Best maternity stores across Canada

We've rounded up the best in boutiques and national storefronts across Canada to keep you looking chic, week by pregnant week.

A version of this article appeared in our May 2013 issue with the headline "All the best: Maternity clothing stores," pp.129-136.

Who doesn't have a piece from this trendy Swedish fast-fashion brand in their closet? With 30 of their stores across Canada carrying clothing for those expecting, you can add maternity clothes to your collection.

H&M's maternity styles resemble what you'll see in the rest of the store: trendy "treggings" (stretch-twill skinny leggings) in bright colours, a riot of floral pieces (fun — not fusty — blooms), and pieces in mint, the season's must-have colour. Office appropriate basics are also on hand.

Get more information here: H&M

Two pieces of good news: Maternity is now carried in all of Old Navy's Canadian stories, and each piece from their spring maternity collection rings in at less than $45.

For pre-Labour day (get it?), opt for white jeans, which pair perfectly with a sailor-stripe cotton tee. Or go for a dress: There are many styles to choose from, including bold colour-blocked maxi dresses, t-shirts, tanks, and the oh-so-pretty summer staple — the eyelet sundress.

Get more information here: Old Navy

You'll hit the shopping bull's eye here, where you'll find the exclusive Liz Lange Maternity collection. Lange, a former Vogue-ette, has been designing her own line of maternity clothing for more than 15 years (and her Target line for 10), which adds up to some serious bump know-how.

With items ranging from $10 to $35, there's no reason not to get something in every colour.

Get more information here: Target

For spring, trend hunters will gravitate to stretchy floral skinny jeans; the office-bound can command a meeting in a red peplum dress; and multi-taskers can dress up or dress down a colour-blocked blouse or chevron-striped dress.

Motherhood Maternity/Destination Maternity also have the exclusive on Loved by Heidi Klum (sporty mesh tops, leggings and sleek maxi dresses), and select stores carry the Jessica Simpson Maternity Collection (boho blouses and polka-dot skinny jeans that say, "Stars are just like us!").

Get more information here: Motherhood Maternity/Destination Maternity

Thyme Maternity ensures you never get bored of browsing by delivering new collections monthly. For spring, they'll be fully stocked with swimsuits (don't groan; with your cute bump no one will be looking at your butt) and easy summery pieces you'll live in, like lightweight linen pants, vintage-style florals, lace and macramé.

The designers have taken a soft approach to style for the warmer months, resulting in some breezy feminine pieces.

Get more information here: Thyme Maternity

After completing your baby registry, pop into the maternity department and check out their stock of Umame dresses and tunics in body-hugging fabrics. Or, grab a pair of affordable Reform Jeans (dubbed the "during and after jean" because of the removable maternity panel).

There's also a reliable stock of nursing bras (from soft B cups to full-support DD) and tanks in abundance, offering support for the busty months ahead.

Get more information here: Sears

It's hard not to appreciate the handiness of this big-box chain. With prices in Walmart's George maternity collection being so low ($7 to $25), your grocery budget won't suffer from a little shopping spree.

Summer basics like tanks, tunics, capris and shorts in sorbet shades are plentiful, and at $9 each, you can stock up on necessities like basic tees, support camis and a wardrobe-assisting bellyband.

Get more information here: Walmart

Is it any wonder than stripes would be a popular draw in this seaside city? Sail through summer in a fine-lined maxi dress, or indulge in some warm-weather-worthy colour, with summer dresses in jade, cobalt and cornflower blue.

The brand Boob is a perennial bestseller, and Victoria moms love their hoodies, which can be worn from pregnancy through nursing. Canadian-made brands like Bellyssima and Ocean Lily, as well as Maternal America, Séraphine and Bella Materna, are Victoria and Vancouver Island exclusives.

4489 Viewmont Ave., unit 104, Victoria, BC. 250-479-0803.

Get more information here: Bellies in Bloom Maternity

Owner Susan Heyes takes feedback from the ladies who visit her store when designing her popular private labels. The result: bamboo-cotton basic with spandex for stretch and support. The dozen or so pieces in the collection encompass dresses, tunics, leggings and a bellyband to help with any short hems.

It's not just the everyday items you'll find here; there are also stretch-sateen mocktail dresses from Ripe Maternity, the big names in denim, and necessities like nursing bras.

4280 Main St., Vancouver. 604-730-8689.

Get more information here: Hazel & Jools

Much of what's on offer here features an earth-friendly ethos from organic fabrics to locally made products. An olive-hued organic cotton skirt from 2 Chix is popular for its post pregnancy longevity. For prenatal yoga classes, the Be Present line has comfy lounge pants in french terry, and if you're tossing and turning at night, do so in ultra-soft Belabumbum nighties.

