Boho/Alt Mother of Groom outfit

[damekindness]

My DS is getting married the end of May. The wedding is going to be a relaxed barn/field/festival vibe.

I’m mid 60s size 12. My usual style is very casual and I like to feel a bit alternative without actually standing out and looking like a slightly bonkers ageing hippy.

Where might I start looking for something that fits this admittedly fairly narrow spec?

Look again at Joe Browns. They are very good on price and their recent designs have been a lot subtler than they used to be. There's a few dresses similar to the Anthropologie one you like, at around the £70 mark. Which would leave money for some very cool sandals or shoes.

Jemima dress

Summer blossoms

Butterfly print

I bought a dress from them for a wedding and have ended up wearing it often - for parties or lunches out. It always gets compliments. A very blunt friend said, 'I can't believe that's from Joe Browns. Their stuff is usually tacky and this looks so expensive!'

This style of what I would consider oddly voluminous clothing is very much beloved of some posters on MN and regularly suggested on wedding/formal frock threads

It must be a vibe somewhere, never seen irl myself

Yes! I don’t mind the odd bit of puff in a cotton dress tbh, but the shape and colour of that seems designed to make anybody, of whatever shape or size, look absolutely awful. It appears to have been designed by someone who absolutely hates women.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Vinted is not just vintage stuff. Absolutely anything and everything on there. Check it out.

Yes of course. I know. But even high street stuff is so inconsistently sized now that it’s always hit and miss. I wouldn’t use Vinted for anything that really matters.

I haven't RTFT. However, I like a bit of an alt look myself, and I have seen very good reports on here of NEXT caped dresses. I had a really good experience with a very inexpensive Monsoon caped dress in a block colour at a formal reunion, you can really ring the changes with accessories.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su950064/w08981?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23099951486&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UXDRqGkX2Zpdq6O-oD3THROI&gclid=Cj0KCQiA49XMBhDRARIsAOOKJHauwn_txVMTu9sVGfcMQ4zaFG1v8HS9_egePkyfYY_sag4KO7-WJd4aAn3WEALw_wcB

I have just had a notification from Katy’s Wildman that she is doing a new style called Tahiti Rose which is inspired by Stevie Nicks. Not at all her usual thing and very Boho, worth a look.

Mistake, the style is “Stevie” colour Tahitian Rose.I don’t usually like Katy’s Wildman dresses but this one is amazing.

Because you liked the Bexley chiffon dress, would you consider a secondhand silk dress from eBay? I'm not sure if you consider that sacrilege for a wedding, but I hear you re: keeping costs down for a one-off item and there are some really nice things. Such as this, by Fenn Wright Manson

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267577292251?_skw=fenn+wright+manson+dress+12&itmmeta=01KHTT95WMN1J7W8QK9K0R553P&hash=item3e4cd975db:g:Io4AAeSwEFRoKhY7&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAABAGfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDiVSEttzC3RS2BoXj15WCDwNYLWtGwT55HUyKFfxk8W6Sy%2F2zEx7b%2BRRUVJGCr7bzjL4VtqU6VbN5MLU5i8ptKZMx3fIu9hy9zPHn%2FXjCszQmUzzXfkNLR6otfPXH9NmMu0yEgTBZY1TXGe400b6VsGBk3exmmVNCyKYq0A29GR1g9I8J6HzYUoLdw%2FKfjNB7%2BQ0zdlb7mB4ZoA4DX9M1IfcWBRiaRXJAphoLjbva4QMW%2F4%2B8GTTm2%2BC1c3I%2FoOdC1GE6mfVdM4%2FHp3xJUIdSnxMOAdyoqfL4g4bvCDKjiN8YXRHvpioXXuApDfkyVQ90%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8zepNqOZw

... or even this, which is a lot more weddingy but less boho!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157210068259?_skw=fenn+wright+manson+dress+12&itmmeta=01KHTTBWD2BREF2QVA45NDHKPM&hash=item249a734523:g:4RIAAeSwgQJoi25J&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xCIEF0JU4JMoBy0cw2iQv1oGeLf9%2B3%2FODTZH9ondj6OMqod6XKWvNihPhSEiTPLU28ZMl9%2BUjwxIjcAFyX9FXF0KgR%2BpFdCfjHq2Jb48hrw%2BJRe0tmo8Kjq3kDbp5wipYNBJYmcpu1P9lksk0Ay9AuD%2BhaGc66MBOfcg5lUdoT5f23lTrYu0D%2FbEo9LeY6YUkm5thnDO3DHuOAHCL%2FetfyxJfk5PGOQCnkLnuW74z0wHyBg4TehDAKNnfBB23EEGHtQ44A1Ey6mStj5brr%2BL0nG%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-LGr9qOZw

