Opinions on a hat--awesome vintage or dated 80s?

[anne-girl]

I'm going to a wedding at the beginning of May, and feel totally frumpy because I can't wear anything dressier than a t-shirt dress (nursing Mom... sigh). The bride definitely won't find me under-dressed as it is, but I wanted to dress it up with a hat. My husband hates hats because they make him feel old, but has given in. LOL

I was thinking of something like a fascinator or small straw hat, but I came across this hat on kijiji. Is it old enough to be vintage? Or is it too big to be worn at a tilted angle? Also wondering if black velvet anything is too much for a spring wedding (or Easter, which is the only other time I'd likely wear a non-functional hat). Then again, this hat would cost a fraction of the price of anything new.

Someone please tell me that I'm not crazy for obsessing over my own attire more than the wedding gift!:tongue5:

Thoughts: buy it and wear it? look elsewhere and come back if I can't find anything affordable? run as fast as I can from anything vaguely 80s?

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ETA: ok, going with the consensus and forgetting the hat--this one anyway. Dress suggestions are welcome, but in my experience, "nursing-friendly" tops or dresses are an exercise in flashing a crowd! Should have mentioned I'm nursing a toddler, so he'll have to nurse sometime but I can't predict his schedule or hide him under a scarf. Links to pictures of the dresses I have: this one (http://www.babylox.com/boob/nursing-dress-creeper-purple221237.php) in white and gray, and this one (http://www.babylox.com/boob/nursing-dress-black221231.php) in the black as pictured.

While I'm at it, since folks are suggesting a necklace instead, here's an option I already have:
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[SnuggleBuggles]

Not a fan. Only way I can see it working is a different color. Dark just isn't springy. As for dressy and nursing, get a wrap dress. You can get a cheap one at Old Navy. :)

[mikala]

Not a fan. Only way I can see it working is a different color. Dark just isn't springy. As for dressy and nursing, get a wrap dress. You can get a cheap one at Old Navy. :)
Totally agree. I'd also consider a shirt+nursing tank and skirt instead of a dress for easy but discreet access.

[anne-girl]

The dress is a nursing dress--I don't wear anything but nursing clothes; with my bust size not much else works. I've never found a tank that's remotely discreet. Does Old Navy have nursing clothing? If so it's not available in Canada.

I would much rather find a bright coloured hat; just not sure what I'll be able to find before then. Haven't much time to shop in stores, and shipping costs an arm and a leg here.

If I could get it shipped in time (which I can't), this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lady-party-races-fascinators-handmade-fascinating-feather-sinamay-sagittate-hat-/251875040622?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3aa4ec1d6e)is more the sort of thing I'd like.

[HannaAddict]

Skip the hat entirely. I agree with others, look fir a wrap dress as they are flattering and nursi f friendly. I'd spend my hat money on a hair blowout and/or makeup. Having amazing hair made me feel great at the social functions I want to pregnant and frumpy.

[abh5e8]

or a statement necklace is a simple way to dress up an outfit.

[citymama]

or a statement necklace is a simple way to dress up an outfit.

Yes, I second this! Go with a statement necklace, skip the hat. I'm not crazy about the option you have, and a dressy hat would not work with a casual tshirt dress. Also second the suggestion to get your hair done - spring for some awesome shoes too!

[anne-girl]

If it helps, here's a link to the dress options (I have two):

This one (http://www.babylox.com/pictures/nursing-dress-creeper-purple221237.jpg) in a white and gray print, and this one (http://www.babylox.com/boob/nursing-dress-black221231.php) in black. The black one it the dressier of the two, so I'd only wear it if it can dress it up with color (eg a big silk scarf--not on trend but kind of my thing).

[MMMommy]

The second black dress link does not seem to work, so could not see it. First link worked, and the dress looks fine to me.

No to the hat. Sorry, but I really think it would be very conspicuous in a bad way.

[elbenn]

I agree with others that the hat doesn't work. It is an outdoor wedding? You could probably find a pretty spring straw type hat that would work.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I couldn't see the second dress either but the first is fine- better than what I had visualized. The hat totally doesn't go at all with it.

[sariana]

Are hats a thing in Canada? I know there was a lot of talk about the princesses' hats at Prince William's wedding, but except for the Kentucky Derby, we don't do hats much here in the U. S. I think the responses here reflect that.

[BananaMama]

The hat is too heavy and dark for a May wedding. I would get a flashy necklace instead.


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[anne-girl]

Sorry, fixed the link to the black dress.

Hats are not exactly a thing here--maybe slightly more due to the British influence. However, they were my thing until I married a guy who felt old whenever I wore a hat (little old ladies at church, etc). I've never tried a dressy summer hay though.

