Help to find motb dress, please.

[Hoogieflip]

First time here - could I have some (a lot!) of help to find a mother-of-the bride dress, please? I’ve been trying for ages and even done the John Lewis personal shopper thing, but to no avail. I don’t like ‘dressing up’ so don’t want a hat or fascinator. I’ve tried on dozens of Hobbs, Phase 8 and similar, but nothing’s worked for me. I’m a size 8/10, but have an ‘older woman’ tummy, and boobs but no thighs. Petite sizes are almost always too high in the waist (so uncomfortable) but standard sizes seem to be too broad across the shoulders. The wedding’s in August! Budget is up to around £300 and ideally it’d be something I could potentially wear again. I love green although I’d settle for anything that fits nicely! (I have grey hair and cool colouring if that’s relevant.)

https://mintvelvet.com/products/palm-print-midi-dress

This is lovely.

Well, at least you didn’t feel the need to refer to potato sacks …

(I was quite shocked by that example of witty repartee.)

The acid ochre dress is glorious, the best on the thread. That fabric! I wish they had a top in it, as I almost never wear dresses.

I agree, it's just gorgeous. If I could even remotely get away with wearing that colour I'd order it in a heartbeat.

Veni infantino

I don't know if it helps but this is what my Mum wore to my wedding in April 2023. She too does not like dressing up and did not wear hat or fascinator. You said you liked green.

I was MOTB a few weeks ago. I’d liked lots of Phase Eight dresses on the John Lewis website but when I visited the store I thought the finish was dreadful on all of them, and the fabric felt cheap and nasty.

I got a couple of Gina Bacconi dresses, only deciding which one to wear after I’d found shoes that were both pretty and blissfully comfortable.

Look on Vinted and eBay too, there are absolutely loads BNWT that aren’t currently in the shops and are at bargain prices! Plenty of people buy new posh frocks that they never wear and eventually sell on.

I was the MOTB last month and I wore this, I got tons of compliments. I'm a size 12, in my sixties.

Lois Embroidered Dress | Hobbs ROW |

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/category/women/clothing/dresses/?style=Cocktail&style=Evening+Gown&style=Maxi&style=Midi&colour=Green&price_max=250&sort=price_desc

So many nice dresses and a lot of other options on the rest of the site
Have you considered a padded hairband instead of a hat/fascinator...

@ColdHenrietta, I have to thank you. I opened the Batsheva link and laughed more than I have in weeks. (And, actually, looking at the dress alone, it really is quite lovely and extremely well made). But the blue curly wig, white tights combo - well, the image of the OP turning up to her daughter's wedding in the full get-up, just made me nearly wet myself. (But, seriously, you have really good taste).

@owlexpress, thank you for the link reminding me of Suzannah London. I love the suggestion for the OP, and am now wondering when I might have the occasion to wear

That green dress is beautiful. Also look at the Fold.
With grey hair and cool colouring I'd put you in sapphire blue.

Look at The Fold. There’s nicely tailored low key stuff. Give them a phone to discuss sizing. You may need a hem taken up.

Sorry, snap with previous poster!

I also think the Batsheva dress is stunning. 🤩

Kindred of Ireland e-mailed me this. Posters will either love it or hate it. I love it.

Are you in the west of Scotland?
If so some independent places that might interest you are:

Woodlane of Doune (sale on now)
L of Ayr
Brenda Muir in Glasgow.

Less chance of someone else wearing same dress.

Ha! I spent a good part of yesterday comparing that Honeydew dress with Everything On My List! It is lovely, but I couldn’t get my favourite gigantic piece of knitwear over it elegantly, so …

@Ruthietuthie I’m sure Batsheva’s styling people will be delighted to have entertained you! And yes, I feel I could actually eat that dress. Raw silk makes me come over all peculiar - it’s so breathtaking. (I did wonder if @Hoogieflipthought she might be obliged to wear the wig and hosiery as well. )

Anyhow … I recommended a couple of dresses on another wedding guest dress, and was as usual ritually ripped to shreds. Shrugged, and then chased them up. So now I have a Zimmermann dress on its way to me. Not the one I linked but another. In the sales. <Skips>

@ColdHenrietta, I often read "Style and Beauty" threads and find really special brands that I wouldn't have heard of otherwise (often in items that other people on the thread apparently think are absolutely appalling). If it's a beautiful fabric, a really unusual print, beautifully craftsmanship, or an elegant shape - I am hooked. And yes, raw silk, an unusual but incredibly rich shade of green - PERFECTION (blue curly wig, optional 😉).

Hope and Ivy maybe worth a look op

I love this.

Shibumi as previously suggested have some lovely things, including silk trousers and jackets. Over the budget, but I have found bargains on Vinted and EBay. Rixo have some great dresses. Cefinn have quite a few green dresses at the moment.
https://www.cefinn.com/collections/dresses
The Seamstress of Bloomsbury’s dresses are very reasonable, and look great if you like a more retro look.
https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/collections/dresses
Tegen have some very pretty hair accessories if you want to avoid hats and fascinators.

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/products/ava-dress

You were shocked by the sack dress you posted being referred to as a sack? How is sack worse than bin bag?

Seriously

It was such an unoriginal comment. And not even accurate. I looked in vain for your alternative suggestions.