Postpartum Summer Clothes and Outfit Ideas from a Mom of 4 — A Mom Explores | Family Travel Tips, Destination Guides with Kids, Family Vacation Ideas, and more! (2024)

{UPDATED JUNE 2020} / / Being postpartum in summer is tricky. Here in Florida, it's been especially warm, so, unfortunately, leggings and oversized sweaters are out of the question. It's hard enough to dress yourself when you're in the first few weeks postpartum, much less feel confident in clothes that show some skin.

In the weeks after having a baby, it's so tempting to dress in pajamas, leggings, and comfortable V-neck tees and never leave the house. Every once in a while, though, you need to feel human again, and it feels so good to shower, get dressed in something cute, and do your hair and makeup.

No matter how active you were during your pregnancy, you still feel a bit puffy all around, and not quite like yourself after your baby enters the world.

Now that I’ve had 4 babies, all during warm weather months, I’ve learned a few tricks for dressing my postpartum body in summer. To complicate matters, I have diastasis recti, which means my abdominal muscles are separated giving me a mummy tummy in the weeks after the baby is born.

Related: How I’m Healing my Diastasis Recti - A Complete Review of the MUTU System

There are plenty of postpartum summer outfits that can make you feel comfortable and cool while still being nursing-friendly and disguising your belly. Here’s what I’ve been loving!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click a link and make a purchase I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

HOW CAN I HIDE MY POSTPARTUM BELLY?

I first want to clarify that there’s NOTHING wrong with having a belly postpartum. In fact, it’s totally normal. But if you’re like me, you just don’t always feel like fielding the “Are you pregnant again already?” questions from well-meaning acquaintances and strangers when you’re already sleep-deprived and feeling uncomfortable in your new body.

So, over the years I’ve learned a few tricks for hiding the postpartum belly or distracting from it. Here are a few principles I follow:

1. Choose dark colors over light colors.

2. Use a half-tuck (“front tuck” or “French tuck”).

3. Opt for tie-waist shirts.

4. Loose tops, flowy tops, and boxy shapes are better than fitted tops.

5. Pair a loose top with a fitted bottom.

6. Compression garments can help smooth out your midsection.

THE BEST POSTPARTUM SUMMER CLOTHES & OUTFITS IN 2020

This is my fourth time going through this transition, and I am finally figuring out what kind of clothing makes me feel comfortable and confident. Somedays while choosing my outfit it feels like putting together a puzzle of what fits, what actually looks good, and what makes me feel comfortable!

THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR POSTPARTUM OUTFITS

It took me until after my 3rd baby to realize that compression is the key to looking and feeling great in your postpartum summer wardrobe.

I have a few compression tank tops, high-waisted postpartum underwear, and compression leggings, and I try to work at least one of these into every outfit. You can find really thin compression tanks with spaghetti straps that won’t show under most of your shirts.

The benefit of compression on your stomach post-baby is that you feel supported in your entire midsection (stomach and back) during those long days of rocking a baby, nursing, and recovering from childbirth and possibly surgery (if you had a c-section). It also helps to smooth out your belly and reduce the look of the postpartum pooch.

By far my favorite compression tank for physical support is the Blanqi Everyday PullDown Nursing Support Tank. While the straps are wide and it doesn’t look great underneath summer blouses and tanks, it’s wonderful for hanging around the house, working out, sleeping, or wearing under t-shirts.

For a more delicate compression tank, check your local TJ Maxx. I’m pretty sure I bought a pack of 2 for like $12 three years ago, and I’ll probably go buy more soon, just so I don’t have to do laundry as frequently. Here’s another great option to order online.

POSTPARTUM SUMMER LOUNGE OUTFITS

I love a good oversized v-neck around the house! V-necks can make you look slimmer by elongating your neck and drawing attention away from your chin. After pregnancy and c-sections, I definitely have a puffy face and a slight double chin.

I like that I can wear them with athletic shorts, comfy French terry shorts, and even my favorite maternity cutoff jean shorts. They work for days when I never leave the house, quick errands, and pediatrician appointments.

I usually go with basic v-necks from Target, Old Navy, or Amazon, and I usually go 1 or 2 sizes up from my normal size. I gain quite a bit of weight when pregnant, and it takes me a year of slow steady weight loss to get back to my normal size. I don’t want anything clingy to my belly, so I love a loose comfy fit so I can do a half-tuck.

If you’re breastfeeding you can wear a compression or nursing tank underneath and pull up your t-shirt to nurse. You can also pull down the v-neck if it’s slouchy and loose enough (just realize you might stretch out the neckline of your shirt).

MY V-NECK T-SHIRT PICKS

FLOWY TANK TOPS ARE PERFECT FOR POSTPARTUM SUMMER LOOKS!

Lately, I've been opting for flowy tank tops with a compression tank underneath paired with maternity jean shorts or J.Crew pull-on shorts. If you’re nursing you can just pull up the blouse and pull down the compression or nursing tank for modest breastfeeding.

