Outfit for mother of the groom

[SirChenjins]

Help me, oh wise, less than wise, and everything inbetween MNetters. I need an outfit for my son's wedding in the summer - thought I'd found one from Hobbs (navy Tess shirt dress) but it was a very odd fit and not as nice looking in RL as it is in the photos. I need something special that's suitable for a relaxed and informal wedding, but nothing too formal or dressy that makes me look like I'm trussed up like a chicken.

What I need:
Around £300-400
Petite - very important. I am five foot 1. I don't want to have to spend a fortune altering something that will look very different when altered. It's not just the length that has to be taken into account, it's shoulder width, sleeve length, waist position, torso length and neck line.
I'm 10/12 on top, 12/14 on the bottom.
Blonde hair, hazel eyes, so something that looks good with that

I don't want:
Anything Scandi-architect type thing - it's meant to be a happy occasion
Lots of frills and frou-frou
Anything maxi length or above the knee. Midi is best
Nothing too florally and floaty

Thanks

Also this taffeta linen mix one. But again, it's not in their petite range - which is why I looked at Whistles in the first place!

Love that pink/purple Karen Millen dress! It's a style that seems to suit my hour glass/pear shape - would you say that style is more a 50s or 60s decade vibe? Also love the first red Whistles dress. A tie waist nips me in and covers my cake stomach - although I'm prepared to wear shape pants on this occasion if the dress calls for it.

K Millen petite, red:
https://www.karenmillen.com/product/coast-petite-crepe-ruffle-dress-with-low-back_bcc11868

Also Karen Millen petite, though I'm not sure if this is a bit too workmanlike:
https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-viscose-satin-v-neck-long-sleeve-woven-midi-dress_bkk27574

Since you like the full skirt, tie waist look, @SirChenjins, Katya Wildman's a good bet for you. She does made to order.
https://katyawildman.com/collections/dresses

It's a really unusual colour isn't it? And as you have blonde hair with hazel eyes it should suit you. Unfortunately I can't find that colourway for sale anywhere!! Might be worth saving a search for it ...?

The shape is seen as 1950s but carried forward into the early 60s.

Love that phrase "cake stomach" ... don't like having one though!!!

The colour & fabric are good, but agree the shape is somehow not quite right.

My mum is a similar height to you and has had some nice occasion wear from Gina Bacconi.

No me neither - in my case, the menopause plus a penchant for too many bakery products has given me the stomach I probably deserve. I like to think I'll diet between now and the wedding, but I'd be lying.

So many lovely things on here, it's given me some fab ideas. If I was going to go for something like the 50s/60s dresses that are on the sites you've all kindly linked to, how could I carry that theme through to a hat (gird your loins...) , bag and shoes without looking like I'm at a fancy dress party?

They will tailor for you - but it's £95 over budget ...

https://www.suzannah.com/products/harper-shirt-dress-tudor-rose

I do think it's quite a good example of styling it (love the belt) without looking trussed up.

Have you considered genuine late 50s to early 60s dresses? As women were shorter then so the dresses are proportioned well for smaller women.

For instance (filtering on Etsy for 50s silk dresses in the UK in size 12), this?

This shape came after the full skirt of the 50s - draped around the stomach is common to find, but the skirt is narrower. It's a really flattering shape - I have a few amazing ones that no longer fit over my cake stomach (& boobs & everywhere else)!!!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4376178321/1950s-floral-silk-dress-sophisticated?ref=share_ios_native_control

Some others on Etsy in that style (assume you want sleeves?).

What a great idea - I never thought of looking on Etsy. Those are definitely more along the lines of the styles I was thinking of - or something like this. I love jacquard, but not sure if that would make it too structured?

I do like the idea of wearing a small hat and 50s style shoes with it - or would that be OTT?

I love peep-toe courts or ankle-strap shoes, especially the ones with a small platform. I have stacks that I haven't worn since lockdown ... Suppose the latter might be more 40s - but you're not in a costume drama!!

Presume a hat is essential? What kind were you thinking of? I am no good at hat recommendations I'm afraid - I find them very dangerous territory ...!!!

