How to Choose a Flattering Mother of the Bride Dress

Mother of the bride dress fashions

One of the trickiest propositions for any soon-to-be mother of the bride is finding the best possible dress or outfit for the big day.  If you are getting ready for your daughter’s wedding, you probably realize that this is easier said than done.  The issue, at least for most women with adult-aged children, is that the overall shape of our body has morphed into something that quite simply does not look as good in a dress as it once did.  Additionally, times have changed and current fashion trends are much different than what they were 20 or 30 years ago.  So, what can you do to make sure you look as good as possible for your daughter’s wedding?  Well, reading the tips below would certainly make a great start!

First off, be aware that you have many options, which is a good thing.  For example, you could wear an evening dress, a tea length dress, a halter top with a jacket, or a pant suit, to name a few.   The main difference between current fashion trends and those of years gone by is that it is now perfectly acceptable to wear something sexy.  It’s now ok for older women to wear short dresses or other outfits that show some skin.

That said, your choice of outfit must take into consideration things like the brides dress, the bridesmaid dresses, the groom’s mother’s outfit, and even the wedding theme or venue.  For example, your chosen dress or outfit should complement the overarching color theme of the venue and bridal party.  You want to look like your outfit belongs as opposed to something that will clash with everything else.  It’s also a good idea to talk with the mother of the groom to make sure you don’t wear something too similar to what she will be wearing.  Additionally, your daughter might have a preference for your dress style or color, so definitely make it a point to ask her what she thinks.

In general, the only real taboo dress color you’ll want to avoid is white (assuming your daughter will be having a “white wedding”).  The most popular mother of the bride dress colors at the moment include beige or bone, dark blue, black, hunter green, maroon and light blue.  Black in particular is wildly popular, as this color tends to flatter older women more so than any other color.

Another thing you will definitely need to do is to order your dress or outfit well in advance of the actual wedding day.  The reason is that most bridal shops typically carry only a small number of colors and sizes for any particular dress style, so more often than not you will need to special order your outfit.  You will then need to have it tailored.  Therefore the best time to start your search is immediately after the bride has chosen her wedding dress as well as the bridesmaid’s color scheme.  The rule of thumb is to start shopping no later than 6 months prior to the big day.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to select an outfit that can be worn multiple times.  Simply put, there is no need to buy a “one and done” outfit.  If you make the right decision, you will have an elegant dress or outfit that can be worn to future formal affairs.  Therefore you will want to target something that is relatively simple.

As you can see, finding a flattering mother of the bride dress does not have to be difficult.  Start shopping at least 6 months in advance if possible, consider the color scheme and overall style of the bridal party as well as the mother of the groom, ask your daughter for feedback, avoid wearing white but seriously consider wearing black, and target something relatively simple that can be worn over and over again.  Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be well on your way to looking incredible for your daughter’s wedding.  For more inspiration, check out The Knot’s mother of the bride dress gallery.  Good luck!

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