Good grief, y'all, I had no idea what I was getting into when I began my search for a mother-of-the-bride (MOB) dress this spring. I've seen the attire friends and family have worn for weddings, and been impressed with the variety out there. Everything from fancy power pantsuits to Mrs. America evening gown wow. However, there was never any doubt that I would be going with something more understated and modest for our older daughter's big day.
In my search of about twenty favorite designers and brands, I was taken aback at some of the styles as seen above - spangled and sparkled, hugging every curve, cut up to here and down to there. Not to mention the obviously aged thirtysomething leggy models in a size 2 showcasing MOB dresses in their ads. Where are the gracefully ageing 50-60 somethings in a size 12 who wrestled on some Spanx so I can get a feel for what these dresses would look like on me? Bring on the bat wing arms, crepey skinned turkey necks and overlapping inner thigh models so I can imagine how these dresses would appear on The Real Housewives of Postmenopause.
So many of the dresses are beautiful, but just not what I envisioned wearing. I don't mind a touch of beading at the neck, waist or sleeves. But a full-bodied bejeweled gown isn't me, not to mention heavy and uncomfortable. Neither is that stretchy, figure hugging scuba fabric. There isn't enough shapewear in the state of Texas to get me squeezed into one of those numbers. I'm aiming to lose about 15 pounds before the wedding, not 50.
*Sigh* I think all of the dresses above are really pretty, but obviously not what I have in mind. The mother-of-the-groom and I are in agreement about finding a dress that blends rather than competes with the bride's lovely gown and her bridal party. I've spent the past couple weeks scouring websites to narrow down my choices with several viable options. Right now the frontrunner is this dress below... though definitely not in this bright fuchsia color.
I love how the material both above and below the waist is softly draped so any ripples or bulges aren't noticeable. One shoulder dresses are having their moment, and I like that this option is very modest. I checked with a customer service rep through this designer's website and I can purchase up to three yards of the fabric color I select for any alterations I'd like to make. I'd obviously be closing that slit on the dress so it hits around my knee. And maybe adding a 2-3" band on the open shoulder side that could hide an undergarment strap. Maybe even attach some rhinestones or beading to that skinny strap to fancy it up. With such a high neckline, it will be tricky to find the perfect necklace to wear. Adding that bit of bling with alterations would mean all I'd have to do is find some complimentary earrings and I'd be done.
I've received swatches of color options I'm considering for this dress and have shown them to the girls. We've about decided that the following colors below are the best choices given the bridemaid's dresses, groomsmen's suits and my hair/coloring. I have to agree that hunter, gunmetal, petrol and emerald are all beautiful options. I still have to chat with the groom's mother to see how her dress search is going since I don't want to be wearing the same color that she chooses.
In the meantime, I'll continue looking and weighing the various options out there. As you can see below, there are many MOB/MOG gowns that would fulfill my wish list of specs and can be ordered in a color I want. It's reassuring that I'm pretty spoiled for choices and still have six months to get my dress selected, purchased and altered for our girl's late fall wedding. I'll keep y'all posted as the dress quest continues. Wish me luck!
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