These types of tank tops keep you cool but are still forgiving on your changing figure. They can work from just a few days after the baby is born all the way until you’re back to your normal size (and then again in the first trimester of future pregnancies to hide growing bumps!) They also make you look put together and stylish while still being comfortable.

I usually stock up on these at TJ Maxx, but you can also find lots of cute options at Old Navy, Gap, H&M, American Eagle & Aerie, and PinkBlush. Here are a few of my favorite current picks:

I knew the breezy off-the-shoulder from Pink Blush (pictured to the right) would be perfect and forgiving for any stage: pregnant, postpartum, and even when I get back to my normal size. This picture is from about a month postpartum.

While this top is no longer available, I still love PinkBlush for pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum clothes. I’ve rounded up a few flowy off-the-shoulder tops for you!

Another look I'm loving for postpartum mamas is the kimono over a white tank or solid color dress. I adore the fun pattern, how it hides the extra *ahem*curves,and even serves as a nice cover when nursing in public.I decided to pair this PInkBlush kimonowith cutoffs for a beach day, and it felt like the perfect casual and tropical outfit.

This particular kimono is no longer in stock, but there’s an entire page full of breezy, gorgeous kimonos to choose from.

PinkBlush has a ton of cute maternity clothes and postpartum clothes that make the expecting and new mama feel stylish during a time when she might not feel 100% like herself.

SUNDRESSES FOR POSTPARTUM

I find sundresses to be one of the most comfortable things to wear during spring and summer. However, there are two challenges to wearing sundresses postpartum:

1.) If you’re breastfeeding, you have to find sundresses that are nursing-friendly. Those are not always easy to find!

2.) You want a dress that doesn’t cling to your midsection.

I also always wear shorts under my dresses, mainly because I’m chasing kids, putting them in car seats, bending over, etc, and I don’t want to inadvertently flash someone. But I also like that there are compression shorts out there that support and flatten my belly under dresses!

Wrap dresses are great in theory for postpartum nursing moms, but I find that many of them tie right above my belly which only ends up highlighting it and making it look bigger. Some actually flatter and conceal, so you have to try on a few before you find one that works.

I’m loving the button-front dress trend right now since they seem very forgiving while also being nursing-friendly. Here are a few great sundress options for postpartum moms.

POSTPARTUM SWIMSUITS FOR SUMMER

Swimsuits are one of the trickiest things to find postpartum. Living in Florida, though, I learned that if I wanted to enjoy the beach or the pool on hot summer days, I needed to STOP obsessing about how my stomach looks in swimsuits and just get out there!

Having said that, there are SO MANY frumpy swimsuits marketed to new moms. I want to cover up, not look like I’ve completely given up! Tankinis and swimsuits with skirts tend to make you look older, and they’re not super flattering either.

I have found a few styles I really like, though. One-piece swimsuits have come a long way in the past few years. They’re so cute, and there are so many fun styles to choose from!

Anything with ruching around the stomach is great, peplum tops or detailing around the waist can help disguise your belly, deep v-necks, strategic cutouts, and dark colors or big patterns are my go-to styles.

I would order the swimsuit pictured below again and again. It’s SO cute, I’ve never felt insecure about my belly in it, and it’s nursing-friendly. As you can see in the photos, I still have a post-baby belly, but the deep ruffled v-necks and ruching around the belly draw attention away from it and disguise it well.

(By the way-, I’m over a year postpartum in those photos, so don’t think I look that way weeks or even months after having a baby. I just wanted to show that even though I still have a slight “bump” or post-baby belly this swimsuit disguises it well).

Another option to consider is wearing a high-waisted ruched bottom with a sports bra-like top and a sporty rash guard over that.

I started using a rash guard last year when I went on a trip by myself with 2 of my kids. I knew we would be out by the pool all day and I wouldn’t have another adult to help me sunscreen my back and shoulders. I ran to the store the night before my trip and grabbed a rash guard to protect my skin while at the pool, and I actually ended up really loving the look! I noticed that in the early stages of pregnancy and postpartum it helped minimize the appearance of my belly. Sun protection and a flattering look - win/win!

Here are some of my favorite rash guards:

DRESSING YOUR POSTPARTUM BODY

It's not always easy to be patient with your body when nothing seems to fit right, and on top of that, you're sleep-deprived and trying to figure out your new normal. That's why I'm a huge advocate for buying yourself a few gorgeous pieces to wear during this transition, to help yourself feel pretty and feminine!

I'm currently 3 months postpartum after my 4th baby, and some days it feels like I'll never be able to wear my old clothes again. I know that little by little I'm making progress, though, so I'm staying positive and working hard to eat healthily and move my body each day. I'm so thankful for cute clothes, like the ones from PinkBlush, to help me maintain my personal style through new motherhood.

Helpful postpartum articles you might like:

MUTU System Review - Healing the Mummy Tummy

Filling and Healthy Snack Ideas for Nursing Moms

What are your favorite postpartum pieces?