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Does this look like your Mom??
I know I’m not the first to complain about this, but why is finding a Mother of the Bride Dress so hard?? My mom is petite which has made it that much harder. Not only can we not find any ‘regular’ dresses, but now we have an even smaller market to look at!
This weekend Mama Peppermint and I plan to go out and scope out a few places in search of a winner. I think we’re both a little nervous since we’ve found no contenders online, in magazines or in person. But this weekend we will (positive thinking!)…
We’ve basically determined that there are two types of look: the hot mama or the matriarch. My mom doesn’t really want either one. I can’t imagine that my mom is the only one who falls in between these two extremes? There’s nothing wrong with either look, but what are the options for someone in between?
To give you an idea of what we’re dealing with, here are some dresses found on the Knot’s Mother Of the Bride dress section (okay, so I picked the most extreme examples–but it’s more fun that way. 
Help! Where did your Mom look (and find success!)??? Have you had similar problems??
Why not look at Nordstroms or a regular boutique. Does it have to be from a bridal shop?
My mom found a fabulous silk pantsuit (we’re not having an uber-fancy wedding) with a beaded jacket at Talbots of all places. I wouldn’t do Talbots for daytime clothes, but they have some nice conservative yet non-matronly evening clothes. Also, Ann Taylor? Both Talbots and Ann Taylor also have petite sizes.
I actually like that white jacquard jacket going on in the 2nd picture.
My mom found a beautiful dress at Macy’s Bridal Salon. She is also small (5′2″). We went through similar trauma trying to find her dress, so I feel your pain. Good luck!
I swear if one more person recommends Nordstroms for a MOB dress I will personally stalk them and make them go to the store and realize that their large on-line selection doesn’t. actually. exist.
Why?
Because the second anything comes in they sell out almost immediately. Here’s a clue…ORDER MORE!!!!!
My mom didn’t want to go the suit route either because she didn’t want to look like every other MOB out there.
We finally found a hand painted silk ensemble from a boutique store.
But best of luck!! I mean it. Ah, and take some stress medication before going out this weekend. Believe me, you will need it!
My mom found the *perfect* dress at a bridal boutique…. it is the “Vivian Leigh” by Siri. Like your mom, she is neither the hot mama nor the matriarch… this dress was right in the middle!
With a name like Vivian Leigh, how can it not be fabulous?
i think your hot momma should totally wear that first outfit… yea, the pleathery looking one. hey, it’s got a shrug, right? just kidding!
i wish you lotsa luck. i’m sorry i can’t offer much advice though. my mom’s wearing something somewhat traditional (filipino), and didn’t quite have to shop like this.
My mother is also a petite shortie (love every inch of her!). She exhausted both King of Prussia (huge upscale mall outside Philly) and few dress shops.
Where did she find her dress? A consignment shop. Two-piece never worn silk brocade sheath dress and jacket from Talbot’s. Originally over $300 - Mom got it (and my sister’s also never worn MOH dress) for $100. Score!!!
She’s a conservative dresser, our wedding is at 1pm and over at 6pm so this was perfectly appropriate. She looks beautiful and for that I’m thrilled.
Maybe she could have something made? My mom went that route for my sisters wedding and was not only able to design her dress but the dress was made to her exact measurements. She got what she wanted…a long silk dress with a french lace jacket and silk sash…and saved money in the process…one reason was the elimination of any alterations. We had our bridesmaid dresses made by the same dress maker. I am sure you could research a dress maker in your area if you luck out this weekend. I bet you could find a great seamstress in LA.
For moms with a little extra tummy — my mom discovered the best trick: a sheath dress with a lace top layer. The sheath clings to and sucks in the fat, and the lace top layer just lays smoothly on top, so no visible bulges!
How about Ann Taylor or Nordstrom’s? I’m also sure one of the Macy’s in LA has a great dress section like the Macy’s in Union Square in SF!
MOG is wearing a lavender two piece outfit along the lines of that last one. She picked it herself, I don’t know where.
My mom is wearing a dressy suit, which I guess fits her into the category of that white one 
She’s having it made by a local designer and the colour is somewhere between mauve and taupe.
oh, funny story about my FMIL… I asked Mr Popcorn to ask her what colour she was going to wear, so I could pick her corsage not to class.
He didn’t think she’d have picked that already, but I thought she would have. Afterall, my mom had already gone to the designer of her own volition and picked everything out, colours and fabrics.
So he asked her, and she apparently responded in a panicked defensive squeal of “Augh! Don’t ask me about my dress!”
She had apparently just spent a lot of time looking unsuccessfully that week, and her husband had also innocently inquired about her search, not knowing it was giving her so much trouble.
I completely agree with you on the Mother of the Bride dresses. They are either incredibly dowdy or look like something Cruella Devile would wear.
I don’t know how formal you guys are going but Anne Taylor and J Crew sometimes have some nice stuff.
My mom is also an “in between”. Check out Evening Wear/Mother of the Bride section of Jovani.
http://www.jovani.com/overview.php?col=evening
My mom got one at a bridal salon in the area. It’s a Jasmine Jade line piece. http://www.jasminebridal.com/html/en/web1_jade_3_a.asp?id=168 I think some lines allow you to choose your length too. I haven’t seen much at Macy’s this year that’s appropriate for a wedding unless you want a 3-tone piece but Nordstrom’s had some nice ones too.
I’m a (petite) mother of the bride, who did not want that matronly look, nor the vampy look. I looked all over, too, and found my dress, a Montage, by Mon Cheri, at a bridal shop. It is a sheath with a sheer jacket in the same fabric, but unlined. It is embroidered all over in the same color as the fabric, available in many colors, with beading. A bit sparkly, but not slutty.
My momis also very petite and she found her dress at Kleinfelds during a Steven Yearick truck show. He personally fitted her and made adjustments (less back and front cleavage). It was beautiful and fit her perfectly.
is that a Bush mother in that one pic?
Anywho…my mom found one at http://www.barriepace.com
But wait — these dress selections need captions, a la Miss Lovebug’s recent hilarious lingerie collection post!
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Miss Peppermint, LA/Palm Springs Age and Occupation: 23, Actress Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Web Producer Engagement Date: October 21, 2006 Wedding Date: December 2007 Blogging Since: July 2, 2007 Venue: historic estate overlooking the heart of Palm Springs About Me: I am a Southern California native who enjoys cooking, writing, travel and all things in the arts. Mr. Peppermint and I met in college and he proposed on our four year anniversary in one of our most special places, Joshua Tree National Park. We're having a destination wedding in Palms Springs that will incorporate tradition as well as reflect our personalities!
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