Dressing Room Confessions: March Madness { Finding the perfect Mother of the Groom Dress}
I am having my own sort of “March Madness” this month similar to the annual college basketball tournament currently going on. (But no one is betting on me and I haven’t busted anyone’s bracket.)
Just as 64 of the best teams in the country start at the beginning of the tournament in hopes of making it to the Final Four, my search for the perfect Mother of the Groom dress has been an elimination process of 64 dresses , cut down to the Sweet 16, then to the Elite Eight, and finally to the Final Four , with only one dress crowned the winner.
What an exhausting hunt for the dress and what an eye opener it has been for this 50ish woman! I realize what I liked online or on the clothing rack may not have been suitable for me because of my body type or my age.
I looked at so many dresses online, (which I highly recommend to you ladies, because the stores do not carry a large selection of evening gowns).
And another comment, when searching online, you will notice 20 year old models wearing the gown. Perhaps someday the fashion industry will actually use models over the age of 40, slightly thick in the waist , with a larger bust size than 32B, and designed for women over 50.
I visited department stores and bridal boutiques for 2 weeks and tried on 16 dresses, (some looked so bad on me, but would have looked lovely on a woman if she was a size 4, which I’m not.)
The outfit I wore shopping one day required a dressing room selfie because it looked better on me than the 8 dresses that didn’t warrant me to whip out my iphone to snap a photo.
I will share with you the Elite 8 that made the cut to be photographed and sent to my husband while he was on a trip, but I eliminated four of the dresses down to my own Final Four. Some of the dresses will be modeled by a 20 something and myself to show you the comparisons.
Should I warn you now that you should eat before you continue or perhaps grab a glass of wine to enjoy the fashion show?
Rules for the Mother of the Groom Dress as they applied to me:
- The dress cannot be the same color as the Mother of the Bride.
- The dress needs to have the “Danceability Factor” because I dance like it’s 1999.
- Less Cleavage Factor, keep the 50ish girls under control.
- If my exercise regime and diet fail, I will not be wearing spanx, perhaps something stronger like they wore in the Victorian Era?
- A fuller dress that will hide my middle age waistline is the preferred choice, but I don’t want to wear a dress like Anna did when she danced with the King of Siam. She wasn’t doing the Cupid Shuffle back then. (If you click on the link you will see me dancing at my nephew’s wedding to the Cupid Shuffle. I love to dance!)
- No sleeve can be a problem with my arms, now that I’ve taken photos, I see I still have some work to do.
- The dress has to look good with the necklace my son gave me for Mother’s Day.
The Elite Eight:
I was looking for coral/orange or cobalt blue dresses that were the team colors of my son’s college, the University of Florida. (The Gators are playing in the Elite Eight today, just a side note for the basketball references in this post.)
As you can see, the model below wears the dress better, which is why the dress didn’t make it to the Final Four.
The dress below was the only one I liked on the store’s website because it was cobalt blue, but they only had it in mint green for me to try on, which was a good thing I did!
One of my criteria is that the dress continues to look good on me for 12 hours and as I started to photograph myself, the dress started sliding down my arms to my complete horror!
It was a dress size larger, but can you imagine me on the dance floor? I could possibly have a wardrobe malfunction, and my son would never speak to me again.
This dress was too tight in the top and showed more of my cleavage than the other dresses.
This dress was actually a good one, but the color was too close to the bridesmaids dresses and it didn’t make the Final Four because of the color..
The Final Four:
These are my final choices, and I’ve actually narrowed it down to two, because I had called in my own selection committees for these dresses because it takes a village of over 50 year olds to select the perfect dress. Emails were flying on Friday night and the majority voted on two dresses that were also my favorite.
I decided that I will wear navy because I can wear this dress year round and darker colors make me look thinner. I loved how each dress looked on the 20ish models but in reality, they did not look great on me. I don’t want to look frumpy and I don’t want to look fat in the dress either.
20ish Model:
50ish Model: Dress #1
20ish Model:
50ish Model: Dress #2
20ish Model:
50ish Model: Dress #3
20ish Model
50ish Model: Dress #4
So let me ask you a question.
Which one should I wear as the Mother of the Groom?
Do you think your dress will win? The winner will be revealed in June!
Be Fierce today and everyday!
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Must say, dress 4 is AMAZING on you!
Number 3 is a very close second.
The other 2 are kind of mumsy, IMHO,
You look stunning in dress #4!
Which one did you end up with?
Shirlee,
I went with number 4.
Hope you’re enjoying your European trip!
Love,
Robin
Hi Robin!
I see that the majority likes #4. However, I think #3 is the most flattering. It takes care of all the issues. As a slightly older woman than you and an experienced mother of the bride, I can tell you to pay attention to the parts of the body that bother you. This dress does. The arms are covered nicely just where you need them to be.
The waist is not too tight and not form fitting. You know how you expand in certain areas as the day goes on? Well #4 will look wonderful at 12 noon. But by 8pm the muffin tops and bulging bellies show up! Who wants that in photos for posterity!
Whatever you pick you will be beautiful inside and out.
Go for it!
Congrats!
Love,
Rona (from NJ–not on the team!)
Rona,
Sorry you didn’t make the NJ selection committee but I value your input.
Yes, number 3 was my favorite too, but It showed more cleavage than the Mother of the Groom needed to show at her son’s wedding. If you know what I mean!
It even had a built in corset which was winning all the other dresses.
