MOB style- does common sense go out of the window?

I look like a man in drag if I wear anything resembling MOB outfits! For daughter's wedding I had white wide leg linen trousers, pale blue linen tunic, white sandals and definitely NO HAT. and what is it with 'fascinators'? Ridiculous. Either wear a hat or don't.

I found a summer dress I liked in Phase Eight and asked my daughter if she thought I looked okay in it. Bought a matching cardigan and shoes and job done for about £100. As long as the bride is happy with what her mum is wearing then it's nothing to do with anyone else.

I've had my MoG outfit for 19 (yes!) years now. Saw it in a sale. Magic. However, as of yet, the occasion has not arisen to give it an airing. I try it on from time to time and still love it - particularly now that I've returned to the original weight. Neither S knows about this and I haven't given up on a big day for one or both of them. Same outfit would be worn to both, by the way. Optimism is the name of the game for me.

I attended my sons only wedding and wore a mob dress which the assistant said I looked fabulous. Only seeing pictures on some digital camera of me at wedding I got changed for reception
I looked overly dressed turkey and from looking nothing really matched.
I changed into skirt suit blouse and jazzy type jacket and got loads of compliments
I had that lapse from the advice of a blind shop assistant

I went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and the MOG looked sensational. She's about 70, white hair, prob size 12, and wore a two piece in pale mushroom lace, knee length. Really on trend!

MoB once and MoG once, loved every minute of finding beautiful outfits for both occasions. DD and DDinL obviously stars of the day, but I wanted to show I'd made some effort. I suppose it helps that I love clothes shopping.

Problem with buying outfits in UK for weddings in warmer climates is the materials and design are not meant for warm climates. You need natural fabrics like cotton, silk or linen without synthetic lining which will stick to you. Loose sleeves if you need a sleeve and scooped necklines. If your legs aren't too good, wear a longer loose skirt or flowing pants as tights will be very uncomfortable.

When DS1 was to be married in NZ there were packing concerns to consider. Looked in a few Bridal type shops and was appalled by the garments offered. Frumpy? The word doesn't cut it. I am a free spirited girl - I think I was about 60 at the time, so off I trotted to an 'alternative' shop where I found a brilliant navy blue long dress, cut on the bias with fantastic double layering that meant I could wear it in several different styles. Can be worn dressed up or plain. Cost? About £60. And I wear it frequently. I was not prepared to be trussed up like a stuffed turkey for which I would be expected to pay loads of money that I did not have. Yes, loads of compliments.

I have been a MOB twice and didn’t spend a fortune on either, I liked it and so did my daughters. I am of the very (Controversial) opinion that people would be far too busy looking at the brides than to notice my outfit in more than a passing way.

I agonised over what to wear for my son's wedding, and in the course of several visits to shops offering 'mother of the bride' outfits, one shop tried to sell me a very flouncy dress in black lace costing in excess of £600! When I said I didn't want to wear black for my son'e wedding, the saleswoman got quite angry, and when I was changing almost ripped a necklace she'd insisted on lending me off my neck! In the end, I got a floral number from Dawn French's company which was much more wedding-y and cost a fraction of that.

To be honest, I think some companies just see a huge sales opportunity cos people feel nervous about looking good at their child's wedding. As someone else has said, nobody is really looking at the families during the wedding!

I hate it that MOB’s are supposed to wear the shift dress and bolero jacket “uniform”.
When my daughter got married, last year, I wore a beautiful ( although I will admit rather pricey); silk and cashmere, orientalist style coat. I had a dressmaker make up a top and trousers which perfectly matched the colours in the coat. I didn’t wear a hat, but did wear silk orchids in the back of my hair. I had so many compliments.
I felt special, but also extremely comfortable, and I think that’s what it’s all about.
I am also hoping to be able to wear the coat again over the coming years.
I look back on the wedding photographs and I am still really pleased with my choice - as is my daughter.

As MoG, it never occurred to me to 'dress up' for DS's wedding. I had a simple shirt-waist style dress with a jacket the same colour as the pattern on the dress, a neutral hat from Accessorise and pretty but low-ish heeled cream shoes. The hat sold on Ebay for more than it cost!
Frankly, does it really matter if you don't stand out as long as you feel comfortable?

