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.

Btw, in case you didn't notice them, there are a few Anonymous Copenhagen styles that are in the sale. £125-165.

@ihaveafavouritecat, Good God! No!!! Step away from those boots.
The dress is "I am an elegant woman, in touch with contemporary style, wafting elegantly through life with ease and a touch of insouciance."
The boots say "I dress as witch and like crystals. I also smell quite strongly of cat wee. The heel will fall off my shoe if I stand in a puddle."
NO.
The dress and the jump-suit are enough and you need a shoe to quietly compliment not distract.

Thank you, I will rein myself in again. Clearly I’m not safe to be let loose yet 😵‍💫
Still think velvet shoes might be nice… but not those shoes.
Thanks - I hadn’t done my due diligence !

If you wore the dress to the registry part, not the main affair, I think that boots would be ok. But I think that the dress needs a style not dissimilar to those on the website photos - sleek & knee-high? Burgundy is great with olive. And you could assuage your lust for embroidered velvet through a bag instead?

Well, @EleanorMc67's last selections are GORGEOUS. But the boots make it far more casual and day-time, and perhaps this isn't the right occasion for this?
Note too that, whichever way you go, the material of the shoe adds subtle contrast in texture -- so while the dress is silky and the jumpsuit is velvet, the shoe adds an additional texture with leather.
A variety of textures (and not, necessarily, a variety of colors) is what makes an outfit look sophisticated and interesting. So, while a velvet shoe (in a very subtle color, not a witch boot) might work for the dress, it wouldn't be best for the jumpsuit.

This is beautiful . I need those earrings 😍

I agree that boots make it more daytime, so if the OP did want boots then it should be the more casual day of the two. But I'm not sure the OP does want boots - she just had her head turned at 2.30am when her style radar was down!

I know jewelled footwear is probably not considered very now - but I've always loved those stilettos from the 50s & 60s that have little clusters of crystal etc on them. So I do quite like these too ...

No, don't hold back ... say what you really think!!

(I like crystals - but to wear in jewellery, not as a source of witchy powers - & I may occasionally have smelt of cat wee in the past, when our last cat became ill. I'm quite looking forward to embracing witchiness in my old age!)

Link to those earrings, OP. Only one pair left!!

https://meeraajewels.co.uk/products/t?variant=53736098169108&country=GB&currency=GBP&utmmedium=product_sync&utmsource=google&utmcontent=sagorganic&utmcampaign=sagorganic&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=20198394435&gclid=CjwKCAjwpzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1fWQ8Vgcr3feI8K0-vXgBLd6PZJ9j4KzmDRso-BKpoSRfgfvvCU-8xoCEIQAvDBwE&surec=42AaGscYEjoEXUcddelJu0I7gncHguq2IsWjnTOMwqQoWEMKdivDjy6SlEvFBrybpKsZ3JgOffnqq6q-qEGscr7pFqaSdJfSPolYDno6CtrZpFoSb72sTj-VMIUGyHqaBaa4Xvsk1QKNC-pFwxaVwAtzL52N5sZgPX6PFUgI-eHARsY6ntH3aPJ6o25sPNzI8q4dw-0J9ZPyFB8DEg21yJLKbbHeIWcTEx4-fyf5bpis8VdiF8uFQxFYA&surecid=7274c0b3-1791-48b5-a1b0-b64726d5356e-1791513015

Oh, I know I said that a stylish block heel & closed toe shoe is harder to find. But these might work with the green dress?

https://www.dorothyperkins.com/product/dorothy-perkins-ellens-velvet-pointed-high-block-heel-slingback-court-shoes_bqq21177?colour=dark+red&size=5&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21063220019&gbraid=0AAAAABeX1o5fqxLNfJBvb-kDwlqZQ015m&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1QLg41vQYCnbbTTIO_9I-Nqe4yMCqIYDKbnK2q7zJXjIxrTZ5bdqcxoCjpUQAvD_BwE

I am just teasing, @EleanorMc67, and who hasn't had some strange ideas (style and otherwise?) in the middle of the night? I know I have. A
I completely agree with you on the boots/outfit/event combination, if she goes for boots. And I LOVE everything you have suggested - you select lovely things
@ihaveafavouritecat, I hope you know I am just teasing. This thread has been a joy these last few days, seeing where you started and how you've ended with these gorgeous things. And the lovely new hair that now has so much shape and life. It is going to be a wonderful day.

I have my strangest - & best - ideas at night!

Another pair of block heels that I rather like - but too similar in colour I think to wear with the green dress or jumpsuit (& they're to wear with a dress or skirt, not a jumpsuit because of the heel detail). I really love inky blues/teals with olive though ... so if you decided on the teal version of the dress?

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/viera-velvet-bow-pointed-toe-heels-green-1001202884.html?utm_content=nonbrand&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A22980162866%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=12198991&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=1001202884&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22973935578&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pzWBhAkEiwAwDCi1WM9csVCPOj6MVgRUWHKWFgJDno5rztVaPetd60P6Lae_YHXI8R_nBoCbY8QAvD_BwE

Sorry OP, but the shoes and boots you’ve been linking are absolutely frightful and would really spoil/cheapen the dress and jumpsuit and make them look like you’d just raided the fancy dress box of an amateur dramatics group or the wardrobe of a pantomime dame. Obviously imvho and you can wear what you want, but I’m invested in this and in you and I really hope you don’t! Sorry!