Hugs,
Robin
This was a great effing post. Don’t even get me started on the fashion industry’s use of 20 somethings to model mom of the bride/groom/whatever dresses. It’s laughable. And a complete WTF kind of thing. I love the navy dresses on you. Have you considered a short dress? Not short as in mini but right above the knee? Speaking for myself, I’m clumsy and would trip over a gown. My kids are all aware that when they get married mommy will either be wearing a short dress OR a tux with the pants fitted to be skinny and ankle length and the jacket cut like a J. Crew schoolboy blazer. I need to dance and run around. I found your post to be incredibly refreshing. I’m going to binge on your blog now. It’s a lot like mine!! You’re adorable!
Catherine,
No, I hadn’t thought of a short dress, but I know they are popular!
Thank you for enjoying the post!
Hugs,
Robin
My favorite on you is #4. I also thought you liked #3 because you kind of owned that look. So those were my 2. But I hope it’s #4.
Especially loved seeing the Model photos so I could better see the details! 💕
Thank you Barclay!
Yes, dressing room selfies do not have the best light.
I also wanted to show that the models are a size 4 and 20 somethings.
Hugs!
Robin
Dress #4 is stunning!
Thank you Betsy for your kind words!
Hugs,
Robin
#4 #4!!!!!
Thank you twice!!
Definitely #4. It is definitely a challenge to find the perfect dress at ANY age. We are all our own worst critic. Don’t sell yourself short. You are a beautiful woman. This dress looks stunning on you.
Kass,
You are so kind, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Hugs,
Robin
Well you look amazing in all of them! It is so hard to choose! I had the hardest time finding a dress as well. I love your March Madness technique. I think I’m going with dress #4. You won’t disappoint in any of them! You look marvelous in all😘 I can’t wait for the big day! I feel like family already but looking forward to making it official!
Marti,
Your dress is lovely and we will be lovely proud mothers in June.
I am blessed my son found your daughter and gave us a wonderful extended family.
Happy birthday!
Robin
How fun is this?! I am honored and flattered to be a part of the ATL Selection committee!! lol!
I love number 4. It is classic and understated and really let’s the model shine! xo
Julie,
You have great taste and I value your opinion and your friendship.
Hugs,
Robin
3&4 are my favorites for you. I’m thinking you may go with 4. You seem to look very happy with it. I must say you almost lost with “gators”. Can you guess my school pick? Lol!
Since I see a lot of Columbus marathon items on your blog, you must be a Big 10 lover.
I went to Wisconsin, so maybe you also wanted Wisconsin to win?
Am I hot or cold?
3&4 are going to the semi finals!!
Hugs,
Robin
Lol Robin, You are way cold! I’m part of that Gator/Seminole rivalry! Need I say which side I’m on? haha.
Glad to know 3&4 made the cut!
Janet
Janet,
I would not have guessed you were a FSU fan!
I’ll think of you in the fall when we play against each other.
My other son is a Clemson Tiger, so we follow all the ACC/SEC college teams!
Cheers!
I tried to comment before, but in case you didn’t see it, I like #4 on you. You look so glamorous.
Hello my sweet cousin!
So glad you stopped by my fashion blog!
I appreciate your comments and love you very much!
Let’s plan on sitting on a beach in Hilton Head soon!
Love you!
Robin
Shirlee,
I love that you stopped by my fashion blog to comment.
It means so much to me.
Love you.
Robin
You look glamorous in #4. Go for it!
# 4 looks gorgeous on you and the off the shoulder is the right cut. Not so low it pulls you down. 4 also flatters your figure and is elegant.
Thank you Jayne!
We sisters need all the encouragement we can get!
Hugs,
Robin
Hi Robin,
It’s Joanie Brady. I like #4 the best.
Less is more, regarding all the fabric. The others were just a bit too much and you look simply perfect in #4!
Wishing you all the love and joy you deserve during this special time!!!
❤Joanie
Thank you Joanie!
Miss you,Tom and the boys!
Hugs!
Robin
One and four are my favs. You look stunning
Thank you so much Linda!
I am so happy you stopped by!
Hugs,
Robin
Thank you Linda!
So happy you like 2 of the Final Four!
Hugs,
Robin
I’m going for #4, it looks classy but also quite trendy.
Gail
Thank you for stopping by!
I always appreciate comments when I wear something I’m not sure of.
Hugs,
Robin
Dress three is my favorite–looks like the sleeves work nicely on your arms and it is flattering–I like dress 2 but the overlay looks small I think not flowy like on the model–but if it is just the photo lighting that makes it look that way ok–THose would be the choices for me but I am always for covering the top of my arms
Angelique,
So happy to see you here my Fierce 50 sister!
I like covering up my arms too as a 50ish woman!
Hugs!
Robin
I am hoping that we can start making a difference for the online retailers to start showing women in the older age groups. To me it’s just easier to think about how it’ll look on me!
As for your final four above, I really like #4—it looks elegant and sexy at the same time. IMO I thought 1 & 3 seemed too poofy (but that’s my personal likes/dislikes) and #2 seemed too matronly. Of course, we are only seeing these with dressing room lighting and no accessories–so I’m sure you could make any of them be fabulous on you, Robin!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Jodie,
So happy you stopped by again my Fierce 50 sister!
Yes, hopefully the fashion industry will start featuring mature women as models for the Mother of the Bride,but until then, we will have to settle for girls who look like they are going to prom.
Hugs!
Robin