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Reader L is having abdominal surgery and is at a loss for how to dress for court with a sensitive middle… as I see it this issue could be relevant to other readers with sensitive midsections due to surgical procedures, early pregnancy, C-section scars, etc. What are the best conservative clothes that are loose in the middle for situations like court? She writes:
I'm a prosecutor (ie suits or suit like separates daily) and I'm having abdominal surgery this fall. The doctor says 4-6 weeks recovery but that's just time off work. That's not to be able to wear things with actual buttons and set waistbands! Any suggestions on how to create a small but doable court appropriate wardrobe for the recovery after I'm back at work?
Maybe I'm oversimplifying things (and assuming regular shift and empire dresses are out for some reason), but I think I have just the answer for you, Reader L: maternity clothes. For those who don't know: There are two main kinds of maternity bottoms. The first is the “underbelly” waistband — a soft, stretchy, approximately 3-inch waistband designed to go UNDER the belly. It's mostly intended for use in early pregnancy when there is no real bump, but your middle may be sensitive. The second is the over-the-belly waistband, which I always preferred just for modesty's sake. It's a soft, stretchy waistband that is much taller (maybe 12″?) that's designed to go all the way from just below the bump to the top of your bra in general, completely covering the belly.
Many women wear these pants for several months after the baby's born, particularly women who've had C-sections and might have a sensitive middle, while many women (particularly those who've already had one kiddo) may also wear these pants very early in their pregnancies because their middles are sensitive — i.e., before there's any real baby bump.
In other words: both kinds of pants can be worn even if you don't have a bump. Depending on your scarring, stitches, bandages, etc., you may find the over-the-bump pants too itchy or fussy, so you may want to focus on the under-the-bump kind of pants.
We've rounded up some maternity workwear basics over at CorporetteMoms, but I'll also note that you can often get great deals on maternity stuff at eBay. You may also want to ask a mom friend to share an “in search of” post on the local moms' listserv for you.
Maternity dresses may or may not work for you, as they often are designed to “hug” the bump… still, you may want to check out some of our latest must-have maternity dresses for work.
Also: there has been a huge increase in professional-looking pull-on pants and otherwise comfortable pants…
There are a bunch of great pull-on pants for the office in 2024. Some of our longstanding favorites include those from Athleta*, Everlane, Eileen Fisher*, Betabrand*, and Uniqlo. If you're looking for something a bit more polished but still ultra comfy, check out Nic & Zoe* or NYDJ*. (Brands with plus sizes are marked with asterisks.)
Some particular styles we love are below:
Finally: if you definitely need a suit, you may want to consider either maternity suits (extremely slim pickings!!) or a suits with dresses instead of skirts — the dresses are often not cut too close to the body.
Ladies, those of you who've had abdominal surgery, what's your best advice for Reader L? We haven't talked about maternity clothes in court in far too long — those of you who've been there recently, which were your favorite finds for conservative maternity clothes?
Blonde Lawyer
Can you do dresses with no pantyhose and a blazer?
tesyaa
That would be my suggestion too – especially with shift dresses or sized-up sheath dresses.
AIMS
I’d also favor dresses for this period. And I think you get a pass while you recover from surgery.
edj3
I’ve had 7 abdominal surgeries and there’s no way I would have worn maternity clothing after any of them with the exception of my two c-sections. But for the other five? No way.
LW, right now Loft and other stores have some loose flowy pants with elastic waistbands–pick up a couple of those and you won’t be uncomfortable and you won’t have wasted money on maternity clothing.
MJ
Cosign this…I had abdominal surgery and a huge open wound for weeks (it wouldn’t heal) and no seam came anywhere near my scars. And, frankly, my scars were intentionally placed below the bikini line, so lower-waisted pants would have made things worse.
I really strongly suggest the OP invest in A-line shift dresses and blazers. I honestly didn’t want anything on my waist. When I was home, I wore long nightshirts and t-shirt dresses. That was best.
anon
All of my underbelly maternity pants (leggings, jeans, and suit trousers) did not really stay up after birth (over belly items did), so I probably would go the dress route as PP suggested for work and flowy pants for the rest of the time.