An extension of a midwifery practice, you'll also get helpful advice when shopping (from what's ahead for your changing body, to the benefits of hypno baby-birthing).

170 Craig St., Matraea Centre, Duncan. 250-597-0085.

Get more information here: Matraea Mercantile Mama & Baby

This shop in picturesque Steveston has become a destination for moms looking for special pieces to supplement the basics. Labels come from near (Vancouver's Au Fait Mama, Montreal's Jules et Jim) and far (Australia's Ripe Maternity, the UK's Séraphine).

This summer, nautical navy and red are going strong, and the newest shape in dresses is the "mullet" hem, which shows off your legs in the front while dipping low in the back.

110-3911 Moncton St., Richmond. 778-297-7379.

Get more information here: Steveston Village Maternity

It's all about the personalized service at this boutique. Moms book in for expert bra fittings — the store does about 15 a day — and carries around a dozen brands (Cake Lingerie is a favourite). From Maternal America's ankle-cropped denim, to haute-hued dresses from Jules et Jim, spring means colour.

If you're looking for postpartum accessories, both moms and dads love SoYoung's popular Charlie diaper bag (it looks just like a heritage canvas weekend bag).

2120 Kensington Rd. NW, suite 102, Calgary. 403-283-1654.

Get more information here: Posh Mommy

This place has something for everyone: Working moms-to-be will find pieces they can wear to the office, like a flowing skirt or blouse, while those who want casual and comfy will happily snap up the selection of leggings and capris. And check out their consignment section, where you'll often find a special piece at a discounted price.

For post-delivery, Glamourmom's nursing tanks in a range of colours have a built-in bra and go up to a J cup.

105-3400, 14th St. NW, Calgary. 403-283-3070

Get more information here: Baby & Me Maternity Boutique

When summer hits, there's nothing like dresses to keep cool. Here you'll find chic colour-blocked dresses from UK label Séraphine, bump-hugging beauties from fellow London-label Isabella Oliver, and fun prints by Jules et Jim.

Maxi dresses are a must-have in stripes, abstract prints and summery colours. Beyond dresses, there's the new Esprit maternity collection featuring casual tees, tops and pants. Cake Lingerie is popular for sexy support.

286-10816 Macleod Tr. EA, Calgary. 403-271-0050.

Get more information here: Ella Bella

Many of the pieces in this store don't look like your typical maternity designs because, well, they're not. Mixed in with pregnancy pieces (including styles from their just-launched Love Your Bump line of super-soft, double-spun cotton pieces) are non-maternity styles that'll work, thanks strategic draping and ruching.

Popular with clients are Hotmilk nursing bras, which pair must-have comfort with racy lace details.

226 MacLeod Ave., Spruce Grove. 780-960-6696.

Get more information here: Love Your Bump

For more than five years, this boutique (the brainchild of two sisters-in-law) has been drawing in expectant shoppers with dependable and trendy brands like Ripe Maternity, Séraphine, Jules et Jim, Noppies, Citizens of Humanity and Paige Denim.

From simple essentials, like the Ingrid and Isabel BellaBand and Everyday Cami (great for layering under non-maternity styles that need something longer to bridge a gap), and Séraphine's no-sag leggings, you won't have to change your tastes to fit your bump. They also offer breezy maxi dresses (the Séraphine Matilda style was spotted on Alyson Hannigan).

10122 124th St., Edmonton. 780-488-0040.

Get more information here: Yo Mama Maternity Boutique

Their name may be a nod to what you're longing to put in your body, but this store is very much about making sure you're in love with what you put on it.

The selection is on the smaller side, but still manages to be broad. From denim, leggings and tunics, to dress pants, jewel-toned dresses and swimwear (from Ripe Maternity and Umame), it's got something for whatever you're craving.

3-2105 8th St. E., Saskatoon. 306-477-8200.

Get more information here: Cravings Maternity & Baby Boutique

While their maternity clothes live alongside cute stuff for the kids, the assortment here is decidedly grown-up. From sexy underthings by Cake Lingerie, Hotmilk, Bravado and Elle Macpherson Intimates, to curve-conscious pieces by Isabella Oliver, Séraphine, Lilac and 9fashion, you'll be the hottest mom on the playground.

For jeans-and-tees gals, there's Paige Denim and 7 For All Mankind. And if you're in the market for the "it" diaper bag, check out the line Timi & Leslie for carryalls in cool-girl shapes.

