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?

Lots of argument healthy discussion on here about what a 70 year-old "short, round, unstructured" apple-shaped woman with a generous budget might wear to her wedding.

But we all clearly have widely differing tastes!!!

@WonkyConk What labels/shapes/styles does your mum usually wear? What is she drawn to?

Does she like clean neat well-tailored shapes with not much pattern? Or does she like ruffles/embroidery etc & a loose drapey boho vibe? Even if she does want to go for cream, will all cream suit her (with the right make-up as a PP mentioned)? What about colour alongside it in her coat/jacket/top etc, & if so soft/rich/bright?

Some feedback on what she usually wears & what kind of styles she likes would be very helpful pointers!!!

Cream options

https://ginabacconi.com/products/dollie-floral-soutache-dress-ad-jacket-with-detachable-necklace-sbf7008-cx

https://www.debenhams.com/product/coast-off-the-shoulder-jacquard-full-skirted-midi-dress_bcc12020

Oyster

https://www.hobbs.com/product/marcella-silk-blend-dress/0223-5739-3093L00-OYSTER.html

https://www.hobbs.com/product/marcella-silk-blend-jacket/0223-4073-3093L00-OYSTER.html

White

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-wrap-satin-bridal-blazer-with-pearl_bcc11629

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-halter-satin-midi-wedding-dress-with-pearl_bcc11630

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-lisa-tan-lace-peplum-detail-midi-wedding-dress_bcc11258

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-lisa-tan-waisted-peplum-hem-jacket_bcc11261

Ivory

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-lisa-tan-two-in-one-wedding-dress_bcc11245

@EleanorMc67 If she’s short and round, tailored is out. It’s virtually impossible. Maybe look at Marina Rinaldi? Or a midi tiered dress? Round usually means a tummy. Tailored will accentuate that. Looser in an expensive fabric would probably be better.

By well-tailored I simply meant well-cut (for the OP's mum's shape) - as opposed to equating tailored with fitted. I didn't meant neat shift dresses or tightly belted gowns, tailored pencil skirts or high-waisted pleated trousers or similar - I too have weight around my middle, & would absolutely avoid those.

A lot of the dresses posted above are far too form-fitting for a short & round size 16 apple shape, but might well work on someone equally short & round who's more pear- or hourglass-shaped - as they have a more defined waist. Hence me asking the OP which one her mum was, as that differentiation is really important!

(The only thing I'd consider being more fitted on the OP's mum might be a more neatly-cut jacket or something over her dress/separates, especially if they're a bit more loosely cut, to maintain balance.)

MOTB options (yes I have too much time on my hands ATM)

https://veromia.co.uk/collection/DU644G-130026-1.html

https://veromia.co.uk/collection/DU538-129213-1.html

https://veromia.co.uk/collection/DU488-127938-1.html

https://theweddingshop.uk/product/veromia-vo2929-latte/

https://theweddingshop.uk/product/john-charles-29134-ivory/

https://theweddingshop.uk/product/veni-infantino-992060-silver-ivory/

https://theweddingshop.uk/product/veromia-vo8128-ivory/

https://revolvefashion.co.uk/products/labella-3145l

https://revolvefashion.co.uk/products/lizabella-l22ss-2363-51-blush

https://revolvefashion.co.uk/products/veromia-vo2906-gold-jacquard-m

They’re rather mumsy!

@Allseeingallknowing I know, but OP's DM might feel more comfortable with that. We don't really know what would make her feel good on her day so I found these just in case. I posted other options up thread.

@AllseeingallknowingThey are ok for a nature bride though. One issue is that round people don’t have a waist, usually. So don’t fit into waisted styles. This is why a tiered dress would probably work better.

Oh I didn’t realise she was a nudist! No need for an outfit then!

@Allseeingallknowing Oops! Mature! My mature brain didn’t proof read adequately!

I love unintentionally hilarious posts!

I promised I’d update so just to let you know that mum ordered a dress, I don’t think it’s arrived yet so she has no idea if she likes it on or not, but it’s a start! She decided she wanted something that was natural fibres rather than polyester or anything like that.

thefoldlondon.com/product/rosaire-silk-crepe-dress-navy/

That’s very elegant!!

Oh that’s bloody lovely. What a great choice.

Lovely choice.

Sorry @WonkyConk but I am 5ft 3 and a bit and am also, like your Mum, a bit round, though I’m a good bit younger, I just can’t see that dress suiting someone of that shape and size. I think they (and I) would look dumpy in it.

https://www.shibumistyle.com/collections/long-nehru-jackets/products/long-nehru-jacket-in-ottoman-ivory

If the dress is no good then I'd suggest a beautiful coat like this over a dress in the same fabric.

It’s fitted- not right for a shirt and round woman!

I don't agree- well-cut fitted things that actually fit properly are really flattering. I think there's a temptation to want to only wear loose things if you are rounder but that can make you look bigger than you are. I thought the same when I read something up the thread about people with unstructured figures not wearing structured clothes- to me structured clothes work brilliantly on fuller figures, and the unstructured floaty stuff looks good on slimmer ones.

Totally agree. I’d look like a sausage in that jacket. It goes in at the waist which really, really doesn’t work if the menopause stole it.

No real advice (except if this was JL in Exeter I'm not surprised) but so many congratulations to your mum and her partner!

Miss Haversham?

Further update - the dress arrived and she LOVED it, and said it was beautiful. However, she couldn’t get it done up over her boobs. Like nowhere near done up, so it’s not something a tailor could have fixed. And felt like it fitted everywhere else well so a bigger size probably wouldn’t work.

So now we have literally gone full circle, and she ordered the very first dress I suggested to her, as suggested to me on here, except the shorter version as she didn’t want full length. Hasn’t arrived yet but I really hope it fits and she loves it, I think it’s beautiful.

Failing that she does have a dress that she already owns that she can wear as a last resort, so she won’t be getting married in leggings and a jumper. Not long to go now, she seems remarkably chilled about the whole thing.

I haven’t considered what I’ll wear yet! Early April is tricky, it would be nice to wear something spring like but equally it could be 7 degrees and pissing it down.

Uploading photo of latest dress for mum, bear with.

Oh and to add to that, she doesn’t have particularly massive boobs, just that at 70 they’re probably not quite where she left them.

She might want to splash the cash and get fitted for a really nice bra.
I would be tempted to try a specialist or John Lewis. I don't think M&S are that great at fitting bras.