Ideas for 'alternative' outfits for mother of the groom

[Meezer2]

Hi Mnetters,

My son is getting married in August and I'm struggling to find anything I like.

Everything is rather frumpy for want of a better description. lots of frocks and fascinators which isnt my taste. My own style is slightly boho, rock chick ish, hippy ish. I love bright colours in the summer, but have loads of black in my wardrobe too.

think Stevie Nicks, with a bit of Kate Bush, Florence Welsh combo.

my budget is roughly up to £500. Ive been looking at Rixo, Needle and Thread, and The Vampires wife (I wish! too expensive for me)
have seen a few things I like but nothing I want yet.
I'm 56, long 'dirty blonde' hair, 5ft 9, wide shoulders, long legs, no arse, not too much of a gut, and moderate sized breasts. size 14 but aiming to be a 12.

Id be so grateful of any ideas you may have. thanks in advance.

I’m in the States but i’m fairly certain you can get Anthropologie delivered and that it’s probably in the UK too…sorry, I’ve been here donkeys years!

I have a similar style to you, how about this?

https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/hutch-kya-long-sleeve-v-neck-printed-tiered-wrap-maxi-dress?category=wedding-guest-dresses&color=015&type=STANDARD&quantity=1

Would something like this work? more on the rock chick side than boho, but it is beautiful. There are some other VW dresses around within your budget as well if you look around.

https://www.flannels.com/vivienne-westwood-sunday-dress-327509#colcode=32750918

I'd go for a fabulous bright coloured trouser suit, heels and a big hat.

Does it have to be a dress? Would a really elegant tailored suit be more yourstyle?

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/au/deep-purple-suit-with-slim-fit-blazer-and-flared-trousers/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=-&adgroupid=&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8LrAlYq3hAMVhNIWBR2GVg_6EAQYESABEgKJLPD_BwE

You would look great in a jumpsuit, by the sound of it; the main drawback to that is having to take the darn thing off to go to the toilet!

I feel your pain although I was a different style to you. I bought a violet lace frock and wore it with a burgundy, violet, velvet tunic. Both wearable again for black tie and to the opera with trousers. I threw money at it, but decided it was worthwhile if I got half a dozen wears.

It's really hard if you don't like the Jacques Verte world and pastels.

Could you compromise with a draper, dark coloured dress from somewhere like bombshell?

John Lewis are doing rentals although when I looked it was all a bit "frilly"

There's a tunicy place in the West Country somewhere that's a bit more off beat,I'll try to remember the name and post later.

Sending my sympathy.
I was MOG last summer and flatly refused to wear a dress. I imagined I wanted a smartly tailored trouser suit, but when I tried them on I felt I looked a bit 'air hostess' or like I was on a break from my job at a building society.
Ended up buying a jumpsuit, much to my surprise.
Thanks, Pilates teachers, for keeping me supple enough to manage the zip all by myself.
Thanks, lovely new DIL for suggesting that hats/fascinators are an expensive waste of money and mostly look silly so not to bother.
Wishing you luck with your quest and a lovely day.

I wore this to my own civil ceremony and party, I’m early 50s and a bit of an ageing goth, I am quite short tho so it was much longer on me than the model, you might feel it’s too short. It is a very nice dress!

https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/p/Womens/Clothing/Dresses/FLORYAH-Embroidered-Midi-Dress-With-Tiered-Skirt-Dark-Navy/261711-DK-NAVY

It's shibumi

Ann Balon? Adverised as mother of the bride outfits but quite relaxed and a bit hippy. Look on ebay

How about a jumpsuit? Some amazing ones on Reiss.

https://www.reiss.com/style/su184479/k80774#k80774

https://www.reiss.com/style/su177730/q99114#q99114

https://www.reiss.com/style/st183806/d00309#d00309

That is a gorgeous dress, if only I was tall!!!!!

OP What about All Saints https://www.allsaints.com/women/dresses/brea-floral-print-cascade-maxi-dress/WD535Z-4796.html?cid=21652

https://www.allsaints.com/women/dresses/occasion-dresses

Watching this with interest! My friend is getting married at the end of July. I'll either still be pregnant, or a couple of weeks pp, so I want something drapey and cool.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1013039381/purple-silk-dress-maxi-dress?click_key=969a91a42dad6cf5b12574d1e79b68f4b81c1233%3A1013039381&click_sum=b3fcba46&ref=user_profile

I found this on Etsy but it's a bit expensive, but definitely my vibe. I love drapey sleeves. And it's silk, which is lovely to wear in the summer.

So, it's also worth looking at it he Outnet, I got an amazing dress by Erdem from them and they were mega helpful about sizing. If one of the designers takes your eye, it's much easier to start to narrow down the huge choice - a few random ideas below

Also maybe Cefinn? Although all looking a but wintry on there at the moment. www.cefinn.com/collections/new-arrivals

https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/new-in-kimonos

I'm MOTG next year, and I'm looking towards Joe Brown for something.

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/womens

You have gotten a lot of really great suggestions advice!

My advice would be to think of what you would wear to any other wedding or special occasion. What makes you feel good? How do you feel beautiful?

It doesn´t have to be a "mother of the groom / bride" type of outfit. You could wear a flowy boho dress or a kaftan-style dress if that´s what you´d usually wear. Or a pantsuit if that´s your preference (although it probably isn´t based on the description of "slightly boho, rock chick ish, hippy ish").

I love the Wolf and Badger!

Hi Op.

I got my MOB outfit from Monsoon. An absolutely gorgeous floor length sparkly dress, and not frumpy at all. I teamed this with very sexy heels and a small fashionable fascinator.

I agree, most MOB and MOG outfits are so frumpy!! But obviously you still need to make sure you're posh enough!

Perhaps it's the way they're styled on the site, but these strike me as absolutely typical MOB outfits and not in the slightest bit alternative. I actually recoiled in horror when I opened the page 😅

OP, your mention of Stevie Nicks made me think of this site, which I get adverts for all the time: https://little-lies.com/collections/dresses You probably want something a a bit higher end, but they do have some fabulous outfits. I need the Heartbreaker Kimono.

I'm 15 years younger than you but I honestly can't imagine any of my friends going full MOB/G when our children grow up. I think that style is very old-fashioned and no-one would expect a 50-something to wear it nowadays. My mum's an aging hippy (now in her late 70s) and she's always refused to wear anything like that - her last wedding outfit was from Monsoon, and she looked fab.

Try DVF for jumpsuits. Lovely colours and quality

East is brilliant for boho

This is beautiful

It might be worth having a look at FARM Rio.

https://www.farmrio.eu/collections/dresses?sort_by=best-selling