Dressing your body post baby can be frustrating but also fun. It all comes down to finding things that flatter your new figure.

I am definitely not 100% back to normal. My boobs are still huge (and they expand as I get closer to pumping or nursing). My butt has some extra cushion and my tummy isn’t as tight as it once was.

No matter…enter the Little Black Dress (LBD). Every woman needs a couple of LBDs that look and feel great for work, weddings, cocktails, date night etc.

My husband and I just got back from a friend’s wedding. It was our first trip away from baby (I cried the entire way to the airport), and I wasn’t sure what to bring to this formal event. Weddings are a wonderful place to see people you care about and take photos…but after having a baby all I wanted was to look and feel good.

This photo was taken on my way out the door to the wedding. I chose a black strapless dress with a shrug and a flower belt. I felt great in this outfit – which is the whole point when you need to dress up after having a baby. You want – and NEED – to feel good when you are going out on the town. I personally tried on 10 different dresses before settling on this.

A couple reasons I chose this outfit:

• Black is slimming!!!
• The high low hem makes my legs look longer and slimmer
• The cinched elastic waist works well with a belt making me look smaller
• There is no zipper which makes for maximum comfort
• The bustline is high and has elastic so my ever growing milk machines (boobs) fit all night long
• The slight pattern is flattering and simple
• The black sweater/shrug makes for slimmer arms and comfort for dinner, dancing and photos

Some of the reasons listed above are tips that should help you pick out a LBD. Again, black is slimming and works well for almost any event from date night to the office. Be careful with zippers because they can get uncomfortable as you fill up with milk. Elastic is great at the waist and bust. Use a belt to make your waist look smaller! It’s a great trick and really works well.

My biggest tip for finding the right LBD is COMFORT! Don’t pick something that you’ll fidget in. If you feel good, you’ll look good. If you fidget and feel uncomfortable, it’ll show.

Halters are another great way to dress your post baby bod. They help support your bust, create a nice silhouette, and I personally think they are pretty comfortable. Depending on the halter, you should be able to sport a strapless bra or a bra with a neck strap to help keep “the girls” under control.

If you’re looking for more of an everyday way to dress your bod while you lose the baby weight (which is a process – so don’t stress out) – tunics are a big win! Personally, I used my maternity jeans and black pants for the first couple months while my body started to lose weight. Black pants are slimming, and jeans are comfy.

Tunics are a big win because there are so many options out there (casual, comfy, dressy, fun) and they aren’t clingy which helps to keep from feeling self conscious. Some tunics are best with jeans or black pants – but others are long enough to wear with leggings or tights so it’s almost like a dress. Personally – I like options and to get the most bang for my buck…so if I can use different colored pants or leggings/tights with the same top for different looks – it’s a BIG win!

Having some flowy tops on hand in a couple of styles will help you feel more confident as you settle into mommy hood and allow your body to recover. I’ve included these photos to help you style yourself post baby.

Lastly – SPANX! I can’t tell you how much I love I have for my SPANX pants and leggings. OMG! I have them in a black pencil pant, in a jeggings style pant, and faux leather leggings. They are all fantastic and I use them all the time. I even have some workout pants from SPANX that have a skirt up top to hide my bum, pull in the tummy, and make me feel good enough to run errands or get my sweat on! Woot!

Comfort is key – but don’t forget – you can still look good 😉

I hope this helps! More later lovelies! xo