The wedding-guest dress that works while pregnant, postpartum and beyond

Plus! A great summer rain mac

At a work event this week I got chatting to one of the founders of Smock London - a very lovely label which specialises in, you guessed it, smocking.

As she showed me through the summer collection (the most gorgeous cotton dresses, all made in limited edition runs) we discussed the nostalgic associations with smocked dresses that makes them still so desirable as a grown-up. When the label launched six years ago it actually started in kidswear before branching into womenswear due to customers wanting adult versions for themselves.

Personally I love the summeriness of smocking. And on a dress it’s so feminine and pretty without being overly frou-frou.

There’s the flexibility factor, too. Smocking - and shirring - is essentially a chic way to elasticate something, which makes it both comfortable and suitable for when you need a bit of stretch. One of my favourite things to put on the summer I was pregnant with my son was a black shirred top that I bought years before. I also wore it the summer I was nursing my daughter as it was easy to pull down. And I still wear it now. Talk about cost-per-wear.

As we're in the midst of wedding season, I thought all of the above felt particularly relevant. Wedding guest dressing is, I find, always a bit headache. But especially so when you’re pregnant or recently had a baby and need to find a piece that will work with a baby bump or postpartum tummies/boobs.

Or when you need to factor in hands-on supervising of small kids. I took mine to a friend's wedding last summer which although fun involved a lot of chasing after, carrying around and toilet dashes. The slip-on mules I wore proved far too clacky as I trotted my son across the dining room to the ladies after he announced loudly (and mid my husband’s best man speech) that he desperately needed a poo.

However a shirred dress is a great solution whatever stage of motherhood you're at. So cute! So easy! So able to accommodate expanding body parts. Or ping back into place after a yank from a grabby toddler hand.

What I like most about the idea of smocked dresses for wedding season is that they're not too occasionwear. Yes you can dress them up with a great pair of shoes and a party bag, but add flip flops and a basket/canvas tote and you can wear them on holiday or to the pub. I don't want to buy something that hardly gets worn. Versatility is the name of the game.

This dress caught my eye on the rail at the afformentioned work event. Pretty Woman polka dots!

The brand’s PR, who is in her second trimester, was also wearing it and looked really beautiful. I'd style it with a pair of flat espadrilles in black (these in the NAP sale!) or mesh ballet pumps like these, also on sale.

Six more stand-outs below:

1. Nobody’s Child, £79

2. Reformation, £298

3. Rixo, £185

4. Amy Lynn, £95

5. Never Fully Dressed, £129

6. Dissh, £160 (here's the white version on a pregnant body)

Smocking for the kids!

Lallie London does incredibly sweet hand-smocked dresses and rompers for six months and upwards. This is Winnie in the Eva:

Or a very cute under £40 option from Mini Boden.

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Spotted in the playground

Actually at a kids birthday party yesterday morning - this midi-length rain mac (£79.99). One of the nursery mums was wearing it with a pair of gingham ankle-crop trousers and flat black Mary Janes. The perfect layer for when it's mild but wet.

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A cute summer cardigan to breastfeed in

A friend who has recently given birth messaged me the other day asking about summer cardigans to breastfeed in. She assumed she’d be wearing her cotton and linen button-downs but - brrrr - it’s a bit cold. I sent her the below. What a great colour.

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One more thing…

I was recently introduced to Loved Before, an organisation which cleans up old soft toys and resells them so they can be loved all over again. The founder Charlotte was inspired to launch it after working in a charity shop and noticing the huge amount of teddies that kept being donated. So if you're in the market for a new (old) bear, or are looking for a way to get rid of some that doesn't involve the bin, check it out.

lovedbefore_london

A post shared by @lovedbefore_london

That's all for now. You're doing great, Frankie x

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