Summer Sales: How to Get Ready for Back-to-School Season Early as a Breastfeeding Mom

The summer sales are in July. The start of the school year in September still seems far away. And yet, now is exactly the time to start thinking about it if you’re breastfeeding, if you’re going back to work in the fall, or if you simply want to start September with a well-thought-out wardrobe rather than one thrown together at the last minute.

There’s a simple logic behind planning ahead: the clothes you’ll wear in September—whether it’s to go back to work, for your first fall outings, or for those first back-to-school mornings with your baby—won’t be on sale in September. Warm pieces, transitional-season styles, and clothes designed for discreet breastfeeding in the workplace—all of these will be full price when you need them.

July is here. Enjoy it.

Why the Start of the School Year Is a Turning Point for Breastfeeding Moms

The start of the school year in September isn't like any other when you're breastfeeding.

This is often the time when women return to work, with all the questions that raises about breastfeeding: pumping at the office, discreet breastfeeding sessions, and the need for clothing that works in a professional setting. It’s also the end of summer—with its lightweight T-shirts and flowing dresses—and the start of a cooler season that calls for different outfits. And it’s often a time when we find ourselves wanting to feel a little more like ourselves after the summer months, when survival mode sometimes took precedence over everything else.

There's a fashion solution for each of these challenges. And the good news is that these solutions are on sale right now—before you even need them.

The top challenge as the school year begins: breastfeeding at work

This is perhaps the most practical—and least understood—aspect of extended breastfeeding: the question of how to continue when you return to work.

French law provides for breastfeeding breaks, but the reality—in terms of available spaces and practical arrangements—varies greatly from one company to another. What doesn’t vary, however, is the need for a wardrobe suited to the workplace.

What You Need to Breastfeed at Work

Pieces that look professional—not clothes that scream “nursing wear” the moment you see them. Discreet openings that let you breastfeed or pump without having to undress completely in a space that often offers little privacy. Fabrics that hold up to long days—not ones that wrinkle within two hours or lose their shape by the end of the day.

Must-Have Items to Shop During the Summer Sales for Back-to-Work Season

Our Breastfeeding t-shirts are perfect for a casual professional setting—pair them with a blazer and straight-leg pants, and you’ve got a great office outfit. The side zipper is completely hidden, so no one will know it’s a nursing top—except you.

Our Breastfeeding dresses —made from flowing jersey or more structured fabric—are also perfect for returning to work: a one-piece design, a truly professional look, and complete accessibility for pumping sessions throughout the day.

The second challenge: transitioning from summer to fall without a disruption

In the summer, we breastfeed in tank tops, light T-shirts, and flowing dresses. September rolls around, temperatures drop by ten degrees in two weeks, and we realize we don't have anything suitable for the in-between season.

This is the most common—and most preventable—clothing damage.

What the off-season requires

Pieces you can layer. A Breastfeeding t-shirt an open cardigan. A nursing tank top under a lightweight sweatshirt. Fabrics that provide a little warmth without being stuffy—cotton jersey, modal, and soft blends.

Transitional Pieces to Look Out for During the Summer Sales

The nursing sweatshirt is the perfect transitional piece. Neither too warm nor too light, it’s perfect for cool September mornings and afternoons that are still warming up. Bought on sale in July, it’ll be ready in September when you need it.

A knit sweater is another item to keep an eye out for during the summer sales. It’s an investment piece—one whose full price might give you pause—but it becomes more affordable during the sales. And it will last well beyond a single season.

The third challenge: feeling like yourself as the school year begins

There’s something special about the start of the school year in September for breastfeeding moms. It’s a mixed feeling—returning to work, getting back into a routine, reclaiming a part of one’s professional identity—and yet, breastfeeding continues; the baby is still there, and the body hasn’t quite returned to its pre-pregnancy state yet.

This mix calls for a wardrobe that bridges the two. Pieces that say, “I’m back,” not “I’m still in recovery mode.” Clothes that reflect who we are.

What You Need in Your Wardrobe to "Feel Like Yourself" When School Starts Again

One or two back-to-school pieces that you choose for yourself—not just by default. A color that suits you, a print that makes you smile, a cut that flatters you. Not necessarily a lot, but pieces chosen with intention.

The summer sales are the perfect time to do this. You’ll have plenty of time to choose at your leisure. Prices are marked down. And you’ll have these items ready for the start of the school year—no need to rush out and buy them in the last-minute rush on September 1.

