Mother of the Bride Outfit Ideas

It's a tricky balance to get right, dressing as mother of the bride. You don't want to go down the Raquel Welch path - she showed so much eye-popping cleavage at her son's wedding that all cameras were focused on her, leaving the bride hurt and seething. On the other hand, you don't want to fade into the background or be super-mumsy. Nothing wrong with a little glamour!

First, get the foundations right. If you're curvy, invest in some "magic pants" to give you a fabulous, smooth silhouette. Check out our Wedding Day Secrets! - a range of Magic Slimshorts and a Magic Waist Nipper to smooth out all those lumps and bumps! And get measured for a new bra to make sure your bust looks its best. If you're wearing a dress, avoid anything too frilly and flowery, and go for chic and elegant - a shift or a bias-cut. Jasper Conran and Amanda Wakeley produce some wonderfully simple and classic designs. If your daughter's having bridesmaids, choose a dress that complements what they're wearing without exactly matching the colour.

                                     Magic Slimshorts                                         Jessica bridal shoes

You'll be standing about a lot, so don't wear skyscraper heels unless you're an ex-catwalk model. It'll be a long, emotional and tiring day, and you won't want your shoes to cause you grief. Stick to an pretty court shoe with a modest two-inch heel - check out our range of super-elegant heeled wedding shoes - and slip in a pair of Scholl Party Feet, gel cushions which will help take away the pressure.

To hat or not to hat? Wearing an elaborate chapeau can look a bit like you're spending a day at the races, and you'll want to take it off anyway when you sit down to eat. Why not consider a hair fascinator instead? This is more like a hair accessory than a hat, much easier to keep wearing all day, and there are some really pretty designs - something like our hair fascinator marabou is perfect for the mother of the bride. Elegant but not over the top. It won't flatten your wedding hairdo, either.

             Victoria bridesmaid dress     Beatrice bridesmaid dresses   Hair fascinator - sinamay loops      

Carrying a bouquet will prove cumbersome. Ask instead for a corsage that you can wear on your dress, or a wrist corsage that will leave your hands free. And try to keep your bag small and unobtrusive - all you need is a lipstick, a mirror and a lot of tissues!

For more style advice and hints and tips for the mother of the bride, check out our other mother of the bride articles on our wedding information pages. They're an must read for all mothers of the bride (as well as brides-to-be) and we're are adding to them all the time. As for your daughter, why not suggest that she take a look at Henry Kaye's complete range of stunning wedding shoes (for brides, bridesmaids and pageboys too!), stylish pageboy outfits, gorgeous bridesmaid dresses, and exquisite wedding bags and wedding accessories.