please help me find my poor mum a wedding outfit

[sitsyou]

she is mother of the bride but is not into the traditional 'mother of the bride' outfits you'd think of. She doesn't do hats, she doesn't really do very smart/over the top.

She is 65, slim(size 10-12) but a little bit of a tummy, hates her legs ("too skinny & varicose veined") so would have to be something way over the knee that she could wear thick tights with (even in summer), or trousers. She is conscious of her (IMO not half as bad as mine) bingo wings so needs to be 3/4 or long sleeved.
Can't be in any way low cut either.
She likes greens and mauves, would prefer something with a bit of a pattern.

this is something she likes but sleeves are prob too short
[http://www.east.co.uk/store/Adele+Print+Dress/BLU-AQUIFERX/Blue/]

budget is £150 tops

wedding is end of summer in UK

she fancies a short jacket although doesn't really do tailored, would have to be more of a relaxed jacket (although it might not go with a dress...)

she likes linen..

Have a look on ebay - I got my mum a whole Jacques Vert outfit for £50 to be mother of groom, and it would have suited your mum too - mid calf very heavy jersey dress, plus jacket that was waist length ish and structured but not tight. Was incredibly flattering, and comfortable

thanks, will have a look

Have you looked on tkmaxx website lots of dresses with bolero type jackets on there. Also have noticed very catalogue does berketex and some of it's not too old ladyish. My Mil got an outfit from cc aka country casuals

thanks, will look at tkmaxx.

I'm afraid Berketex is the sort of stuff she really DOESN'T want, too fussy, too 'old'
willhave a look at country casuals although I would have to sell it to her as CC or she will get depressed that she's an 'old lady'

Have you tried Hobbs? My dm got her motb dress from there and looked lovely.

Of course she would have more choice if she wor a bolero etc picking out the colour of a patterned dress she liked e.g here lots of cover ups

skirt

jacket

this ticks loads of your boxes!

so would have to be something way over the knee that she could wear thick tights with (even in summer), or trousers. TICK

She is conscious of her (IMO not half as bad as mine) bingo wings so needs to be 3/4 or long sleeved. TICK-ISH

Can't be in any way low cut either. TICK
She likes greens and mauves, would prefer something with a bit of a pattern. TICK TICK!!

TICK AGAIN

i like the dress gossipmonger has found, so easy to wear and is reet sophisticated without flim flam.!

had a look at hobbs but there wasn't anything that fitter her requirements!
Have looked at monsoon, john lewis, jigsaw, toast, boden..

omydarlin you're right she would have a lot more choice if there wasn't there sleeve length restriction - I think a soft/non tailored bolero might do the trick. Will try and persuade her..

tillyscout I can't really explain why but that's just not her. Too formal I think

bump

thank you gossip I didn't see your posts last night.

I think she would look lovely in that but I know she would think it was 'too posh'

Motb search on Coast here

thanks, have found some good possibles on boden clearance sale which I hadn't spotted before

How about something like this with good quality linen trousers and a silk tshirt type top?

lurking she wouldn't go for that but I think I need to take her shopping to try different things (like your suggestion) that could be nice with the right trousers/top. I live 100s of miles away from her and she hates shopping [gives up]. Last time I went shopping with her there was a dress she really liked which I convinced her to buy. She looked lovely in it but she's never worn it (2 years later)

Jigsaw sale has a few bits in -
this jacket would take up a large chunk of the budget, but I think is smart enough to go over dresses, and then also this dress (although same issue with sleeves as the East one you linked to)

Hobbs but again no sleeves

Hobbs also have some good little jackets: silver pink purple orangey-pink

But my outfit was a bargain!!!!!!!!

I know gossip sorry!

pastgrace you are on the right lines, thank you

what about something like that with a fitted T-shirt and a jacket (the hobbs orange one will look nice)
My mum is around 60 and wear palazzo pants for weddings (usually black) she looks v. smart.

If she is not happy in a dress I would go for smart trousers and a top - there is no point her feeling self concious all day after all! What about these tops:
biba
mary portas
full circle
designers at debenhams
phase 8
john lewis - good reviews
east - love this

Is it worth her going to the personal shopper service at John Lewis or similar? She can give them her requirements and they'll try and find her something. There's no charge, and no need to buy if nothing they find convinces her.

fauxfox you have a good point. She WILL feel self conscious all day.

That biba top is lovely, would go for that myself!
I can see her in all of them bar the debenhams one, but the one I think is most her is East - it IS lovely. Will try and find some trousers to go with before I make the suggestion. It would also mean she would get more wear out of it
thank you
pootlebug I will suggest that but she will be waaay too embarrassed. Might see if I can go with her (I'll even suggest I get one too so that she doesn't feel like it's all about her IYKWIM)