Investiture outfit crisis...

[HenryKingchewedbitsofstring]

My mother has been awarded an OBE! The dry cleaner has mangled the dress she wanted to wear to the investiture ceremony and she needs to find an alternative.

She is 5'7 and a slim size 12 and is very sophisticated. She's been looking at suits but hasn't been inspired. Everything is a bit "mother of the bride" or too young looking. She wants something age appropriate but show stopping.

Budget is up to £500 if she can wear it for other occasions as well.

Can you help me find some suggestions for her? She's beginning to panic.

Thank you!

How exciting!

Given the season, would she want a winter dress or a dress and jacket or a skirt suit? On or below the knee. Any particular colours? Plain or print? So much fun to shop for. (Though it's a shame about the original dress...)

OMG

This!

Ohhhh

I would so want to wear this.... But almost certainly not everyone's idea of suitable.

With daytime accessories and tights etc?

Way over budget but perfect?

One hint would be not to get something too fashion orientated - sadly the hat I wore when my DF attended looks rather dated on photos now (although it was VERY stylish at the time!!)

ted baker

What was she going to wear as that might give us some idea of what she likes/wants?

I went to one last week and there was a MASSIVE range of outfits from a bright pink skirt suit to shift dresses and jumperusits

This is rather lovely.

Way under budget!

Thank you for all your replies. She was going to wear a navy shift dress which was knee length. I think she wants understated sophistication. I think she'd be happy with a dress and jacket or skirt suit. She will also need a hat (but that's another story...)

Sthing The oxblood jersey dress looks lovely but may not be quite formal enough and she'd need a jacket. Its quite similar to a Vivienne Westwood jersey dress that I was looking at. I don't know how you'd accessorise it though. Vivienne Westwood

The second dress you linked to is too young, I think she'd reject it immediately. However the Roksanda ilincic dresses at the bottom of that page (although WAY over budget) are more her style. this one

She's in her 60s so she's quite sensitive about dressing too young. Although I think she can get away with quite a lot.

Mortified that Ted Baker dress is gorgeous but possibly a bit eveningy. Its a morning event.

Snap! I linked you the same VW dress!

I was about to say the same thing Sthing, how funny.

Out of interest, how do you find a hat that doesn't date?

Hi, when went to fils investiture there was a huge range of outfits. If you have time, john Lewis do personal shopper appointments and dress a lot of people for investitures.
Are you going to?

Ok. Agree the Roksanda dresses could be perfect.

This has amazing colour and structure.

(For some reason sites don't always show the two parts of a suit together - haven't seen any yet that would be fabulous.)

I am going, but I think I'm just going to wear my boring interview suit.

The pictures will be shown for ages so wear something you'd be comfortable being shown a lot!

Just wanted to say thank you for all of your help. I've shown your suggestions to my mother who is now inspired to try some of them on.

Do let us know what she chooses.

(And do you have or can you borrow a fabulous piece of jewellery and some beautiful shoes to wear with your suit?