Since I am homebound, think it might be a good idea to start dismantling my CHRISTMAS decroations. YES, I still have them up. Even my tree. Do you think that just maybe my ornaments were trying to tell me something when I found two of my angels and three of my birds on the floor this morning!!!! Moving on........
I heard from a reader who is in a pickle over what to wear to her daughters wedding, she asked if I would consider doing a Which would you choose on Mothers of the Bride dresses, it is not the first time this has been requested so thought it was due time besides at one time or another God willing we will all be there!
Things have changed a lot seemingly, we have moved well beyond the shiny polyester looking dresses with the tiny bolero jackets to fit over them, that seemed to be the "uniform" for many mothers! Today's mothers are more fashion conscious than ever, and why not! Its a major milestone to be celebrating your child's wedding, why shouldn't you too look spectacular. Besides we all know today's 50+ something is yesterdays 20 year old (or is it 30)? lol
Some of these looks work if you are really svelte and if you are, then go for it! Some I would sew a little cap sleeve onto (have done that many times, its such an easy way to remedy a dress you fall in love with). So you know the drill....if you were the mother of a bride, which of these would be your choice?
Some feel black is not appropriate for a mother of the bride, but I threw a few black ones in as I have seen them worn more and more (not sure it would be my first choice but then again it is sooo slimming:) I changed it up for the seasons, some more appropriate for winter and others summery and springy looking, long sleeves, sleeveless, hopefully something for everyone! I look forward to seeing which you choose. Ready? Let's go........the church bells are ringing!
CHOICE 1
CHOICE 2
CHOICE 3
CHOICE 4
CHOICE 5
CHOICE 6
CHOICE 7
CHOICE 8
CHOICE 9
CHOICE 10
CHOICE 11
CHOICE 12
CHOICE 13
CHOICE 14
CHOICE 15
CHOICE 16
CHOICE 17
CHOICE 18
CHOICE 19
CHOICE 20
CHOICE 21
CHOICE 22
All gowns shown are from Neiman Marcus.
I love so many of these but have to say 1, 2, 3 15 and 22 (and its black)! really rock my world. If I had to choose just one this very minute, think I would go with 15, love the color and cut.
I love so many of these but have to say 1, 2, 3 15 and 22 (and its black)! really rock my world. If I had to choose just one this very minute, think I would go with 15, love the color and cut.
I personally favor the pinks, golds and lighter neutrals, they are fresh and elegant. But I would not rule out any color, I think if you fall in love with a dress and it feels great on.....that what wins in the end! Nothing wears as beautifully as confidence:) What about you? What are your thoughts? A poll has been set up but of course I always love to hear from you too.
A quick sidenote after I finished this post...spotted this on my Pinterest fashion board and this beauty could be a quick contender too....holy moly! From my "bud" Elie:)
If you missed all the excitement and some special offers (which expire tonight) about my online shop click here!
Don't forget pictures are now being taken for my KITCHEN LOVE contest. Details are below.....
My new contest is called Kitchen Love. A subject near and dear to our hearts, the heart of the home. Send in your pictures of your kitchen or it can be a snippet of your kitchen, something that makes your kitchen special and beautifully yours. I cannot wait to start getting the entries! Rules are-
Max. two pictures per entrant
They must be your pictures (not taken off the internet)
Please send your pictures to theenchantedhome@gmail.com
You must put Kitchen Love in subject line to insure it is received and included
I am accepting pictures as of today and the deadline is Feb. 8th
The contest will begin Feb. 10th and run for two days.
The lucky winner will receive this beautiful large Spanish olive tray, a gorgeous addition to any kitchen!
You can vote for up to four gowns...I know choosing just one is nearly impossible!
You can vote for up to four gowns...I know choosing just one is nearly impossible!
All of the dresses are just devine, but my favorite would be number 15...I love navy blue and its simple and classic look is definitely "me" yet it has a bit of flair to it as well. I would get a sparkly Judith Leiber type evening bag to add some bling to my ensemble!
ReplyDeleteReally you can't go wrong at Neiman's!!!
LOL I meant number 11! I was reading on my iPad without my glasses!
DeleteGood evening Tina!
ReplyDeleteOh let me tell you, I am FREEZING as I type! We didn't get much snow, but the wind is causing blizzard conditions with the snow we do have! I cannot get warm and we have the heater on, I have layers and I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO WORK TOMORROW!
