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.

Thank you, @hby9628she nailed it for me, I was delighted.

Thanks @OxosarahI’ll take a look, they’ll be more in my budget I think.

Yes, I thought you might want to save on accessories after your clothing blow-out!!

I'm finding it really annoying right now how many shoes & bags are synthetic leather, but not necessarily from New Look etc - from brands that I would normally have expected to find real leather.

For instance, these Ravel ones looked ok at first glance - but are £65 for fake leather ...

https://www.johnlewis.com/ravel-catrine-slingback-court-shoes-gold/p114897126?size=4&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151161232&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1yWDUYiT1fUx8Rk0wyX1JXGm&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1bP7K2ReOerMMphhitsX86e2lx8XZdK3dK6mZYGNGjlzt4M-G7tr9BoCDKcQAvD_BwE

More PU from Office - though aside from that they're a really nice shape & pale bronze colour.

https://www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,33/5218897530?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23989733229&gbraid=0AAAAAD19QKE86t42x4NaqqJyP6Qt2HKtj&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1f0y4qn9rcsVN2TT7UN9-JjDy-mmymTQf_ZN-ctFqyZ9yzOdl6yq3hoCLSoQAvD_BwE

I like the shape and color of @EleanorMc67's shoes from Office. That bronze color is probably even lovelier than a gold with the teal. Eleanor, you have superb taste.

Then, with the bronze shoes, you could add this for the clutch!!!

Cult Gaia also do a lovely one, for those willing to sell all their worldly possessions....

Thank you @Happinessislikeabutterfly Yup, a lovely assistant in Me+Em pinned the hem up for me and gave serious consideration with me to whether I needed a different size, as some PPs had suggested. But all good, we agreed the 8 was best. I feel very comfortable in it.

Thanks @EleanorMc67 Yup I hear you. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a pair of PU shoes, and don’t really want to start now, I feel sure they’ll be very uncomfortable. But like you, I think the bronze shade would be nice with both jumpsuit and green Florere…

Like a little mussel shell!

Thank you very much! Yes they're a really nice shape & colour - I do like bronze. It & platinum are often better colours for leather, I think, as gold & silver can sometimes be too brash.

Well, to be fair, I think the quality of the fake stuff is much better than it used to be. I just prefer leather for sustainability & longevity.

Monsoon does have these in leather (not bought shoes from there before). Though the Office PU ones do look more elegant ...

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/tola-metallic-leather-slingback-kitten-heels-bronze-24016210026.html

Pale gold from Zara. Also PU, also (like the Office ones) an elegant shape that looks current.

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/metallic-kitten-heel-shoes-p12202810.html?v1=545494599&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11260393417&gbraid=0AAAAADqbk7a1iSwT5O9EFPuMLUUsWiDx0&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1aUCs08W_uFGGhre_Fp0xWeqwrC3aPd2mNQrV2mgn3OSb9Y4mKtDtRoC8hMQAvD_BwE

Sam Edelman - & £160 for PU! That's rather a cheek ... & I still like the Office & Zara ones more!

https://www.johnlewis.com/sam-edelman-bianka-slingback-pumps-goldleaf/p114669240?size=5&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151161232&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1xxzaV-AGdTOEM8UzVlJrCPw&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1dhQPD-LVG6P5Y1fG7n689xFFuQkvcHII7g15shmAKF6urEnPDpt3RoCBAQQAvD_BwE

These are leather, reduced from £130 to £40. Don't know the brand.

https://www.mandmdirect.com/gb/en/product/7q30160/cole-haan-womens-go-to-jocelyn-slingback-shoes-soft-gold-leather?gclsrc=aw.ds&campaignid=21448490360&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21448490360&gbraid=0AAAAAD5OKP0_oydaiNlFLcIyR-Lb7_fXM&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1Qi7Gyl5UMibvjzJ0XLFvZy_AguWUzhOLt8ql-JDApwVoBrdrtSIshoCiFwQAvD_BwE

Ted Baker leather ones.

https://www.tedbaker.com/en-gb/products/kitiy-gold?variant=50844017819969&country=GB&clickref=1110l4x4ibVB&app_clickref=1110l4x4ibVB&utm_source=partnerize&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=tbuk_1100l6531&utm_content=laurenlyst&partnertype=Comparison+Shopping+Services+%28CSS%29

@ihaveafavouritecat - you'd mentioned comfort & stability, & a preference for a block heel. I think a block heel can work in sandals well, but it's hard to find closed-toe ones without entering Gabor territory (& I think that should be avoided for this particular occasion, if possible!!!).

What I find makes a big difference with sling backs or mules (probably the two most current options), is where the heel sits in relation to the ball of your foot. Right under the centre of the ball & I find it uncomfortable & precarious. Ditto with true kitten heels, which narrow downwards on all sides. They're wobbly as hell, I find.

However, if the heel is positioned right at the back of the shoe, & is narrow from the side but wider from the back, then they're much more stable & easy to walk in, as your centre of gravity is balanced.

See the side & back views of the Zara ones here? That's what I mean. Still a necessity to try them on before you decide, though! The Office ones might also be fine as the heel kicks back?

I love the red pleated skirt dress and the jumpsuit on you but I think you’d need different shoes. Good luck, I hate clothes shopping

@EleanorMc67 we are into the realms of shoe physics at 2am! S+B is both bonkers and amazing and I’m here for it!

meanwhile here’s a curveball from me … I’ve always rather liked this look, and have worn boots like this before. Could this style, (not necessarily this exact boot/colour but this style), work with my green or teal Florere? Not so sure about jumpsuit. Wonder if I could find some bronze-y velvet lace up boots?! alternative boots

I might love these! Are you going to have to grab my shoulders and steer me away like you’ve all often done during this thread?! https://www.lightinthebox.com/p/women-s-yellow-velvet-victorian-mid-calf-boots-gold-floral-sequin-embroidery-lace-up-louis-spool-heel-boots-for-vintage-tea-parties-cosplay-steampunk-_p19237842.html?currency=GBP&sku=1_6959%7C2_805565&country_code=gb&litb_from=connexity&utm_source=connexity&utm_campaign=connexity_uk&clickid=EAIaIQobChMI7dCGguKrlwMVnIdQBh1yQxTJEAQYASABEgLGV_D_BwE&cnxclid=EAIaIQobChMI7dCGguKrlwMVnIdQBh1yQxTJEAQYASABEgLGV_D_BwE&gad_source=1

Hmmmm .... I like Victorian-style boots too*, though I don't think that the style you posted is especially in. Nor am I sure that they would go with the Florere dress. Do you mean that the dress would come past the top of the boots? Or that there would be a gap?

(*I am now reminiscing about the fancy-dress party I went to in my late 20s, wearing black lace-up ankle boots like that, a black velvet corset & a cream silk & lace Victorian petticoat ... the theme was The Wild West, & I went as the madam of the local brothel ... not very PC now, & probably not then either! Fun though!)

I can see why you like them - but note the word "cosplay" ... I don't personally think that this is the occasion for Victorian booties ...? But just because I wouldn't wear them doesn't mean that you can't!

Also, the company is a fast-fashion, low-cost - & low quality - Chinese behemoth like Shein (though it sells more than just clothing).

fab shoes
The ones they call ‘yellow’ (they look olive to me), might look fab with my green Florere dress? Or am I back in the realms of the floral print outfit from my original post that just about every PP told me was ‘hideous’?! I think I’m in love with these shoes and boots!

Read the reviews of this company. They'll be dreadful quality & will look nothing like the pictures.

But ... even if they did, no - they're not a good idea! Maybe others will disagree though!