Wedding Blog

Fall issues of fashion magazines and runway shows are my favorite, and lately they’ve been really helpful. Like other young, cool, and fashionable mother of the brides, my mom and Mr. C’s mom were really lamenting the lack of nice dresses out there. They both want something that’s elegant but not matronly, yet not too sexy. Except the criteria differs in that my mom is very small and petite and Mr. C’s mom is quite tall (like Mr. C!)

My mom prefers a short tea length dress, which may not work since the bridesmaids are wearing tea length dresses, and the last thing I want is for her to look like a bridesmaid. We shopped around at a few bridal stores but didn’t find anything. Then we browsed through my latest issue of W and found a lot ideas. Though most of them are couture or runway gowns, we could probably have them custom fitted and made in similar styles for a lot less.

Here’s what we found (most images scanned from September 07’s W magazine unless otherwise noted)…

A beautiful dress from Carmen Marc Valvo. I love the pleats, but mom is worried that this dress might overwhelm her small frame. I love the deep red color as well.

This one is mom’s favorite. It’s from Moschino and it’s the perfect length and tailoring. My mom is very conservative about how much she likes to show on top, i.e. the shoulders and cleavage. The vintage cut is also a plus. The ad is for Neiman Marcus, but I can’t seem to find it on their site.

Another great Moschino that my mom and I found while strolling Saks. The sleeves + straps were a compromise for her fear of revealing too much, and the shape would work well with her petite figure (if we shortened the hem a little). My mom absolutely loved this one but alas, balked upon seeing the $1,500+ price tag.

Image from www.nymag.com

One final Moschino. This would be great as well, simple yet elegant, but again close to $1,500.

Image from www.net-a-porter.com

Some picks from Mr. C’s mom, who found a clipping of the yellow Tuleh dress below in the Boston Globe. She liked the one in yellow, though it was a bit sheer, she loved the airiness and chiffon fabric… with a July wedding she wants to stay cool.

Another Tuleh option in red. Does anyone know which department stores carry Tuleh? I’ve been having a hard time finding one online, and therefore have no idea of pricing. Mr. C’s mom will probably have hers custom made as well.

Images from www.nymag.com

Next up, two dresses from Donna Karan. I like the dark navy color in the first one and the bias cut top is also very different. The second one didn’t scan so well, but I LOVE the color. My mom would never be caught dead in yellow, but I think it’s modern and stylin. Hot!

Last but not least a true classic Dior. This might be more on the matronly side, but it’s still very elegant. I personally think it leans more towards classic than matronly. Mom loves the color and the embroidery, but the off-the-sholder top bothers her a bit.

If there’s one person who I really want comfortable at the wedding, it’s my mom. I also want her to buy something that she feels fabulous in since she didn’t have wedding or wear a wedding gown when she got married. At my wedding, I really want her to feel special.

Where were some places you looked for mother of the bride dresses? Have you considered having them custom made? If so, any suggestions for a good dress maker in the Boston or New York area?