It's another MOB one - do I have to wear a dress?

[CoastalGrey]

I obviously want to look nice but I'm really not a dress sort of person. I look at the dresses suggested on other MOB threads and think some of them are lovely and some a bit strange but they just wouldn't be right for me. Could I get away with trousers or a trouser suit? It's a fairly relaxed late afternoon ceremony, not church.

Following as I’m in the same boat!

I’ve been looking at all my friend’s fb pics at their kids weddings…and as much as I think they look lovely, they’re all quite matronly looking outfits. I’d feel like I was dressed up as someone else if I wore anything like that as I’m not one for dresses.

https://bellafreud.com/collections/sale/products/st-james-jacket-cavalry-twill-wool-tan

There are some lovely Bella Freud suits in the sale.

I quite like some of the jumpsuits but worry about them being a bit impractical!

I could spend up to £250 for the right outfit but ideally a bit less. The bridesmaids are in dark green so I’d probably avoid that - I was thinking navy but am open to suggestions. I like jewel colours but as it’s late summer dont want to look too wintery.

Matronly is exactly what I’m worried about 🫣

I definitely think you can wear a trousers, yes! But I think it has to be an extra special effort, possibly more special than a dress would need to be. It needs to be beautiful. And you need to wear beautiful shoes with it too.
Would you consider a jumpsuit? This one is beautiful and very wedding appropriate. You've mentioned you're short - it comes in petite as well as regular:
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/eliza-jumpsuit-100012347916.html?utmsource=google&utmsourceplatform=googleads&utmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=NESTPhaseEightUKENBoFPerformanceMaxWinners&utmid=21744775086&utmcontent=agid-ad&network=x&device=m&utmtpl=live&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=21751088156&gbraid=0AAAAADumyC9-xfn-JnqaemB8kBwimT1gm&gclid=CjwKCAiA-MBhAKEiwASBmsBFZWFa7sloO2xD81WWue2KmUd6e8JHUrHOOQrzDYaal7Mhj4GL4XfhoCnkAQAvDBwE

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/sade-grey-suit-trouser-101689165.html#q=Trouser%20suit&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=101689165&pos=11

Something like this?

Navy jacket and has matching trousers available. Maybe with a bright silk top and heels? www.marksandspencer.com/tie-belted-blazer-with-linen/p/clp60775772?color=MIDNIGHTNAVY#intid=pid_pg1pip39g2r10c2%7Cprodflag_Just%20Arrived%7Cprodflag_srp_ts_QPH_52

One hundred percent trouser suit. Absolutely much better than a dress you don't feel yourself in, a woman in an excellent trousers can be, and often is, the most stylish woman in the room.

https://www.boden.com/products/women-woodbridge-linen-blazer-ivory-delicate-blossom-u0448ecr

Available in multiple colours

https://www.boden.com/products/women-stamford-linen-blazer-passion-flower-u0330prp

https://www.boden.com/products/women-marylebone-ponte-blazer-pomegranate-u0194ros

https://www.reiss.com/style/su960978/g62371 - this is lovely (if you like pink or blue, obvs).

The problem with trouser suits is that a lot of them just look ordinary, every day going to work clothes.

The OP's budget is £250 or less.

The Boden and Reiss ones have a lot more oomph but the Reiss jacket on its own exceeds OP's budget and the Boden jacket is over £200. Adding trousers and something to wear under the jacket will double OP's budget. The likes of Max Mara, NRBY, Selena Bute will also have trouser suits with oomph but not for £250.

£250 is a more than respectable budget for a dress, but not for a trouser suit.

Absolutely fine. My DC too young to get married but I shall certainly be wearing trousers if/when the time comes. I do not wear skirts/dresses. They often look very stylish but make sure the outfit fits well (tailors will do minor adjustments to off-the-peg clothes quite cheap) and is a colour that suits your skin/hair/eye tones.

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and happy. I feel this so strongly. I hate this idea that as MOB you have to wear a certain type of dress, hat etc. My own dear Mum wore trousers, nice top and jacket. I think she looked lovely and it was in her comfort zone.

@PhaedraWas You’re absolutely right re costs, which is why I started with the Marks link. I think if a plain suit is dressed up with heels, a nice bag and a ‘nice’ silk or satin top, it won’t look too work-ish.

This sort of thing although this one is expensive. It is silk though www.meandem.com/silk-am-pm-sleeveless-top-scarf-deep-ruby-red?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20163636442&gbraid=0AAAAADtaHAI5yBnROkPMPv94CRLTtIILR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2NHKkY_3kgMVJoFQBh32CgKYEAQYCiABEgItc_D_BwE

Thank you for saying trouser suit. It frustrates me when we lapse into Americanisms all the time - pant suit, movie, gifted, elevator, season, etc etc .

For DC's winter wedding I made myself a long line silk jacket in dark red worn over a simple top and navy blue trousers. I was dressy (by my standards) but still me.

I was a size 30+ so nothing was going to look amazing on me but I didnt want to totally let DC down

https://www.wallis.co.uk/product/dorothy-perkins-petite-ruched-sleeve-blazer_bqq20132

https://www.wallis.co.uk/product/dorothy-perkins-petite-ankle-grazer-trouser_bqq20133

https://www.roman.co.uk/petite-classic-stretch-blazer-15021917

https://www.roman.co.uk/petite-cotton-blend-tailored-trousers-18054872

https://www.roman.co.uk/petite-cotton-stretch-jacket-15035809

https://www.hobbs.com/product/petite-nola-jacket/0124-4907-9845L04-BRAMBLE-PURPLE.html

https://www.hobbs.com/product/petite-gemma-suit-jacket/0126-4519-1185L04-BEETROOT-PINK.html

My friend was MOG at her son’s wedding last summer and went to a small boutique where the owner did a styling session with her according to what she actually likes to wear (trousers, slouchy jackets, no high heels, definitely no hats/fascinators).

She’s not someone who’d have considered a personal stylist, but she loved it and ended up buying her whole outfit from there (beautiful cream suit, silk blouse, shoes, bag) and looked great on the day, partly because she was so relaxed and comfortable. Plus it put her mind at rest to have everything sorted and not have to schlep around finding accessories etc.

It’s well worth booking a personal shopper if you’re worried about photos, as long as it’s someone who really wants to understand your style and preferences and doesn’t just try to flog you overpriced stuff (some department store freebies are for the benefit of the shop rather than the customer!).

My DM and MIL wore trousers and jacket to my wedding, honestly if either had worn a dress it would have been weird as that wasn't either of their styles
If my DC ever get married I'll almost certainly be in trousers

Of course you can wear trousers! Reiss do lots of fancier trousers/jump suit options which would definitely be wedding appropriate. And they have a good petite range so most styles can be obtained in shorter lengths.

Wow that is such a beautiful colour, I can’t imagine myself in something so posh!

Thank you all, I’m going to go through the links when I’m not on my phone as it’s easier on a bigger screen. I will return!

Sadly not, it was only topped by the previous years bright green suit where she looked like Oscar the Grouch.

Love this, very suitable