Weddings are joyous occasions for the whole family, not only for the bride and the groom. The mother of the groom plays a very special role in the ceremony as she’ll have to meet and talk to all of the guests, so it is important to look the part. Picking the right dress means more self-confidence, more comfort and an enjoyable experience for her altogether.
Traditional etiquette calls for the mother of the groom to choose her dress second – after the mother of the bride has chosen her outfit. Regarding colour, style and length it should be similar to the mother of the bride’s dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses, but they should not match completely. Also, white, or different shades of white are forbidden as looking similar to the bride is a look everyone needs to avoid. Traditionally, on the “no list” is the black colour as well since it symbolises disapproval of the marriage. Also, the dress should be appropriate for the degree of formality of the wedding, meaning the more formal the wedding is, the stricter the rules are for choosing the right dress. Being conservative when it comes to the choice of attire is never a wrong decision.
Next, the mother of the groom should choose the type of dress that best fits her shape. A dress that suits the body type is key to looking and feeling stylish. Highlighting the best features and downplaying the less-than-favourite parts is the first step in choosing from the different types of mother of groom dresses. If the legs are long and lean, the best choice is a short sheath dress and a glamorous pair of shoes. Flabby arms are easy to cover up with 3 quarter sleeves, or a gown with a cape overlay. Defining a small waist is best done with a fit and flare dress or a fuller skirt as they create the perfect hourglass shape. The tummy area can also be concealed with dresses with soft draping or an empire waist dress cut right below the bust, but slightly above the waist which emphasizes the decolletage too. An off shoulder gown is a perfect choice to show off the shoulders, as well as the strapless type.
In addition to the shape, the fabric of the dress is important too. It is actually the fabric that embraces the body type and the right choice will flatter it whereas the wrong one will create a messy look. Some of the most popular formal wear fabrics are satin (as it creates a luxurious shine), brocade (which is heavy and thick jacquard fabric) and crepe (which creates a sophisticated and clean line). Another great choice is chiffon which is a lightweight, sheer and transparent fabric with a soft feel and delicate look – much-preferred fabric for the mother of groom dresses as it gives the flowing effect that falls freely over the curves. And last, we have the crushed velvet which is great for autumn and winter weddings as it looks very elegant.