Her aim: to make gear that is practical and comfortable, yet still luxurious, stylish and flattering for all expectant mothers.
And so the Bibee dress was born; a garment that comes with an interchangeable front (hence the bib in Bibee) that can be swapped between different dresses or tunics to create a new look each time.
And Bibee has already garnered a celeb following with new mums Claire Sweeny, Nell McAndrew, Lucy Jo Hudson and Giovanna Fletcher all showing their support.
Owner and creative director Nicola claims her wears skim over lumps and bumps so that pregnant women can look and feel glamorous all through pregnancy – and I definitely agree with that.
What’s in the box?
- Bibee dress from £60 - £90
Any additional extras?
- Bibee fronts from £20-£45
First impressions?
The Bibee products seem to be completely unique in the maternity/nursing wear market. It’s two-piece design is aimed at making breastfeeding in public discreet and comfortable.
And while I was originally perplexed at the five little parcels that came with my delivery, the Bibee is not as confusing or fussy as it sounds.
I have two dresses and three bibs, which are interchangeable.
So how do you put on the dress?
The dresses have a slightly pleated bottom half, to distract from those undesirable lumps, and a super low neckline, which effectively leaves your boobs hanging out.
The bibs fasten over the boobs, with four button fastenings (over the shoulder and under the bust).
With so many buttons to worry about, including two over your shoulder, the Bibee is a bit awkward and fussy at first.
But I soon got the hang of it and it quickly became my go to dress for work and socialising.
How does it work when breastfeeding?
The idea is that when breastfeeding in public you can unfasten the buttons under one of your boobs, giving you fuss free access to your hungry baby.
It doesn’t look at all like you’re breastfeeding because the tunic/dress is still covering you, with just a slight opening where your baby’s head is.
Is it comfy?
Yes, it is. With a stomach that looks like I’ve swallowed a bowling bowl and boobs that are almost pornographic, the Bibee made me feel much more comfortable and confident than any other maternity wear I’ve tried.
There doesn’t seem to be anything like it on the market and the quality is top notch. I was struck by how weighty the dress felt when I hung it up in my wardrobe (always a sign of good quality) and the stitching on the buttons doesn’t seem to be fraying after two weeks of almost continuous wear.
What do you think of the style?
The beauty of the Bibee is that they provide a range of bibs so you can swap and change your look using the same dress and nobody need know.
I wore the dress and tunic to work and over the course of two weeks and was able to mix up my look using the different dresses and bibs.
It definitely gave the impression I had treated myself to lots of new maternity clothes and I didn’t correct anyone when the compliments came in!
Is the dress value for money?
It's not a cheap or budget option as the tunics start from £40 and go up to £60, while the dresses start from £60 and go up to £90.
Then there's also the bib fronts, which come in at around £20-£45, so all-in-all you'll be forking out at least £60 for an outfit.
Saying that, the dresses are very good quality and almost like an investment, as you'll be able to use it with more than one pregnancy. And you can buy one dress and multiple bibs, so it looks like a new outfit every time. So overall, I’d still say this product is value for money.
But if you're looking for instant saving on the dress you can also use the discount code bibee40 on the website to get 40% off - share the wealth I always say.
MadeForMums verdict?
Overall the dresses and tunics looks quite simple so they can be dressed up with accessories for dinner with your husband, teamed with a pair of power heels for the office or matched with winter boots for a walk in the park.
I don’t know how I got through most of my pregnancy without the Bibee. It’s given me much more confidence about what is quite a daunting prospect. It’s the first product I’ve found that can be used as maternity wear and nursing wear after the baby is born and I will definitely be recommending this story to my fellow mummies-to-be.
