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Weddings

Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom Clothing

30/07/2009 6:59 pm

Although the day is all about the bride, the Mother of the Bride/Groom title is also very important and worthy of a gorgeous outfit for all those photos and well wishes.

There are no formal rules about what a Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom should wear. It will depend on your mother's style, and what is around at the time of your wedding. One thing, stay away from white, ivory and champagne - a big no no for Mother of the Bride or Groom.

There are some simple style guidelines she can follow to find an outfit befitting the occasion (and one she will happily remember when looking at the photos in years to come).

Mother of the Bride/Groom Style?

This will depend on the theme of your wedding. If it is a relaxed beach wedding, then a summer dress and light cardigan will work nicely, if it is a more formal affair then she can choose either a dress and jacket, or skirt, blouse and jacket. The outfit can be custom made, or purchased from the rack. It may be a good idea to ask at the dress shop you pick your bridesmaids dresses from whether they make that type of outfit to order. This then means your mother's dress will be arranged along with the bridesmaids dresses in time for the day and fitting her perfectly. She can then be involved in the dress fittings and lead-up excitement with the bridesmaids. If your mother has a dressmaker in mind, she may have some common outfit designs to choose from, or you can pick a pattern for her to follow. You will also need to arrange the fabric too. When picking a style don't automatically pick an outfit to hide the body parts you don't like so much. Ask a store fashion consultant for some advice on outfits that enhance your assets, not your self conscious areas. And also, remember to shop with any under garments you will be wearing on the day. Brands like Nancy Gantz help to ensure your beautiful outfit falls as it should all day.

Where to buy a Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom Dress or Outfit?

Mother of the Bride Designer Labels at eBay

BNWOT **ANTHEA CRAWFORD** 3 PIECES SET SIZE 10
$18.13 Bid at Ebay »

*ANTHEA CRAWFORD 3 PIECE SUIT GREY & BLUE STRIPED SZ 12
$72.84 Buy Now Ebay »

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G2 by GEORGE GROSS Yellow Silk RELAX Jacket Top 8 $249
$24.51 Buy Now Ebay »

GEORGE GROSS Pink Pearl TAFFETA Silk Corset Top 12 $189
$31.89 Buy Now Ebay »

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Mother of the Bride Accessories at eBay

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GIFT MOTHER BRIDE GROOM WEDDING DAUGHTER HANKIE BRIDAL
$15.99 Buy Now Ebay »

Wedding Mother Father Bride hankie handkerchief SET
$18.00 Buy Now Ebay »

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FIONI MINICCI SHOES & MATCHING CLUTCH! HEELS 4" NWT!
$32.99 Buy Now Ebay »

Carmen Steffens Heeled Shoes & Matching Hand Bag New!
$60.00 Buy Now Ebay »

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Alan Pinkus IVORY STRAPPY SHOES
$12.73 Buy Now Ebay »

Alan Pinkus HIGH HEEL PINK STRAPPY SHOES
$13.64 Buy Now Ebay »

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Mother of the Bride Summer Dresses at eBay

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NEW PLUS SIZE XL 1X 14 16 BLACK PURPLE LONG MAXI DRESS
$9.99 Bid at Ebay »

NEW 2X 18 20 PURPLE/ BLACK FULL LENGTH LONG MAXI DRESS
$9.99 Bid at Ebay »

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NWT DIANE von FURSTENBERG Black Wool Jersey Dress 2
$99.99 Buy Now Ebay »

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG WRAP DRESS WESTERN PYTHON BEIGE
$89.00 Bid at Ebay »

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Stores that offer a good range of occasion wear at an affordable price (depending on the label) include Myer, David Jones, Anthea Crawford, Jigsaw, Perri Cutten, Veronika Mayne, Feathers, and Ojay.

Labels that are a safe option for finding a suitable outfit include Carla Zampatti, Anthea Crawford, Perri Cutten, George Gross, Saba, Events, Veronika Mayne, Jane Lamerton, Stitches Feathers, Liz Davenport, Kamikaze and Kamiko.

Find a list of other popular Mother of the Bride/Groom Clothing labels from size 6-26 here...

Diana Ferrari (web) fashion has recently offered women an affordable range of special occasion wear (and shoes and bags to match). There are Diana Ferrari retail outlets in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and ACT. Clothing at Diana Ferrari fits a wide range of body sizes and it usually within an affordable price range. It is also a good range with which to find a bridesmaid's outfit, however be aware that because there are stores around the country, other guests may choose the same outfit!

There are also many dress shops that specialise in occasion wear including:

Mother of the Bride, 305 Toorak Rd, Sth Yarra. web. Wide range and cater for any size.
Little Shop on Glenferrie Hill, 533-537 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. web. Open for over 40 years. Most outfits available in sizes 8-24. In-house alterations available. (I know many people who have happily found special occasion outfits at this store and the store attendants are patient and helpful).
Teena Varigos, Australia on Collins, Collins St Melbourne. web. Formal wear, Evening wear and Mother of the Bride or Groom dresses and three piece outfits. Also offers a special order to tailor clothing to the wearer. Teena designs clothing the covers Australia's seasons and styles. Label launched in the 1970s. 03 9650 5656. See the latest Teena Varigos collection online here...
The Red Carpet, Level 1 299 High St, Ashburton 03 9886 9184. Evening dresses, formal wear, Mother of the Bride and Groom outfits and bridesmaid dresses. Also sells maternity evening wear. Labels include The Oscar Collection (view) and Miss Emmy Collection (view). The After Five Collection has styles more suited to the Mother of the Bride/Groom. View the current After Five collection here...

