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.

I cannot imagine that dress suiting anyone let alone someone who has just lost 7 st! And brown isn't the easiest colour to wear.

I really think some posters have forgotten that the star of the wedding is the bride not the MOG.

I like the Oasis dresses for either occasion.

Jumpsuit for the registry office and one of the r liberty dresses from an earlier poster for the proper “do” with glam accessories. They look expensive, fashionable and chic!

Have you looked in Portman or Square seeing as you’re in Bath? Might be something different from the high street options.

The first two are a decent fit, but look flat & dull rather than rich & autumnal. The jumpsuit looks average. The Vinted dress & bolero - charity shop/re-sell!

The one I like best in terms of shape & colouring on you is the coral/gold patterned dress & wrap - I thought it was vintage. However, as it's actually the boutique one - not the Vinted one as I thought originally - it would depend on how much it costs? If it's a bargain, fine, if not, look for something else IMO.

The wrap does make it look more dated - could you wear it with a toning velvet jacket instead? Is it sleeveless though? As I think that, at the very least, short sleeves - but preferably 3/4 or long - would be best for a December wedding.

This is lovely & a gorgeous shade of tomato red. But way over budget ...

It has a slightly 70s vibe, which I like - but more bloody polyester!!!

Psychologically, if I had lost that much weight, I'd want to go naked ... 😁

I know £100 is my max for a special dress and I just can’t find anything not polyester in my size anywhere. I’m after a couple of nice dresses for the winter and two outfits for weddings next year. Feels impossible at the moment.

@EleanorMc67Haha 🤣 No, the truth is, when you’re 66, and you’ve lost 7 stone, you definitely look much better with clothes on, rather than off 😳

I must say your figure is stunning. The brown dress is a lovely fit and flattering. but brown isnt right for a wedding and it might be too long.
The red dress i think is the best, great colour style and fit. The jump suit and 2 florals are a hard no from me.
You dont need a jacket.
i do like the osasis dresses another poster has added.

You look lovely OP in everything you just need to find two outfits that you feel happy and comfy in that’s all.

Are there any styles of dress over the years that you would have loved to wear but didn’t because you were a little bit bigger? I’m an 18 and there’s tons of stuff I see all the time that I’d love to wear if my bust especially was a little smaller. If I suddenly woke up slightly slimmer i would treat myself to a few styles I have loved for years and never been able to wear before.

probably not your taste but have you looked on joe browns?

The first two are a decent fit, but look flat & dull rather than rich & autumnal. The jumpsuit looks average. The Vinted dress & bolero - charity shop/re-sell!
The one I like best in terms of shape & colouring on you is the coral/gold patterned dress & wrap - I thought it was vintage. However, as it's actually the boutique one - not the Vinted one as I thought originally - it would depend on how much it costs? If it's a bargain, fine, if not, look for something else IMO.
The wrap does make it look more dated - could you wear it with a toning velvet jacket instead? Is it sleeveless though? As I think that, at the very least, short sleeves - but preferably 3/4 or long - would be best for a December wedding.
@EleanorMc67
Yup the coral/gold patterned one is new, from a boutique called ‘Deadly is the Female’. It looks retro, (it’s received some pretty brutal criticism here!). I think it was about £200 for the dress and wrap. It was sleeveless. I didn’t buy it although my friend loved it.
I don’t want sleeveless, and I don’t really want a print. I think you’re all mostly steering me towards something classic/quality/timeless. I don’t have the confidence for big bold statement dresses, (as you say, of course, it’s all about the bride really). I don’t want to let my son down, don’t want to upset his bride if I get it wrong, I don’t know her family, no idea what the norms are, etc. Probably am overthinking it all. 😵‍💫

I love that brown dress on you op! lovely shape and very ‘on trend’ colour.
I’d pair with some gold sandals and look for a crushed velvet cropped jacket in gold or champagne

@OneNewEagleThank you. That’s a great question . Since losing weight I’m really enjoying wearing jumpsuits, jeans, and dungarees so maybe that’s why they’re featuring in my choices… pretty sure I wouldn’t be considering them for my son’s wedding otherwise. But I’m feeling, after so much feedback here, that a jumpsuit is probably not right for a wedding and the photos and so on. If this was just a party or a friend’s wedding or whatever, I wouldn’t be fretting about it like this. A classic, smart, not too ‘out there’ dress, is where I’m headed I think. I will dig into more of the links you’ve all shared.

https://palava.co/products/cynthia-coral-axis-tencel-dress Day dress

Jigsaw tends to suit taller women, so this may not be right - plus it's short sleeved so you'll need a jacket. But it shows how you can wear a darker colour & it look good in photos - as the fabric is lustrous. Velvets & satins will look good.

https://share.google/j8eZezVkGUZunAFKY

Nobody's Child rates well on ethics & sustainability. This satin dress comes in several colours as well as in a petite size.

https://share.google/viWiNpirtJErHFLTq

Thank you. I’ve checked and the brown Reiss dress (called Mocha on their website) also comes in a dark green… but… one of the few things I know is the bride’s only bridesmaid, her sister, is wearing dark green - so I think that probably rules out dark green for me doesn’t it?

Love your comments here - hilarious! Thank you. I do like the Fold dress you’ve linked, bit ££s though 😵‍💫

It’s fab but a bit too ‘loud’ and in your face for me…

Thank you for sharing this @Rubydobydo Where did you find the dress you wore in the end?

I did wonder if you'd looked at Reiss, OP. So their cut clearly fits you well if that's where the brown one is from. Is it petite?

I know that brown is so very in right now, but I agree with the PP that in a few years you'll look back at photos & think why! In the space of several months, posters on S&B have pretty much ceased recommending pale yellow dresses & polka dot dresses. So just as those choices will carbon-date 2025/6 weddings, so brown will with 2026/7, IMO!

Go with a colour (as well as shape) that you feel fab wearing. Have you trawled through the Reiss website, OP? As there'll be more choice than in store.

I presume this isn't your colour? And the khaki is too farmyard, I think ...

https://www.reiss.com/style/sv136414/w02079

Thanks so much @myfourbubbas1for sharing how you chose ‘the one’ and your various accessories. How brilliant that sounds, so glad you’ve found two outfits you love. Hope the wedding goes really well for you and your son.

This, I think, has enough detail to lift it from daywear, especially if paired with gold jewellery & a great bag & footwear. Also petite & in the Reiss sale. It's a shade that can look good on blondes.

https://www.reiss.com/style/su909897/g15156

I agree with this suggestion.
Plenty of good costume or real jewelry and you’ll look great.
Have a lovely day. Relax mother. It’ll be fine.