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Well after two full weekends of shopping over the past few months, my mother and I finally found her a dress this past weekend! Hooray! My mother is petite and very fashionable, but has her own style. It would just not do to have her in a typical “mother of the bride” outfit. We went to every department store in NYC and finally found “the dress” at Bergdorf Goodman (on sale, thank goodness). I only have a quick shot of her in the dress with a camera phone — I promise to take more later.
My mother in her dress:
I wish I was more help, but my mother doesn’t shop online. She hates shopping at all really, so it was a challenge to even get her to stop being cranky long enough to get in and out of options! But we finally did it. 
Was this a difficult task for you too? Anyone else with lovely, petite, fashionable mothers? Where did you get your dress?
It’s actually very hard to shop for the mother of the bride, I went with my mother-in-law and it took several weekends to find a dress for her. She found hers at David’s Bridal. My mom lives in Chicago and she checked out this bridal salon called Gigi’s Closette. She bought a sample sale dress from Yolanda Lorente for about $500. She really took her time and I think it took so long for both mothers because a lot of the dresses out there aren’t so flattering. It was hard but I think the bridal salons tends to have the best dresses. My mom almost got a dress custom made through a korean seamstress but that cost about $200-300 more than her dress.
This was by far one of the biggest challenges of all - it was the source of one of the only really big fights I’ve had about any of the wedding planning. And it wasn’t even about what I wanted her to wear or not wear (I could really care less as long as she was comfortable and happy!) Instead it was about getting her to a store, while I was in town (for a short amount of time - we live half a country away from each other) and actually try things on. She was under the impression that we were shopping for me, not her - ummm - I already HAD my dress….
Anyway, with 5 weeks to go to the wedding, she found a store that custom makes dresses on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, Florida in 3 weeks no less! So she’s custom designed her own dress that is shockingly similar to my mother-in-law’s dress that she bought at Lord & Taylor’s months ago. It honestly will look like I made them coordinate - oh well! They’re both happy with the dress, it’s strapless with a shall and the dress is made of a series of satin tiers that fall down the dress in horizontal bands to the floor. So for a price difference of nearly $800, they have very similar dresses! Oh well!!!
My mom has great taste so I left it up to her to find her outfit. She went to Woodbury Commons w/ her girlfriend and they both picked up outfits at MaxMara. My mom wore a coral red silk mock neck top with the same color floral print skirt. (I had a DW in Hawaii so she wasn’t looking for anything formal.) She found a gorgeous pair of sandals at Bally that matched perfectly with her outfit. My MIL bought a stunning empire waisted Sigrid Olsen light coral orange dress with silver beading. I really lucked out because both mothers have excellent taste. Now my father, now that’s another story!
Your mother is adorable and that dress is so cute!
This was a major challenge for my Mom, who is 5 feet tall. She even tried to shop in Japan when she was there, figuring there would be more options there. We finally found her a nice outfit at Bloomingdale’s after months of searching.
Your mom definitely has style. Congrats on the mission accomplished. I plan on going to several dept stores with my mom. She already told me she wanted to wear a pale gold colro, and that’s exactly what I had in mind for her. Then, this morning I saw Tipper Gore’s hair at her daughter’s wedding on the news and thought it would be great for my mom. So I found a photo online and saved it. Told my mom that I have her hair picked out. 
Hope she likes it.
I bought two dresses for my mom from Nordstrom’s petite session. She loves it because she doesn’t need any alteration with her platform. Thank good, it was on sale too.
Aw, your mom is darling. My mom and I are actually going MOB dress shopping tomorrow. Technically, this is for my sister’s wedding, but it’s still my attempt to get her out of the house and convince her that there are dresses out there in the world that will look great on her.
Really cute dress - it doesn’t look like a traditional MOB dress.
I was ready to help my mom find a dress this Saturday (afternoon garden wedding). She and my sister called me today and told me they were at a local consignment shop with arms laden with dresses! One of my girlfriends and I zipped over to help out. My mother found a gorgeous light blue and beige silk brocade sheath dress with matching tailored jacket; my sister a traditional long, pink chiffon bridesmaid dress. Both dresses were NWT and need minor alterations.
Best part of the story? $112 FOR BOTH!
My FMIL is four states away, its much harder for me to try and help. I’m sending her pics of the dresses tonight to help her in her own search.
I just walked in the door from having my MOB and MOG dresses and the Flower Girls dress designed by the same shop that did my dress and the bridemaid dresses. We love the outcome they are wonderful! both moms dresses are a variation of the wedding colors (blue and brow) my moms is a very vibrant royal blue and his mom’s is a taupe/slight gold touch. Very nice and we are very pleased.
Love that MOB dress! I get married two weeks from Saturday and my mom still has nothing to wear. I’ve stopped worrying about it — as long as she doesn’t show up in the buff, it’s her deal, not mine.
Thanks for all the kind words — I think my mom is pretty fabulous myself. This picture does NOT do her justice.
Aliya — Did you try to help her? My mom just hates shopping so I had to bring her shopping, pick things out and then help her and encourage her to be cheery (it wasn’t easy). You still can go with her!
My mother and I are both “5 foot nothing” as I call it. I love that her dress is not too old but still very elegant with the lace. I NEED to get a better picture of it — it’s stunning really. And it echos my dress — same shape and length of skirt. I’m not sure who will notice that, but I know.
There is so many ugly MOB dresses out there. My mom is currently searching for one with little success….
OMG, I had a difficulty w/ my mother as well. OYE I was thrilled the day we found her a dress..REALLY thrilled
Super hip mom! And your dresses have similar shapes; how cool!
Miss Onion — yes, and that ship has sailed. She insisted that she had to wait until the last possible second because she feels like her weight fluctuates a lot (hmmm). A lot of it is, I think, that she doesn’t like to shop for this kind of thing (same as many moms), plus she doesn’t want anyone else around to see her trying clothes on, etc.
My mom is also petite and chose a really cute petite dress from Talbots- she got tons of compliments!
http://fayeandgreer.blogspot.com/2007/06/shopping-for-mother-of-bride.html
My mom is petite and stylish, also, and finding her dress was a headache as well. Neither of us wanted the traditional, flowy, chiffon-y MOB dresses, so she went on a mission and eventually found a beautiful Mon Cheri suit. She and I think that we need to go into the petite MOB dress-designing business - there are just not enough sylish, flattering and appropriate dresses out there!
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Miss Onion, NYC/Burlington, VT Age and Occupation: 27, PR & Marketing and Jazz Singer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Data Analyst Engagement Date: April 2, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2007 Blogging Since: July 11, 2007 Venue: Restaurant in Burlington About Me: I didn't think I'd be "that girl," but I am having so much fun planning our wedding (mostly by myself). I'm a PR and Marketing Director for a major jazz festival and camp by day, and by night, a romantic jazz singer and bride-to-be! I hope all my research can help other brides in their planning.
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