More Mother of the Bride/Groom Clothing labels here...

Colour?

It is acceptable for the Mother of the Bride/Groom to wear an outfit in a colour that fits the bridal party theme. It shouldn't be the same colour as the bridesmaids, however it can fit with the theme. If you have a pastels theme, then your mother can wear something in that range to compliment the bridal party in photos, and during the event. The father of the bride/groom can either wear a tie the suit his partner's outfit, or the bridal party colours. This will work if he is also getting a button hole flower. And remember, most importantly, no white, ivory or champagne, even if the bride is wearing a wedding dress in a colour other than white. You don't want to show up the bride as it is her day.

When is a good to start looking?

The Mothers of the engaged couple should wait until the wedding dress and bridesmaid's dresses have been organised before looking. A good time to find what you are after, and depending on when the wedding is, is during the race season in your state. Most stores will have occasion wear on display during this time, and then if you are willing to chance waiting for it to go on sale, wait for after the race season to purchase your outfit.

Before you start looking sit down and think about some of your favourite outfits and colours. Also discuss with the bride what vision she has for her day and if she has any suggestions of styles she likes for you. However, it is important to keep an open mind when looking at rack upon rack of dresses. Something on the hanger might come to life once you try it on, so don't be shy of a few fashion parades as you shop. Ask the assistants for help too, they know their stock and know tricks of the trade to make a Mother of the Bride or Groom look as special as she feels.

Depending on the weather you may wish to glam it up with a traditional hat. Again this is wonderful to find during the after-race-season sales, or you might pick up a bargain on eBay. Other ways to accessorise your outfit include your jewellery, shoes, and bag (and your partner's tie). If it is cold and you have chosen to wear a gown, you should have a look around for an attractive shawl or short jacket to accentuate your outfit, not detract from it. If it is a winter wedding, pick up an umbrella that fits with your outfit so you will look stylish while hiding from the raindrops. Remember to pick up a decorate (and clean) handkerchief to wipe away any of those tears that are bound to flow are you watch your child say their vows.

The most important tips for the Mother of the Bride or Groom to remember is to find an outfit that is comfortable, to ensure the day is enjoyed without "fixing" the outfit every ten minutes, or being concerned about bulges and bumps (Nancy Gantz and other underwear can help with that too). Pick a classic style that can then be worn to other events after the wedding.

What to wear to a Beach Wedding?

What to wear as the Mother of the Bride/Groom for a summer wedding. This is definitely a wedding to check what the bride has in mind as the look for her bridal party and her parents before getting concerned with what to wear. Once she has picked her dress and the bridesmaid dresses and the colour she'll be able to help you shop for something that fits within that look. And she'll help let you know whether you should be wearing high heels, a three piece suit or a summer picnic dress.
A few tips, don't choose a pattern on a summer dress that will contrast with the flowers and background of photos, or that washes you out in photos. If you want to avoid strapless, or shoestring strap summer dresses, add a light jacket, wrap or lace top to your outfit to keep you cool in summer, but covered and comfortable. Mother of the bride three piece outfits can be organised and only the top and skirt can be work if the day is hot. Layering is an excellent idea for a beach wedding to stay comfortable, elegant and gorgeous. A pretty floral wrap dress will look lovely on the day, check labels like Diane Von Furstenberg or Leona Edmiston. It is recommended staying away from linen for the day as it will crease easily. Maxi dresses are popular again this year and may be a place to start looking. The fabrics for these dresses can be very feminine and fall nicely over women of all sizes.

Accessories

To complete your outfit for the special day there are several shops selling shoes and a matching purse, clutch or a handbag. The bag is both a wonderful accessory to brighten up your outfit, and it can carry your mother of the bride/groom handkerchief and some freshen up lipstick. Dress shop Diana Ferrari sells dresses, shoes and bags to match. Myer stocks the range of Alan Pinkus shoes and you'll likely find a clutch to match from Alan Pinkus, or other lovely brand.
You can choose to wear your special occasion jewellery if it matches the outfit, and even if it doesn't match the outfit it is nice to wear pieces with special meaning to you on the day. Perhapsyou still have the jewellery you wore to your wedding, or maybe you'd like to wear gifts from your husband, child or parents. Some parents wear the same jewellery to each of their children's weddings to bring luck, or love, to each wedding. If you'd prefer to buy some jewellery to match the new gorgeous dress you've bought for the wedding day you can find some stunning pieces of jewellery at your local craft market, and at jewellery and gift shops like Brevilles, Rapt, Secrets Shhh, Michael Hill Jewellers and Prouds. Perhaps you can choose your jewellery when the bride is picking the bridesmaid's jewellery.

And most importantly, have a happy day!