What to wear to a wedding when you've just had a baby
And some chic maternity options too!
Ok, wedding season! What a great time of year. BUT you're pregnant, or you’ve just had a baby, or you’re pumping/breastfeeding. So, what do you wear?
I went to a very close friend's wedding three weeks after having my daughter, which outfit-wise was… a challenge. Harder still, it was black-tie. The thought of getting myself into an evening gown was deeply yuck and I couldn't wear trousers because my stomach was still sore from my c-section. Obviously absolutely nothing fit either.
I contemplated renting a feathered Taller Marmo tent from Hurr, but ended up wearing a black silky pyjama set which was an absolute joy. A soft, stretchy waistband and button-down top so that I could pump (I took the Elvie in my bag - quite an ice-breaker at the dinner table!)
I've also been very pregnant at a wedding and aside from the absolute snore of not being able to drink, had a great time in a Les Rêveries wrap dress. (I know everyone suggests a wrap dress when you're pregnant and typically they're incredibly uninspiring, however Les Rêveries does very chic ones - see here.)
So I guess what I’m saying is, I have experience in this area. Obviously piling any sort of dress code onto the already complicated issue of dressing before/after giving birth makes a hard thing even harder. And occasion wear isn't straightforward at the best of times (what underwear? What shoes? What teeny-tiny bag?)
But it can also be so fun and escapist. A moment to feel glamorous and fizzy and not like you’ve spent the week throwing up/cleaning up throw-up.
A few outfit ideas below – but before we get to them, I’m going to recommend some underwear. I mentioned last week that I have these shaping shorts (£38). As a rule, I’m not into the idea of shapewear; I don't like what it stands for (thinner = better) and it's so uncomfortable. HOWEVER, I bought the shorts for a work-related photoshoot I did while pregnant with my daughter because I felt like shit and needed something to make me feel less so, and they're great. They don't have any of the sausage-skin compression of old school shapewear - and certainly don't squeeze your bump - but they do make you feel held and smoothed and slinky. And they lift your bum! AND they solve the issue of knicker lines under dresses. I’ve worn them post-baby and they still do the trick.
Right. Onto the clothes!
The Party Pyjamas
There’s something decadent about wearing pyjamas to a party. I imagine it’s what very fabulous, rich people do when they can’t be bothered to wear actual clothes. They’re also great when your body is all over the place and you want extreme comfort. Oversized silhouettes look more expensive - and to make sure you don't look too bedtime, add dressy accessories e.g. a big earring, beaded bag, dainty shoe etc.
High summer wedding? This Mango two-piece (shirt £35.99, trousers £35.99) is giving laid-back Mediterranean glamour – and what a great shade of blue! I’d switch out the basket bag for something more razzy (day wedding this, evening wedding this silly thing).
This silky blazer/trouser set (£59.99 and £35.99) is going to give you a more structured silhouette and the bold prints mean you don’t need to do much in terms of accessories - a black strappy flat and gold hoops would look great. The jacket doesn’t fasten (helpful if you have a bump) so I’d wear a simple cream/black tank underneath (nursing version, non-nursing version).
The prettiest floral print made cooler by an interesting collar and trouser hem. This set is Sleeper (the OG party PJ label) and can currently be found a little cheaper on The Outnet (top, £109, trousers, £121).
The easy-access dress
If you’re pumping/breastfeeding then you need an outfit with boob access that can also accommodate a nursing bra. This season’s tie-fronts are perfect and the print on this Kitri dress (£195) says romantic in such a different way. The black base will disguise any hint of bra peeking out, too.
I know we’re all a bit bored of frills and flowers BUT the old-lady’s-sofa look of this floral is so great and it feels cooler in a coord (top £69, skirt £69). Plus twin-sets are versatile (top with jeans, skirt with tank and black thong flip flops). Oh! And the skirt has an elastic waistband - heaven.
On the subject of coords, how lovely is this buttercup tie top (£89). Annoyingly the matching skirt has sold out BUT I think the below from Faithful The Brand (£150) would work, and it has a stretchy shirred waist.
Or wear it with the matching shirt (£150) – also super chic and fresh.
Alternatively go for a button-down. A shirt dress feels a bit worky/daytime, but this floaty Farm Rio (£260) is pure destination-wedding gorgeousness. Gold or neutral sandals, THIS bag (a steal!) and you’re done.
The chic tent
Not for one second am I suggesting that when you’re pregnant/just had a baby you need to cover up in loose clothes. However, I’m not a big wearer of figure-hugging stuff anyway, so during/after pregnancy I preferred roomier silhouettes. And a wafty tent dress is wonderfully no-effort glam.
I’ve been eyeing up Massimo Dutti’s smock dress (£120) for a while – the embroidery is beautiful and you can just as easily wear it with a black heel for a wedding (these would work so well), as you could with flats and a basket bag on sunny weekends.
The way this Sézane dress (£190) falls from the shoulder is so fluid and elegant, but also sexy (in a wedding-appropriate way) and I can imagine it being the most fun to dance in. Obviously you’re going to need a strapless bra – weirdly I get on very well with this one.
A shoulder-tie dress with straps thick enough to cover a bra - hurray! This Les Rêveries midi (£278) could do city, country or hot-weather wedding. It’s voluminous enough for a bump and can be untied to slip a boob out. What a frock!
Extras!
If you’re taking a baby with you to a wedding, you might spend a lot of time with a muslin draped over you – so treat yourself to a nice one (these Amalfi-vibe lemons, these non-twee florals or these chic polka dots.) And you might want to dress the baby in something stupidly cute. I came across Wheat at a recent press day and – gah! – adorable. This romper! Or these tiny strawberries!
One more thing…
Outfit sorted… BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR HAIR?! I found my Babyliss Big Hair again recently and was reminded of just how brilliant and easy it is to get a glossy, polished blow-dry (even when you’re rubbish at doing your own hair). Quick how-to video below…
That's all for now. You’re doing great, Frankie x