Friday, September 13, 2013

Dear Celia: Please help me dress my boobs! (NURSING EDITION)


ESB: Here's my boobs dilemma. I've always been a petite but busty girl: 5'2", and a 30DD... before I had a baby last month. And now that I'm an on-demand milk bar for my little piglet, I've jumped up a cup size or three. 

My nursing and maternity leave wardrobe is pretty limited; that I can live with for the time being. But I have two weddings to attend in the next few months, one on Cape Cod in September and a second in LA in October. The tot is coming along for both. I'm looking for a dress that will be easy to nurse in, not to mention accommodating of a huge, hideous but non-negotiable nursing bra. 

I'm somewhere in the 0/2/4 size range these days, depending on the dress and brand; something that is forgiving of a not-totally-flat post-baby belly would be nice. I don't want to spend more than $200 if possible, but for the right (versatile) dress, I could be persuaded to shell out a tiny bit more.

xo
a new mama

*****

WHOOPS I hope Celia and I aren't too late with this. I suspect we might be.....

Dear New Mama,

On the off chance that you have yet to find something, I highly recommend going the Nadia Tarr route. Her dresses are CRAZY stretchy, so nursing is not at all a problem in them. A nursing friend of mine recently attended her brother's wedding in one of her pieces and claims she couldn't have made a better choice. I know you said $200 was your limit, but GAH, look at this


The straps are convertible, so they can be worn higher on your shoulders to conceal even the nastiest of nursing bras. And it's not a dress that *just* works for nursing, so you know you can get plenty of use out of it in the future, too. 

But if you really are strict about your budget, Nadia also has her Signature Jersey Dress currently on sale. The Cap Sleeved version would probably be the best way to wear it if you're trying to cover a nursing bra and a post-baby belly.

Love,
C

11 comments:

  1. I highly recommend these dresses. I have one from a few years ago that I wore to my sister in law's wedding - it is SO flattering. These dresses are one size fits most and would definitely work for pregnant, post-pregnant, or non-pregnant. I was not pregnant when I wore it, but I know that it will work if I ever do decide to have a baby. It will become a staple. I really can't say enough about these dresses.

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    1. so- i guess they aren't one size anymore... they were back when they were "butter by nadia." but still. awesome dresses!

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  2. I'm hoping these also work for nonnursing large chested petite girls? My wardrobe seems to range from business professional to hooker with not much in between. I have high set tits; a blessing and a curse. They're super perky but slip nips on strapless is a fact of life. (Wardrobe tape is my bestie) also one shoulders can never, ever happen. (Nip out)

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  3. I'm not preggo and I want that striped dress.

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    1. I meant, I'm not nursing. Also not preggo. But am kind of puffy right now thanks to PMS, does that count?

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  4. These are good too: http://twobirdsbridesmaid.com/collection/

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    1. these always looked kinda flimsy while Nadia's are double-thick. any first hand experience? they're the same price range anyway but just curious. I do think Nadia's color/patterns are a little more modern, though 2 birds' range is good for bridesmaids (as advertised).

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    2. I can vouch for the quality of Two Birds' bridesmaid dresses, you definitely get what you pay for! A couple of cons though, as a five foot zero busty girl I found that the length was all wrong, cutting me off mid calf and making me appear shorter. Also they are a little tricky to get on, you need a helping hand. For this reason I haven't worn mine since I was MOH at my sister's wedding 3 years ago.

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  5. I'm pregnant, no baby yet so not nursing yet, but MAN I want this dress for my shower(s). I like the thin striped ones, too.


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  6. I want EVERYTHING on that site. Swoon.

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  7. oh my god going through the archives and thank you for putting nadia tarr on my radar. my bank account might hate you, but I am swooning.

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