If it's a summer wedding, jacquard (unless it's silk) may be a bit heavy if it's a high neck AND long sleeves? (Though you won't need a jacket then?) Though other posters always mention sweating if I post silk dresses with sleeves!! I've been through sweaty-as-anything phases during menopause (or films with a young Daniel Day-Lewis in them ...) - & Mitchum Ultimate Unscented works a treat.

Whereabouts are you in the UK? Have you got any proper vintage shops near you? As you might get lucky.

If you're willing to buy outside the UK, there are some real beauties further afield. I have taken the risk before, though been very careful & asked lots of questions, got extra measurements - even had someone get a friend of a similar height & size to me to model it & they sent me a video! And I have always had good results bar one that was a bit tight - but I sold it for more than it cost ...!!

This is a beauty & I think the colours would be amazing on you.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1810909327/1950s-dress-50s-dress-1950s-cocktail?ref=share_ios_native_control

I'm thinking short sleeves - definitely not long sleeves, but it's Edinburgh so you take your chances...

Silk does make me nervous, but if it's dark or patterned and well lined it should be ok? I love this style of hat - too much perhaps? Otherwise I'm thinking low bun with some subtle hair accessories.

Love the shape of that! The colour is not doing it for me though, sorry - it's bringing back memories of the 70s brown and mustard dresses my mum used to put me in for my "colouring".

Actually, scrub the hat - it's not really the informal and relaxed vibe the B&G have said they want. Hopefully the other 2 Chen juniors will deliver and I'll get to wear my hat.

If you like the early 1960s look, I have a couple of Moygashel linen suits similar to this one (but without the embroidery) that have seen me through a few family celebrations and graduations. This particular one is in Australia so not much use to you but, if you set up an EBay search, they come up reasonably regularly in the UK and you can still find them in real shops sometimes, depending on where you are.

I found the jackets fitted perfectly (I’m 5’3 with very narrow shoulders) and the slightly boxy shape is kind to the stomach. The skirts needed letting out but that’s not as big a job as altering a whole dress.
https://ebay.us/m/tsPcg2

Ha - I'm in Edinburgh too! You should probably plan for a wedding mackintosh, just in case ...!!!

Stockbridge in Edinburgh - Elaine's & Those Were The Days are good for proper vintage dresses. Also Miss Bizio. Have you been to the monthly "fleamarket" at Out of the Blue? It's more of a vintage market & there are some vintage clothing sellers. They may not always have their higher-end stuff with them - but it's worth asking. A Spoonful of Vintage has great twice-yearly fairs - there should be one coming up soon. Armstrongs is worth trying. Plus Herman Brown & Carnivale Vintage near the art college. Carnivale also has another branch on Leith Walk beside Pascal & Co, which is also worth visiting.

Glasgow - Starry Starry Nights.
Fife - Vintage Quine.

If I remember any more that are really good I'll update this - but lots now sell online or at Spoonful of Vintage. Quite a few sell on Insta. Check hours for all of these if visiting, as they're often only open two or three days a week.

Pity!! I love the colours.

I feel the same about a particular childhood outfit of orange stripy polo neck & brown Crimplene skirt ... it was the 70s, but even so ...

Thank you - will check them all out! I love Vintage Quine (I bought from the vintage shop the owner and her mum had in Aberdeen in the 80s too), and have dipped in and out of some of the Edinburgh ones - but a proper shopping day (to include a new mac!) is needed, I think. Did go to Out of the Blue with DD, but it didn't really have much I liked. My future DIL has been looking at Those Were The Days for her dress, they have some gorgeous things.

Ahhh, the 70s sartorial memories! I have many photos of me as a child clad head to toe in various shades of brown and mustard - mum decided that those were the colours for me. Meanwhile dsis got the blues, purples and pinks I wanted - I still cast that up at her 50 years later.

Last time I was at Spoonful of Vintage (their autumn fair) there was an amazing seller from Aberdeen there! She had some very beautiful dresses from 30s-70s (what I think of as "proper vintage"!!). Think she's called TVM & is on Insta?