Where to shop for Mother of the Bride outfit?

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I’m helping my sister shop for an outfit for her DDs wedding in the summer.

So far we have been recommended to try

Catherine’s of Partick in Glasgow
Lady G in East Kilbride
Gina Smart in Ayr
Frox of Falkirk
Catwalk in Falkirk ( who knew there were so many weddings in Falkirk )

We’ve only scanned websites so far and a lot of them look ...ahem....a bit frumpy. Maybe all their cool dresses are just in store

We are also looking for a shop in Edinburgh, where DSis lives, but without success. Apparently the best known shop there for MoB has just closed.

For avoidance of doubt, we are looking for an off the peg outfit, her budget doesn’t stretch to designer.

If you think about the scenes in Pretty Woman, it's usually the hat you remember rather than the dress imo.

No idea if this is a legit website etc, just came up on google - not suggesting this is the hat btw, but if you scroll through the hat pictures - almost all are with very plain dresses.

www.jjshouse.co.uk/Ladies-Elegant-Organza-Tulle-Bowler-Cloche-Hat-Kentucky-Derby-Hats-196089177-g89177/?utm_term=89177&utm_size=OSFA&ggsub=pl&ggntk=u&ggcid=407529456679&ggkey=&ggpos=&ggdev=c&ggdevm=&ggplm=&ggtgt=&gclid=CjwKCAiAo7HwBRBKEiwAvC_Q8YdUQjsXyUBCHtUY3Y7Uo8HZH7JjNHcuYrV9dIpK232iYFXNyHsN6xoCs7gQAvD_BwE

Not in Edinburgh but Le Chic is a well established MoB shop.

www.lechicboutique.co.uk

Fabulous range of outfits and excellent service.

What about something like this with a burnt orange shift dress?:

www.jjshouse.co.uk/Ladies-Beautiful-Cambric-Feather-With-Feather-Fascinators-Kentucky-Derby-Hats-196154304-g154304

Try Jane Davidson and Covet in Edinburgh - both great wee boutiques.

Don't bother with John Lewis, I had a personal shopper thing there for DSD's wedding and found it very limited. I actually got something from Phase 8 which I loved - their service was fantastic too - but I was aiming to spend a little less than boutique prices.

There's also a very fashion boutique just off the Royal Mile but I can't remember what it's called.

And fgs steer her away from pastels, let her stand out!

Elegance in Helensburgh.

https://eleganceofhelensburgh.co.uk

They are lovely people and have a huge range of outfits. I think they won an award for their clothes last year.

Navy, cobalt, green, fuchsia all good. Dynamite hat and shoes frock she likes. Done.

MOB outfits v unlikely to fit those variables. Lacey, details all over the place.

@WaxOnFeckOff @CatalogueUniverse

I like your idea of the plain dress and large statement hat.

We had started to go down that route, DSis found a dress she liked in navy with some white trim, teamed with a large hat. I thought she looked amazing.

Bride had a fit, said it was just like a work dress, too dark, would look black in the photos and when she took the hat off , she would look like she was in the office. Apparently it didn’t say

“A Summer Wedding In Sussex “ ( or wherever it is) .

D sis was nearly in tears. She felt and looked great, probably because it WAS a style and shape she feels comfortable in.

So this red dress came yesterday , it fits her like a glove and is very flattering . But bride again says it’s “ not special enough “ and too office like.

www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-keelia-crepe-wrap-dress/toreador/p4829883

I thought It would be fab with a hat like this from that website you linked to

www.jjshouse.co.uk/Ladies-Elegant-Cambric-Bowler-Cloche-Hats-Kentucky-Derby-Hats-196086556-g86556

Ive never heard of them or used them but they take Paypal , so the risk is lower, pay pal are pretty quick to refund. They have just given me back money because I returned an item and the seller didn’t refund me within their 2 day limit.

The black and orange hat you linked to is amazing

@fishybits
@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett
@Chottie
@Huntlybyelection

Thanks for the shop suggestions.

I know that the bride obviously has influence here, and it is difficult to tell her to get stuffed, but your Dsis has to be in something that she feels amazing in, not something that future MIL thinks will suit the occasion.

It's a very fine line. I personally think the navy would be amazing. I'd maybe also get a smaller fascinator as well as the big hat so that could be popped on if and when the hat was removed (for dinner or whatever) to stop it looking like an office outfit.

Probably need some sort of compromise though I guess :)

What colour/style are the bridesmaids?

Sorry, meant to add that I think the red was lovely too, What about something A-line (or still a wrap dress) with a 3/4 sleeve in a deeper tone of whatever the bridesmaids are in?

Something like this would dress up beautifully but i'm guessing would still be considered too dark?

www.next.co.uk/style/esl96572#L96578

And I know this is lacy but maybe a bit more summery?

www.next.co.uk/style/st381603#531007

My Sister got a lovely dress for her son's wedding from
Moda Dea in Glasgow.

