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For the love of god, find me a dress I can get my boobs out of.

73 replies

ReshapeWhileDamp · 07/04/2011 18:18

I am nearly 4 months postpartum (if it really needs qualification, that means I'm still carrying the vast majority of my baby weight and am nearly 11 stone at 5'2", gah) and bizarrely, am acting as Godmother to the DD of a friend of mine in mid-May.

Aside from losing three stone miraculously before then (not going to happen, I'm one of those women who hoard weight while breastfeeding), is there anything I can do to make myself presentable at this numinous event? (I should probably consider converting to, um, Christianity too, while I'm at it, being an atheist Godmother-to-be, but that's an entire other can of worms, probably on AIBU.)

Basically, I need a presentable dress that I can hoick my boobs out of. Probably one with a wrap top or similar. Ideally, it would be something I could flop about in for the rest of summer (Christenings aren't as Smart as weddings, right? I don't have to get dolled up in a mega-posh Outfit, do I?), and while I know I'm not going to find something with breastfeeding flaps , something I can breastfeed in without taking off the whole top part would be good. I can wear a shawl or wrap at the Christening to shield the masses from my wrinkled old lovebags, I suppose.

All I've found so far is this, which you'll probably say isn't dressy enough. No, not even with little strappy sandals and an oyster-coloured wrap? Sad I do quite like it, and can wear it the rest of summer, assuming it doesn't showcase my fat back and muffin top.

Any advance on Boden? White Stuff totally useless - necklines won't allow boob/baby interface.

OP posts:
Leapoffaith · 08/04/2011 18:34

Have you looked at www.milkchic.co.uk - it doesn't sell stuff but sorts through the ranges of high street retailers and links to items that are BF friendly.

I don't know how they make money so I always expect it to disappear or stop being updated (cynic), but I've found some fab stuff through it, including 2 cheap as chips dresses from tesco that look quite classy and have excellent nork access.

SaggyHairyArse · 08/04/2011 18:41

I bought a Maggy London printed dress in TK Maxx yesterday. It has a white background and green and blue print. It is like this:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAGGY-LONDON-Designer-Flower-Dress-sz-12-/300544923409?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item45f9df9711#ht_500wt_922

It is a drapey/stretchyish material that you could easily get a boob out of and it looks really nice on and hides my lumps and bumps (have got 3 kids).

It was £30.

CairoLucy · 08/04/2011 19:51

I got a couple of lovely dresses online (can't remember which websites, I'm afraid) by the Boob label - not cheap but one I got in a sale, and the other second-hand but great condition on Ebay. BF-ing easy, forgiving over the tummy but always got compliments for my style when I wore them

ReshapeWhileDamp · 08/04/2011 20:09

That Milk Chic site is amazing, LeapofFaith! Smile Don't know why I've never come across it before. I particularly like the idea of 'sleeve feeding' your baby with a batwing top. Grin

OP posts:
mmsparkle · 08/04/2011 20:27

I agree with CairoLucy - I wore a BOOB dress to a wedding last year when breastfeeding. On ebay, generally £30 ish. If you don't wear dresses very often, no point paying a fortune for one. More fun buying the accessories [winnk]

However I'll def be checking out some of these other links, esp milkchic... not that I have any posh events coming up, but you never know!

NonnoMum · 08/04/2011 20:30

Has anyone mentioned yummy yet?

Leapoffaith · 08/04/2011 22:31

Glad to be of service reshapewhiledamp Grin I haven't tried 'sleeve feeding' yet, but it's nice to have options!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 08/04/2011 22:43

I like the idea of having your baby 'up your sleeve'! Grin

OP posts:
bessie26 · 08/04/2011 23:11

I got a dress from babeswithbabies for my SIL's wedding a couple of years ago & it was lovely - think it cost about £40 and had good bf access & very nice ruching (sp?) over the tummy area Grin

TIDDLYMUM · 08/04/2011 23:26

www.peaksoflondon.com/shop/

my friends company

parachutesarefab · 09/04/2011 02:34

I BF DD2 5mo at a wedding - Monsoon dress with scooped neck and narrow straps, strapless non-maternity bra, and shawl. Drop strap, hoik boob out - happy, well-fed baby.

BF DD1 at a wedding, 5/6 months old. Skirt, black top (no visible damp patches!) and jacket. Less obvious than with shawl - bride even came over to talk to me and only realised what I was doing after a few minutes when she asked for a cuddle. Just remembered I even walked from one room to another BF her - it just looked as if I was holding her.

Try on anything you like, and see if you can arrange your anatomy correctly (or good enough) before you decide whether to purchase / keep.

shandybass · 09/04/2011 08:41

I agree withfour-leaf I found a dress almost a no no when bf. A pretty stretchy top you can hoick up with a pretty A line type skirt was far easier and I did this to a christening and two weddings. A dress wrap over or not needs to be fitted enough not to gape with weighty breasts and to be stretchy enough to allow you to get said breasts out, feed comfortably, be fairly discreet and get back to reasonable shape! I never worked it put myself.
With the top you can also use a shawl for being doubly discreet.

Enjoy. I'm sure it's not going to be a style judgement day!

MilkChic · 09/04/2011 12:45

This reply has been deleted

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Raeray · 09/04/2011 19:40

www.monsoon.co.uk/beach-dresses/casablanca-dress

This one is lovely and might be suitable?

umf · 09/04/2011 21:11

I bought that Boden one. Also a postnatally podgy size 16 with a 4 month old. Sadly it looked frightful. Not flattering to the maternal figure. Sent back.

spiderlight · 10/04/2011 00:05

popstar, you have just saved me a ginormous headache! I've been looking for a dress for a very informal wedding and the Jojo one you linked to is perfect - it even goes perfectly with a necklace somebody made for me yesterday, so I've ordered it!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 10/04/2011 11:51

Thanks, Umf! Definitely not buying it now. Am still toying with the lovely 50's blue dress from Bravissimo but it looks like a bitch to iron and I'd like something I can wear a lot this summer (and let's face it, I'm not one of nature's ironers at the best of times, but with DS2 glued to me... Grin). I did decide I'd wear something I already had, but am still dithering over maybe getting something from BabesWithBabies. (a right misnomer in my case, I should point out.)

OP posts:
Leapoffaith · 10/04/2011 18:49

Ooh hello milkchic [waves]. Fab idea, I really hope it works out for you!

gourd · 10/04/2011 18:53

Have you tried Bella Mamia or Babes with Babies on-line shops? Both have beautiful clothes that are really, really, nice and v flattering as well as having v discreet bf-ing holes.
www.bellamama.co.uk/17-breastfeeding-dresses (the "Dote 9th st nursing dress" is lovely and cos it's high-under-bust-waisted, it is v flattering of your tummy - i have it in red)
www.babeswithbabies.com/section_details.asp?section=Breastfeeding+Dresses&section_id=1886 (I have Isadora Fuschia and it's v glam and even better for post partum tummy with the ruched look)

WhatsWrongWithYou · 10/04/2011 19:13

Remembered seeing --www.mamanana.com/robes-allaitement/robes-allaitement-ete/robe-grossesse/allaitement-imani-courte-pr-634.html?cPath=2_61_46 this]] on another thread yesterday - tres chic, non? Smile

WhatsWrongWithYou · 10/04/2011 19:13

Sorry this.

Adair · 14/04/2011 20:42

hey all,
John Lewis ad on side of something else I was doing, highlighted several appropriate dresses (bit sinister actually...)

This for example is LOVELY. Though very grown-up (for me, personally I mean).

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