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Original poster

Mother of the Bride - where do I start ?

23 replies

QuiteChic · 20/10/2018 21:55

More or less that. I'm very much a jeans and t-shirt sort of person. Bit of a country bumpkin - lots of dog walking and messy stuff. I do wear heels and dress up occasionally but that usually means my posh jeans and a nicer top. I do wear summer dresses, but I'm never sure whether they really suit me.
I'm a bit pear shape, smallish waist and big hips, not great legs size 12/14. Mid 50's, light brown bob.
It's a summer wedding (DD and son-in-law to be going for a relaxed boho theme), so I don't want heavy, polyester material (still in the hot flush stage of menopause!) and I don't want to look like Camilla. Help ?

OP posts:
springmachine · 20/10/2018 22:26

Lovely relaxed tapered black trousers, cami, and gorgeous silk kimono on top?

It doesn't have to be a dress

OlennasWimple · 20/10/2018 22:30

What colours suit you best? What are your best features / bits you want to cover up?

Budget?

Are they getting married in a church or somewhere else?

pinktransit · 20/10/2018 22:36

I'd start at Debenhams personal shopper.
I'm totally a jeans and boots person, don't do dresses and things like that.
I've done 2 Mother of the bride outfits in the last 18 months, and they've been briiliant.

Original poster
QuiteChic · 20/10/2018 22:49

pinktransit absolutely love the hats. I did wonder about a personal shopper but worried that they might make you feel a bit intimidated.
Olennas I'm not sure that I've got anything worth highlighting these days !! My wardrobe splits between pink, blue with a lot of navy. If I'm honest I do like navy - but is that a bit drab ?
I did wonder about trousers, but fat thighs and high summer - is that a good idea ?

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 20/10/2018 23:02

Oh, other question - do you know what the wedding colours are yet?

How does something like this grab you? If you like hats, it's plain enough that you can have fun with an awesome hat but dressy enough that you will feel you have made the effort for the occasion IYSWIM

It might be worth waiting until Spring, though, to look for your outfit - nice summer clothes are getting hard to find now, some of the stuff that is in the sale is in the sale for a reason....

OlennasWimple · 20/10/2018 23:07

I love the simple shape of this navy dress, and you can add amazing jewelry and a hat

This is a really pretty dress and jacket set, and not too Camilla (even though it's Gina Bacconi), though maybe not boho enough

I like the upper arm coverage from this dress

Maverick66 · 20/10/2018 23:19

Hi quitechic I'm following your post.
I'm 52 and first time M.O.B.
I have all the concerns you have but I have awful legs which I daren't show and hot flushes which leads to embarrassing sweating Blush

Original poster
QuiteChic · 20/10/2018 23:24

Not a church wedding, but DD would like us 'dressy'. Groom and groomsmen in waistcoats. No idea about a budget, but would probably go up to £200 for the right thing. I like your last suggestion Olennas.

I should probably shelve this until after Christmas, but I'm waking up in a cold sweat (which makes a change from just sweaty) thinking I'll never find anything. I've looked at hundreds of dresses online, but I can't bring myself to go and try anything on.

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 20/10/2018 23:52

www.coast-stores.com/p/montana-may-bardot-dress/2007589

Go up a size in coast they are a bit small

justilou1 · 21/10/2018 00:17

Can you get some photos from the last two royal weddings (apart from the brides,) of course of dresses and accessories that you liked and post them here and see what we can cobble together to help you? Also let us know how tall you are as well? (And an idea of what kind of torture devices (shoes) you’re prepared to tolerate for a whole day.)

Original poster
QuiteChic · 21/10/2018 09:07

Thank you for the suggestions Maverick and Green Tulips. I do like the navy Joanna Hope one. I think I'm going to have to stop being such a wuse and start trying stuff on, it's going to be the only way isn't ?

Do you think if I went for navy - that wouldn't be considered too drab ? I know I can accessorise it with hat and shoes. I'm hoping to find some elegant wedges as they make your legs look slimmer.

Justilou I thought the royal weddings would be an ideal showcase, but I think I spotted one outfit that I liked and that was in pink and possibly too young for me !
I think I am going to try the personal shopper at Debenhams thing but wait until February when the Spring stuff starts to arrive. You have all given me food for thought - thank you.

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 21/10/2018 09:19

A friend was treated to a personal shopper for a wedding and it was a different dress to something she would normally wear or chose herself - and she looked stunning!! The collies and length etc were perfect

I think navy if fine if it's not in one block or has some embellishment so not looking too funeral like - Mabel paired with pale pink for example

thedevilinablackdress · 21/10/2018 09:25

If you like navy and feel good in it, then wear it!

OlennasWimple · 21/10/2018 14:18

Navy isn't drab! It's elegant, and if it makes you feel good, wear it.

Think of it as a base for other stuff like jewelry, hat, bag, shoes. You can play around with colours that "lift" the outfit, that coordinate with what the bridemaids are wearing etc etc

Screamqueenz · 21/10/2018 14:22

Navy is fine, particularly a bright navy.
You can mix in pink or red as an accent colour.
Boho can be beautiful.

Screamqueenz · 21/10/2018 14:24

this is very elegant.

ivykaty44 · 21/10/2018 14:30

Quiet chic
You may want to start looking now as plenty of summer outfits being sold - ready for next year fashions to appear

You can pick up some great deals if you wanted

cushionfiend · 21/10/2018 14:38

I think these could all suit your described body shape and would look amazing with red, pale pink or cream accessories. They all have sleeves so no need for potentially hot jacket!
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_65075+1251_-1
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_64413+80089NVRED_-1
www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/nightingales-lace-bodice-dress/ZJ297/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=8010&promo=6202#colour:Navy/Gold,size:

Ariela · 21/10/2018 14:44

Definitely recommend a personal shopper. They've not intimidating, will sit with you while you say what you want, they'll have your brief but also use their knowledge of the stock and will pull out rails in my case of stock for you to try on. I waded through the selection and only tried on the things I really liked (plenty to choose from) and found some great things in there perhaps in colourways I'd not have considered before eg I got a cream linen dress with cerise flowers on, I'd never normally get cream but with cerise accessories it suited me (whereas cream does not)

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