HELP!! Is this the greatest MN style challenge ever??

[MaryHuff]

Oh stylish women of Mumsnet, I need your help. I am facing a terrifying scenario in 3 weeks.

My gorgeous SIL - 5ft11 and size 6 - is getting married.

I had a baby last month. My normal size 12 figure is a bloated, wobbly size 18

I am going to have to have photos - the ones that last FOREVER & are displayed on peoples' walls - standing next to SIL (good god I could cry).

So please help me find an outfit that I will at least feel good about wearing. To make matters a bit more omplicated, DD feeds constantly so it needs to be something I can breastfeed in easily.

At the moment, my "worst" bits are tummy (had a section), butt/thighs and tops of arms. So nothing drawing attention to the state of those would be great.

In fact, as I write this out, I realise I probably should take the style advice my MIL (mother of bride) gave me for the wedding outfit - she suggested "a flowing, tent-like kaftan to disguise & hide your body"

[MaryHuff]

Thanks for the offer Fishie. It was really kind of you, but I missed getting back to you in time (Sorry, only seen your message today as we have been away for a few days).

It's OK though as I am happy with the simplybe dress

Thank you mumsnetters for solving my style challenge. I am actually going to the wedding feeling quite confident!

[fishie]

maryhuff i was in bravissimo yesterday and they have those dresses in green and purple in sale. if you want to pay for one i could be persuaded to collect it and post it to you - i work nearby the covent garden branch. but it would have to be today as i'm not at work again till tuesday.

[MaryHuff]

thanks for checking up on me motherlove. I was all set on one of the bravissimo dresses, but delivery was 10 days which meant they would arrive just 2 days before the wedding, not leaving me enough time to sort out something else if they didn't fit, so had to scrap that option

I've ordered 3 other dresses:

• the one I referred to above, which is a no go;
  
• the SimplyBe one I gave a link to last week. It has arrived and looks fine. I tried it on without the sucky-in-pants and I look OK in it even like that, so its a potential. Will have to hoik my boobs out the top to feed in it, but will bring a wrap to preserve my modesty.
  
• the Debenhams one that Jemart suggested. Am still waiting for that to arrive.
  
  Good idea on th fascinator. If I go with the Debenhams dress I will get one. The other dress is more flowing/grecian style so a fascinator would looka bit odd with it.
  
  Ruperts - babay will have to be in all the phtos anyway as she is never off my boobs!!

[rupertsabear]

Just hold the baby in the posterity photos so people know who to blame the flab on.

[motherlovebone]

hows it going?
wanted to pop on and suggest wearing a fascinator, to draw attention to your face/head/fascinator!
primark have got some i noticed...ebay too i think.

[MaryHuff]

ebay is a good suggestion - will have a look there.

motherlove - I did look at Frocks. I am an Aphrodite Mother of Eros apparently (sounds much sexier than I feel!) I have been looking for outfits in the colours they suggest.

treedelivery - the dress that arrived yesterday was this one. I got the biggest size they do, so can't get bigger. But I will try out the vest idea - thanks.

So far I have ordered quite a few outfits, as feel better trying on from the comfort of home. Hopefully one will look good!

[treedelivery]

Try a suck in job, then a vest and then the dress. It might help it to not cling to contours.

Or perhaps just a bigger size, I look waaaay better in a 20 18 than a 18 16.

The green wrap over was lush, thinking of that for my daughters Christening. Was that the one that you tried?

This looks good, but blimey what a price

The other way to do this is focus on what bits of you are good, and also on what you like. Then find that item - rather than the other way around.

[motherlovebone]

dont lose heart. you only had a baby a few weeks ago, in the 2 weeks before wedding you will prob regain a bit more shape. find out what colours suit you clothes wise, book in to get your make up done free at a cosmetics counter. look at dresses on "mummy looks fab"...
and attitude is 50% if you feel like crap...
H&M are reasonable price wise, im sure you could find an outfit in there to hold you up for the day, even if you do the two tops (pull one up one down) to feed.
did you look at frocks for colour advice??