Pest
Just try on your clothes during the last week of your sick leave and go shopping for what’s comfortable at that time to the extent you don’t have enough you can wear comfortably to get you through the next few weeks. I don’t think this is a situation where you can plan ahead. I think you are better off just waiting and seeing what will fit comfortably when the time comes.
anonymiss
I’d suggest looking at a message board that’s specifically for the surgery you are having — for, say, hysterectomy (http://www.hystersisters.com), or plastic surgery. Lots of women have been through this and I’m sure they have some great tips since they’ve been there.
Also, maybe check J.Jill and Eileen Fisher?
Kelsey
Agree with loose dresses + blazer, as well as holding off on shopping.
Also – accordion waist/tie waist skirts. There are some work appropriate ones out there, might be tricky to find.
BeenThatGuy
I had a tummy tuck and the only thing I felt comfortable wearing to work post op was dresses. Anything with a waistband either hurt or made me nervous. Wrap dresses, A-Line dresses, Fit and Flare and Maxi’s with an empire waist saved the day.
Josie Pye
About four years ago I had a temporary ostomy (waste collection bag on the abdomen), which posed the complication of both a sensitive midsection from the surgery and also a bulge from the bag that I wanted hidden and couldn’t put any pressure (like a waistband) on. I ended up getting a pair of cheap full-panel maternity jeans from Target that slid down but were beyond comfortable, and for work I got some high-waisted trousers that buttoned above where the ostomy/incisions were and then altered them to fit everywhere else. I also found that high-waisted leggings plus a dress with ruching plus boots (it was winter) made me feel put-together. I went shopping with my mom after I’d been home for the hospital for about a week–I agree with others that there’s little point in shopping pre-op, since you don’t know what spots are going to be sore.
Also, on the chance that anyone is reading this because they are going to have an ostomy, the underwear from Ostomy Secrets were a total lifesaver and more or less allowed me to wear my normal clothes once the soreness went away.
anon
Thank you so much for this comment! As a severe Crohn’s patient, a permanent ostomy is my worst fear, and I always breathe a little easier when I randomly come across someone on the internet talking about ostomies as though they’re a perfectly normal part of life. I *know* that, but it’s a big hangup in my head for some reason.
Josie Pye
Please feel free to email me at josiepyeavonlea at g m a i l dot c o m (without all the spaces)…I’d be happy to talk about it (I have ulcerative colitis). The ileostomy was way worse in my head than it was in reality.
anon
I’ve had an ostomy for over 10 years. People who knew about it at the time have forgotten all about it and new acquaintances have no idea. I don’t wear form-fitting knit dresses but I didn’t wear them before my surgery either. Most of Kat’s clothing recommendations work for me :)
AEK
My under-belly maternity pants did not feel good at all after my c-section because the top of the waistband was right on top of my incision. I did wear over-belly styles quite a bit. Add my vote for dresses w/ blazers. And tights / hose, or just Spanx or equivalent shaper shorts, might actual feel very good because they give some support. Just look for some without prominent seams.
No Coffee Left Behind
Dresses! Like some commenters have said, it depends a little on what type of surgery and where the incisions are, but soft dresses worked for me. If you can manage pants, keeping the blouse on the flowy side will reduce further pressure on your abdomen.
And this is a sidenote, but someone got me a nightshirt that was basically a t-shirt that went to my knees, and I wore it (at home) all the time during my recovery. Just say no to waistbands!
anonymous2
If it were me, I’d buy 2-3 shift and/or sheath dresses in suiting fabric perhaps a size bigger than normal and wear those to death. Buy them with matching jackets. (Plus you could have them altered after if they’re too loose.) Wear a different scarf or necklace every day. No need to be a fashion plate for this time.
If anything on the abdomen is a problem and you have to wear hose, I guess thigh-highs might be the answer.
