I’ve been nursing Noah for more than nine months now, and decided that my wardrobe needed a boost. Good quality nursing wear is always hard to find, and when my friend posted a picture of the Lexie Dress on my Facebook wall, I couldn’t resist checking out the Dote collection.
Breastfeeding mothers will tell you that we often have to find ways to entertain ourselves while we nurse our babies, and for me, one of my guilty pleasures is to window shop on various online stores. Once I discovered Dote, I spent hours poring over their numerous designs, trying to decide which pieces to get. Hi, everyone. My name is Adeline, and I am a shopaholic.
One of my main issues with online shopping for clothes is the fit, and I always worry that the size chart is inaccurate. However, another friend had previously purchased a few items from Dote, and assured me that she had no problems getting the right size, so I finally chose the Lexie Dress in Fuchsia and the Slate Top in Navy.
Lexie Dress in Fuchsia
Ratings Guide
♥ Hmmm… ♥♥ So-so ♥♥♥ Not bad ♥♥♥♥ Like it ♥♥♥♥♥ Love it!
1. Comfort and Fit: ♥♥♥♥♥
I found the material to be really soft and comfortable. The dress is made from 91% Rayon and 9% Spandex, giving it just the right amount of stretchiness. Initially, I thought the dress was too long, as it ends slightly below my knees, but I soon realized that the length is perfect for me to be, erm, a little less lady-like when I sit or kneel. I really appreciated this when I had to sit cross-legged on the floor at Ibu Oka’s for my Babi Guling meal! My legs did get a little too warm when I wore the dress in Bali, but the extreme heat, rather than the dress itself, probably caused it. I was perspiring despite the sleeveless design! For those of you who are wondering if your bra straps can still be concealed in this dress, the answer is yes, as the straps are 1.5”.
Sizing, as I mentioned earlier, was not a problem, as the size chart provided on the website is accurate, making online shopping a breeze. The empire cut design means that this dress can double up as a maternity dress too, so it’s really quite value for money, if you ask me.
2. Nursing Access: ♥♥♥♥♥
I had absolutely no problems nursing in this dress, as all I had to do was to pull up the top layer, above the empire line. Noah has now become really squirmy when I try to nurse him under a nursing hood, so being able to get to the nursing access with just one hand is very important. When we were in Bali, he absolutely refused to be under the nursing hood, so I had to nurse him without one. Thankfully, this dress allowed me to nurse him discreetly in public, as the top layer can be easily adjusted to reveal as much or as little as you need to.
3. Quality: ♥♥♥♥
The fabric is of good quality, and both the gathers and ruffle hem detail are very well sewn. I like that the design allowed me to be lazy by not ironing it after taking it out of our suitcase in Bali. It was a little crumpled initially, but straightened out after I hung it up.
The care instructions state that it should be machine washed in cold water, something that I overlooked, and it ended up being washed at 40 degrees instead. I suspect this is why the elastic from the top layer came off after the first wash, but thankfully, I didn’t have any problems wearing it after that. I also tossed it into the dryer by mistake after the second wash, and was very relieved when it came out fine.
Slate Top in Navy
1. Comfort and Fit: ♥♥♥♥♥
Made of 94% Rayon and 6% Spandex, the Slate Top is just as comfortable as the Lexie dress. The material isn’t too thick, so I can enjoy wearing it outdoors in humid Singapore. The Slate Top comes in Lilac, Grey, Black, and Navy, and I was initially drawn to the Lilac one. I decided on the Navy one, however, as I was worried that it might be a little translucent, but now that I’ve seen and touched the actual material, I think the Lilac one would have been fine too.
I really like the slightly puffy sleeves, which hide my flabby arms well. The cream-coloured feminine neckline makes a nice contrast with the navy, and the longer length of the top means I don’t have to worry about showing the world my belly when I lift my baby up. There is even a hip band to hold the top down nicely!
2. Nursing Access: ♥♥♥♥
The instructions state that I should pull down the v-neckline, and lift the cream fabric panel underneath, to nurse, but I initially chose to pull down both layers instead, because I didn’t read the instructions before I wore the top out. Oops. I’m used to nursing tops with double layers or vertical openings, and thought that this top required me to pull down the neckline completely. It was a little awkward initially, and I revealed more of my breast than necessary, but I guess it doesn’t matter when I’m in a nursing room. I’ve also tried following the instructions, and had no problems lifting up the cream fabric panel. This method is definitely more practical, so I guess I really should read the instructions properly next time.
Now, some of you might wonder why there is a need for nursing tops, since nursing rooms are becoming quite common in Singapore. Personally, I use a baby carrier instead of a stroller, and when I nurse my baby, I prefer not to have to remove the carrier, just in case he falls asleep while nursing. It’s much easier for me to put him back in the carrier and continue shopping, than to have to put him down, wear the carrier, and put him in it. Chances are that he will wake up and be extremely unhappy to have been woken up. This is why I now prefer not to get nursing tops with double layers, as I don’t really like having to lift up the top layer, and tuck it back into my carrier after nursing.
3. Quality: ♥♥♥♥♥
The workmanship on this top is excellent, and I say this because there are quite a few folds incorporated into the neckline, sleeves, and body, to make it look prettier. I think this design stands out because it doesn’t look like a nursing top at all, and can definitely be worn long after my nursing days are over.
I’m also pleased to report that it survived the 40-degree wash in my washing machine. I chose to line dry it after the first wash, but subsequently popped it into my dryer with no adverse effects.
OVERALL CONCLUSION
Dote has many gorgeous designs at affordable prices, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find something to add to your wardrobe quite easily. I love both the Lexie Dress and Slate Top, and have been wearing them a bit too frequently. It’s a good thing that the quality is good, and the pieces still look as good as new, despite having been through the washing machine and dryer so many times. Time to shop for more! 😉
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GROWING WITH THE TANS & DOTE GIVEAWAY
We have a $50 Dote gift card for one lucky reader of Growing with the Tans. Here’s what you have to do
1. Like the Dote Facebook Page
2. Like the Growing with the Tans Facebook Page
3. Take a look at the Dote collection, and leave a comment on the Growing with the Tans Facebook Page, NOT on this blogpost itself, telling us which design you like best. Please also leave your email address, so that we can contact you if you win!
You need to complete ALL THREE steps in order to qualify for the random draw.
For an additional chance to win:
SHARE this post on your Facebook wall, and TAG BOTH Growing with the Tans and Dote in your shared post.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2013, 2159h
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Disclosure: I received the Lexie Dress and Slate Top for this review. All opinions are my own.
UPDATE: DOTE YEAR END SALE 2013 IS NOW ON!
Spend $150+ and save 15% with discount code 15XMAS Spend $250+ and save 20% with discount code 20XMAS Spend $350+ and save 30% with discount code 30XMAS
Offer ends Thursday, 19 December 2013, at 1159pm, SIN time.
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