Dress for mother of the bride

[WeAreTheHeroes]

I got stopped in Manchester today by a woman asking if I could suggest somewhere she could find an elegant MoB dress under £300. I was stumped tbh as so many shops have closed and there's no JL in the city centre. I suggested The Pretty Dress Company and Bombshell HQ online as I just couldn't think of anywhere. Where do you go these days?

John Lewis - Gina Bacconi, Adrianna Papell

Sorry you said no JL! The high street isn't what it used to be. Better off online.

Yes - the reason I posted is because there just isn't anywhere and it's a major city centre! She'd have been better off at the Trafford Centre or a decent local boutique type shop.

I reckon she'd be better off researching independent shops for her style in nearest market towns, then having a nice day out there shopping around plus lunch!

Manchester city centre is dire for shopping now IMO.. hardly any independent shops. There’s selfridges and Harvey’s nicols of course, but they don’t cater for everyday stuff. Kendal’s is quite run down now it’s been bought by Mike Ashley. I dont think there’s anywhere decent that sells kids shoes and measures their feet now. Clarke’s and Debenhams have closed, and Russell and Bromley no longer sell kids shoes. Trafford Centre isn’t that much better, although there is a John Lewis which is ok. Liverpool and Leeds are much nicer shopping centres. I do most of my shopping online now, which is a shame.

There is however a posh mother of the bride type place off St Ann’s Square, Nigel Rayment. No idea what prices are like but looks expensive

@WeAreTheHeroes
There is another thread on Style and Beauty at the moment calked "Short Fat Mother of the Bride Help"
Worth keeping an eye on.
Lots of good suggestions on it

Another thread worth looking at is
"Similar to Jaques Vert" in Style and Beauty on Mumsnet.

Thank you @LadyEloise1 - it's not me looking. Just a thread about the lack of places in city centre Manchester these days really.