I read an article recently about a French/American executive woman who wears the same Theory suit (three colors) exclusively but with a different designer scarf everyday. Can’t find the article but will post if I remember her name.
anon who's been there many times
Modal pants are amazing, there are some cheap ones from target… buy them in black and wear a nice top, nice jewelry, and a blazer and you can often make it look like you’re just wearing flowy summery pants. Also, be aware of where things hit in terms of what rubs on the incision sites so you don’t end up with pain that way. Make sure that whatever you wear as you’re feeling more healed has breathing room so that you don’t feel like a sausage if you swell up later in the day. Not sure if you’ll end up with a binder for a bit of time, but ask at the hospital as often they’ll give you one and it can help protect your incisions while you heal and so that clothes don’t rub on them. Lastly, modal underwear is also great since it’s super thin and doesn’t hurt incisions even if they touch… again, target has them cheap. You can also check ebay for modal pants/undies if you’re on a budget as sometimes you can find something great! Best wishes!
Another sensitive tummy
I have a very sensitive stomach that also bloats like crazy — even with that, maternity pants would not work when not pregnant. The cut is wrong and there’s not enough stomach to hold it up. I swear by dresses with a blazer on top when suits are needed and avoid tights/pantyhose like the plague. Loose waisted, non-pencil skirts are also awesome. Look for ones with an elastic waist and wear with blouses that can be pulled over the waistband/not tucked in, so the actual waist could be as high or low as you need to avoid the sensitive area.
surgery veteran
Maternity dresses! They don’t have the obvious panel like pants do, and they are very forgiving in the mid-section. You might be swollen or bloated more than usual, so the extra room will feel good. Go for an A-line or empire waist cut. Also, try buying sheer (lightweight) non-control top pantyhose that are one size larger than normal — they will stretch well and are sheer enough that they won’t feel constricting.
Meg Murry
Or you could try either thigh highs or maternity pantyhose – sometimes even now I’ll wear the Spanx maternity hose because the waistband is up high near the bra line, but not constricting at all in the belly.
For a few pieces that aren’t super expensive, some of the “everyday value” suits at Macy’s also have a dress option – my sister got a Calvin Klein version where the dress was more A-line than sheath, which might fit a little looser than a sheath. Its not on the webs!te now that I can find, but they may have a similar version again in a few weeks when they switch back over to fall lines from spring. I wouldn’t recommend the everyday value suits typically for someone who wears suits daily, as you can tell why they are so cheap, but they might work for this kind of short term wardrobe gap filling.
Christine Griffin
Dresses!! I have had abdominal surgeries and dresses with a blazer are perfect.
Shopping challenged
Belly bands! For the first couple weeks after my surgery in Dec, I found myself holding my belly up with my hands when I was tired. I dreamed of a garment to do this for me. Once I was no longer sore, I saw these bands intended for use during pregnancy and after, and realized they would have been perfect. An Ace bandage would probably work as well.
Waistbands rubbed and hurt. I bought a couple of skater dresses–no friction, but also no support. That’s where I could’ve used a belly band.
I’ve had this surgery twice, at 32 and 48. Both times I was startled at how much difference it made in my ab muscles. My belly is much bigger than it was before the surgery, at the same weight.
Shopping challenged
The scars from my first surgery are very close to the pubis; the second time, the surgeon went through the belly button and made two other incisions at my panty waistband, lower than my belly button but much higher and more visible than the earlier scars.
Celia
Laura Ashley dresses! Higher waists, looser cuts, and pretty colors.
Eh230
check the anniversary sale. Eileen fisher has a nice pair of yoked pants. Slim cut but a maternity like waistband that is not actually maternity. I think they had black and gray.
jlg
Honestly unless you have them already, I wouldn’t buy maternity clothes, since you won’t be so distended (the way a post-c-section belly would be). I would make sure you have underwear that will hit above your incision — that was a major issue for me post-c-section that I woudn’t have expected. You will need to see how you feel and how sensitive that area is/how nervous it makes you to have something touching it. I hated having seams or elastic near my incision but liked the pressure of hoisery or an adjustable compression belt. Once you are post-surgery I would either go with dresses, loose elastic-waist pants, or try out using a “bella” type band that would allow you to wear your pants or skirts open at the button/fly but would hold them up and keep everything covered. That way you could just buy a few bands instead of a bunch of new clothes that don’t really fit your lifestyle. Good luck!
Olga Baranskaya
Some of great variants for clothes after abdominoplasty is compression underwear like this – https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ee/67/3d/ee673d9415bc18ddb950577d8fdb820a.jpg