Hugs my dear friend. Anita
Hi Tina I love these posts such fun. I am far from being the mother of the bride, but when I am I will be doing it in style! I love your suggestions, all very chic.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are 15, 22 and 20. All of them are so glamorous, the one you featured at the end that you found after is also a work of art.
Fun post. We also got some snow and it is beyond cold (Boston). I am ready for summer!
Leslie
So many beautiful dresses. I love 8. I think black is fine for a mother of the bride or groom. I agree confidence is always what its about. Great selection here. I have to visit Neiman Marcus, we have a destination family wedding in July in Lake Como, taly. Hope you are finally feeling better. Sounds awfully cold over there!
ReplyDeleteEvery one is fabulous but 1 and 2, those colors and silhouettes would make anyone look like a Queen and every mother of a bride (or groom) should feel like one! I love colors but must say the black, #22 is pretty hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! They are all lovely!! I am glad you picked such beautiful dresses for the mother of the bride she deserves o look stunning as well!!I agree love 22, 2 and 7.. but it was hard to choose because all are so great!!
ReplyDeleteTina, I could not agree with you more, I am so over the frigid temperatures. It is awful, a person doesn't even want to leave the house.
ReplyDeleteI hope you manage to get out a bit and if not settle in with a good book and enjoy a little leisure time.
As for your Christmas decorations, if you like them up leave them up. I still have a few out myself.
Have a great day!
They are all very young looking, many of them stunning on someone who is svelte. I just cannot fathom my 5'1" 89 year old mother in one of them, nor any of the heavier women I know who are over 50.
ReplyDeleteBut there ARE women who can pull it off!
So many pretties ! 3 if under. 50 years old and. 8 from age 50 up . My mom wore a very similar dress to my wedding. 10 years ago .
ReplyDeleteI think the Downton Abbey influence
ReplyDeleteis definitely showing up in formal fashion
and I.love.it!!! All so gorgeous. Makes
me (almost) look forward to being a mother
of the bride or groom.....someday. Must
get them through high school and college,
first : ) !!
Off to check out your shop. Stay warm!!
xo Suzanne
Stanley Marcus (of Neiman Marcus) would have said to wear #8, and that would be the appropriate choice for Dallas. Especially if the wedding's in a Church! Stay warm, Tina!!
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous gowns! Funny, I was just downtown (SF) about an hour ago and the Oscar de la Renta gown (#4) is in the window of Saks! It is beautiful in real life!
ReplyDeleteOoops! It's #3!
ReplyDeleteThese are all so lovely, it really is hard to choose. I like so many equally, but for different reasons. For my particular body type, 7 & 14 would be the most flattering, so I'd have to give them my vote. I've actually tried on 4 and 11, but they didn't end up being what I ended up with.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is getting married in June, and one of the first dresses she picked out via the Internet was an Ellie Saab. It looked beautiful on line, but in person it was quite disappointing, especially considering it was $12,000. It literally looked like rags were placed on the dress in ribbon like designs. I agree many of Saab's designs are stunning, but on this one the ball was most definitely dropped.
Oh my!! Such beautiful dresses! I can relate as I had a very difficult time as few years ago trying to find a dress for my daughter's wedding. Either they were so matronly or they were too young- with spaghetti straps etc. I finally found a beautiful Tadashi for my daughter's wedding. Are all of these dresses Ellie Saab"s?. I am definitely going to follow her designs as I have another daughter who will be getting married in the very near future. It was so hard to choose my favorite but I think 21 would fit the bill as it is so unusual and enhances that colors that my daughter is leaning towards.
ReplyDeleteI didn't t realise that evening dresses were worn for weddings in the States. A far cry from big hats and dresses with matching coats in the UK. They are beautiful dresses but I suppose care should be taken not to outshine the bride!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog. I am in the UK and find the cultural differences interesting, though I have friends in the US and I know weddings are very different. I WAS the mother of the bride two years ago and wore a dress and coat made by Emilia Wickstead with a big hat by Gina Foster. If the wedding is in a church, followed by a late afternoon/evening reception, it would be unusual to see a mother of the bride in a long dress (unless she hates her legs) and even more unusual for it to be a full-blown evening gown. Men wear morning suits and I have never been to a wedding with men in black tie. The dresses you have selected are beautiful indeed, by the way, but if you ever come to a wedding here, check the dress code carefully! I agree with the previous post that the rule of thumb is not to outshine the bride! Or, as the old saying goes 'don't scare the horses'!
