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Help me find a lovely outfit for my mum!

61 replies

sarahbanshee · 15/09/2024 12:08

My lovely mum is going to Buckingham Palace at the end of November to receive an honour (yay!!)

She is worrying about what to wear and I'd love some inspiration to help her feel fabulous. The dress code is "day dress, trouser suit or two piece suit, hat preferred".

She's 72, 5 foot 5 and a size 18. She used to be very hourglass but has got a bit thicker round the middle in the last ten years which makes her sad - she generally suffers from quite poor body image although I think she's lovely :(

She's got dark brown hair and looks nice in jewel tones, really likes navy and white, any kind of dark red/purple, or dark green. Would prefer a long sleeved dress or a dress and jacket, could go for a skirt suit but I don't think she'd want to wear trousers.

Ideally budget up to about £200 although I could probably persuade her to spend more for the perfect outfit - she's got money now although grew up poor so remains frugal especially when it comes to treating herself!

OP posts:
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Bignanna · 15/09/2024 14:54

Debenhams have a good selection of different brands

sangriaandsunshine · 15/09/2024 15:12

I'd give it a couple of weeks as I think the shops will get more appropriate stock in at the end of Sept.
Can you look up last year's honours list, Google some of the women and see what they wore for inspiration? I bet many of them will have a story published about them. A friend's mum got a CBE a couple of years ago and was all over the local newspapers and the website of the organisation her work is associated with.

JC03745 · 15/09/2024 15:23

When I've seen people receiving honours, they normally have a very structured, formal, jacket and skirt or dress combo- similar to a mother of the bride outfit. Potentially look under that headers or wedding guest outfits. There are places which hire clothes and hats, so that might be an option too.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su394147/e86763#e86763

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su298169/b92856#b92856

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https://www.next.co.uk/style/su394147/e86763#e86763

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 15/09/2024 15:25

I'm only 8 years younger than your mother and other than the dress suggested by @heldinadream , which is a casual dress, I wouldn't wear any of these suggestions.

What about Palava? If you pushed the budget Jasper Conran in the sale?

Palava
Jasper Conran

Women's Vintage Style Dresses & Jumpsuits | Made in England

Palava's dresses feature our own hand-illustrated prints and are made from 100% natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and Tencel. Made ethically in small batches in London. Zero waste.

https://palava.co/collections/womens-dresses

DrummingMousWife · 15/09/2024 15:46

Hobbs- a lovely pastel matching dress and jacket. Perfect !

ForPearlViper · 15/09/2024 15:53

A lot of people do seem to wear 'mother of the bride' type outfits. I'm guessing your Mum might like something a bit tailored to give her back her shape? Have you thought of hiring or going to somewhere like a dress agency which is where a lot of these 'worn once' type outfits seem to end up? You could scour some of bridal sites to get a few ideas.

It might be worth a trip to, say, a large John Lewis, where they have lots of different brands just for a fact finding mission to see what suits her and what she likes best.

My Mum trailed around a whole pile of very exclusive boutiques in various towns with her (wealthy) cousin who was looking for something for her daughter's wedding - no expense to be spared. After much time they hadn't found anything cousin liked. They walked past an upmarket dress agency, went in in despair, and there was exactly the ensemble that cousin wanted, in exactly her size, down to the matching hat, handbag and shoes.

Congratulations to your Mum by the way. You must be very proud.

Floisme · 15/09/2024 18:02

I'm 4 years younger than your mum and I think I'd go looking for a great big, pouffy, 'new look' style dress - there are a few in that Jasper Conran link that @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle posted, in jewel colours and with sleeves.

I wouldn't go for a trouser suit, even though I mostly wear trousers - they've turned dispiritingly dull and corporate whereas your mum needs something celebratory.

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 15/09/2024 19:21

Floisme · 15/09/2024 18:02

I'm 4 years younger than your mum and I think I'd go looking for a great big, pouffy, 'new look' style dress - there are a few in that Jasper Conran link that @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle posted, in jewel colours and with sleeves.

I wouldn't go for a trouser suit, even though I mostly wear trousers - they've turned dispiritingly dull and corporate whereas your mum needs something celebratory.

I miscounted. I'm only 7 years younger. Some of the Conran dresses are only just over budget. I know it's all individual taste, etc, etc but I honestly can't imagine how anyone can look at the Hobbs and other "mother of the bride" dresses and pick them over the Conran dresses.

StMarieforme · 15/09/2024 19:25

Book a John Lewis personal shopper experience. They're so good!

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 15/09/2024 19:31

With £200 - I’d hire something once in a lifetime wonderful. I’m ten years younger than your mother and wouldn’t consider any of the suggestions above. (I admire Palava but it’s not my style. Neutral about Jasper Conran. The other suggestions make me wonder why MN continues to bother with a Style and Beauty board at all.)

Have a look here; your mother might find one of these dress rental options not just appealing but actually exciting:

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/g29187954/rent-dress/

These Are The Best UK Fashion Rental Sites

Time to plan your wedding guest outfits

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/g29187954/rent-dress

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 15/09/2024 19:35

(Acknowledging that @ForPearlViper also suggested hiring!)

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 15/09/2024 19:49

3 examples - size 18 - from Hurr Collective. (I’m sure they’ll have more autumnal stuff imminently).

https://www.hurrcollective.com/listings/frederick-cotton-popplin-midi

https://www.hurrcollective.com/listings/puff-sleeve-pleated-crepe-dres

https://www.hurrcollective.com/listings/floral-villanelle-29595

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 15/09/2024 19:59

I'd go to Monsoon.

JC03745 · 15/09/2024 20:01

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 15/09/2024 19:35

(Acknowledging that @ForPearlViper also suggested hiring!)

So did I 😊