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.

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/suzie-lace-pencil-midi-skirt--10027730258.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PhaseEight_UK_EN_PerformanceMax_HighPriority&utm_id=24085657118&utm_content=agid_-ad_&utm_term=&utm_matchtype=&network=x&device=m&placement=&targetid=&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24080589075&gbraid=0AAAAADumyC8Q5Mlh63Qzl9U4RcdwDmtnw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg9_k6t-ilwMVyaJQBh3f-Q-UEAQYByABEgLo3_D_BwE this one is gorgeous- apologies for giant link

Thanks team for more feedback and suggestions. I’m going to re-order the Florere dress that many of you think could work, as I really like it too. Like the idea of a faux fur jacket, totally up for that.
thanks @EleanorMc67 for your thoughts on colours. Like the thought of maybe just ‘a hint of sludge’ as opposed to full on sludge 🤣 More warmth needed you say? Man, what a lot there is to consider 😵‍💫 I’m trying guys!

I don't like the new dress - sorry. It makes you look kind of droopy, and you're not. I think you suit a more structured dress in a softer brown. I still like the very first brown dress you posted, but shortened and with brighter accessories.

Thank you @Iloveshihtzus. Yes I’m going to reorder the green dress in a smaller size. What is this ‘evening outfit’ you speak of?! Tell me I don’t need a THIRD outfit do I? Noooo.

Love the red one on you
The brown is also lovely but not sure on the colour.

Congratulations on your weight loss

Be careful with Jigsaw. They've just taken MONTHS to refund something I bought and sent back in March.

That’s really kind of you @ForDeepBeaker. It’s a beautiful outfit! Not right for me but thank you for sharing.

Yes, I can see what you mean about the colour and fabric photographing well… lustrous is a great word! Good grief though, I hope not to have to wait months for any refunds, given I’m doing a lot of (over) ordering at the moment!

That's unusual. I've never had issues with returns there, though I've not bought anything recently so I'm not sure if anything has changed.

What do we think of this? A PP suggested this website. If I ordered I’m considering Bordeaux, Mustard, or Jade? Mustard with gold accessories maybe? Bit different? ‘Kennedy dress’

The "Kennedy Dress" is fine. Very expected for a wedding, rather conventional (not fashionable, but not objectionable by any means). Definitely worth a try. I do think that, if you like this, the VERY first red dress (quite neat, had a neatly printed skirt) is very similar and has the same feeling. Both are fine, but not amazing. Inoffensive. I feel that you need a little more drama, a little more WOW.

Not loving the Kennedy, sorry. It looks very severe and a bit fancy dress-ish imo.

No to Kennedy dress sorry it’s giving boring old fashioned vibes! I’m sure you can find much nicer

I don't have anything useful to add but I'm quite invested in your journey OP, and I can't wait to see what you eventually choose. I really like the green Florere dress, it's unusual, beautiful and different... fingers crossed it can work in the smaller size and possibly with alterations. I've enjoyed this thread and all the interesting advice 🙂

Although Karen Millen isn't my style, it seems to occasionally use some good fabrics these days (like it used to back in the 90s). Some organza, silk, silk mixes etc. I dislike Coast though.

Oh thank you, @PassengerDerbythat’s so kind of you to say this. I’ve been prevaricating this evening over reordering that Florere dress… and trawling through the Karen Millen occasion dresses… Nice things, but so many sleeveless or one shoulder… They just don’t feel appropriate for my age. I’m finding it so hard to find the dress/outfit that sits in that sweet spot between a bit funky and different (but not ‘out there’), and smart but not safe/dull/boring/frumpy!
Feels a bit self indulgent seeking and receiving all this feedback, (I’ve never done it before!), so it’s great to be reminded that there are people who may be reading the thread and also valuing the discussion - because that’s usually me - reading Mumsnet daily but almost never posting anything.

I agree.
The patterned ones aren’t nice at all.

I'd just been thinking of this sort of option. This is really nice - though again, the colour might be a little flat?

@ihaveafavouritecat, I too am SO invested in what you choose. You are going to look magnificent! In many ways, it feels like shopping with a friend.

@ihaveafavouritecat - I've just realised that Joseph does petite/shorter length in some of its clothing. I know you said circa £400 for both outfits - but you might get lucky with something that's been suggested at £80 - in which case you theoretically have £300+ for the other outfit ...

You mentioned something above about not wanting sleeveless? Do you mean just strappy/halterneck/cut-away - are cap sleeves ok? As I would envisage that, with a cap-sleeve dress like the one below, you'd wear something like a neat fake fur jacket or velvet/brocade/jacquard jacket until later in the day/evening, as bare arms indoors would be fine then? It comes in a petite version, though not in all colours in your size.

I especially love the balloon-sleeved rich pink dress - although it doesn't come in a petite option. This is a warm shade that's also quite muted rather than bright, & might well really suit you?

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/ortiz-pleated-woven-dress-pink-jf0095970651?_pos=4&_fid=888169d4e&_ss=c

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/volta-knit-weave-plisse-dress-brown-jf0096030605

Other options on Joseph that might suit. Are you definite about wanting a dress/jumpsuit for each day? What about separates, either skirt or trousers?

I like some of these warm rosy pinks - but I also really like the olive & aqua dress. The pattern works & is not overpowering. It's also silk & comes in petite.

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/silsila-crepe-de-soie-silk-dress-red-jf0096581932

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/hills-crepe-dress-pink-jf0096110651

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/lauri-open-weave-silk-dress-multicolour-jf0097581350?_pos=27&_fid=d5a9f0ec7&_ss=c&variant=46889746563284

It’s hard to tell re colour. The brown top perhaps makes the skirt look rather brown too? Would need to see irl.

Thanks lovely S+B people ! I’m up late again endlessly going through websites. Let me link a couple of things that have caught my eye tonight and you can tell me whether I’m still not to be trusted to shop alone!

I kind of like this - and it wouldn’t be that short on me, more like on my knee… is it fab or is it awful?’ Or just plain wrong for MOB? navy velvet dress

And I think I like this… in both fig or navy… petite pleated jumpsuit Would it be a nightmare to do/undo by myself?!