Wedding Guest Dresses For Breastfeeding People That Aren’t A Bloody Wrap Dress
A jersey wrap dress à la 2012 Kate Middleton might be practical, but it's not your only option
A note before we get started: we at Mother, Loading do not give one hoot whether you feed/fed your baby formula or breast milk. Everyone’s path is different and everyone faces their own challenges. Sending love if you’re struggling with your journey right now. FED IS BEST.
Lovely Kate Middleton. She seems like a very nice lady who is going through a lot right now and I wish her all the best. Her influence on fashion back in the early 2010s was impressive: the manufacturers of nude heels and stretchy wrap dresses are probably now so rich they think Rishi Sunak is poor. Since then, Kate (and fashion) has moved on. Except, that is, when it comes to maternity and post-partum fashion. It’s 2024 and breastfeeding people are still being served wrap dress after wrap dress as their sartorial options because, let’s face it, they’re practical.
But what if you don’t want something practical? Let’s face it, breastfeeding mums (all parents tbh) don’t get a lot of chances to get dressed up, go out and look nice. In fact, any weddings you have this summer are likely to be the one bright spot on a now-decimated social calendar. You want to look amazing. You need to look amazing. And you do not want to settle for a plain old practical jersey wrap dress just because you need to lob a boob out* once an hour, every hour.
And so, in honour of your Big Night Out, we scoured the internet for wowow outfits that give your little one easy access to your boobs.
*To feed your child, I mean. Not just for fun on the dancefloor. Those days are gone (for now).
The Floaty One
Seraphine are Ground Zero for jersey wrap dresses. In fact, they owe most of their success to being Kate Middleton’s favourite maternity brand to wear. Annoyingly, they are also extremely practical and well-designed clothes for pregnant or nursing people. However, while there’s still a smörgåsbord of wrap dresses on their site, there’s also this rather fetching floaty sleeve broderie prairie dress, which comes in pink and lime and (I beg you watch the video) has a secret zip to release your boobs to the world.
The Elegant One
Many thanks to H&M Mama for continually remembering that getting pregnant doesn’t automatically confine you to a life of stripey socks and dungarees (no shade, I own both). This elegant sage dress has a secret wraparound front that can be undone in order to (you guessed it) flop a boob out for your darling beb.
The Fun One
This option from fashion girlie fave Kitri is on the spenny side (what isn’t these days) but hopefully its versatility means you can wear it to weddings, holidays, and just generally throughout the summer. It comes in four fun prints and the breastfeeding win lies in its tie-front.
The Hide-The-Nursing Bra One
Can’t wait to set fire to the unsightly over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder that’s currently stopping your unwieldy boobs from escaping? This one’s for you. Hailing from Anthropologie, this shirt dress provides maximum coverage up top while still being pretty enough to dress up with heels (or those chic ballet flats everyone’s sporting this summer).
The Black Tie One
It’s a wrap dress, but one we’re making an exception for because it’s very nice and pretty and perfect for formal weddings whilst still providing coverage up top (installing a secret snap closure on the boobs might make the whole thing more comfortable and practical for boob removal).
The Hot Weather One
Travelling with a baby to a destination wedding is already stressful enough without figuring out how to stay cool, look chic and give your child constant access to your boobs. This dress from Bump & Milk has secret boob holes under the frills and is made of linen to keep you nice and chill.
The Tie-Front One
Take advantage of this summer’s biggest trend: the tie-front. Worried about the nursing bra peeking through? Honestly, just own it. Invest in something outrageous like one these Molke bras and let your personality shine through.
The Comfy One
I’ll admit, it is a kind of wrap dress but about as far from a jersey-fitted number as you can get. This lad is so comfy it can double up as pyjamas if you happen to just pass out on the bed and looks endlessly chic either with a pair of heels or a pair of chunky Birkenstocks. It comes in red, green and black and white. Plus, it’s from Beyond Nine, who actually love women, and their bodies in every shape.
The Cocktail One
A city wedding calls for a less floaty affair and this (wrap dress – I’m so sorry, they’re so practical) from Boohoo (forgive me) is a superb way to transform yourself into a human disco ball to dance the night away in. Sequins: do your thing.