Mother-of-the-bride styling tips: five easy steps to the perfect wedding outfit

It’s the biggest day of your daughter’s life, you want to look your very best, but getting the perfect mother-of-the-bride outfit together can be just as stressful as picking out “the dress” for the bride. So where do you start? We’ve put together some helpful hints and tips for mother-of-the-bride style:
Dress age and shape appropriate
Strive for elegant and confident rather than sexy. You are there to support your daughter on her big day, not upstage her.
As a starting point, dress with the venue in mind. If it’s a super-formal affair go for a sharply tailored look in bright colours. If it’s more traditional, go for a classic dress in pastels or neutral colours with matching accessories. Make sure you focus on the fit and get the right size.
If there is a mismatch in your top and bottom half, go for a suit or skirt-and-top combo. If in doubt, a tunic-style dress can also be a great option, which is flattering for everyone.
Fascinate with a fascinator or head for the big hat?
It’s the one day that you can get away with a great big, statement hat, so why not go for it? Well, they are not for everyone and you don’t want to obscure the photos.
If you feel confident, wear a hat, but if not, don’t let it spoil a wonderful day; go for a fascinator which matches your outfit.
Simple shoes
Christian Dior said “You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes. Too many women think that they are unimportant, but the real proof of an elegant woman is what is on her feet.” We couldn’t agree more.
If you’ve gone for a more subtle colour choice in the dress or suit, then strong colours for shoes and bag options can accessorise well. Also remember you are likely to be on your feet for a long time – for photos and on the dance floor – so avoid very high heels to prevent sinking into soft ground and to keep the balls of your feet fit for the first (and last) dance.
A bigger bag
A statement bag can complete any outfit. A slightly bigger clutch is useful to fit all of the essentials in, including your confetti or dried rose petals, some tissues and, if you’re in the UK, an umbrella.
On the big day, lots of time can be spent standing around outside waiting for people to arrive or photos to be taken, so it’s handy to have a bag that’s big enough to fit in a wrap, shrug or pashmina, to keep you from getting cold.
Just jewellery
A matching necklace and earring set is a simple, stylish way of setting off your wedding outfit. Many mother-of-the-bride fashion advice articles also advocate pearls, with the length dependent on your neckline. Brooches are also making a comeback, but wear with caution as you don’t want to overdo it.
And finally…
Your daughter’s wedding is not the best time to try a complete new look – so just be confident and comfortable in the outfit you choose.
Handy hint: many fashion retailers’ websites include ‘Mother of the Bride’ edits, where you can shop dresses, suits, hats, shoes and accessories all in one place. Check out some of our favourite mother-of-the-bride collections at John Lewis, Phase Eight, House of Fraser, Jacques Vert and Chesca.