Dress me please: Breastfeeding friendly interview outfit

[Jellybean81]

I've got through to the final stage interviews/assessment centre for a senior NHS role which is great but I also have a two month old who won't take a bottle. I think the solution is to ask if I can bring baby and my mum with me and pop in to feed during breaks.

I need help finding an outfit that I can feed in easily without looking like a rumpled mess afterwards. If can handle baby being sick that would be great too!
My work style even pre baby tended to be dresses as they are quick and easy.
I'm 5'7 and think I'm about a size 14 now (everything I've worn since having the baby is very stretchy or maternity). My breasts are still in the massive breastfeeding stage and I'm wearing 34G bras. I'm not very hippy and my tummy is quite flat considering I have a newborn.
Can anyone help? Interview is end of next week and I won't be able to get to any shops so will need to be bought online. I really want to look good so prepared to spend a couple hundred if need be.
Sorry for any typos - typing and breastfeeding!

[Jumpingintosummer]

Seraphine are great for feeding dresses. I would suggest something like this with a jacket and court shoe. You would get further use out of it with thick tights, boots and knitwear over the winter.

[Ozanj]

I would go simple. Button down blouse / shirt, skirt and jacket. Hobbs has some good stuff

[Jellybean81]

@Jumpingintosummer I like the style of dress but is the fabric too casual?
It's been about 5 years since my last interview and a really long time since I've been in person for work - feeling a bit overwhelmed by the need to make a good first impression!
Should I also put baby in a nice outfit?

[Jellybean81]

@Ozanj you've reminded me Hobbs was my go to before Covid/baby, I'll check them out

[Jellybean81]

What do you think of this one? www.seraphine.com/en-gb/black-floral-wrap-maternity-dress/

[Jumpingintosummer]

I think the flouncy skirt part is less professional than the jersey. Bare in mind having granted the adjustments to attend the interview everyone is aware that you are breastfeeding so won’t be expecting you in a tight fitted dress etc.

Another thing to consider is taking a change of dress/blouse because if my children are anything to go by they favoured spitting up at weddings, funeral teas and my personal favourite en route to show royalty around the organisation I was CEO of at the time .

[Jellybean81]

I like the print on this one but is it too bold? - I do very dull corporate services stuff www.seraphine.com/en-gb/red-animal-print-maternity-and-nursing-dress/

I think a normal wrap dress with a nursing vest underneath would probably do - any recommendations?

Feel like my confidence isn't where it was - wish this opportunity came along a few months earlier or later

[Jellybean81]

@Jumpingintosummer
Great idea to bring a change of clothes! Baby is very, very good at vomiting silently down the back of whoever is holding her.

I take your point about the floaty fabric, I think I'm drawn to it as feels more dressy and maybe more forgiving too

[Jumpingintosummer]

I like it but not for this purpose. Everyone’s confidence dips after having a baby, you are getting to grips with your new role as a mother, your body has changed etc.

Aim for simple and elegant. Good shoes, good bag. Neatly painted nails, lovely blow dried hair and light make up.

How about this?

[Jellybean81]

@Jumpingintosummer I love that one and it would be perfect but it doesn't have breastfeeding access

What style/colour jacket would you go for with the first dress?

[Milkbottlelegs]

I like the red print one. It’s a great fabric but a bit more structured and I think that makes it more work appropriate. I wear some bold fabrics for a very corporate job.

I faced similar, a big interview whilst on mat leave only I needed to be able to pump during breaks. I went for a skirt in a great print with a plain white shirt (wouldn’t show milk spills…) and a black jacket. But a shirt may not fit so well if you have bigger boobs.

[Jellybean81]

@Milkbottlelegs shirts and my boobs don't really mix as they tend to end up gaping

I hope this isn't a drip feed (pardon the pun ), I had an emergency c section and the scar is still tender so if going for separates they'd need to be quite high waisted to be tolerable for a half day

[Jumpingintosummer]

Dear, it was in the feeding section. Sorry.

For the burgundy I would go either nude/cream or black. Short waterfall style can be very flattering on larger busts.

They also have it in teal.

[Councilworker]

I often found that dresses marked as maternity and nursing were OK for the first month or so while my belly deflated but after that they didn't hang in a very flattering way due to the extra fabric around my belly. I was quite excited to have an actual waist band again.
Wrap dresses are probably a better bet or separates. I thought shirt dresses would work but they always needed pinning to contain my boobs and avoid gaping which is not what you need at inteview stage.

[Jellybean81]

I love this and it's very much what I would have gone for if I wasn't breastfeeding - even if the V goes deep enough the satin would probably end up covered with baby fingerprints and milk smears
www.hobbs.com/product/alisa--3%2F4-sleeve-a-line-dress-/0220-5729-9845L00-DARK-GREEN.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=false&sz=60&start=-3&cgid=clothing-dresses&isSecondPage=false&pid=0220-5729-9845L00-DARK-GREEN&pos=6

[Jellybean81]

A couple more options

https://www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.tailored-wrap-dress-black.0986030001.html

https://www.karenmillen.com/structured-crepe-zip-detail-forever-dress/AKK03052.html?color=105

Baby is asleep now so I'll try to sleep as well - probably be back on again in 3 hours

[Jumpingintosummer]

The Hobbs dress is beautiful albeit a magnet for spit up and leaks.