Stepmother of groom outfit needed

[mrsmogg]

I feel like I am going round in circles trying to find the right look so hoping for some inspiration!
Summer wedding , church then marquee at the family home. Dress code is morning suits preferred so I need a hat too.

I am 40, size 10, 5'3 so would prefer midi length but I will get the dress tailored. Not yellow. I am brunette and fairly pale, jewel colours suit me. Would like something classy and contemporary, bonus points if I can wear it again for the races etc. budget up to £1000, would prefer to spend less and happy to buy on vinted etc as well.

How about something like this? Various colour choices. I know it's described as a bridesmaid dress, but I don't think it is!
www.monsoon.co.uk/monica-lace-midi-bridesmaid-dress-green-20000040144.html

How odd, I wore this dress for a wedding last year in the darker colour, it wasn’t described as a bridesmaid dress then and i certainly wasn’t one!

I would try Phase Eight, Hobbs, LK Bennett.

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/prod_R04593709

This from Selfridges? £200.00

This is beautiful.

Self Portrait have some beautiful dresses, although I don’t know how long they are.

https://www.self-portrait.com/products/aw25-burgundy-lace-collared-midi-dress

https://www.folkster.com/products/gwen-dress-olive-beaded-flutter-sleeves-midi-dress

Best place to start, maybe:

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses

Though obviously the stock isn’t properly summery yet.

Given your perfect proportions I’d also be keeping an eye on the sales here:

https://www.magdabutrym.com/gb-en

And here:

https://shoptheirishtwin.com/

But if you prefer something crunchier:

https://kindredofireland.com/

How about this Rabanne dress.

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/rabanne-high-neck-stretch-jersey-maxi-dress_R04551237/#colour=VIOLET

How about Alémais?
https://alemais.com/collections/dresses

Or Collagerie
https://www.collagerie.com/collections/dresses

And Liberty-their site like Collagerie and Net a Porter will suggest brands you can look at

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/department/women/clothing/dresses/

I’m also 40 and I think this one is perfect for what you described OP

It's a pretty dress but for me Self Portrait lace dresses are ruined by the very obvious half lining going half way down the skirt. . Either have the courage to have no lining and show all your legs or line it to the bottom of the dress hem.

Crikey there are some bizarre suggestions on this thread.

Like others I think self portrait is great for weddings although unfortunately they are leaning heavily into yellow and cream at the moment which are not going to suit.

i love this navy option https://eu.self-portrait.com/products/rs26-navy-metallic-boucle-taffeta-midi-dress

and they also have a similar style
jumpsuit which is fab

https://eu.self-portrait.com/products/ss26-navy-metallic-boucle-jumpsuit

if you’re wed to jewel tones then this is a lovely emerald green dress

https://eu.self-portrait.com/products/rs26-green-chiffon-midi-dress

One of the prettiest wedding outfits I’ve ever seen was a grey, midi length Self Portrait dress with grey shoes. But as a wedding guest I would probably want something that feels a little less … safe.

I much prefer the navy taffetta to the lace. It's a real stand out

The website doesn't do it justice but this Cabbages and Roses navy taffetta is stunning in real life

https://christi-annalomas.co.uk/garment/derry-dress/

I too am 5' 3 and I think that most of the suggestions so far will be much too long and difficult to shorten. I would look at Hobbs, mainly because they do a petite fit.

I’m over 60 and just under 5’3 and cannot imagine buying a frock from Hobbs.

I like the fact that the SP ones are half lined - I think it’s part of their charm.

I also think there are a couple of unfathomably awful suggestions on here. That purple thing is something else! 😂

The red version of this looks as if it’s come straight out of Gilead.

Also handy for guarding the Crown Jewels at the Tower

She’s 5ft 3 !

Ooh, that's original.

I have the navy silk taffetta. I've worn it twice and had a constant stream of people, including total strangers, telling me how beautiful it was.

Nothing wrong with these but quite a few of the guests work in fashion so looking for something a bit more special

The blue doesn’t have the same connotations. My comment may not be original, but shapeless, body covering red dresses will always have those connotations now imo.