Weddingbee Blog

We shopped everywhere, it seems. It’s so hard to find a nice dressy suit in a pastel color OTHER than white, that doesn’t scream “Blanche from Golden Girls!” Finally, my mom pulled out this dusty rose suit jacket she had borrowed from a friend, and I found a full-length satin skirt I’d worn to Homecoming back in high school, and voila! They matched perfectly! She’s getting the skirt altered to fit, and it’s the perfect outfit! It actually looks almost exactly like Momma Pumpkin’s, without the beading. So excited!

Yeah…I was so very very disappointed in the department stores!! My parents don’t have the budget to go for a Mon Cheri dress. My mom finally found a pant suit at WOW (Women of Worth) here in Boston.

My mom had spent the last year-plus losing weight (doctor’s orders) and really wanted to look great. With her coloring, she is not into pastels, which eliminates a lot of the merchandise available. The dress she decided on was from a bridal shop, the last place we thought she’d find something, actually. (She’d been looking at department stores for gowns on sale after the winter holiday season.) It was a tailored and beaded column (with a matching bolero) that showed her new-and-improved shape but not too much skin.

Yes, when I was considering an evening suit for myself, I liked St. John Knits — great for winter, and many come in winter-appropriate shades of white, cream, beige, and silver. Bargain-hunters: They also have sales (about 1/3 off) a few times a year, and there are even outlets. http://www.stjohnknits.com/sjkinternet/index.cfm

Our wedding is still 11 months away, but my mother has just been casually looking for ideas. We’ve noticed that there is a HUGE gap in the style of dresses available — it’s either super slinky with in-your-face cleavage, or rather matronly and frumpy. My mother definitely doesn’t want to show too much skin (no strapless, halter, or thin straps for her, and no cleavage bearing), but she also doesn’t want a dress that looks like a sack. Stores do not seem to carry anything at all like this!

Second Julie, you have hit on the problem of all size 14-and-up women of all ages throughout all time. Shopping for concerto/soloist gowns in college I had the choice of looking like a sequined sausage or a grandmother. I’m still on the biggish side, so even though I’m not participating in any parental shopping expeditions, you can bet I read these posts with interest. The next time I need a gown for an oratorio or something, I’m checking weddingbee’s MOB posts first.

Both my mom and FI’s mom were wholly discouraged by the process–what a nightmare! My mom ended up with a nice suit from JC Penney, but only after a whole lot of looking. She might also go with Spanx, though I’ve tried to reassure her that she will look beautiful no matter what.

It is HARD to find a dress. I was so discouraged and went into Nordtrom’s rack after much praying and there was the dress waiting for me on a rack with like 3 dresses. It has to be altered but it was winning situation. I needed dark too — a summer dress royal blue! I did find Norstroms online had more to choose from.