Where should a 70 year old bride get a dress from?

[WonkyConk]

My DM is getting married in a few months and is struggling to find a dress.

She was married young the first time around (in the 70s), and had a cheap dress, this time she’d like something classy, money isn’t an object if it’s the right one.

However she’s 70, short and round 🤣, so struggling to find the right thing. 5’3” and probably a size 16 to be more specific. She’s also open to trousers possibly. No real preference re colours or patterns. Any suggestions?

Shibumi

White or something else?

5’3 isn’t particularly short - I never have any trouble buying perfectly gorgeous clothes, always from mainstream shops.

What is her budget? Right now, she has the option, if she has plenty to spend, of buying brand new, off the peg, or, if she’s on a more limited budget, of buying pre-owned, or hiring. It really shouldn’t be a problem either way - a wedding dress is a lovely thing to shop for.

Net-a-Porter carries a wide range of high quality, fashionable brands. She could start by spending a lot of time regularly browsing there, to get an idea of what sort of colours and proportions and designers she likes. But she should try to wait until the full summer stock is available unless she really falls in love with something.

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/

Do Monsoon still do wedding dresses?

I completely agree with PP who suggested Shibumi. Very elegant.

Thanks, I will pass all suggestions on to her!

She said not white but perhaps cream, I think she’d like to look like the bride rather than a guest. It’s a very small wedding at a hotel. She also said nothing long, as in floor length.

Personally I’d avoid a bride look at 70. Get a fabulous wide leg trouser suit- cream maybe with some stylish heels ( maybe platform for extra height ) but hidden under the longer wide leg.

How about this.
www.phase-eight.com/product/larissa-pleated-bridal-jumpsuit-221405106.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NEST_PhaseEight_UK_EN_BoF_PerformanceMax_Winners&utm_id=21744775086&utm_content=agid_-ad_&network=x&device=m&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21751088156&gclid=CjwKCAiA-sXMBhAOEiwAGGw6LJCaBwCerDVoy_PqToFW7Yknr3FkjMfU4Z7jvQicr6OCH-PqQyS9QRoCS2sQAvD_BwE

https://www.jasperconran.com/products/hortensia-silk-maxi-full-skirt-wrap-dress-with-slip?variant=55311197110645&stkn=45f773f19ee5&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dresses&mtm_source=google&mtm_medium=paid&mtm_cid=19696508338&mtm_kwd=&mtm_campaign=SPACE%20%7C%20Shopping%20%7C%20Dresses&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19696509757&gbraid=0AAAAABWQQN-XZCKvnFtkuS3C-b2btYp0b&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-6uQpbbckgMVPo5QBh1XDw6jEAQYAyABEgIsFPD_BwE
This is fabulous.

Agree - it's gorgeous! Maybe if she liked it some money could be spent altering it really well, in proportion not just the hem.

This isn’t the article I was actually looking for, but it’s good anyway, even if the trouser shape isn’t quite now:

https://www.vogue.com/article/barbara-guggenheim-attersee-suit-wedding?share=app

@WonkyConk Budget?

She said money wasn't an issue. I absolutely love the jumpsuit. Not so much the wrap maxi which puts me in mind of Penelope Keith.

Coast have some good choices x

www.coastfashion.com/categories/womens-dresses-wedding

70 this year and I'd look for a 1950s suit, similar to what my mum wore for her own wedding. That's partly for sentimental reasons and partly because she looks so bloody good in the photos.

Congratulations to your mum! I don’t have a specific brand to recommend but just wanted to suggest that if she finds something she loves but the fit isn’t quite right, she should consider getting a tailor to alter it. Well fitted clothes are the (poorly kept!) secret to looking and feeling fabulous. Esp at 5’3” because unless petite, the shoulders, waist height, arm lengths as well as overall lengths don’t always look quite right.

I buy suits for work off the peg and get them altered - the difference is phenomenal. I would do it for all my clothes if I could afford it!

She should treat herself to a personal shopper appointment at a shop like Selfridges or wherever is nice locally.

I did suggest a personal shopper and she was keen on that idea, but she was in John Lewis recently and was having a look around and all the clothes seemed more for younger people, she asked an assistant if they sold brands more suitable for older people and she said no 🤷‍♀️, so that was the John Lewis personal shopper idea out of the window. I’m not sure where else in the SW there is, and I don’t think she’d want to traipse all the way to London.

It’s a bit of a last minute wedding, in early April (no she’s not pregnant 😂), so I’m not sure she’ll have a lot of time to do alterations. Also should have mentioned that she’ll have to wear flat shoes because she has rheumatoid arthritis and her mobility isn’t brilliant.

Wow John Lewis should be ashamed!

Everyone wears flat shoes. And alterations take a week at most, unless you’re unwise enough to use a bridal shop.

I’m another who regularly has clothes tailored to fit. It certainly isn’t cheap but my alterations service does such a good job.

@WonkyConkIf she’s not 16 plus, this is Self Portrait. Perfect in my view. Channel - but not!

OP said Mum is short and round!

If money really isn't an object and if I were getting married again I would seriously consider jackets and skirts from Renli Su. I'm 5'3" and 66 and 3/4.

https://www.renlisu.com/products/prince-jacket
https://www.renlisu.com/products/evelyn-jacket
https://www.renlisu.com/products/lillian-skirt
https://www.renlisu.com/products/selina-blouse-copy-1
https://www.renlisu.com/products/laura-skirt

Hi op, your mum could check out:

https://katyawildman.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorRlXD_GCCLij0s1wxzoFXjVFos9WURrbdezLFu0K1aM7dwxRkk

She does a ‘made for you’ service too.

Other than that, I agree with a pp that Jasper Conran is a good bet.

This is a good shop in London, they also have a tailor on site to organise alterations

https://www.nigelraymentboutique.co.uk/collections/ivory-mother-of-the-bride-outfits