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

Found her on the Spoonful Insta page. The Closet Vintage - https://www.instagram.com/p/DPJndqhiKh0/?igsh=c29reHE5YWV1N3li

I find that it's worth contacting sellers, as well as visiting shops, as they often will have stock still to be cleaned etc, or they're about to do a sourcing trip.

This woman has some lovely things too, & is really lovely & helpful. She does quite a few fairs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUkWmCRDOmw/?igsh=YmZ4ZGd4NDFmZnp3

I'm going to have to reopen my social media accounts I think! Thanks for all your help @EleanorMc67 I really appreciate it 😊I think I'm looking at swing dresses, is that the right name for them? Shirt waist top, nipped in at the waist with a full skirt?

Tbh I'm not sure - I'd think of them as 1950s or early 1960s shirtwaister dresses? They'll almost all have a full skirt from that era, if they have a shirtwaister top (if you're sure you prefer that to the narrower 60s skirts with ruched/wrap fronts).

I think that "swing dress" seems to be the term used a lot by reproduction vintage places - which are very popular with women into swing/lindy hop etc? They don't necessarily have a shirtwaister top - just fitted at the top then a full flared skirt.

Have you considered getting something made from an original vintage pattern? A really good seamstress/pattern cutter will be able to convert the pattern to your exact size.

https://amzn.eu/d/0dGIuawp

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/976345135/1950s-rockabilly-style-shirt-dress-pdf?ref=share_ios_native_control

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1488710033/1950s-dress-sewing-pattern-womens-size?ref=share_ios_native_control

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1454893463/pdf-vintage-1960s-pattern-shirtwaist?ref=share_ios_native_control

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/504169875/vintage-1950s-easy-to-sew-shirtdress

Loads more online if you do a thorough search!

Thought I'd post this anyway as I really liked it - a very 50s looking suit. Massively reduced & you may have to hunt for both jacket & skirt, but it's very lovely IMO!

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/jolene-jacquard-skirt--green-1000848497.html

Great idea re the patterns. I know someone who teaches dressmaking and she wears a lot of 60s vintage, so I'll speak to her. I'm still open to tge 60s ruched waist dresses with a narrower skirt too - I think I need to try on some different styles to see what suits me best. I do want to avoid the modern rockabilly/lindybop look - I'm aiming more for the classic shapes in the patterns you linked to.

Search "disc hat".

I've had a couple from Light In The Box which are surprisingly good good quality.

She sounds like the perfect person to help! And yes, trying a few on - even if they're not what you're looking for - just to gauge what forms/shapes work best on you, would be a useful exercise. And fun!

What I would say is that you're now looking for something very specific - a 50s/60s shirtwaister that's also dressy enough for a MOG. Shirtwaisters generally tend to be daydresses (cotton) - for silks & chiffons etc the genuine vintage 50s/60s dresses are more likely to have simpler/unbuttoned fronts, & lots more seem to be sleeveless. So I think you'll be very lucky to find exactly that style in a fabric/colourway you love AND in your size (or a bit bigger & easily alterable).

Whereas getting one made will allow you to get exactly what you want. I used to get clothes made all the time, by a friend of a friend who was a theatre costume designer & brilliant seamstress. I'm out of touch with prices now - it's probably pretty expensive, unless your friend can help?

I think that retro-looking Karen Millen shirtwaister I posted in the lovely sold-out cyclamen pink colour has perhaps grabbed you as exactly the type of dress that you want??!!! What about trying it in the green? Just to see how it looks? Or is green out?The organdie is a perfect day to evening fabric.

I did find this really interesting website. Both genuine vintage & vintage-inspired - & unlike most of the reproduction sites these don't look like lindyhop/swing outfits!!!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/

I liked a few of them. This is later 60s, so not the shape you're after - but silk & a gorgeous pink!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/60s-beaded-shift-dress-coat-st123

This one might be quite close to what you're after?

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/v-020-e-rp

It's rayon with taffeta, & has a fine net overlay. I think it's beautiful & she said it's couture-level detail?

Also loved this pure silk one, & the colours - though I have a feeling you won't as it's too green/rust/brown!!!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/v-026-s-n

Cotton with jacket. V cute.

One thing I'd say - if you want to avoid too retro a look, either avoid or go understated with the petticoats!!!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/st113

Pink sequinned too much? See what I mean about losing the petticoats though - much less OTT.

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/60s-pink-sequin-prom-pr008

Another cute one!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/60s-betty-barclay-daisy-dress-dd142

And an early 1960s M&S one!!! Does it still count as the kind of florals you dislike?!!

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/60s-poppy-cotton-day-dress

Quite a different 50s print - I like it.

https://www.voluptuousvintage.com/products/1950s-aztec-print-lace-patio-dress