When I was pregnant my first baby in 2019, you could just walk into a mall and try on maternity jeans. Between Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, and the maternity sections at Target and Old Navy, shopping while pregnant used to be a lot easier. By the time I was pregnant with my third in 2024, everything changed. But where did all those stores go?
Turns out, in-person maternity shopping options are disappearing, with more and more retailers moving their maternity collections almost entirely online. Some big-box stores might still carry a few maternity items as of late 2026, but dedicated sections have become increasingly hard to find.
And we're not the only ones wondering about this. Pregnant women across the country are asking the same question on Reddit and in Facebook groups: Where are we supposed to try on maternity clothes before buying them?
We did some research to find out what's actually left in the DMV, and the results were pretty disappointing.
Where can you actually shop for maternity clothes in the DMV?
After searching for maternity clothing stores throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and nearby Maryland, we found just one independent boutique close to DC that we could confidently identify as specializing in maternity clothing:
1. 529 Kids Consign | Alexandria, Virginia
Address: 122A South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Price point: $$ | Consignment pricing varies
Website: 529kidsconsign.com (opens in a new tab)
Located in Old Town Alexandria, 529 Kids Consign is an upscale children's and maternity consignment boutique. The store specializes in gently used clothing, offering shoppers the opportunity to find quality pieces at secondhand prices.
The boutique accepts maternity clothing in sizes XS–L and lists brands such as A Pea in the Pod, Isabella Oliver, and Citizens of Humanity among the labels it accepts.
Since everything is consigned, inventory and sizes will vary. It's worth calling ahead if you're searching for something specific.
That might not be your only hope! Motherhood Maternity isn't completely gone. In August 2024, the brand returned to physical retail stores through a partnership with Kohl's.
Motherhood has a store locator on its website where you can search for participating Kohl's locations near you. There are several Northern Virginia locations worth investigating.
2. Motherhood Maternity at Kohl's | Select Northern Virginia Locations
Price point: $–$$ | Tops around $15, leggings around $25, and jeans around $45 at regular online prices
Website: Motherhood's Kohl's Store Locator (opens in a new tab)
Here's some good news! Motherhood Maternity isn't completely gone. In August 2024, the brand returned to physical retail stores through a partnership with Kohl's.
Even better, Motherhood has a store locator on its website where you can search for participating Kohl's locations near you. There are several Northern Virginia locations worth investigating.
Kohl's carries Motherhood maternity basics, including jeans, leggings, dresses, and tops. Prices are generally affordable, with regular online prices around $15 for basic tees, $25 for leggings, and $45 for some maternity jeans.
But there's a catch.
Just because a Kohl's is listed doesn't necessarily mean you'll find a fully stocked maternity section.
In one Reddit discussion (opens in a new tab), a shopper described visiting Kohl's only to discover that the maternity section was filled with toys instead of maternity clothes. Other shoppers have reported everything from a single rack of clothes to a decent selection.
Our advice? Use the Motherhood store locator to find a participating Kohl's near you, but call the store first and ask whether maternity clothes are currently available on the sales floor.
It might be your best bet for trying on new maternity basics without ordering online.
What about Target, Old Navy, and H&M?
You might still have some luck at a larger retailer, but mom's are reporting these are vanishing and unreliable.
Target: Target still sells maternity clothing, but in-store inventory varies. Before making the trip, check Target's website or app and select your local store to see which items are actually available.
Old Navy: Old Navy has a large maternity collection online, including jeans, leggings, dresses, and basics. However, don't count on finding a dedicated maternity section in your local store.
H&M: This one might be worth trying. In a March 2026 Reddit discussion about maternity shopping in DC (opens in a new tab), local shoppers reported finding small maternity sections at H&M in Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria. We haven't confirmed whether those sections are still stocked, so call first.
If you're hoping to spend an afternoon trying on maternity jeans, though, these stores probably won't offer the experience that dedicated maternity boutiques once did.
Another option: Free maternity clothing closets
One of the more interesting local resources we found isn't a store at all.
3. Local Maternity Thread | DC and Maryland
Price point: Free!
Website: localmaternitythread.org (opens in a new tab)
Local Maternity Thread is a nonprofit organization that operates free maternity and nursing clothing closets throughout the DC area.
The concept is simple: Take what you need, donate what you no longer use, and help keep maternity clothing circulating among local moms.
You can find their clothing closets at:
- Takoma Park, MD: 6905 Poplar Avenue
- Petworth, DC: Southeast corner of 9th and Upshur Streets NW
- Deanwood, DC: Mamatoto Village, 4315 Sheriff Road NE, available to current program participants
The Takoma Park and Petworth closets welcome anyone who wants to browse. You don't need to be experiencing financial hardship to participate.
It's a great option for finding maternity basics without spending money on clothes you'll only wear for a few months. Plus, when you're finished with your maternity wardrobe, you can donate it back for another mom to enjoy.
Why did all the maternity stores disappear?
It's not just happening in the DMV.
Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod were once staples at shopping malls across the country. Their former parent company, Destination Maternity, filed for bankruptcy in 2019, and the brands subsequently exited their standalone stores.
At the same time, retailers increasingly shifted maternity clothing online.
For retailers, that might make sense. But for pregnant women who are trying to figure out what size jeans to buy when their bodies are changing every month, online shopping isn't always convenient.
And sometimes you just want to try on a pair of pants without ordering three sizes and dealing with returns.
Help us find more maternity stores in the DMV!
If you know of a maternity clothing store in Virginia, Maryland, or DC where moms can actually shop in person, please let us know!
Whether it's a small boutique, consignment store, or a hidden maternity section at a big-box retailer, we'd love to add it to this guide.
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