This is the MOB range from Perfect Bridal in Aberdeen. They have a dedicated MOB store across the road from the Bridal shop. It’s known for being quite high end. Haven’t been in the MOB shop but used to walk past it daily and the stuff in the windows was never frumpy.

*disclaimer - I have no idea if this is their full range online or if they have more in store.

Not surprised the mil won’t approve of that red dress and hence why bride won’t like it - if your sis has the figure for it, it’s simple and elegant and she would look stunning - pale pink mil will be invisible in the pictures in comparison

Suggests you are on the right track...

Not sure I would pair it with a black and white hat though - wasn’t sure if that’s what you were thinking? Think that would make it look too much like separates that you put together because you couldn’t find anything better.

Monsoon might be worth a look once their summer range is in. Also, maybe something like this? It's silk.

Concessions in Debenhams / john Lewis might be worth a look my friend got her MoG outfit in phase 8 another got her MoB in Elegance with in which is in Stirling Arcade her outfit was blue and pink and not frumpy

Just popping in to say the Marions of Perth is a good shout, the shop is jammed packed but the sales assistants really know their stuff or Patricia Forbes in Broughty Ferry if you don't mind a wee day drip. I'm sure the new train time tables will even take you from GQS direct.

Anything possible from here?

www.bombshellhq.com/products/silk-dupion-emerald-green-grace-tie-front-shirt-dress?variant=21911667048528&gclid=CjwKCAiAo7HwBRBKEiwAvC_Q8XkTLa1TcEsuBoUbORaJIHKlrNUPRclsAgDdEj7NmZqpnCq6sYE-rxoCpK8QAvD_BwE

@wibdib no we were thinking of the red hat , the link defaults to the black and white version, you need to scroll through the pictures .

It’s probably not teh same red but you get the idea.

Yes my sister does have the figure for a fitted dress. I agree with @WaxOnFeckOff that a compromise is needed. Though I think the compromise should be between d sis and her own daughter, not between d sis and MIL to be.

I think that MoG doesn’t trump MoB. Neither should tell the other what to wear.

And I’m the worst person at compromising, it’s not in my nature. I’m having to bite my tongue at DN who is being a right wee madam, in my not very humble opinion.

Bridesmaids are in pale pink . The exact shade is yet to be determined as they are all fighting about the bridesmaids dresses . They = bride and maids, MoG seems to be keeping out of it thank goodness, I assume because the bridesmaids are all from our side of family or brides friends ( as is traditional ) .

D sis is also staying out of that fight, even though her two Dds ( bride and best maid ) keep trying to drag her into it.

MoG is wearing pale pink to coordinate with the bridesmaids. I’m thinking something like these pictures below but the truth is I have no idea. Just that it’s pale pink and traditional .

I suspect MoG is imagining the style of wedding theme popular in the USA, where MoB and granny of bride sometimes wear coordinated outfits that look to British eyes like bridesmaids dresses. Which is very nice if that’s what you are into, I don’t mean to offend anyone who loves that look , it’s just a matter of personal taste.

I don’t think. that’s what DN wants either, but who knows? She is bending over backwards to keep MIL happy and trampling on her own mums feelings in the process.

Honestly, so much stress about something that’s meant to be a happy day.

@Notthisnotthat - we will try Broughty Ferry and the two places suggested in Perth. Also the one in Auchterarder.

D sis is in Edinburgh and I’m near Glasgow so anywhere in the central belt is worth a try.

Stirling also good thanks

@CoffeeBeansGalore . That’s more the kind of thing DS would wear

You are a good Sister taking all her stress for her she can just swan about trying on clothes

@StCharlotte

D sis would look AMAZING in this. It’s one of her best colours and it’s easy to find hats in that shade.

www.bombshellhq.com/collections/moss-crepe-dresses/products/bright-blue-confident-bombshell-cap-sleeve-dress

It’s defo not office like or dark ( previous complaints )

Have at look at The Fold - they do elegant dresses without a hint of floral or lace. And no matching dress, coat, hat combos.

Structured and tailored. Their stock is quite wintry at the moment but, for example, their Camelot or Eton dress might suit? Gives an idea anyway. Around £300 for a dress.

Sooooo, MIL has co-ordinated herself with the bridesmaids? I only have sons and fully accept that MoB should have first dibs and should be co-ordinating if desired.

MIL is trying to make MoB look either like the odd one out or forcing her to also match. I agree it sounds like the bride needs a kick up the bum. It's probably a measure of how much she loves your sister that she feels that she can get away with it.

Maybe your DSis needs to work on the bridesmaids to get them to agree to a colour that fits in with her rather than MoG and put their gas at a peep.

That last blue dress is lovely :)