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.

Someone upthread mentioned Esska shoes.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/10318257831-esska-sandals-chaza-bnwt-size-39

Oh wow… @SixteenMonthsLater… I can’t say I love them but.. is this another time when I should trust my S+B crew and give it a shot? Right colour right size and just listed 3 hours ago??

Or with one of the ‘multi coloured bags’ shown on this thread to go with the jumpsuit - these ( the Mary Frances bag I posted had pink in it and did one of the ASOS ones too - though there will be others)
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/2334872198-topshop-heels

Or if you can wear a platform ( and haven’t yet shortened the jumpsuit…)

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9426878623-anthropologie-x-silent-d-nude-blush-suede-block-heel-sandals

They aren’t something I am familiar with either. I’m just going on the suggestions from others of the brand, chunky (under the jumpsuit) and metallic!

Thanks @SixteenMonthsLater …I like these, but they’re veering into that territory where I’d fear breaking my ankle again! Those Esska ones look nice and stable - god this makes me sound old, I am I suppose 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have tried the Esska, they are SO comfortable and also gorgeous. And I'm old with a new hip, so extremely careful of falling! Anthropologie used to stock them, I haven't checked this season, but you could have a look and try before you buy.

That’s a personal taste thing, I would not, they are too clumpy for the delicate dress and won’t remotely go with the jumpsuit, where me and em got it right and pointy flats are best,

I love those olive M&S shoes @Wildgoat
I don’t get the Mumsnet love for Eskka shoes.
To le they are clunky and ugly.

I am a huge fan of Esska. I have several pairs of the sandals and they are unbelievably comfortable. Women ALWAYS comment on them when I wear them.

I could not however, wear second hand shoes from Vinted. That gives me the heebie-jeebies.

The Eskka are fabulous. Did you buy them?

No, they sold within an hour of me hearing about them from a PP. I was a bit on the fence about them.

No, I’m afraid I don’t get the love either, it’s a bit like Joanie was on here,

I could not however, wear second hand shoes from Vinted. That gives me the heebie-jeebies.

The shoes posted are all new!

Sorry but I think those Vinted Esska shoes are really, really (REALLY!) horrible! As I said before, though, I have never met a pair of gold shoes I like, so feel free to ignore me!

Ok so could you tell me another thing please? What’s the norm these days about wearing tights? Am I right in thinking nobody under 40 or maybe older, wears them anymore? Is it all bare legs and fake tan now? I don’t think I can do that, not in December anyway. I’m just trying to think about the dress and shoes and what that will look like. Sorry for my ignorance! Tell me again what you feel is the best colour shoe to go with the green or teal Florere dress?

Yeah i wasn’t familiar with Esska but wasn’t sure I liked them either… @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

I would say there's no need for tights (or fake tan!) with either the jumpsuit or the dress. The dress is long enough that you hardly see your legs. I do think tights are dated and would avoid if you can.

My choice would be black or metallic shoes, and the teal dress over the green. For what it's worth.

Absolute wild card, but I saw these and I wondered if they would indulge your desire for witchiness without looking fancy dress - https://embassylondon.co.uk/products/regent-black?

OOS in a 6 unfortunately but you might find them somewhere. I think similar pointed ankle boots might work with both outfits, although trickier with the dress. Are you looking for one pair of shoes for both, or two pairs of shoes?

I think the jumpsuit needs something chunkier than that tiny kitten heel, because the trousers are so voluminous. You want your feet to look like feet, not, by contrast, trotters! So you need something a bit chunkier I think.

But I just wonder how you would get on with the high heel? I think you said not so well?

Thanks @owlpassport that’s good to know. Ooh I must admit I like (possibly even love!) those boots . Black wouldn’t be my preference though, could I get away with cream? Or I can just look for something similar.
In terms of one pair or two… I’d get much more use from a great pair of ankle boots, than I ever will from a pair of sparkly gold shoes, or anything with high heels. Having said that I’m starting to see some shoes that I like and I’m quite up for a pair of pointed, closed toe, sling back, block heels. Omg I can’t even believe I just typed that - who even am I? 🤣

Oh don't worry, I see they sold anyway.

I think the heel looked very high OP, and the truth is the most important thing is to be able to walk!

In reality the jumpsuit will probably cover your shoes, so choose for the dress maybe ...

In my opinion, it's a no to the round toed, Dune heels. Because of the round toe - dated, and looks stumpy, giving a blunt ending to your leg, when it should be lengthened with a pointed toe. Plus too light.

The jumpsuit is misleading in the images, it’s actually very very thin, as its silk, it’s as thin as silk normally is, and as such something chunky just wouldn’t work, I tried various shoes on and me and em got it right , it needs to be a pointed toe. The markies ones may work with it.

in the image I posted I was wearing a pair of velvet olive green ballet shoes from ne and em and fhey do work, but I’ve a pair of pointy black suede ones and they work the best, I’ve also a pair of tan ones, and they don’t work.

I think that’s what threw me, I was expecting a more typical velvet, but as much as its velvet, when you see it in person it is very obviously silk and has that floaty diaphanous feel to the legs,

I have these from And Other Stories. They might work? They’re quite classy looking. Black slightly shiny leather sling backs

At risk of disagreeing with everyone again, I really don’t understand the MN tights hatred. In real life, I see tights being worn by all kinds of women. I think you’d be bonkers to go bare legged in December if you’re going to be outdoors for any longer than five minutes. Just go to M&S and look at their Autograph range for the sheerest bare look tights you can find. I promise you that nobody will be judging you!