The problem with all the little gold shoes being linked is that it’s going to be winter. Fine once you’re indoors, but no good to travel in or be outside for.

It’s a tricky one!

Given you are spending loads on the dress/jumpsuit I would be tempted to search Vinted for shoes (new or once worn, usual when others buy and wear once for an event) and gold costume jewellery.

You can search by expensive brands to filter out items you would never buy.

I wouldn’t wear velvet shoes with a velvet dress, the contrast of leather will be much better. Love the idea of a bag with lots of toning colours olive green, browns, burgundy, metallic) , detail as posted in options above. This will tie in all elements of the outfit, perhaps give a wider choice of shoe colours and add some creativity and interest.

Happy hunting! (Happy to help if you provide your shoe size!).

I just ordered the jumpsuit as well op. Not that I needed it, but it is lovely. the model wears them with pointy flats and I will do the same, so worth trying that op.

I do have a pair of olive green velvet ballet shoes from me and em, with a crystal strap, so they may work as well.

I can only hope it looks as good on me as it does you, I will wear it for a Xmas party I have to go to, and new years also, assuming it fits, and I like it, I can also see if for nights out with my family ie nice meals etc as we do go to Michelin star restaurants in London often,

im 3 and a half inches taller than you are, but the 31 leg is normally what I need, I ordered the six, so am hoping the elastic has an inch of stretch as my waist is 28 inches relaxed, obvs I can breath in and make it smaller, but my hips only 35 inches, and don’t want it to swamp my bottom half, as it’s very wide leg.

so fingers crossed as it’s a week for it to be dispatched, if it’s too small at the waist, it could be a bit of an odyssey..but yes, seeing it on you in candid shots made me fhink it was one of the nicer items of clothing I’ve seen in a long time,

Hello @Wildgoat Oh that’s great that you’ve ordered it too. If you think it’s the right length for you at your height that helps so much. Given that I have to get it shortened, I have to commit now to what height heels I’ll wear it with. Normally I’d prefer to go low heel for comfort, but for the wedding a bit more height will look better I think, so flats won’t work for me. My measurements waist + hip are similar to yours, so I probably could have fitted into the 6, but the assistant suggested that it might look a little close fitting across the bust, and possibly at the pockets. She said the shoulders were just right on me. So I hope I’ve made the right choice. Tbh I’m honestly getting a bit overwhelmed with the amount of clothes I’ve got here and need to get returned. Also complicated by the fact that I’m away from home for various reasons over the coming weeks, and won’t be able to do any wedding related stuff. I need to get as much finalised as possible in the next few days. 😵‍💫 Jumpsuit is gorgeous though, I hope you love it as much as you anticipate you will. You sound like someone who will have lots of occasions to wear it ☺️

Thank you, yes this is a style that would work, at an amazing price point too, but I’m not sure I want to introduce red to the outfit. You’re so clever at finding things, love some of what you’ve shared, thank you.

Thank you @SixteenMonthsLater Yes I’m totally open to finding accessories on Vinted if I can. I’ve bought a lot of things on Vinted over the last year or two, while losing weight. Might be trickier buying shoes though, given not being able to try on. I’d have to be fairly confident they would fit and be comfortable before committing…
Shoe size is 6 or 39 ☺️
… and yes a dreamy bag with lots of toning colours sounds fab. 😍

This bag is gorgeous too! Could you link it for me @EleanorMc67 ?

Earrings are fab… but unhelpfully they don’t show them on a model, and judging by the other examples on the website the styles are very large, which I don’t think I’d like. Great find though, open to more like this, love the colour combination, dreamy!

Thank you that’s useful info so appreciate it, my bust is I suspect smaller than yours so hopefully right, if not a lengthy swap will occur,,yours looks the perfect size on you, so I was actually curious if you thought a six would fit you or not,

thank for finding it I think! The hesitation. Is I didn’t need another outfit 😂 I saw it on the website and didn’t think much on it, but when I saw it on you I thought gosh that’s really lovely, you really suit it, and I suspect will also get lots of wear out if it, it looks like the sort of thing you can wear to the registry office, but also wear to nights out, as you said wear and forget,

I’ve never actually owned a jumpsuit so that will be interesting. The dress you’ve chosen is also fantastic,

both suit your frame, both very current but elegant, which is really where I aim in dressing, I’m 57 so similar age range,

they come in green and black too....I am just looking at them now!!
I need some dressy shoes and have also had ankle fractures so scared of too stiletto..

Have you decided on the teal or the green though?

Is the green tonally similar but lighter than the jumpsuit? As I suppose it depends on whether you want it to be different & go for the teal (you could always keep the green for Christmas/New Year ... sorry, my friends all say I'm a devil on their shoulder when it comes to clothes buying - but when you love something ...!!!).

A plus with green dress & green jumpsuit is that you might be able to have exactly the same accessories if you choose carefully.

But ... you might want different ones for the two occasions? Or swap out one or two?

The burgundy velvet shoes I was suggesting for the green dress only if you chose similar to the burgundy & green bag & earrings that I'd added with the burgundy boots image. I like those colours together with gold.

Strange that they don't give a size!! I don't think they're as large as the ones shown below them, but it's hard to judge. Maybe email them?

You're right though in that you don't want to be overwhelmed by overly large jewellery. (I actually need big jewellery as I'm tall with lots of hair, so delicate stuff disappears on me.)

Just off to post office to return 5 items! About half of what’s likely going back…
Have texted future DDIL to share photos, and asked her to say if she has a preference for green or teal Florere…