Breastfeeding (or not) is a personal choice – and one that you will make based on your own and your babies’ needs. If it’s something you opt for and are able to do, then dressing for easy breastfeeding access can be a challenge.
You want to look amazing during this transformative time, while also being able to tend to your baby’s needs.
In the UK, there are laws protecting your right to breastfeed in public. However, understandably some mothers want clothing that offers them the ability to breastfeed discreetly and modestly.
Luckily, there are many brands that design dresses specifically for easy breastfeeding, and there are many others that are suitable too. This clothing allows you to feed your baby, while looking fabulous in the process.
In this blog, we’re sharing some of our favourite breastfeeding dresses, that let you feed discretely.
Ps. We’ve listed these in alphabetical order (so we’re not showing favourites).
1. Bump & Milk Jacali Bottle Green Nursing Dress
Bump & Milk is specially designed for maternity and breastfeeding – created to keep you looking fabulous while growing and nursing your little one.
Cost: Rent from £15 for 4 days, RRP £139
Colour: Green and white
Material: 100% viscose
Suitable for: All stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding
2. Bump & Milk Jamie Maternity Wrap Dress
Another beautiful dress from Bump & Milk, that will make you look as vibrant as you feel. It’s a wrap dress, which allows you to cover up, and provides easy and discrete access for nursing mothers. Plus, it has cleverly hidden zips for feeding.
It can be worn throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding – allowing you to increase the time spent in wardrobe rotation and make your clothing more sustainable.
It’s a soft and lightweight viscose that drapes beautifully. It also includes a belt that makes it extremely flattering.
You can pair it with a denim or leather jacket, and some chunky boots – perfect for Spring to Autumn.
Cost: Rent from £15 for 4 days, RRP £129
Colour: Floral
Material: 100% viscose
Suitable for: All stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding
3. Bump & Milk Tallulah Tiered Dusty Pink Maternity Dress
Bump & Milk hit it out of the park again with this beautiful, and stylish tiered dress with an intriguing neckline. It features a flattering, swishy skirt that sits just above the knee, becoming slightly asymmetric as your body changes shape.
Its long sleeves, with elasticated cuffs, ensure you maintain your modesty while looking fantastic.
And as with all Bump & Milk clothing, it has concealed zippers for discrete feeding when the time comes.
Cost: Rent from £10 for 4 days, RRP £109
Colour: Dusty Pink
Material: 100% viscose
Suitable for: All stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding
4. Clary & Peg Clem Dress
Clary & Peg is one of our favourite sustainable maternity brands – and although not specifically created for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, the classic cuts are suitable for growing bumps and post-partum.
This light and airy tiered maxi dress is ideal for pregnancy and breastfeeding. It has adjustable shoulder ties at the side, making the sizing versatile and giving easy access for breastfeeding.
You can wear it alone or team it with a top underneath to add some modesty or keep warm.
It’s also been made using deadstock fabric, which makes it even more sustainable (and limited edition). We actually couldn’t love it anymore!
Cost: Rent from £20 for 4 days, RRP £190
Colour: Blue
Material: 100% cotton
Suitable for: All stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding
5. Freya Simonne Gaia Breastfeeding Dress
Freya Simonne designs beautiful, vintage-inspired dresses using deadstock fabric. This not only gives you a stunning and unique piece but allows you to be kinder to the planet as you’re not using any more virgin resources.
All Freya Simonne clothing is sourced and made locally in London, by ethical makers.
The beautiful floral dress is designed with a drawcord around the neck to give easy access for anyone breastfeeding and to adjust for different heights.
Cost: Rent from £45 for 4 days, RRP £450
Colour: Floral Multi-coloured
Material: Vintage fabric
Suitable for: Breastfeeding mothers
6. Lyla and Leche Lyla Leopard Dress
Lyla and Leche is a brand specifically designed to “put the fashion” back in breastfeeding – which means they have some beautiful dresses designed for nursing mothers. And that is music to our ears here at FTC.
If animal print is your style, then you’ll definitely want to add this one to your basket. It’s made from a beautiful, light viscose, and this dress can be paired with chunky boots or a flat pump (or even heels!), depending on your style.
This striking dress is an ideal wardrobe staple that will take you through all the seasons, and of course, it features two discretely hidden zips for easy breastfeeding.
Cost:
Rent from £5 for 4 days, RRP £56
Colour: Leopard print
Material: 100% polyester
Suitable for: Breastfeeding
7. Sezane Dorine Dress
This beautiful floral dress is the perfect addition to your wardrobe, especially for Spring and Summer time.
It’s made of 100% organic cotton, and the maxi flowy dress allows you to keep cool throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Perfect for hot days or going on holiday.
You can dress it down with a cool denim jacket and comfy pumps, or team it with wedges and statement earrings.
The button-down front allows you to cover up, with easy access for breastfeeding as you need it.
Cost: Rent from £14 for 4 days, RRP £179
Colour: Multi-coloured
Material: 100% organic cotton
Suitable for: Suitable for maternity and breastfeeding
8. Whistles Talula Broderie Trapeze Dress
Everybody needs a little black dress – even if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This long-sleeved, classic dress has stunning broderie details and a button-down front that enables easy breastfeeding
It’s midi-length and can be dressed up or down, with flats, sandals or chunky boots, and is ideal for Spring to Autumn.
You could wear this dress literally anywhere, from the office to a meet up with friends or simply at home with your baby.
Cost: Rent from £15 for 4 days, RRP £149
Colour: Black
Material: 100% cotton
Suitable for: Suitable for maternity and breastfeeding
Want to rent your breastfeeding clothing?
If, and how long you breastfeed is a completely personal choice for both you and your baby.
However, on average, of those mothers who choose (or are able to) breastfeed, only 48% of them continue beyond 6-8 weeks. That means the majority are breastfeeding for a relatively short period of time (at least in clothing terms).
So investing in an entirely new wardrobe doesn’t make much sense for the planet or for your bank balance.
Extending the life of your clothing by just a short period of time can impact the planet massively. So if you want to make your wardrobe more sustainable, and save your pennies, then renting your breastfeeding clothing is a brilliant option.
We rent out a large range of maternity clothing at For the Creators, including breastfeeding-friendly dresses.
If you’d like to rent our breastfeeding-friendly dresses, you can check them out here.