Mother of the Groom in 8 weeks!

[ihaveafavouritecat]

Please help me! My son is getting married in 8 weeks and I haven’t a clue what to wear. So far I’ve ordered three dresses online (Coast, Lavish Alice and Florere) and have sent them all back. Earlier this week I had a personal stylist appointment at John Lewis, bought 3 items (Hobbs dress, Reiss dress and Phase Eight jumpsuit), but not sure any of them are right. Also ordered a jumpsuit from Me+Em, not yet received. I don’t know if that will be right either, I know it will need shortening about 6 inches!
I’m 5’3, 9st 6, have lost 7 stone over last 3 years. Blue eyes, brown hair/blond highlights. i think the colours that suit me best are greens/golds/sandy but not at all rigid except that pastel colours make me look washed out.
There’s a register office wedding service and then the bigger wedding ‘do’ 3 days later, so I need two outfits! Budget about £400ish for both. I just feel so much of what I’m seeing is so ‘bland’ and ordinary, I want to feel a bit more cool and funky but still smart of course.
Would really appreciate some help or suggestions of makers/brands I’m not aware of… thanks in advance.

Have you looked at Wolf and Badger? There's a lot of elegant and alternative outfits on there.

Have you looked at Rixo anything there that you might like?

Here’s some of the things I’ve tried/bought and might return:
Reiss dress - brown, boring, too long?, red Hobbs dress - very comfy, is it smart enough?, teal Phase Eight jumpsuit - bit boring/twee?, two piece dress+ jacket bought on Vinted - love the colours, John Lewis stylist said it was ‘a bit old fashioned’?, last floral one I tried on yesterday in a boutique - my friend loved it, just don’t know!

Some dresses at Liberty

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/jacquard-midi-puffy-dress-000871479.html

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/peacock-manor-astra-midi-dress%C2%A0-000882129.html#pos=23

I like the brown style it suits you but the colour maybe not right for mother of the groom?!

Is the Vinted 2 piece one the one where you are standing in front is the red curtain - I like that looks different.

The other 3 are a no from me.

Well done on your amazing weight loss. As you’re only 5ft3 have you looked at petite ranges?
There are some jumpsuits and dress options on Coast petite.

Thanks, it’s so helpful to have your feedback and suggestions. Sorry, the photos have uploaded in wrong order, the dress and wrap (me in front of the red curtain), is the one I tried in an independent boutique yesterday. The Vinted one is the navy/champagne/burgundy two piece outfit. Is the Vinted one ‘old fashioned’? Is it okay for the mother of the groom to just wear a dress - no jacket? I’m so clueless! I think you’re right that brown isn’t a good colour for a wedding…

Brown is stunning and great with bright accessories. Red one is nice. The rest are awful.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

Look, you haven’t asked about this but my main suggestion would be to find a properly expensive hairdresser and get a new cut and colour that really corresponds with your new body. At the moment your hair looks ‘too big’ for you, the colour is a little harsh, and it just doesn’t seem to be in a recognisable contemporary style.

You have wonderful posture! And make even fussy old fashioned frocks look not as tragic as they might.

But I don’t understand why you’ve gone to such ‘ghastly good taste’ shops? I actually think the navy / white / burgundy frock could be rather cool in a retro way - with fierce boots and a big burgundy fake fur jacket - but possibly you want something more formal?

BTW - having lost so much weight are you completely wedded to ‘showing off your figure’? I understand why you would be - but it doesn’t necessarily lead to the most fashion forward choices.

Red one for the registry office and the jumpsuit for the main do, you look good in those.I especially dislike the patterned dress and the boutique one.

Thank you @PeasinthefreezerI’m liking those two dresses from Liberty… I’ll have a browse of Wolf and Badger and Rixo …

The ed Hobbs Dress and the blue jumpsuit are my favourite I think you might be looking for something that doesn't exist, and overwhelming yourself iyswim. If I were you I would wear the jumpsuit to the registery wedding and the red dress to the celebration . MoG or MoB imo doesn't have to be elaborate wear what you feel good in.

I am turn about😀 but those were my favourite and looked great on.

The brown one looks stunning on you. The rest are terrible!

You could acessorise the brown one with gold shoes/bag/chunky bracelet. It really suits you.

I am not keen on any tbh, it’s so hard to find any nice dresses at the moment l am 5ft 4 and end up trying petite nowadays.

as it’s in two months time why not look for some more wintery type dresses. I’d go for autumnal sort of look dress at the register office part maybe velvety dress for the reception. Two completely different styles.

Oh and the brown is my least favourite as too dull.

I wore a horrible short jacket to my Dds wedding I thought it was the "done thing" i took it off for photos a total waste of money. I have another Dc wedding next year ive not even looked at Jackets this time, so don't wear one if you don't want to.

agree with the poster who said about the hair style. It’s a bit stale. But you look incredible in the jumpsuit and the plum pleated dress, just be brave and get better shoes. Well done on your weight loss and have fun at the wedding 😊

I actually think brown could be magnificent for either event. This is a better dress and would take gold jewellery wonderfully. (But it’s a bit above budget.)

https://cawleystudio.com/collections/made-to-order-1/products/tilda-dress-dark-brown?variant=53720851841290

Definitely the brown one… it looks a fantastic fit and with the right accessories would be amazing

God thanks everyone. I obviously need a complete overhaul in the next 8 weeks 😵‍💫
@NorWouldTilly I did start going to a new and more expensive hairdresser since April - but I haven’t really been thrilled. Feel I’m being told I can’t have what I want (chunky, buttery blond, highlights). Perhaps you could share a couple of pictures of what you think would be more contemporary?
I’m not wedded to the ‘ghastly good taste’ shops! I’m just not familiar with the less well known ones. Given that I’ve been so overweight for so long, I took relatively little interest in fashion, hence the clueless state I feel in now. It’s a bit weird when everything fits, and looks okay. I suppose I’m still working out my style. Very open to suggestions and not wedded to close fitting clothes or anything really. Help help help! 🙀

If you don’t want a jacket just wear long sleeves. No reason to have one then.

Oasis have a nice green dress in as you said you like green. Well they have the dress in black floral too so if it suited you you could get both as look completely different (that’s how I shop when possible)

https://www.oasisfashion.com/product/oasis-floral-mesh-balloon-sleeve-midi-dress_baa13457?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23765340398&gbraid=0AAAAA-UVFwMslPWAt9NgOcvKJnqdDtmaj&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=%C3%98nskeskyen+ApS+CSS&utm_term=1817410&utm_content=oasis&ad_set_id=0&campaign=&creative_id=0&secondary_publisher=GoWish+CSS+%28Google+Shopping%29&secondary_publisher_id=1817410&sv1=affiliate&awc=57413_1790940950_ea6e8bb233013cf7c8bf6c79aa4cf0ff

The green one and you don’t need a jacket with that sort of sleeve

And that’s it in the floral black. Looks completely different and I like both

https://www.oasisfashion.com/product/oasis-v-neck-button-detail-floral-mesh-midi-dress_baa13460?colour=black

I love this. ❤️