Dressing My Mom: Success!

When we returned from Burning Man (stopped by my parents' house to retrieve our car) my mom surprised us with good news.

Her news? She (and my aunt) had found her a dress for our wedding! Best part? Her outfit didn't cost a small fortune. So, here's what she'll be wearing - the quintessential little black dress with a black jacket.

INC International Concepts $89 (on sale for $69.99)

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Dressing My Mom: Take Two

I thought dresses for the Bridesmaids would be the most difficult fashion task I'd face. Wrong.

Turns out it's almost next to impossible to find an elegant, stylish Mother of the Bride dress that doesn't scream wedding that meets both Mom's and my criteria. The first outfit didn't work - pleats on the sleeves were tacked at side seams and caught easily and the collar stood up.

What we want:

• Jacket
• Collar that lays flat
• Three quarter- or full-length sleeves
• Modest neckline
• A-line skirt
• No crepe or chiffon
• Matte finish
• Nothing that screams Alexis Carrington Colby

Here's what we've found:

Designer: Caterina

Style: 5015 $250

Designer: Sean Collection

Style: 7380 Lace Trim Gown & Jacket at FormalGallery.com $169

Cons: Neckline is too low; Has spaghetti straps

Designer: Cameron Blake

Style: 29670 $318

Cons: Neckline is too low; skirt is fitted, not A-line

Designer: Cameron Blake

Style: 26850 $318

Designer: Alyce Designs Jean De Lys
Style: 29270 $498
Cons: Expensive; Strapless

Designer: Chadwicks

Designer: Clifford Michael
Style: 63569, 63318, 63161 Lace Trim Gown & Jacket atWeddingChannel.com
Cons: Expensive; Seems more bridal than MOB; Has a stand collar

Designer: Cachet
Beaded Shantung Mock Two Piece Dress with Jacket

Designer: Alyce Designs Jean De Lys
Style: 29308 $398
Cons: Expensive; Frumpy; Skirt is fitted, not A-line

Style: 808 $480 from OnlyGowns.com
Cons: Expensive; Material looks cheap; Crepe

Anyone have suggestions on where to look for a non-traditional Mother of the Bride gown?

Dressing My Mom: The Inspiration

When we were looking for a dress for our bridesmaids, we came across these separates by Tadashi Shoji that I thought would be perfect for my mom.

In general my mom is pretty conservative in her dress. She likes jackets that she can wear tops under and longer skirts - those that hit mid-calf. I wanted to find something that was conservative but not frumpy and dressy enough for a semi-formal evening; the shimmer of the material which is similar to the material of the bridesmaids' dresses is what drew me to the Tadashi Shoji separates. I also liked the clean lines and simple detailing.

What's your mom wearing for your wedding? Did you look for a material that was similar to the material of the bridesmaids' dresses?

UPDATE 6/2/2010 9:36PM: Another outfit with a similar silhouette is available. I don't like the fabric finish as much as the first. But the color might coordinate with our palette.

Tadashi Shoji, Salon Z

Taffeta Blouse (Saks Fifth Avenue 0453519928844 $265) & Fishtail Skirt (Saks Fifth Avenue 0453519263761 $250)

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