[JamInMyWellies]

Check out isabella oliver on ebay loads cheaper and normally the items have been worn once then sold on.

[MaryHuff]

I think avoiding the wedding is still my best option. Got delivery through yesterday of a breastfeeding dress in jersey material and it clings to every lump and bump - even with sucky-in-pants on. And I have discovered I have back boobs

MockDuck - thanks for advising Isabella Oliver. Unfortunately it is too expensive for me

[MockDuck]

I have to say, forget dresses that weren't made for breastfeeding. Check out Isabella Oliver - amazing and stylish dresses and separates you can feed in. Sorry, would link but I am on my iPod.

[MaryHuff]

oop - pressed post before I mean to. The last message was to Jemart

Kristina - don't worry, I am no way even tempted to follow my MIL's kaftan advice! I agree that jersey fabric might be easier, which is why I have questioned Jemart above on how easy her dress is to b/feed in - it would never have occured to me that I could in something so "structured". The red dress you linked to is lovely

[MaryHuff]

ooh, that's a lovely dress. are you able to feed with the dress on fully (i.e. not taking down the halter straps)? I had been avoiding styles like this as I thought they'd be too hard to discreetly unleash my boobs out of.

[jemart]

I have similar situation, am currently size 16 and my sisters wedding is next month. I got this dress.
It is a halterneck so very easy to feed baby without having to take the dress off. They do a little matching bolero as well.
Excellent style for concealing mummy tummy.

[KristinaM]

i agree with every word laurie wrote

i also had HUGE 32J bf norks and found tunics/kaftans hung off my norks and made me look huge. although my chest was 42" teh rest of me was a only 14 so not a good look

if you can manage to bf in the bravissimo dresses then i woudl go for that and small shrug

i found jersey dresses had a bit more give than other fabrics and easier to pull aside for bf. this red dress is lovely and not " everyday" at all IMO

black with bow should be ok for bf

[MaryHuff]

no, have never heard of it. Will google - thanks

[motherlovebone]

have you looked at 'Frocks', for inspiration/colour advice.
cant do links

[MaryHuff]

Hmm MrsMW - MIL did mention some one I would look like if I wore the tent lovely kaftan she suggested. Maybe that's who it was?

Thanks for the links Clure and AandMMummy. Have been inspired by this thread to but lots of sucky-in-undies and some new clothes suitable for b/feeding so I can look like a sexy curvy mamma every day. It's time to ditch the illusion that I don't need new clothes as I'm going to wake up one morning and have magically shrunk to my pre-preg size!

[AppleandMosesMummy]

www.yummietummie.co.uk
Breast feeding vest top
With a wrap top or cardigan over the op

[mrsmerryweather]

If you are big, wearing big and voluminous will just make you look like Hattie Jakes. ( shows age.)

[Clure]

vest pants also have a look here
Good luck, you'll look gorgeous I'm sure

[MaryHuff]

PMSL at your comments re my MIL. She is actually nice, and was trying to help but it wasn't what I wanted to hear as a hormonal, emotional new mum feeling self conscious about my body and unable to exercise or diet!

I'll check out H&M for feeding tops - I didn't realise they did such clothes.

Feelingforty - a cardigan to disguise is a good idea. And of course, a large glass of wine!

Laurie - a J cup? I am feeling huge as an E!! Your shoulders and back must really ache.

[Feelingforty]

I went to a wedding when DD2 was 8 months old, wearing a very fitted dress. When she wanted to feed, we just went off to another room.

The wedding we went to when she was 3 weeks old, I wore a kind of twin set - well matching vest & cardigan. Because the cardigan was undone, & it was all a chunky type of knit, we were pretty much disguised.

Think you'd be better off with top & trousers/skirt. Nice hat, make-up & necklace, big smile & a large glass of wine & enjoy yourself !

[DebiNewberry]

I'm not usually a fan - but I got one from H&M to wear under a wrap dress when my db got married (dd was 2 weeks). Just a bit less exposing.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Sympathies - mine are a 36J all the time