Wedding guest outfit for older ladies!

[LoisLane23]

Help!! I'm a bridesmaid in a few weeks for childhood friend so I'm sorted for a dress obviously. It's in a smart London venue but I'm at a loss helping my mother find an outfit! She's 80, but very slim, fashionable and keeps good style and grooming. There seems to be a complete hole in the market. We've been everywhere on the high street, she hates online as likes to feel fabric etc and can't stand the faff of sending back (understandable).. any help!! Everything just looks every day ish probably as so many dresses out there, she would like a sleeve and past the knee. She hates wraps and splits and tiers! Any brands we may have missed ? (Some John Lewis/Hobbs/whistles/M&S/Gerry Weber/next..)

Some lovely dresses at The Fold which she might like

thefoldlondon.com/product/arlington-dress-damson-jersey/

Would she wear a jumpsuit ? Lots around with would be suitable for a wedding .

Or a trouser suit? www.phase-eight.com/product/ulrica-red-blazer-901091250.html#cgid=tailoring&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=901091250&pos=24

Where are you? What shops/area can you get to? What is your budget?

My mums 80 and wore a scarlet dress from Karen Millen to my brothers wedding 2 years ago - she’s pretty modern and wouldn’t consider that any styles were out of bounds to her. I’m not sure if you want long sleeves or just cover the tops of the arms. Ghost would be an option for a tea dress type. Massimo Dutti has no dresses with sleeves at the moment but I’m not sure when the new seasons lands. Reiss might also be worth a look. If she has a healthy budget then a trip to Liberty could be fun. Selection of random options attached.

What about going to this London shop? It says it specialises in mother of the bride but many dresses are perfectly acceptable to be worn by a wedding guest. I’ve sorted by price as they can get pretty pricey and I don’t know your mum’s budget.

https://www.nigelraymentboutique.co.uk/collections/mother-of-the-bride-groom-dresses?sort=price-ascending

But do you really not feel those dresses are unutterably vile, @Mummyoflittledragon? My mother is a nonagenarian and would look at me in disbelieving contempt if I suggested anything there to her.

I’m sorry, @LoisLane23, but I slightly disagree with you about this presumed ‘hole in the market’.

(Also I would have written She's 80, and very slim, fashionable and keeps good style and grooming.)

It’s troublesome to find stylish petite clothes off the peg if one shrinks in old age, and it’s difficult if one expands into plus sizes - but I honestly haven’t perceived any difficulty when shopping with my mother over the past, say, twenty years. That used to be in person, now we do most of her shopping online. Most of her day to day clothes currently come from places like Toast, Cos - but for going out dressing she’s had absolutely fantastic things from Helmut Lang - really skilful cutting and shaping and wonderful jersey fabrics.

I think the thing to do is look for clothes, rather than searching for a particular age range.

Sorry, haven’t said anything helpful yet!

You’re not going to find anything much on your High St nowadays, as you’ve found. But if she finds online shopping arduous can you not take on that task for her? Mostly my DM and I look together, but I know her tastes so quite often order something unilaterally for her. And if it doesn’t work I do the returning.

I actually think The Fold is a good suggestion as they’re attentive to cuts and fabrics. But it’s not everyone’s style. Alternatively I’m liking this Issey Miyake-style combination from Adolfo Dominguez.

Obviously if your DM has an actual Issey Miyake budget then something from the Pleats Please range would be hugely stylish and easy to wear!

https://uk-store.isseymiyake.com/collections/pleatsplease?page=2

(Also possible to find for rental or pre-owned, though I know my own DM wouldn’t be keen on the latter.)

Have you tried any independent boutiques in the towns around you?

Thanks for the messages! No to jumpsuits or trouser suits, yes I've been shopping with her and taking over the online world for her but we are not progressing! The Fold looks lovely but too structured for her, and def not an Issey budget! Anything else ?!

What is the max budget?
Try the White Company?

www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Washed-Satin-Midi-Shirt-Dress/p/A05520?swatch=Navy

www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Washed-Satin-Flute-Sleeve-Midi-Dress/p/A05484?swatch=Dusty%20Rose

Saw someone trying this on today. It was stunning.

www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/floral-green-metallic-midi-dress-358135

Those M of B dresses are indeed unutterably vile.

You're on an Issey Myake roll aren't you?

Good suggestion I'd suggest Max Mara. There's not a smidgen of a reason for not wearing Max Mara at age 80.