Nursing-friendly formal outfits for events

Four ways to hide the opening

Each method suits a different kind of outfit. Choose the one that fits the design you have in mind:

• Zips under a yoke or panel: vertical zips on each side of the bust, running along seam lines and covered by an embroidered yoke or a separate overlay panel. From the outside, it just looks like a decorated front.
• A wrap or overlapping front: an angrakha style overlaps across the chest and ties at the side, so it opens without any zip at all.
• Two pieces: a short or hip-length kurta, peplum top or jacket over a matching inner layer. You lift the top layer and the inner layer opens, or you wear a nursing vest beneath.
• Buttons with a placket: a button-front style, such as a long shirt-dress shape, with the buttons hidden under a fabric strip so they do not gape.

Where the embroidery should go

Formal outfits usually carry their decoration on the front, which is exactly where the baby is held. Heavy or metallic work there can scratch, catch on tiny fingers and make an opening stiff and awkward.

Move the weight of the decoration elsewhere: the sleeves, the hem, the back of the neckline and the dupatta. If you want detail on the front, a softer thread-work yoke that sits above or around the opening works better than dense work across it. Describe this in your design, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric in the written quote. Our custom embroidery page explains the embroidery levels.

Fabric, lining and the dupatta

A few smaller choices make a big difference on the day:

• Soft, washable fabric in the parts that touch the baby: a cotton-silk, lawn or soft chiffon with a cotton lining rather than stiff organza or net.
• Prints or mid-tones hide small marks better than plain ivory or pastel silk.
• A lining that opens too: the lining needs the same opening as the outer fabric, so mention it in your order.
• A generous dupatta: a full-size chiffon or soft silk dupatta covers you while feeding and drapes nicely the rest of the evening. Our guide to dupatta sizes shows typical lengths.

Ordering a nursing-friendly formal outfit

Measure as close to ordering as you can, since bust measurements often change while nursing, and leave a little extra ease there. When you start a quote, say that you need feeding access, which of the methods above you prefer, and where you want the embroidery placed. A photo of a design you like helps. Our Send Your Design service explains how a design from a photo or sketch is agreed in writing before cutting.

Concealed zips and openings are not fixed options on our form, so we confirm what is possible in your quote. Making takes 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, with shipping time on top.