I am approaching the end of my year-long maternity leave (read: a year of breastfeeding) and know how hard it is to get your hands on dresses that not only make nursing your baby either at home or on-the-go a breeze, but look as good as your favourite pre-pregnancy styles too. They do exist though and to prove it I’ve pulled together an edit of my best finds to date.
God I miss roll necks. Ok fine, I have a few cropped jumpers on the go now the temperatures have dropped, but I used to live in heavy-knitted affairs that were long enough to skim my thigh and figure-hugging knitted dresses that looked chic enough for work and a coffee-fuelled march along New Bond Street between meetings, but felt - oh so gloriously - like loungewear. I realised all too quickly, in the depths of last winter, that when it came to breastfeeding, these particular sartorial indulgences were very much off the cards. Big, baggy jumpers? Impossible. Try and ruck them up enough to fiddle with your bra and you’re enveloped in it. With a mouthful of whatever wool blend you please, you struggle to breathe, never mind peer over and check on your baby. And riddle me the logistics of breastfeeding in a full-length jumper dress why don’t you?
The sweater conundrum was easy enough to overcome. There are plenty of perfectly acceptable breastfeeding tops out there. Many of them are specialist affairs with concealed zips and stretchy trap doors, but in all honesty, stick to a button-up, a low-ish stretchy neckline or an extra-deep half-zip and you’re onto a winner and can breastfeed at home or out-and-about without altering your go-to style too much. Take your cues from celebrities like Ashley Graham and Emily Ratajkowski, who have, under the glare of the public eye, shown us that nursing without compromising your style standards is totally doable.
Hitting on aesthetically pleasing breastfeeding-friendly dresses though, I’ll admit that’s a tall-ish order in the first instance. The aforementioned high-neck designs are a no-go, even crew necks fail the test (trust me). The perfect nursing dress has to look great for starters, be comfortable and offer easy minimal-fiddling-required access to your boobs at any given time, without exposing you too much once your little one has latched on. My top tips? Don’t assume you’re bound to new-mum-only brands exclusively. Whilst there are some equal parts gorgeous and ingenious designs out there from the likes of Seraphine and Isabella Oliver (I highly recommend both for maternity wear and beyond) there are just as many nursing-friendly dresses out there from your usual favourites, whether you’re a Cos fanatic or a Sleeper dress devotee. I am both, so take it from me.
What are the best dress styles for breastfeeding?
Buttoned-up dresses are an obvious win - they allow access without compromising on coverage. Translation? You can whip a boob out without undressing your top half entirely. Then you have your stretchy neckline affairs. Look to brands like Skims, whose soft lounge maxi dresses deliver stretchy scoop necks that can be discreetly pulled down low enough to breastfeed and ping right back up again when you’re done - big fan, huge. I’m partial to a shirred bodice when it comes to breastfeeding too, the stretchiest of stretchy necklines made oh so pretty. Keen to buy in a few jumper dresses this winter? They’re not off the cards entirely - make a play for v-neck versions that sit low enough for you to be able to pull to the side and breastfeed. Note to self though, it’s hard to tell whether that’s doable with each and every design when you’re shopping online - get into a store and give the manoeuvre a go in the dressing room before you spend.
Where do I shop the best breastfeeding dresses?
If you’re looking for specially designed nursing dresses, you’ve got a few options: Seraphine and Isabella Oliver, who I mentioned before, H&M helpfully deliver a whole nursing collection to the high street in their MAMA range and then there’s the powerhouse that is JoJo Maman Bébé. If you’d rather rent your nursing wardrobe,For The Creators has a breastfeeding-friendly section at the ready. As for your non-maternity-wear favourites, Rixo has a breastfeeding-friendly section on their website (praise be!), Skims has stretchy necklines covered and Sleeper is a shirred bodice specialist. Keen to get more granular? Shop my edit of the best breastfeeding dresses below.
Shop: The Best Breastfeeding Dresses 2024
www.seraphine.com
Jumper dresses and roll necks have always been a staple for me come winter so imagine my joy when I discovered Seraphine’s Grazia dress - a nifty two-piece that made wearing this wardrobe favourite possible when breastfeeding. The material is reassuringly thick, but not restrictive and oh so soft. First you put on the skirt section (it’s attached to a vest like top with side slits that allow access for breastfeeding). The cropped jumper sits over the top (I plan to wear this with high waisted jeans and trousers too). You can breastfeed on-the-go without exposing your top half too much and catching a chill! Feels like a dream to wear and looks glam too. Pair with with a pair of glossy boots and a Kate Middleton-worthy camel coat
Size range | UK 6-20 |
Material | Viscose, Nylon, Elastane |
Breastfeeding access | Lift-up side access |
On sale
www.seraphine.com
This falls into my throw-on category, the sort of dress that saves you minutes worth of think time in the morning as you mentally assemble an outfit. It goes with everything and makes me look pulled together even if I’m feeling frazzled. And yes, it’s a cinch to breastfeed in too. Leave it to Seraphine. An underdress with a vest-like top and side slits deliver easy access to your boobs, and the black top section keeps you covered up. The fabric is thick, figure-hugging and feels great. Your mum/aunt/best friend/[insert judgemental loved one here] would pinch it between thumb and finger, give it a rub and tell you it’s good quality stuff. And the stretch of it - you could be wearing loungewear.