The Summer Sale Strategy for a Successful Back-to-School Season: Step by Step

Step 1: Take stock of your current wardrobe

Before the sales start, open your closet and take a look at what’s inside. What you actually wear. What no longer works—whether because it’s worn out, doesn’t suit the coming season, or you simply don’t have a chance to wear it.

It's this assessment that determines your actual needs—not the sales you come across.

Step 2: Identify your specific back-to-school needs

Are you going back to work in September? You’ll need professional outfits that are breastfeeding-friendly. Is your baby starting daycare, and do you have full days ahead of you? You’ll need comfortable and practical outfits. Do you live in a region where it gets cool as early as September? Make sure to stock up on warm clothes.

Every situation calls for a different selection. Decide what you want before you open a single sales tab.

Step 3: Create your list in order of priority

Start with the basics: plenty of T-shirts and tank tops. Next, versatile pieces: dresses, sweatshirts, and sweaters, depending on the season. Save the fun for last: printed T-shirts and unexpected colors.

Step 4: Shop with this list—don't shop without it

During sales, it's tempting to browse and buy. The best strategy is to search and find. Your list is your guide—if an item isn't on it, ask yourself if it should be before you buy it.

Step 5: Put your purchases away separately until school starts

It's the little details that make all the difference. Once you receive your purchases, don't mix them in with your everyday wardrobe right away. Store them in a dedicated "back-to-school wardrobe" space. When September rolls around, you'll take them out as if they were brand-new pieces and enjoy rediscovering them.

How a Well-Prepared Start to the School Year Changes Daily Life

Imagine this scenario on September 1, when you’re not quite ready: you’re going back to work, your baby is starting daycare, it’s chilly in the morning, and you don’t have anything suitable to wear. You rummage through summer T-shirts that are too thin, rush to order clothes that arrive too late, and improvise with outfits that aren’t breastfeeding-friendly.

Now imagine this scenario for September 1—thanks to the July sales, you’re all set: you open your closet and find exactly the right pieces—the T-shirts for the start of the school year, the sweatshirt for chilly mornings, and the dress for important meetings. Everything is there, clean, ready, and in your size.

The second option doesn't require much more effort than the first. It just requires thinking about back-to-school two months in advance, during the summer sales, when items are available and affordable.

Anticipation as a Form of Care

Preparing for the start of the school year in July is a form of self-care that is by no means trivial.

It means realizing that in two months, the pace of my life is going to change. I’ll be going back to work, or resuming my activities, or simply moving on from summer mode to something more structured. And I deserve to arrive at that moment with a well-thought-out wardrobe—not one thrown together in a rush during the first few weeks back.

This proactive step doesn't take long. It requires clarity about your needs, a list of priorities, and the time to make the right purchases during the sales.

At 23 Mai Paris, our Breastfeeding t-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, dresses, and our new collection are available during the sale—designed to take you through every season and every stage of motherhood.

Be sure to check out our budget-friendly basics, too, to finish getting ready for the new school year now, while prices are still affordable.

📸 5 photo ideas to include

1. Summer Preparing for Fall: A mom in a light summer T-shirt, with a 23 Mai Paris nursing sweatshirt 23 Mai Paris beside her on the couch—a glimpse of the season to come. Golden summer light, a relaxed atmosphere. An image of two seasons coexisting in a thoughtfully curated wardrobe.

2. Returning to Work While Breastfeeding: A mom in a dress or a printed breastfeeding T-shirt, 23 Mai Paris—well-groomed, with a work bag slung over her shoulder. An urban setting or office in the blurred background. The image of a mom returning to work without sacrificing the comfort of breastfeeding.

3. The “Back-to-School Wardrobe” Storage: A drawer or section of the closet where items bought on sale are set aside—still in their packaging or freshly folded—with a little note that says “Back to School in September.” The visual satisfaction of anticipation fulfilled.

4. Transitioning Between Seasons in One Outfit: A mom wearing a nursing tank top with a 23 Mai Paris sweatshirt 23 Mai Paris around her waist or draped over her shoulders. The perfect look for the transition from summer to fall—light yet practical. Late-summer light.

5. The Back-to-School Checklist on the Phone: A close-up of a phone screen showing a “back-to-school breastfeeding” shopping list, with a hand checking items off. Simple, practical, reassuring. The image of an organized mom methodically preparing for the new school year without stress.