
Paper Denim & Cloth which cover the wide elastic with a stretchable
cotton panel. These designer jeans will run you anywhere from $140 - $200+, unless you find them at our sale for $69+. For a mid-range alternative try Gap's demipanel jeans, regularly $60+, or $24-26 at our sale events.
Finally
when you're getting to the end of your pregnancy you may want to look
at full panels. Yes, they look scary but believe me when you're at a
certain point you'll be grateful for the support and security you feel
with them on. For some you can probably make it without having to deal
with full panels but if you're looking for something/anything that'll
fit at the end of your pregnancy don't discount the over belly fit.
These'll probably not do for the beginning stages as you'll need a
belly to fill them in. Because most people shy away from this style
you won't find a lot of designer brands with this type of band. You'll
most likely find them in brands that have run maternity lines for a
while like Gap, R.E.B.E.L. & Levi's
Best Bet
One of the benefits of shopping at our sale is that you'll find a variety of brands all in one place. Just as when you're shopping for non-maternity you're best bet is to try everything
on to find the best fit/style & size. Don't be afraid to try a new
style and in some cases a new size. This is key to finding the perfect
pair.
For most women, if those designer jeans fit you before
pregnancy. You'll probably do well to get a similar pair now. They may
run you a bit of money as the regular pairs do but if you find them at our sale and/or sell them back through us you'll get a return on your investment.
For
curvier figures we've found several brands that do the most to
flatter. Of the designer jeans Citizen jeans seem to do better than
7's, In the mid range jeans Elly B by Olian, Juliet Dream, &
Japanese Weekend work best. Elly B and Japanese Weekend use stretchy
fabric throughout the jean while Juliet Dream bottoms seems to favor
wide-leg cuts.
Probably one of the questions we most often hear is: Will this last me the the rest of the 9 months?
Unfortunately
as much as we'd like to say yes, in most cases the answer is, probably
not. Most maternity wear tops and especially bottoms just fit best at
different stages of your pregnancy. Those
jeans that were perfect at 3-4 months may no longer be comfortable in
areas that have now grown, i.e. tummy, butt, and/or thighs. That cute,
empire waist top may now be too small in the bust area. And
the adorable, pleated, a-line top which used to camouflage your
burgeoning belly now makes your ripe tummy look twice it's size. As
for buying items with "room to grow," it generally doesn't work, you'll
most likely end up with something that's too big now, may or may not
fit later, and is almost never flattering.
We've found that the
most successful strategy to a well-fitting and comfortable wardrobe is
to plan your maternity clothes shopping in three stages.
The
first shopping excursion should be about when you're outgrowing your
regular clothing, when even those "fat" pants aren't cutting it. And,
no, your husband's sweats are not an option. This trip is most likely
for pants and maybe a couple of cute tops.
Your second
shopping trip will most likely occur when your tops are getting too
short or tight around the chest and/or belly area. Perhaps you've
grown in unexpected places and your "first stage" pants slide
uncomfortably low when you sit. This is the point where you most
likely feel comfortable enough to purchase a large part of your
wardrobe.
Your third and final shopping trip you'll just want
something comfy, and probably unconstricting during the last weeks of
your pregnancy --maybe snag a couple of nursing tops or grab a sashay
to help keep that tummy snug.
Best Bet You're
best bet to go the distance in tops are wrap tops or tops that are
ruched in the belly area so that there is plenty of extra material to
grow with you but will hug your belly, flattering at each stage. Pants
are trickier but I'd put my money on demi-panels with reinforced
elastic that should stay put as your belly forces the band lower.
But,
as we've mentioned this may not work for everyone. Don't be afraid to
wear what fits now, with some potential for the future. Bring in any
clothing you've outgrown and we'll sell it for you and split the sale
price! And if you originally purchased from us at 40-75% off the
original retail price in the first place, you'll really get a bang for
your buck.
Still have questions? We'll do our best to get them answered. But join our email list to get our FAQs and tips regularly.
to get our maternity fashion FAQs and tips.
Maternity Xchange.... Because You're Losing Your Waist, Not Your Taste!
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