ReplyDeleteOn another cultural difference, Christmas decorations here are taken down by 6th January (12th night). If you see any decorations still up after that date here, you can be sure they are not British (perhaps a sweeping generalisaton). Old superstitions reign. I do know of someone who went off on holiday on 26th December and they were not returning until after 6th Jan and they paid someone to take the decorations down for them while they were away!
Once again, I do love your blog - it is a window on a different and very beautiful world. You inspire me to make things more beautiful in my own home!
1, 12, 15 and 18
ReplyDeleteTina I actually was a mother of the bride last summer (step mother) and if I had seen 3 or 15 I would have bought them in a minute. Those are to die for! I did go with a beautiful pink gown from Saks by Badgley Mischka which I loved too. I think black is fine for a mother of the bride as all rules seem to have gone out the window.
ReplyDeleteI am going to send this post to a good friend whose son is getting married in September and she is just starting to think about dresses for her sons black tie wedding, this post would be a great place for her to start. Thank you!
Firstly what a gorgeous varied selection of styles and colours. Something for everyone but I tend to favour neutrals and would therefore choose numbers 8 and 10.
ReplyDeleteTina i have to say you have superb fashion sense, do you have a fashion background? I love your picks both here and on other fashion posts especially your Golden Globes "do overs". I worked for many years as the head of the personal buying dept for Saks Fifth Avenue so dressed many mother of brides and grooms while I was there. You are right there are virtually no more rules anymore except no white still prevails.
ReplyDeleteToday's mother is much more modern and much more fit, which means they have bodies they want to dress for. There are so many I love here but standouts for me would be 1 (great color and fit), 2 (fabulous color and great that it has sleeves for someone not wanting to bare their arms) 3 is just "queen like" (would love that dress for myself) if you were going with black 22 is sensational and for someone who wants a more demure, more conservative but equally beautiful look, the gray numer 8 is a stunner.
You picked so many winners. I attended a wedding in Chicago in Nov. and the mother of the bride ( a former model who is beautiful) wore a dress almost like the red Oscar up there and it was showstopping. Great post. Stay warm- brrrrr.
Hi Tina we have been watching NBC news reports on how deep the snow is, must say it does look very pretty but I wouldn't cope with the cold, I already sit on top of the heater during our winters. How do you choose from so many lovely dresses well I couldn't get past no. 14 it looks so elegant and the colour is perfect. Thank you for sharing. Regards Esther from Sydney.
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful choices but I believe I'm choosing 15 for the arm coverage, yes needing that now! We flew in to Washington, DC in a huge snowstorm and like you, I'm ready for it to end. Beautiful, but so hard to get around and like you frigid (9 degrees) temperatures!!
ReplyDeleteOMG! I love them ALL.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got married back in 1983, my mother looked like Little Bo Peep in comparison. LOL!
If it is any comfort, it is 27 degrees here this morning and everybody is crabby. So we feel your pain.
Stay warm and take care, A.
TIna my favorites are #1 and #19. #2 is gorgeous and I love the color, though I can see my daughter in law gasping at that slit high up the thigh!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
What choices! I think the mother (and I've done this twice) needs to be classy and well... classy! Leave the deep cuts and bare legs to the bridesmaids. I adore long classic lines. My last dress was very similar to #10, but navy, the bride's color choice for me. So fun Tina!
ReplyDeleteOoooo I really like dress #12. It is my favorite! My next choices would be dress # 6 and 10! Really great choices though.
ReplyDeleteMadly in love with 2 and 3. Just beautiful in every way, elegant and youthful but tasteful. I am still years away from being a mother of a bride but when I do, I want something just like these! I also think black is fine but it wouldn't' be my personal first choice in color. I like pinks and nudes for a mother of the bride. Tina, its below 0 here and everything is pure ice. I am so excited we are leaving for the Bahamas tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely selection of beautiful gowns Tina, and such fun to dream of being the mother-of-the-bride. Here in England we wear an attire called 'morning suit' for weddings, which calls for a more formal ladies outfit with huge hat, something one would choose for Royal Ascot - and I have many!! :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough (not having been a bride myself ) I have always dreamed of a late afternoon or evening wedding...black tie or white tie and tails..... elegant and sophisticated....mmm Fred Astaire. In which case it would have to be 14....or Elie Saab of course
Hope you have some sunshine to go with the snowy day,stay warm!