2727 E. Quance St., Regina. 306-543-6261.

Get more information here: Simply Spoiled Mom & Baby Boutique

With 1,400 square feet of maternity fashions, we'd be surprised if you left this store empty-handed. Owner Natalie Zeitoun has an eye for items that promise a flattering fit and durability (no falling apart after only a few wears and washes).

Being a new store (just more than a year old), Zeitoun also listens to clients' feedback and has brought in items, like the Belly Bandit, to meet their demands. For spring, she'll have a huge array of Isabella Oliver, as well as shift dresses for nursing by Mothers En Vogue. Year-round best-sellers continue to be leggings (breathable and perfect for a variety of shapes), and a bamboo knit sweater you can wear during pregnancy and later during breastfeeding, both by Séraphine.

10785 Leslie St., Richmond Hill, Ont. 905-508-5862.

Get more information here: Luna Maternity & Nursing

While plenty of thought goes into what you're wearing while pregnant, you may not yet be thinking about that postnatal wardrobe. From flexible and wire-free, to structured and supportive bras, your girls will get the lift they need.

June & Dane, a nursing label that ranges from XS to XXL, is also a postnatal favourite. Choose from draped and gathered Grecian cocktail dresses and stretchy body-con numbers for a night out.

230 Danforth Ave., Toronto. 416-465-9991; 266 Jane St., Toronto. 416-913-0546.

Get more information here: Evymama

Is it any wonder that women in our nation's capital would lobby for smart business attire to see them through every trimester? Haute's brands like Slacks & Co., Boob and Hatch are Parliament Hill-appropriate.

For a gala, play up your curves with a dress by Vanessa Knox, a former head designer at Victoria's Secret, whose looks are worn by red-carpet-walking celebs like Sienna Miller. New to the boutique are Canadian dress collection June & Dane and the hard-to-find Tel Aviv label Inanimo's casual pieces with a twist.

6 Pommel Cres., Ottawa. 613-592-3800.

Get more information here: Haute Mama Maternity & Nursing

There's something for every "lovely baby bump" (to quote mom-to-be Fergie) at Kick. New brands this spring include Cake Lingerie (supportive nursing underthings), Queen Mum (the coolest in casual wear) and Mothers En Vogue (nursing styles with luxe fabrics).

You'll also find the M Coat — an interchangeable topper that fits your growing belly, and later, you and your little one when you're Baby Bjorn-ing it around town. For summer, opt for a fitted tank dress from Ripe Maternity or Michael Stars (an exclusive) that's easy to dress up or down. And for cooler dips in temperature, cropped jeans from Paige Denim or Citizens of Humanity will keep you on trend.

454 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto. 416-488-0255.

Get more information here: Kick Maternity

Owner/designer/seamstress Maihyet Burton's fit knowledge has made this shop a draw for moms-to-be looking for a bespoke approach. Enter her store and she'll help you pick out what you want, and then do a custom alteration to your shape while you wait.

Many of her styles can be worn throughout pregnancy and after, and are versatile in their wear. A customer favourite is a skirt that can be worn high up on the belly or low down thanks to internal ties, and a wrap cardigan you can style depending on the size of your bump.

15 Case Goods Lane, studio 106, Toronto. 416-504-5353.

Downtown girls no longer have to hoof it up to this shop's Yonge-and-Steeles spot, thanks to their new location that opened last fall just north of Lawrence.

Young, hip, trendy and sexy are the buzzwords. They offer a huge selection of designer denim (Citizens of Humanity, Paige Denim, True Religion, Maternal America, Ripe Maternity, Olian, 7 For All Mankind and J Brand) in some 30 cuts, as well as the sophisticated-meets-sexy designs of Isabella Oliver. We guarantee you'll leave feeling as paparazzi-worthy as Duchess Kate.

3127 Yonge St., Toronto. 647-748-7477; 7690 Yonge St., Toronto. 905-709-1947.

Get more information here: Seven Women

Bright colours, geometric prints and colour blocking are just some of the trends in-store this spring. For lounging poolside, you'll want one of Ripe Maternity's swimsuits with chic nautical details.

Overall, the designer mix has an eye on pleasing as many moms as possible with brands like Jules et Jim, Umame, 9fashion and Mothers En Vogue. And their knowledgeable staff will help you find versatile items that are fun and functional.

715 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie. 705-946-2229.