Or this (new without tags)?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267511118914?_skw=silk+dress+12&itmmeta=01KHTTZ6NXBVZ8HD0Y75APBY9J&hash=item3e48e7bc42:g:dGsAAeSw8stotKoQ&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDvmP4UAWv0bkZc1w84YPUixH%2B4l6z48%2B12U40kmqFKcDV4AiC36aCa5sgJbpLPN8hWNJ9HdFAgUIUvUcxcE08V2r7VEI0BH5eUj98XNzmMMbqzmTzAYypbKOBX5CCilkpBuXJl3DW2kAdmwZdDX5Wgy%2F6SAIWMO1cD3IdbFRk2p8PHot54rXrDvWkGa8TMyPSEgPOtnwxRhSLvzGxx6XkjxAL6js7GSKkac5dVsuh77dqNuDbUDVfnmvaDvUeQ0B0%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6rr_NqOZw

If you like block colours and layers look at Metamorphoza fab quality dresses often in very good quality satin cotton. I bought the red and blue dresses for weddings.
Differently cut dresses

This sort of thing maybe?

https://piazzacastello.com/en-gb/collections/womens-co-ord-sets

Silk co-ordinating trouser and shirt sets

https://jaki.co.uk/products/ottilie-silk-trousers-navy

https://jaki.co.uk/collections/sets

https://jaki.co.uk/collections/kaftans-sets

https://cultmia.com/products/cult-mia-x-joanna-andraos-the-silk-effect-ensemble

@Astrabees I have a wine velvet Stevie dress and it's the dress everyone comments on positively when I wear it. Love it - wearing it to a birthday party tomorrow. On my body, it's the nicest dress I've ever owned.

DD rather unexpectedly announced she's getting married in April. Only very close family and she's wearing a dress she already has - big party next year. Am very tempted by the new prints but £400 is a lot (already bought and sent back 8 dresses!!) so I am nobly wearing a Boden dress I own. £400 saved!!

This is so unflattering!

Rixo dresses are really beautiful and classy with a slight boho nod!

Theres an entire website of other choices too though.
I am going by the Ops brief
Im not keen on large vibrant prints - I prefer block colours or smaller florals
Im trying to find a sweet spot between layered/draped and a bit fitted

@damekindness A few posters have mentioned buying on eBay/Vinted/Vestiaire Collective. I buy almost all my clothes this way - but I'm pretty confident about the makes that suit me, & the sizes I am in them. If there's any doubt, I check carefully with the seller about measurements (& that there's been no shrinkage - as, say, viscose crepe can shrink if not cared for properly).

If you look at current & archive dresses on Rixo, you will see that the dresses have names - they come out in different fabrics/colourways all the time. Do you have an opportunity to order a few on your credit card at once, just to see what the fits of the various styles are like on you? As if you know one Bexley dress suits you in a 12, you can look for it on the resale platforms & know that ALL Bexley dresses in your size will fit? One thing I would say is that, in bias cut styles, people often go up a dress size as it's less clingy. So you might want to try a 12 & a 14?

Some Rixo dresses you might like on Vestiaire. It's a great way to get a new/nearly-new bargain - but as suggested in my PP, check first on Rixo dress fit & size on you.

Silk floral in a 12 for £92. This is lovely.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-silk-rixo-dress-64217589.shtml

Viscose floral in 12 for £58.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/black-viscose-rixo-dress-64217885.shtml

Cotton floral in a 12 for £84 (maybe too big a print & too bright).
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/pink-cotton-rixo-dress-62976609.shtml

Viscose floral in 12 for £98.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/pink-viscose-rixo-dress-63648997.shtml

I really like this & think it's a great MoG outfit - boho yet chic. Viscose in a 12, £143.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-64027410.shtml

This is a 14, but as I mentioned above, 14 might actually be your fit once you check. Lovely for MoG. Viscose, £79.

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/green-viscose-rixo-dress-61052453.shtml

Size 12, £90.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-62094207.shtml

Viscose, £75 - a bit too hippy?
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-54802497.shtml

12, £72 - another wrap/kimono style which I think a really good choice of style for you as MoG. I prefer the other one above though, but like both.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-47234090.shtml

This is over budget at £225 & a rubbish pic - but you could ask for more images & make an offer.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-61874742.shtml

14, viscose & £184, but lovely. Make an offer it looks like the one?
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/pink-viscose-rixo-dress-58998834.shtml

A beautiful silk one in 12 but £230, so definitely offer less if you like it.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-silk-rixo-dress-61386512.shtml

12, silk, £161.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-silk-rixo-dress-57787217.shtml

L/14, boho, silk, £207 so haggle (as with others over budget!).
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-silk-rixo-dress-64192057.shtml

Another L/14 that would be an excellent MoG dress, at £136.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/multicolour-viscose-rixo-dress-50372173.shtml

A Fr 40 is a 12. £169 & striking.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com/women-clothing/dresses/rixo/black-viscose-rixo-dress-54406337.shtml

Those are all that I thought might be options on Vestiare. Lots are from the UK rather than Europe. Really good prices!!!