GUIDE FOR MOTHER OF THE GROOM
Top Five Tips for choosing the Perfect Mother of the Groom outfit.
At my store Any Occasion in Tunbridge Wells, Kent we are renowned for our fabulous selection of outfits and excellent customer service and really try to make the choosing of Your Mother of the groom outfit as easy and as enjoyable as possible. However as much as some customers can't wait to start choosing their outfit, to many others the mere thought sends panic shooting up their spine at the thought of having to go through the trauma of dressing up. So with this in mind we have come up with our top five tips to make the whole experience easier for some and even more exciting for others.
1. You are The “Mother of the GROOM”
We understand the mindfield of trying to co-ordinate outfits not only with the Mother of the bride, but then not clashing with the bridesmaids. The mother of the groom has the hardest job because colours can become very limited and you may start to feel a bit down the pecking order with often little backup from the groom! YOU ARE IMPORTANT TOO, after all you gave birth to the second most important ingredient for the wedding. Do bear in mind the Mothers outfit but don’t feel that you have no choice or say in what you want to wear.
2. Go shopping with an open mind
Shopping for a mother of the groom outfit is very different to shopping for everyday clothes. It is classed as a boutique experience and by this we mean that help and advice is available. If you have a set idea of exactly what style and colour you are looking for that’s great, especially by some streak of luck you find it. Don't however let this stop you from trying other things that may catch your eye, as you may end up greatly surprised. What we think we want isn't always what we need. In a boutique staff are trained to be able to assess your body shape and make suggestions accordingly. Gowns don't always have "hanger appeal" but can come alive on the right person, and let’s face it the advisors will know how something is intended to look, better than the untrained eye. So keep that mind wide open!
3. Have a realistic budget.
It really doesn't matter if you have a budget of £200 or £1500; you should not be co-erced into spending more than you can by manipulative salespeople. This of course is not the same as spending more than you want to. The old saying "you get what you pay for" is very true in regards fabric quality etc. but with modern fabrics you can often achieve the look of the £1000 designer dress for a lot less if you are happy to accept a few compromises. In fact some of my favorite outfits in store are not made by high end designers. Do your research first, have a look on the internet at the websites of the stores you wish to visit and don't fall in love with an image without checking out the cost first. If you really can't stretch to it, don't try it! At Any Occasion we love it when customers are honest with us about budget as that means we can really help and point in the right direction. What nobody likes is having their time wasted by customers who pretend they want styles they simply can't have, be honest, nobody ever judges.
4. Start looking Early.
The early bird catches the worm and this is true in occasion wear. The earlier in the season you start looking the more likely you are to either be able to order the outfit of your dreams to your specifications or have the widest choice of styles and sizes available. If the wedding is in August start looking in February or even earlier. Do not expect to start looking two weeks before a summer wedding and still have the same choice available. Boutiques are not Marks & Spencer, and by that we mean there is not a rail of the same outfit available in every size in every colour!
5. Wear the right underwear
Chances are that once you have had children your body does not always return exactly the way it once was. As mother of the Groom, no one expects you to have a figure that the age 18 models have, that the designers insist on using in their adverts. However if you are conscious of a particular area (in our experience it is mostly our stomachs) there are things that you can wear to help you feel less conscious in a dress when you are used to wearing jeans or trousers. There are the obvious support knickers that are supposed to suck it all in!!!! Well actually these can really work especially the high waisted variety. A simple slip however can give a smooth line which can work just as well. Most importantly wear a good supportive bra that fits. Not the cotton one from Marks that has seen better days. If you want to see how the outfit is going to look then wearing the right underwear is essential.
So there you have it wrapped up in five easy steps. We are always ready to help our customers but it is great when you come a little prepared. I have a little bonus tip for you. Ignore the size label. Designers cut dresses in very strange ways so if you are a high street size 10 you could end up wearing a 14 in a designer dress. It means nothing; no one looks at the label inside the dress. If it looks great and fits well who cares. If you like we can always cut it out and sew in a size 8 label!www.anyoccasion.biz