This is the only statement necklace I have. Coincidentally, it also walks a fine line between wearable and 80s. Thoughts? 3987

New shoes... I'd settle for being able to wear all the cute shoes I can't wear with a bunion.... I have a couple pair that'll do, but finding new shoes that'll work for my feet is a herculean task.


It's occurred to me with the number of kids that'll be at the wedding (including mine), I shouldn't worry about being underdressed. I should also think twice about wearing something my kids would try to tear off my head.

[AnnieW625]

Add me to the list of posters who say ditch the hat. There are lots of nursing friendly dresses for larger busted mamas out there. These are from JC Penney, but I am sure you could look for something similar in Canada:
http://m.jcpenney.com/jcp/product.jsp?ppId=pp5005140272&fromPage=categoryresults&catId=cat100210008&deprtmtId=&deprtmtName=&cateId=&cateName=&return=&grview=&cmJCP_T=XGN&cmJCP_C=labeled
http://m.jcpenney.com/jcp/product.jsp?ppId=pp5005140271&fromPage=categoryresults&catId=cat100210008&deprtmtId=&deprtmtName=&cateId=&cateName=&return=&grview=&cmJCP_T=XGN&cmJCP_C=labeled
http://m.jcpenney.com/jcp/product.jsp?ppId=pp5004941338&Ntt=wrap%20dress&fromPage=results&cmJCP_T=XGNS&cmJCP_C=labeled
http://m.jcpenney.com/jcp/product.jsp?ppId=pp5004910157&Ntt=wrap%20dress&fromPage=results&cmJCP_T=XGNS&cmJCP_C=labeled

Boden's casual jersey dress also seems to very nursing friendly and cab be dressed up or down IMHO.
http://m.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Dresses/Day-Dresses/WH760/Womens-Casual-Jersey-Dress.html

[citymama]

I like your black dress! Also recommend the Boden jersey dress that Annie linked to, which you can continue to wear post-nursing. Very flattering for mama bellies too. And there's a 30% off and free ship/returns code floating around...

[MontrealMum]

I think that black velvet is too much for the season.

What province are you in? There's now a Nordstrom in Calgary and Ottawa. I'd go there and check out their hats. They carry nursing wear as well. Les Ailes and Simons have pretty good accessories as well. Hats are still a thing here in Montreal for weddings so I think you're fine to wear one, I'd just go for a much lighter color/material.

I used to order from this store: http://www.milkface.com/ when I was pregnant/nursing. They're in Ottawa.

[AustenFan]

When I was nursing, I just gave in and wore skirt/dressy tops to weddings. I had a Banana Republic outfit for one and an Ann Taylor outfit for the one before that. When I was nursing DD3, I HAD to wear a dress because I was in my brother's wedding, and I just did the whole slither out of the dress in the bathroom thing (fortunately, there was a nice chair in there). I know a skit and top isn't as dressy as a dress, but honestly, I preferred that to all the "nursing friendly" dresses I found!

Hugs! Nursing at formal events is the pits.

[anne-girl]

I'm in Ottawa... Was thinking of trying Nordstrom on the weekend because I love this hat (http://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/tasha-fireworks-feathers-fascinator-headband/3718153?origin=keywordsearch) in black and white... Although it's huge... Until I chatted with friends who reminded me that my boys would probably play with my hat all day. LOL I might still look anyway.

And yes, milkface is awesome. That's the reason I have two nursing dresses, and only wear nursing tops... Women buy them, don't wear them, and sell them to me through consignment shops. Win-win.

[echoesofspring]

When I went to my cousins wedding DS was 4 months old. I wore a halter dress instead of a nursing dress. No, I couldn't nurse discreetly in it, but I didn't plan on nursing in public, but just wanted something I could easily pull up/down. It was very Marlilyn in Some like it hot and definitely helped me feel briefly unfrumpy. Otherwise I wore a wrap or faux wrap dress, and yeah, frequently had to wear a camisole with them b/c I was a DD before having kids and no idea what I was when I was full on nursing, but very buxomy and most wrap shirts/dresses were too revealing on their own. The cami certainly made it more challenging to nurse, but not impossible.

I think the black dress you linked to would be great, but I think the necklace makes it seem more casual instead of more dressy. I'd look for something simpler and gold/silver. And maybe a fun dress cardigan (cut shorter than regular cardis so it hits at your waise instead of hips) in a pop of color like a jewel tone or silver flecked, etc.

[gatorsmom]

I think your statement necklace is pretty. You could wear almost any top with a knee-length or longer skirt and that necklace and some heels and look nice. I think the other suggestions here have been great. Otherwise this is kind of a last resort idea but I've done this twice while I was nursing. I wore what I wanted to the wedding and brought either a big shawl or nursing blanket. Then I took the baby and a chair to either the bathroom (I know, kinda gross) or an empty room, stripped off the top of my dress and covered my whole upper body with the shawl and nursed like that.