Style Tips for the Mother of the Bride

For a mother of the bride — or groom — the marriage of her child is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s also a heavily photographed day, which makes choosing a dress a bit overwhelming.

You will have these images for a lifetime, so it’s important to keep that in mind when picking your dress. Consider these style tips for the mother of the bride when you go shopping:

Don’t search Google for MOB dresses

If you limit your online search to just “mother-of-the-bride dresses” you’re going to be served very specific kinds of dresses and looks. Typing in a style, short- or long-sleeve length, cut and colour of gowns will give you a much wider range of stylish results. Just like the bride, you want to look like you!

I’d also avoid online shopping, unless you are very familiar with the designer. It’s often a disappointment when you see something online vs. in person and sometimes it can be difficult to return. You have to see the garment on your body to decide if it really works and flatters your best features.

Speaking of…

Accentuate your assets

First: don’t show a lot of skin. That’s a pretty obvious thing to say (and it would also be my advice for the bride), but in saying that, there’s nothing wrong with drawing attention to the part(s) of your body you feel best about.

If you have toned arms, go sleeveless; a belted gown will highlight small waistlines, and great legs don’t need to hide under layers of tulle or taffeta.

Any sort of pleating and ruching can actually add size, so be careful of trying to add layers to disguise those areas you don’t want to draw attention to (it will have the opposite affect!).

If you’re fuller figured, wear a dress that is a solid colour, not pattern to give a streamlined look.

On the contrary, if you have a tinier frame with a smaller bust, prints and added fabric can actually give you a better shape and silhouette.

The most universal look is a flared skirt with a fitted bodice – it gives the illusion of an hourglass figure, and it’s such a classic style.

Formal vs. Fun

What sort of wedding will it be? The formality of the ceremony and atmosphere of the venue will help inform the length of your dress. Most of the time a knee-length mother-of-the-bride dress works for all occasions, whether it’s a semiformal wedding (a classic dinner-cocktails-dancing affair) or at an informal gathering (an after-party celebrating a small ceremony, or a destination event).

Age-appropriate is important

Although I think personality is so more important than “age appropriate,” when it comes to your daughter or son’s day, you don’t want to be taking any attention away from the bride.

You want to look great no matter what, but there is a fine line between sexy and tacky! You want your clothing to reflect your spirit, but don’t opt for something loud and too over-the-top either.

Don’t shy away from colour

Colour can be beautiful, but exercise caution here. Again, you don’t want something terribly loud or bold. A mother of the bride should look elegant, so I’d go for jewel tones, metallic and pastels.

Also, keep the accoutrement simple: Don’t go overboard with beading or stiff fabrics, and reserve your accessories to a statement necklace or earrings only.