For the Mother of the Bride, and Mother of the Groom, your child’s wedding is the best excuse for a special new outfit. Here are some of the latest Mother of the Bride dresses, radiating elegance, in some of this season’s most sophisticated styles.
Mother of the Bride Styles
As the Mother of the Bride or Groom, you are an important part of the bridal party and will, no doubt, want your outfit to reflect this. Most Mothers of the Bride and Groom wear a mid-length dress and jacket or coat, with a hat or fascinator, often with a co-ordinating bag and shoes. You don’t have to wear a dress though, you could choose a two-piece comprising a blouse and skirt or a trouser suit. Accessorise in your own personal style, with a new silk scarf and jewellery if your budget allows. If you like to be different, you could even wear a stylish jumpsuit if you want to! A patterned top and wide leg can be a flattering style, simply add a jacket if you want to cover your tummy or arms.
Navy Blue Jumpsuit with Lace Top and Flared Trousers
Mother of the Bride Dresses in Blue
No matter what the chosen theme of the wedding might be, it’s still important to some brides for there to be a ‘something blue’. Blues come in so many different shades, from palest baby blue and pastel powder blue to bright royal blue and deep French navy.
Navy Blue Petal Pattern Dress with Matching Coat
Take the wedding colour scheme as your foundation and find a shade that suits you. If you have blue eyes or cool colouring then most blues will suit your complexion but if you’re brown eyed with warmer skin tones then consider going for a warmer shade of cream to wear with a striking or smart shade of navy. This is our pick of the most stylish mother of the bride dresses in blue for this year.
Short Silky Dress with Matching Cape in China Blue
Collette dress and cape with LK Bennett clutch bag, both at John Lewis
The fluted sleeves of this navy lace top dress are very much in vogue this year, and a style that gives the illusion of covering up without actually covering skin completely. It’s very feminine and a flattering look for anyone who would rather cover their arms but don’t want to wear a jacket all day. Team with a hat, heels and clutch bag for a classic look. Flat ballet style shoes or wedges will also look great with this dress if you don’t want to wear high heels.
Navy Blue Crepe and Lace Sheath Dress with Fluted Sleeves
Mother of the Bride Dresses in Red
Red dresses make such a bold statement, so wear red if you want to stand out, especially if the wedding colour scheme is based around the colour red. Striking reds in shades of scarlet, claret or a deeper bergundy are perfect for bright and sunny summer or destination weddings, and will add a splash of colour to the day. Red shades suit those with warmer skin tones and those with brown eyes. If you have cooler colouring but want to wear red try a scarlet red as opposed to an orange based shade.
Red Piped Neck-tie Dress with Fitted White Sparkle Jacket
Neutral Mother of the Bride Dresses
Neutral shades of beige and grey, or metallics like silver, gold and bronze can be very sophisticated and you can be sure they won’t clash with any other colours. You might not instantly associate these colours with a wedding, but it’s actually the perfect neutral that complements most colours, in the right shade.
Beige Lace Coat and Silk Scarf
Wearing grey will ensure your outfit doesn’t clash with anyone else’s and you could add a little sparkle with light-catching jewellery or crystal accessories. If you feel grey makes you look a little ‘washed out’, team it with a brighter colour around your face like an ivory blouse, or for a real statement, a yellow or pink hat. Avoid wearing top to toe ivory, off-white, white and even cream unless the bride is happy for you to match her.
Embroidered Floral Pattern Dress with Short Pale Blue Jacket
Embroidered Janice dress and short jacket, both at John Lewis
Embroidered dresses are so pretty and feminine. They add interest to any outift, making a hat or fascinator and other accessories unnecessary. Team with a plain, block coloured jacket, wrap, cardigan or coat and plain shoes and bag. One pattern is enough; sometimes less is more.
Embroidered Black Fit and Flare Dress
Mother of the Bride Outfits in Pink
Nothing says “love” like the soft, romantic shades of pink, making this a perfect colour for a wedding. Pink suits a variety of wedding themes, and most soft pastel shades will complement a vintage themed wedding beautifully. Combine with soft sage green or sophisticated navy blue for a more interesting look. For an often more flattering look, choose a patterned design that will add interest over a plain outift in all the same colour. A clutch bag in sparkly silver can be the ideal accompaniment to a pink outfit of any shade.
Pale Pink Floral Embroidered Top Dress with Low Back
Visit the Mother of the Bride section of Fashion to see more stunning designs by a variety of designers. And for more about the role please read On the Day Mother of the Bride Checklist.
