Help me find a lovely outfit for my mum!

[sarahbanshee]

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!

The Erdem and Roksanda are great.

If buying - from The Outnet.

Saloni but would need a coat.

Mikael Aghal, rather fine.

Me and Em:

Polka dot

Orange amazing impact for the price. Scroll photos.

Shapely, pinstripes

Essentially a t shirt, but pretty.

The orange Me + Em wins it if you're buying and staying on budget.

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

https://ginabacconi.com/gbp/lola-jacket-and-asymmetric-triple-tiered-dress-wbd4013-na.html

Some great suggestions, thank you. Hadn't thought of Jasper Conran, and wasn't familiar with Palava so those are great suggestions. Hobbs obviously I know about but it's a lot of pastels which is not her bag - good point upthread that in a few weeks we will get more wintry stuff in and the jewel colours might come in then.

I don't think she'd go for hiring, she wouldn't want to get something she couldn't try on.

Very appreciative of all suggestions and anyone who's taken the time to answer. We've got time so all ideas welcome!

This is lovely - will have to find out where it's stocked.

I am the same height and size as your mum, and only 2 years younger. I wouldn't be seen dead in anything mentioned so far, with the possible exception of the teal dress mentioned by @heldinadream . I would wear practically anything by Sahara, and I quite like this one. If she is the least bit self-conscious about her waistline, as you suggest, then nothing with a waistband or a belt will make her feel happy . Actually, I rather like some of the stuff on the Joanie site, too, if she doesn't mind wearing something she probably wore before, circa 1972!

Would you wear that?

I love all the Jasper Conrans and the two Me and Ems. The others are a bit fussy.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle I wouldn't wear it, no - I'm a different shape and have a different style to my mum and I never wear navy blue, it always feels to me like school uniform! But I know what she likes and feels good in, it's not about me!

@mydamnfootstuckinthedoor I think it's the opposite, she wants something with a waist or a bit of structure otherwise she feels huge. It's just that she's not got the tiny waist she used to have. She's definitely still got curves.

Yes, I know it's not about you. I just wondered if the Gina Bacconi was being picked as being "mother of the bride style suitable for a 72 year old" As a 65 year old, I think it's awful- for any age.

Why not go to John Lewis with her and have an appointment with a personal shopper?

@sarahbanshee

John Lewis have it.

https://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-lola-tiered-dress-jacket-navy/p112273627

All those who recommend J Lewis here (countless, every day) - have you been into one of their stores recently?

I do 99% of my clothes shopping online but am currently staying in one of my favourite cities - SE, wealthy, international academic / business population with sophisticated tastes and money to spend - and the local store is dire. The clothing departments are badly organised and presented, sparsely staffed, stuffed full of limp, dull, unfashionable garments at surprisingly substantial prices.

I’ve been known to recommend items by brands that are stocked by J Lewis - but walking around the store I can see that they simply don’t stock the better pieces. In short it’s badly curated, if at all. The staff cheerfully answer any enquiry about a particular item with ‘You can order that online’ .

So why is it so revered here? Seriously, why?

It isn't revered. It is simply one of the few remaining department stores where someone can go and look at, and try on, a variety of brands/styles under one roof and get some ideas about what someone does and doesn't like. The search can, if necessary, then be taken online. And surely 'dull and unfashionable' is simply a matter of taste - given that John Lewis are still around?

What was it about the information provided by OP that suggested her Mum wanted to be at the cutting edge of fashion? She's going to the Palace not London Fashion Week.

Hey, what do I know, I am neither wealthy nor sophisticated.

Joannie is a good call if you're looking for budget options. The material is generally better than "the mother of the bride" options. You (general you) might not like their dresses, and that's fair enough but at least there's a bit of personality to them.

I like some of the Celia Birtwell dresses, this viscose brocade one and the blue which isn't a million miles from the Roksanda blue dress (altbough probably too summery)
.Joannie brocade dress
Joannie blue dress

My mother is 80 and there is no way she'd want to wear these polyester monstrosities. I liked the Joe Brown one but I don't think it would be BP quality and it's something that would look better on a slight frame.

Jasper Conran and Hobbs seem to be the better suggestions, and a straight No to a trouser suit.

DM would wear the Seasalt dress but as an every day sort of outfit.

I usually don't like Joanie- too floral-but I love this green dress and may buy it. I dont have the best waist but so what?

I like Sahara too.
There are two JL's fairly local to me unless i go into London.
One's an out-of-town one and the clothes section is not great but the homewares secion is great.
The other one is in a large town centre and is much better for clothes.

@sarahbanshee , is there a nice boutique near you that your mother could visit and try things on? There are some near-ish (there are nice towns within a 15 mile radius) to me and they'd be much better than ordering online.

https://www.ghost.co.uk/sophia-spot-satin-midi-dress-d09g013-z37?gl=11vnct1717upMQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlOPE7tHHiAMVhpNQBh1OLQElEAQYDCABEgIhXPD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADnMJoZfa0ZSVjn-knHZs3A-eKdXY

https://www.ghost.co.uk/grace-satin-midi-dress8-d08g049-j77?gl=11m2jwflflupMQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlOPE7tHHiAMVhpNQBh1OLQElEAQYDCABEgIhXPD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADnMJoZfa0ZSVjn-knHZs3A-eKdXY

Do you think your mum would feel comfortable in either of these dresses?

Lots of these suggestions are too casual. A relative went to the palace and it's quite formal. Something structured and tailored will do the trick. It needs to be proper smart. The John Lewis personal shopper is a great idea but go to a big one where there's much more choice.