Melissa, a 34-year-old executive from Manhattan, once asked me how a woman who had always paid a lot of attention to her image could attend to the nursing needs of her baby without losing her sense of style and personality in the process. That question stuck in my mind then, like one of those bubble gums you used to find at school underneath your student desk.

Back then, nursing in public meant either running to the next available bathroom you could find and hiding with your baby until she was finished nursing and you could finally breathe or wearing one of those out-of-style, oversized T-shirts that do nothing but make you cry out of pity for yourself.

Nowadays, styles have changed, and the addition of wonderful man-made fibers, such as Lycra® or Spandex®, has become a tremendous help for stylish breastfeeding moms. Those days when moms resented nursing in public because they could never look "normal" are over. Moms don't need to suffer any longer. Now they can look stylish and feel comfortable while addressing their babies' nursing needs.

There are five basic pieces that go a long way in any breastfeeding mom's wardrobe:

• A black linen nursing dress. This is a great classic dress no woman can live without. Black is always fashionable, and linen – or better yet, stretch linen – can add shape, comfort and "breathe-ability" to satisfy the stylish woman as well as the mom in you. We all know how much we need clothes that breathe with us, especially during those first few months when our mommy hormones are at their peak. The elasticity and comfort of stretch linen can make any mommy feel sexy.
• A nursing pant suit. This is a must-have for almost every occasion. You can get wonderful sets of tops, blouses or tunics with their matching pants. This type of outfit is as versatile as it gets. You can wear both pieces together as they are, add a jacket to make it more formal or combine the top with jeans, a skirt or just about anything to achieve almost any style you can think of. You can get sets in cotton, rayon or stretch linen. Ah, what a wonderful idea!
• A cotton/Spandex® top. This is the IT piece for everyone. Whether you are a stay-at-home-mom or a corporate executive on Wall Street, this would be the piece you cannot forget to wear. The combination of these two fibers creates the perfect marriage. Cotton makes it comfortable, breathable and affordable; Spandex makes it stylish, adds more comfort and gives you that sexy look "to die for."
• And finally, two nursing bras, of course! And you thought I would forget the bras? No woman can have only one bra, so why should the nursing mom be the exception. At the very least, you would need a white or beige (commonly called "ecru") and a black nursing bra. As you already know, we need one that can be worn with almost any light-colored outfit and one that should be worn with dark-colored ones. Bras should fit comfortably snug, never tight. If you have problems finding the proper nursing bra size for you, you can always consult a lactation consultant who can measure you and advise you on the best shape and style that suits your needs and likes.

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