Mother of the bride outfits

mumps

I am a casual sort of person, have to be smart for work but otherwise wear jeans and jumpers. I just don't know what to wear or where to look. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Debbiecatal

I am a casual person too so I know exactly what you mean.

Will you be happier in a suit or a dress? A jacket or a shrug? Why don't you google mother of the bride, or look what's on ebay and other sites like peridress, and also go around local shops and see what's around and get a feel for what you like and what you will be comfortable in? Go for something that still feels like you - just 'weddinged up'!

I bought a Jacques Vert suit off ebay for £35 to begin with, and quite liked it, but then decided it was too old - although I am 51 it felt more like something my own mum would wear. I still have it but I have bought a stone coloured tea length lace dress and teamed it with a sea green silk jacket, and I am much happier with that. I was also thinking of this one before I found the stone dress http://www.peridress.co.uk/bridal-originals-mother-dress-bo6an.html

Try looking in somewhere like Monsoon or even visit TKMaxx or somewhere like that for ideas of what you like.

Good luck - I really know how hard it is to find the right thing!

Debbie

neilcrook

My mother has bought a dress from debenhams and TKMaxx as she couldn't decide. They are both lovely and not massively wedding at all. Debenhams has a huge range of dresses that are formal enough to pass as mother of the bride but not too formal. Pop in and have a look.

My MIL is wearing a pair of grey trousers teamed with a nice pink top so is totally different to my mother but also looks smart casual.

Its entirely what you are comfortable in

mumps

Thank you both for the suggestions. I live in a small town and will need to go a bit further afield. At least I have something to think about, I would prefer a suit I think but with an August wedding maybe a dress would be more suitable, shrug is definitely out as I always feel "wrong" in them. I would probably be more comfortable in trousers but I'm not sure how the bride will feel, I will have to have a chat with her, I just feel she has so much to do that I don't want to add to it. I wish I enjoyed shopping.

ellay864

Whereabouts are you? If you're anywhere near Chester, Cheshire Oaks has some great places where you can get bargains. I'm 47 and I've got some really nice stuff from East - I don't like doing short if I do dressy or skirts. And I'm another fan of Monsoon too - they always have really nice stuff. I find both of those do dresses that would be entirely suitable for a wedding but not so OTT that you couldn't wear them again if you were say going out for a nice meal

White_Sapphire

mumps wrote: »

Thank you both for the suggestions. I live in a small town and will need to go a bit further afield. At least I have something to think about, I would prefer a suit I think but with an August wedding maybe a dress would be more suitable, shrug is definitely out as I always feel "wrong" in them. I would probably be more comfortable in trousers but I'm not sure how the bride will feel, I will have to have a chat with her, I just feel she has so much to do that I don't want to add to it. I wish I enjoyed shopping.

If you feel more comfortable in trousers then wear them. A pair of wide leg trousers in some lovely fabric will look gorgeous, and almost like a long skirt from a distance! Put them with a fitted top and a light jacket, and a fascinator or hat, and you'll look lovely.

fawny

It's difficult, my Mum's really stuck as she does not want traditional MOB & needs something cool as it will be hot in Rhodes but wants more than a summer dress. We are going shopping to Leeds at the begining of March & I've booked the person shopper in House of Frasers for her. I've told the lady what we are coming for & hopefully she will solve the problem.

I've told my mum to go for what she feels comfortable in & is happy with.

Swinstie73

My mum bought her outfit from Debenhams and it was lovely, even matched the purple theme! We didn't have anyone wearing hats either - none of my family are hat people so her outfit was dressy but not OTT, unlike the guy I know whose wife's (MOTB) outfit cost him £2K (including huge hat)! (was lovely but not worth £2K IMO).

mumps

Thanks for all the advice, my nearest city is Bristol so will be having a shopping trip a bit later in the year. I cheated a bit as I am not the mother of the bride but mother of the groom but everyone always talks about MOB! I don't know my future DIL very well and she has some very set ideas so I am not sure about trousers, don't want to upset her. I will have a look at Debenhams and John Lewis, not sure where Monsoon but I am sure there must be one in Bristol. It is complicatd as my ex and his family will be there and I haven't seen most of them for 30 years. I know it is silly but I feel like everyone is going to think how fat and old I have got. I am not that fat, size 14, but I was a size 10 when they knew me. I realise this is ridiculous as they are all older as well. I guess when I see them I will feel more comfortable. I hope!!!!!!!!

RainbowDrops

As much as I never dreamt of disctating what my MIL should have worn to the wedding, I suggest that maybe you speak to your son to ask him if the Bride would be OK if you went for a smart trouser suit, as you don't feel comfortable in skirts etc.
My MIL kept asking me if what she picked out was ok, if it clased with my mum etc, and I really didn't mind at all - I wanted everyone to feel comfortable.

minerva_windsong

Would it be worth booking in with one of the personal shopper services at a department store? I'm pretty sure both Debenhams and John Lewis offer something like that. They should be able to give you an idea of what will suit you whilst working with the sort of thing you want as well. The Debenhams one from my knowledge doesn't cost anything. If there's a big shopping centre in Bristol they might do something similar picking from all the shops in the centre, but it seems like a lot of shopping centres where they do charge quite a bit, especially in bigger towns.

My mum did this when my sisters got married - she didn't want the traditional 'mother of the bride' matching pastel skirt suit and massive hat-type look but she did want to look nice, and both times she found some lovely outfits. So in my opinion it's definitely worth a go.