Get more information here: Stork and Bundle

While everyone might be talking about what the Duchess is wearing, women who want to feel like a queen flock to this boutique. Beyond the stock of dresses, business essentials and high-end denim, basics from Queen Mum and stylish separates from celeb-loved Séraphine are best-sellers.

You'll discover plenty of hard-to-find brands here: The Blanqi Bodystyler is like Spanx for your belly, offering support and alleviating the weight of the baby while also smoothing; and the fashion-forward collection More of Me Maternity Design, hailing from our neighbours to the south's capital, whose modern designs for spring include flowing boho dresses in painterly polka dots. A new brand to hit shelves is Isabella Oliver, offering chic pieces you'll see in many a how-to-dress-like-a-duchess style stories.

877 Bank St., Ottawa. 613-695-4727.

Get more information here: Queen Mother Maternity

Catering to moms and tots, best-sellers range from perennial pregnancy faces Paige Denim, to mat-leave must-have Boob nursing hoodies in organic cotton. Don't worry about getting distracted by cute cloth diapers though; you'll stay on the task at hand with classic and well-constructed pieces from Hatch, to Maternal America's and Juliet Dream's lad-back styles.

Make sure you pick up nursing necessities from Bravado and Nummies for your hospital overnight bag.

1719 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor. 519-256-7282.

Get more information here: Bump Maternity & Baby

If there's a hole in your wardrobe, this store's helpful staff will find a way to fill it. They've got your essential pair of derrière-flattering denim from brands like Paige Denim, Citizens of Humanity and J Brand.

If you're hunting for a hot dress to wear to an event, you'll find that high-low mullet hem currently popular in non-maternity, or some eye-catching rhinestone embellishments. New to the store is Esprit Maternity — think flirty dresses you can wear during the day and dress up at night.

5274 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal. 514-276-5995.

Get more information here: Apso Bibi Maternité

If you've been dreading maternity-clothes shopping because you don't want to spend a bunch of cash on pieces you'll only wear for one season, the staff at this shop get where you're coming from. They'll show you styles that you can wear as your belly grows, and continue to wear when you nurse and settle into your post-pregnancy size.

With trusty labels like Noppies, Olian, Maternal America and Bellyssima, as well as the hard-to-find like Japanese Weekend, Michael Stars and Splendid, you'll get something bump-approved and beyond.

4937 Sherbrooke St. W., Westmount. 514-481-5151.

Get more information here: Bloom Maternité

This store could almost be called a before and after; one side offers maternity clothes and the other cute picks for baby and kids. While you're in the before stages, the styles here aim to please moms-to-be with busy social calendars and ladies in need of a chic nine-to-five wardrobe.

What you won't find is anything basic or plain: Bright colours from tangerine to teal will get you in the mood for summer. And attention-getting pieces from Olian, Ripe Maternity, Jules et Jim, Noppies, and more are what makes for twice the style in half the space.

3280 boul. Saint-Martin Ouest, Laval. 450-978-9199.

Get more information here: L'Enfantillon

The styles here are mostly timeless, from brands like Mothers En Vogue, Boob and Peek-a-boo, so you'll want to hold onto what you buy for your next pregnancy (or pass along to a friend).

Jeans from local Quebec label Bedondine are a top-seller for their great fit, with most moms opting for the boot-cut style. But where this shop really excels is in its range of nursing bras in sizes from 32B to 42J, from brands like Cake Lingerie, Hotmilk and Bravado.

474 Des Signeurs Blvd., Terrebonne. 450-964-0739.

Get more information here: Lady Bug Maternity

After Angela Bentley couldn't find the styles she saw high-profile moms-to-be flaunting in magazines, she took on the task of opening shop and offering them herself.

This spring, trendy pieces include bold black-and-white prints; saturated, stretch skinny jeans; and feminine florals, lace and ruffles on shirts and dresses. The store's private label offers basics to mix-and-match with those look-at-me pieces.

145 Commerical, Berwick. 902-538-1659.

Get more information here: Spoil Me Rotten

For moms who are just as preoccupied with their carbon footprint as the new little footprints they're about to greet, this shop stocks designers and products that are ethically made and/or Canadian. Don't go in expecting racks of beige cotton — a hot pink dress from Maternal America is more the order of the day.

Feel confident about your burgeoning belly in Reform Jeans by Umame (a Canadian label) and bump-hugging styles by Ripe Maternity. You'll also find the supportive staff promoting cloth diaper workshops, and the organic and allergen-free personal care products they stock as well.

Coaker's Meadow Plaza, 286 Torbay Rd., St. John's. 709-237-6262.

Get more information here: Bellies & Bundles

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