Size range | UK 6-20 |
Material | Viscose, Nylon |
Breastfeeding access | Lift-up side access |
On sale
www.seraphine.com
This one is an easy party solution that I’ll be making a play for long after I stop breastfeeding. The skirt is attached to a soft wrap-style vest top that you can pull to each side for breastfeeding access. Over the top you have the crew-neck jumper that has long, flared sleeves that make your arms look like they go on for days. The metallic thread that runs through the fabric shimmers beautifully under low lighting. Whether you wear it with a pair of heels and big earrings or keep the accessories to a minimum, it will see you set for a myriad of party season do’s.
Size range | UK 6-20 |
Material | Viscose, Polyester, Nylon, Metallised fibre |
Breastfeeding access | Lift-up side access |
forthecreators.co
A button-up V-neck dress with zip-up side slits for easy breastfeeding access, what more could you want from a nursing dress? The classic blue stripe looks as summer-holiday ready as it does office appropriate and the elegant silhouette is ultra flattering. The drawstring means you can wear the dress loose or pull it in at your waist, or chop and change as you like throughout the day. I love the gentle flare of the skirt and the maxi-level length of this dress - it’s incredibly flattering. Bump & Milk do concealed breastfeeding zips so well too, you’d never know they were there and they’re perfectly placed.
Size range | XS-XL |
Material | Viscose, PA, Elastane |
Breastfeeding access | Zip-up side slits and buttons |
On sale
rixolondon.com
The front wrap style of this dress makes breastfeeding on-the-go easy. The delicate frill on the collar and sleeves edged with white lift the beautiful berry-coloured print no end and the design looks just as Instagram-worthy dressed up with statement earrings and heels as it does dressed down with a pair of white trainers. It’s light and breathable, a great staple for a summer spent in the UK. Wrap-front dresses are always a winner when it comes to breastfeeding. A gentle tug at one of the side panels is all you need to gain access, minimal fussing required. The neckline on this one is high enough to conceal whatever breastfeeding bra you please too.
Size range | UK 6-26 |
Material | Viscose |
Breastfeeding access | Wrap-style front |
On sale
www.net-a-porter.com
I was a huge fan of Sleeper’s Atlanta dresses long before I was pregnant and it turns out they’re a great breastfeeding find too. The thick linen is breathable and the stretchy shirred bodice sits low enough for you to be able to pull it down and breastfeed when you’re out and about. I’d usually stick to wearing these dresses in summer, but the black design looks great all-year-round, whether you dress it up with statement accessories or keep things minimal.
Size range | XS-XL |
Material | Linen |
Breastfeeding access | Stretchy neckline |
On sale
www.theoutnet.com
Another Sleeper Atlanta dress - the stretchy shirred neckline makes breastfeeding on-the-go an absolute breeze - this time in pink gingham. I remember this print going crazy on social media when the masses were first introduced to these dresses and they’re pretty hard to get hold of nowadays.
Size range | XS-XL |
Material | Linen |
Breastfeeding access | Stretchy neckline |
skims.com
I came to these dresses before breastfeeding was anything I had to consider and found that they were perfect for nursing thanks to the stretchy neckline. I lived in these on holiday. You can pull the neckline down when you need access to a boob without worrying that you’re going to alter the design irretrievably - the fabric simply pings back into place when you’re done. Top tip? Pair it with a linen shirt over the top - not only does the combination look effortlessly glam, but this is a sleeveless dress design, so I felt a little exposed if I was breastfeeding wearing the dress alone.
Size range | XXS-4XL |
Material | Modal, Elastane |
Breastfeeding access | Stretchy neckline |
forthecreators.co
Not a custom-made breastfeeding dress but easy to breastfeed in thanks to its button-up design. I adore these dresses. Made from thick linen, they feel as expensive as they are and the range of prints they come in make you want to collect them all. The Noddy dress offers an elegant silhouette - all high neck, delicately puffed shoulders and bell sleeves. Handily there are no belt loops, so you won’t look like you’re missing anything if you decide to wear it without. If the belt’s a goer, you can pull the otherwise A-line fit in at the waist - my favourite way to wear it. This dress is my answer to wedding guest-ing and fancy meals out on holiday. Undo a few buttons and you’re ready to breastfeed.
Size range | UK 8-14 |
Material | Linen |
Breastfeeding access | Buttons |
On sale
www.whistles.com
This shirt dress will see you through autumn, winter, spring and cooler summer days. The breathable linen fabric feels substantial (it’s not thin and flimsy). The top fits close, there's a flattering structure to it and the skirt flares out. Undo a few buttons and you’re ready to breastfeed on-the-go without feeling like you’re undressing in public - the fabric stays put, it doesn’t flop down and expose you. Big fan, huge.
Size range | UK 4-20 |
Material | Lyocell, Linen |
Breastfeeding access | Buttons |
Main image credit: @emrata