My son is getting married in 2 months and I am 51 years old. It was important to me to select a gown that looked elegant but not matronly.. I remember seeing a lot of these gowns in your post when I was searching for my dress. They are lovely so it makes it difficult to choose .. I think it is important to find a dress that you feel good wearing and is suitable for your body type. I am so excited about wearing the gold/bronze colored Tadashi gown that I purchased at Saks for my son's wedding. As always, great post. Love your blog!
ReplyDelete#22. I don't think the MOB should compete for attention. It's really all about the bride and bridesmaids, for me. Some of your choices are so glamourous I would love them for any black-tie function. I know my daughter would not have wanted me in strapless. My son would not have noticed what I wore, however. That red number is really to-die-for awesome. xx's
ReplyDeleteTina my favorite without question is 15. I love the color, the fit, everything. I work hard to stay in shape so I would want something that accentuates my "hard work' but still being tasteful and elegant. A close 2nd would be 16 and 19, love that shape and since my arms are my best feature, that short cap sleeve works well for me. To answer your question about black for a mother of the bride, I do not personally like it, there are too many beautiful colors than to settle on black.
ReplyDeleteThat last dress, the Elie Saab you found is a work of art. Thank you for this post. I am saving it.My son just got engaged at Christmas and they are looking for a spring 2015 wedding which we are considering having at our home in Santa Barbara. If we did we would host a sundown affair and it would be cocktail attire, maybe you could do a post on that option too? Only if you need an idea, I bet others would love to see your take on that style too. Love when you post on fashion. Hope things thaw out over there very soon for you.
I love the Black, #22! I would consider removing the black sash and lightening it up with cream or a color. All beautiful dresses!!!
ReplyDeleteI will take #10 #21. love them all but these are my choices. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteCan I just commiserate for a minute. It's so darn cold that it's sapping my energy. Or maybe it's a ski weekend (I'd rather be at the beach) followed by 2 not quite full days of school. Ok…enough whining. Just wanted you to know that I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteLove this Would you Rather!!!!! So many gorgeous dresses. You really do know how to pick them!
Stay warm, Tina!
xoxo Elizabeth
I am helping a friend find a MOB dress. It is a tricky thing. I think the color all depends on the colors in the wedding as well as what looks best on the MOM. I think it should be classic and modest. I have seen MOB dresses that actually compete with the bride. Really fun post!
ReplyDeleteYou found some fabulous options, for what can be a very challenging situation. #1 got my vote, although several of them could just as easily been my choice, lots and lots of eye candy here!
ReplyDeleteHave a splendid weekend,
tp
11 is for me!!!! all i have to do to rock it is grow 6 inches!
ReplyDeletemichele
p.s.
i read that first sentence of yours as 'good friggin evening.' i gotta hit the hay. :)
So many beautiful options. i agree a mother of the bride dress has come a long way, and now they are much more sophisticated. I love 1, 2 and 3 and then 21 and 22. Obviously i have a hard time deciding. I love the black but don't think as a mother of a bride I would wear it. i think the single most important thing is finding a dress you feel great in and that flatters. My own mother, a marathon runner is in incredible shape so for my wedding 12 years ago she wore a beautiful fitted Carolina Hererra dress that looked so amazing on her. I wanted my mother to shine, to me there is no such thing as outshining a bride. A bride will always be up on a pedestal in her beautiful white dress. I wanted everyone around me to look and feel their personal best.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty choices, Tina. Stay warm here in Chicago the cold is just cranking up with more snow on the way.
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have bookmarked you to check out new stuff you post.
ReplyDeleteBulk SMS Service Provider in ORISSA
I'm so in love with 1, 12, 15. But my personal favorite is definitely 15. It's elegant and stylish and the colour is stunning!
ReplyDeleteCarpet cleaners Camden
Love number 19! So pretty with the sheer top and blue accents! How fun!
ReplyDeleteHi!!!
ReplyDeleteI love what my friend did for her daughter's wedding!!!
She wore the Jackie O pink and navy blue suit with the pink pillbox hat to the ceremony and then went home to change into a beautiful elegant long blue(the blue in #7) dress for the supper and the dance!!
My favorite is #14!!! Oh my goodness I'm so in love with PINK!!!!!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Pam
these are best one full solder dress. i also like such types of dress.
ReplyDeleteCap Sleeve Mother of the Bride Dresses