When my daughter got married 17 years ago her wedding ensemble, including shoes cost £100, (traditional wedding dress bought from a friend who never wore it.), the fit was perfect.
As well as MOB I "gave her away" but couldn't find a suitable outfit.
Fastforward to the Wednesday before the big day and a chance visit to a local charity shop and I came away with a coral coloured skirt and jacket, labels still attached.
My own sandals, borrowed tshirt, silver necklace, no hat, and my outfit was complete. Total cost £10.
For my sisters wedding 4 years ago, a beautiful grey flowered silk dress from Monsoon, cost £12 from another charity shop. Worn again for my nephews wedding.
I'm thrifty, anything over £10 for a wear once dress is a no-no.

I've been a MOB and a MOG and on each occasion I selected my own outfit, neither being from the MOB section. Gut instinct told me they suited me and would be comfortable to wear. Fortunately the AC agreed. On both occasions the other MOB and MOG wore more traditional outfits and they looked fine too, just not my style. The important thing is that the bride and groom have a great day.

A friend asked if she could borrow my MOB red silk trouser suit so it was admired at two weddings.

Appalling typing! Posting with a hangover!

Posted before I was ready.......
I bight an old gold lace Berkatex dress for £90. And teamed it with an Ebay faux fur jacket (Went with the Winter Theme) and Ebay pale gold shoes and bag and an Accessorise hatinator. Budget was very limited. Didn't look too bad, a bit frumpy! But think that is my size more than anything! Most outfits are indeed overpriced and very Queen mum!

Mist Mob outfits are so aging! Its hard to get it right!

As long as the person wearing the outfit is happy in her attire, I can't see what the problem is.

2 of my 3 AC are married, number 3 is aiming for the next year. I find MOB shops, so OTT that’s prices and styles, and the assistants must be on commission, as even when you say you are not keen or sure on an outfit they then go OTT telling you how wonderful you look. I spent a fortune on my 1st MOG outfit, a stunning 3 piece, but have actually had quite a bit of wear from it, another 2 weddings, Ladies Day at Ascot, evening wear on a Cruise etc For my next MOB outfit I just gave up, found a fabulous designer outfit on Pinterest, then had a dressmaker whip it up for me a lot cheaper. Cannot start looking for number 3 yet until I know season and location !

Looking at pictures of Stephen Hawking’s Memorial Service yesterday there were a couple of dreadful MOB outfits- totally inappropriate and frankly awful ?

My friend's son got married recently. She looked amazing, another Gran commented that it looked liked a society wedding.
She paid a total of £20 for the whole outfit, by going round charity shops. After the wedding, she sold the outfit on eBay for more than she paid for it. That is clever!?

PS, I misunderstood the origonal post and thought MOB style was some new kind of fashion style, I hadn't heard of. ?

There are some absolutely dreadful MOB outfits in the shops. It’s almost become a sort of dreary uniform. I remember trying to find MOB and MOG outfits and what a nightmare it was.

Settled on something nice and floaty and a bit unconventional on both occasions and looking back at old photos I think I chose well.

MargaretX I decide when I was about 8, that if I ever got married , the last thing I wanted was the classic white wedding with me in the classic DRESS.

There was some negotiation with my parents and in the end I married in a white mini-dress, with a white snood (old fashioned meaning) on my head, very fashionable in 1968.

My thought would be to choose the shoes first. I would need them to be comfortable and would want them to be stylish too. Then I would see what dress/ trousers/ jacket would work. Needless to say, I am suggesting this with the benefit of hindsight. It’s not what I actually did as a Mob!

I never wanted a white dress and veil and married in a dress and coat a week before Christmas. I wore that outfit for the following Christening and for as long as it still fitted.

As MOB I just bought a lovely skirt and a silk bouse/top for a summer wedding where DD2 was also not wearing a white dress.

Not only the mothers don't look their best the brides often don't. They never practice walking and the groom walks far too fast and half drags his wife along as she in in high heels and he is used to her walking in trainers.
What waste of money.

If I were giving advice I'd say choose a hat first and if that is really flattering then it doesn't really matter what the dress is like, keep it simple.