My Mom, the Clotheshorse
May 29th, 2008 @ 1:39 pm by Mrs. Hummingbird
The lady rocking the 1980s perm and pearls is my mom. The little gremlin shoving food in its mouth is me (some things never change.)
I love buying dresses. Being as tall as I am, dresses tend to be one of the few clothing items I can buy without any fuss or muss, so when I see one I like and it fits, I go for it.
For our wedding and wedding related events, I have purchased no less than four - count ’em four - dresses for myself, including my super awesome wedding gown. My mother, upon hearing this teased and scolded me and told me that it was silly to buy so many dresses as oftentimes, I get very enthused and then go on a dress buying rampage, only to leave the earlier purchased ones sitting unworn in the closet. (Totally guilty - I still have a dress I purchased for my FIL’s wedding sitting in my closet from 3 years ago 
)
However, on Saturday at my shower, my mom pulled me aside and said she had to tell me something. Confused by the secrecy, I asked her what was up and she admitted her shameful truth - she had bought three different dresses for our wedding.
I had known about two prior to this admission as I had been at the Banana Republic in Buffalo with her when she bought them (on sale! $75 for two super cute dresses!), but had figured that it would stop there. Little did I know that, after our little shopping trip, she had continued looking, only to come across another dress she liked at Jacob, a nice clothing store up here in Canada.
Picture courtesy of www.jacob.ca - Her dress looks like this, but is plum coloured.
Anyway, after I finished teasing her about being a hyprocrite and assured her she would have places to wear all three (we’re having a rehearsal dinner and a small family only breakfast the morning after), I felt really touched that, after her initial “I don’t want to be involved in this hoopla” reaction, my mom was so excited to be a part of our big day.
Since buying a dress is a big part for moms and since I love hearing a good dress story, I’m curious - has your mom bought her dress/dresses for your big day yet? Did you go shopping with her? What is she wearing?
Related Posts
12 Responses to “My Mom, the Clotheshorse”
That’s really cute. My mom is still searching… and looking for a mid-calf-length, short-sleeve dress that is hip but not too hip. With a month til the wedding, I’m starting to get doubtful, but I’m going to stay out of it.
That dress from Jacob (love that store!!) looks so pretty and appropriate! I bet plum will look so pretty on her colo(u)ring.
My mom HATES shopping with a passion. Her mom passed away when I was 7 and loved shopping, so sadly I never got to fully experience that. My mom wears pants all the time, so I’d like to help her find an unfussy pants outfit including a dark teal color that would go with my colors and, more importantly, look awesome on her. Unfortunately, we live 1000 miles apart and have polar opposite tastes, so I’m not sure how it’s going to work. I’m going to visit my parents next week and might have to parent-nap my mom and whisk her off to the mall…
Mom bought the dress before we were even engaged! She had an opportunity to get a very nice dress, so called me asking what my colors would be if I were to get married so she could coordinate. Luckily, it worked out! My FMIL was so excited she got a jump on the shopping as well and is actually having a dress made.
I’ve been on a bit of a spree myself… in addition to several sundresses for the honeymoon, my closet has had to find room for a rehearsal dinner dress, shower dress and yet another dress (event TBD). Like Penguin’s post from the other day - it has been a total invasion of the strapless dresses!
That is the cutest baby pic!!! And they have Jacob’s here too! I love the simplicity of all their clothes. Your mom is going to look great. Plum is a fantastic color.
my mom was like that too at first and now she has bought 3 dresses, but says she can use them for something else if she doesn’t wear one to my wedding.
oh and she also had that attitude “why are you buying a dress? you still have so much time!” my mom doesn’t like throwing parties or all that hoopla like you said. so she’s not too involved.
oh and wow you and your mom look so much alike when she was younger.
My mom and I went shopping without any luck– her figure just makes it hard to find flattering dresses. Then we found a jacket she’d borrowed from a friend that was perfect, and an old formal skirt of mine that matched exactly and could be tailored down to her size. Yay! Except the tailor made a horrible mess of it, so back to the drawing board.
She ended up borrowing an outfit that one of her friends had worn to HER kid’s wedding. Looked great, and it was kind of a tradition– this same friend had lent Mom her wedding gown when Mom got married!
I tease my mom that her outfit for my wedding cost more than mine.
Hum,
First, can I say how CUTE you were as a tyke, and how much you look like your mother?!?
Okay, so for my sister’s November ‘07 wedding, I helped my mom with her attire. Let me tell you, it was no picnic. This woman — who normally NEVER orders online — bought item after item from any and every catalog that crept into the house: Nordstrom’s, Bloomindale’s, Neiman Marcus, JCrew, Talbots. SO not kidding here.
Each item would come, get tried on, and subsequently returned, because my mom was looking for something OTHER than the traditional MOB outift — or, as we Philly gals like to call it “Mummer of the Bride.” 
Finally, when we talked about WHAT she wanted, I did some research online and found some great options in the Watters and Watters bridesmaid line.
She ended up going with this style, in black and dolce de leche — a great complement to the chocolate brown BM dresses.
http://watters.com/product.php?coll=watters&showid=478
Now that it’s my turn, I WANT to help her…but am hoping my sister’ll step in to return the favor first!
My mum has not yet bought her dress but she has been looking. There is a slight theme brewing, all the special ladies in my life going for jewel colours, so that’s her inspiration.
Mrs. Hummingbird, Toronto
Age and Occupation: 25, Publishing Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Videogame Designer/Cartoonist
Engagement Date: May 4, 2007
Wedding Date: June 28, 2008
Blogging Since: September 18, 2007
Venue: A garden wedding followed by a tented reception on Mr. Hummingbird's father's property.
About Me: I’m a pop culture loving, vintage obsessed foodie living in Canada’s biggest city with my fantastic fiancé and our lovable fluffy cat Bettie. I’m stoked to marry my best friend and to throw what I hope will be
the most fun and colourful party of our lives.
how sweet!
no, my mother has not bought her dress. she has not looked…or even surfed online. my fmil seems to be itching to buy her dress. in fact, i got a call from the FI this morning regarding this exact fact. his mother wants to know if my mother will be calling her about attire.
i plan to go shopping with her…soon as i can inspire her that its best to go shopping NOW and not wait until last minute so she can have plenty of time to find the perfect dress on sale….
i’ll probably have to go with the fmil bc she self admittedly has no fashion sense or style.