Mothers of the Bride: How to Find the Perfect Look for the Big Event

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These days, weddings are some of the most fashionable affairs anywhere. The bride is breathtaking, the bridesmaids are stunning, and the groom and his groomsmen are handsome and polished.

But let's not forget about the mother-of-the bride.

The proud matriarch deserves to look her best at this monumental event, as well. So here are some gorgeous choices for the mother-of-the bride.

Two-Piece Stretch Taffeta Outfit

This sapphire-colored taffeta ensemble is both modern and elegant. The ruffled neckline is the most distinguishing characteristic of this short-sleeve top with jeweled buttons. The other piece is a flattering stretch trumpet skirt which is simple and comfortable.

One-Shoulder Sueded Charmeuse Side Drape Dress

For the mother who wants to look almost as stunning as her daughter, the dramatic one-shoulder neckline features a side drape that creates a slimming silhouette. The dress is made of soft-sueded gold charmeuse, which accentuates all the right curves.

3/4 Brocade Jacket & Chiffon Pant Set

This is ideal for the mother of the bride who prefers something other than an opulent dress. The three-quarter length heather-colored brocade jacket with three-button front is accented beautifully with a black ribbon at the waist. The black pants are constructed of comfy and versatile chiffon.

Shantung Short Bolero Jacket Dress

This outfit has more wear-again appeal than most mother-of-the-bride dresses available today. The slimming shantung above-the-knee dress has a tank silhouette and a ruched waist and comes in eggplant or silver. It can be worn with or without the bolero jacket and its uniquely ruffled neckline.

Portrait Collar Knit Dress with Lace Skirt

This outfit reveals the perfect blend of sophistication and edginess. The black knit bodice features an attractive portrait collar which extends off the shoulders. It contrasts nicely with the slim lace skirt, which is artfully beaded.

Two Piece Floral Jacquard Suit with Rosette Detail

This two-piece selection is for the woman who is seeking a more traditional look. The entire outfit is made of stylish silver jacquard fabric with a radiant floral print. The three-quarter length jacket features a rosette detail on the singular button along with a portrait collar, while the knee-length skirt is flattering and slimming.

Side-Draped Tank Jersey Dress with 3/4 Jacket

For the lady who desires comfort without sacrificing appearance, this dress's relaxing jersey fabric in gorgeous eggplant is carefully fashioned with a tank bodice and a goddess-like side drape. Rhinestones trim the three-quarter length jacket to give the outfit a dash of dazzle.

Satin Twill Bolero and Mock Two-Piece Dress with Beaded Detail

This almond-colored ensemble provides a classic and sophisticated look. The three-quarter sleeve bolero is made of satin twill and is adorned with beaded detail. It covers a spaghetti strap chiffon dress with ruched detail on the top, and the modern skirt will flatter any woman's body.

Chiffon Tier One-Shoulder Dress with Scarf

Sometimes, the mother-of-the-bride wants to turn a few heads as well. This purple, ankle-length chiffon tiered dress with a divine one-shoulder design will accomplish that. The scarf can be carried, worn, or converted into a flattering cover up.

Long Chiffon Beaded Waist Dress

Its ivory color and its classic lines evoke images of stately Greek goddesses. The beautifully-beaded bodice accentuates the waistline and nicely complements the flattering A-line dress. It has dainty double spaghetti straps which can be easily adjusted to fit any body size, and the outfit is topped off with a charming scarf.

Three Quarter Sleeve Shantung Short Jacket Dress

This is ideal for the mother-of-the-bride who prides herself on keeping up with the most modern trends. The most distinctive feature is the majestic mandarin collar with beaded accents on the three-quarter sleeve bolero jacket. The knee-length shantung sleeveless tank dress, which is available in blue or light mocha, is gracefully embellished at the waist.

One Piece Metallic Chiffon Halter Dress with Scarf

It's perfect for a wedding that is full of glamour and opulence. This pewter-silver halter dress showcases the shoulders, and the metallic chiffon is lovely and comfortable. A beaded buckle accents the ruched waistband to help slim the figure, and the scarf can be added to create a unique look.

Taffeta Mock Two-Piece with 3/4 Sleeve

The fabric of this pleasing dress is a polyester/nylon/spandex blend and is available in sapphire, pewter, and magenta. The side-ruched top features a joyful portrait collar and three-quarter length sleeves. A long flowing skirt and brooch and jeweled pin detail at the waist complete the look.

Two-Piece Short Shantung Tank Dress with Jacket

This rose-colored outfit cleverly combines a short dress with a long jacket. The long-sleeve jacket drops to the knees and features a flower on the lapel. The sleeveless shantung dress falls to just above the knee.

In the past, many mother-of-the bride dresses have been frumpy, gaudy, or uncomfortable. But today, the devoted mother has plenty of ways to make a fashion statement as well. And that's important - because all eyes will be on her when she is escorted down the aisle ahead of her daughter.

Chris Morrison is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and specific products such as mother of the bride dresses.

Mother of the Bride Dresses - Top 5 Trends

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Gone are the stodgy old ideas about how a Mother of the Bride should dress.  Here are the top trends in Mother of the Bride Dresses that give us hope!

1) Bright Colors

It used to be that Mother of the Bride dresses only came in four colors: blah, boring, beige, and blech.  Pastels and navy blue are only part of the selection nowadays! Finally, the industry is starting to show a spectrum of different colors, from spring greens to royal purples.  Whether you love bold jewel tones or lean towards rich earth tones, there will be something out there for you.  Since more saturated colors are better for aging, pale skin tones, liven up your look by choosing a color with some pizzazz!

2) Bolero Jackets

You may be sick of those boring Mother of the Bride jacket dresses, but the good news is there's finally a fresh new take on them! Designers have addressed the need for a removable jacket to cover the arms that is also very fashionable.  The bolero jacket, with different sleeve lengths, is in. It's elegant and practical. Take it off when you're hot, and you will still have a great dress underneath. Wear it to cover up during the ceremony - no one will guess you're trying to cover those wobbly chicken wings under your arms!

3) Tiered Dresses and Skirts

Tiered skirts are showing up in stores this season and are especially appropriate for formal wear for the over-40 set.  They're modern and feminine and can be very flattering if they are not too frilly. Try one before you buy, and make sure it suits your body. With all that extra material, this Mother of the Bride style is not for everyone!

4) New  Lengths

Say goodbye to floor length when it come to Mother of the Bride Dresses. Plenty of different hemlines are popping up, mainly due to the huge variety of different wedding styles and venues these days.  We're seeing plenty of cocktail-length, knee-length, and handkerchief hems, as well as hi-lo dress lengths.  (High in the front, long in the back).  At the knee, or slightly above the knee is as high as you want to go. Remember: All these new hemlines give you one more reason to wear some fabulous, head-turning  shoes!

5) "Green" Fabrics  (no, we don't mean color!)

Environmentally responsible weddings are all the rage.  Couples are using recycled materials for invitations and donating to charity instead of offering plastic, landfill bound favors to their guests. The "green" theme even reaches all the way down to wedding attire.  You may have to explore specialty stores, but organic cotton and silk dresses are growing in popularity.  The best part about them is because the dresses are made with natural fibers, they are more comfortable and breathable.  When you're outside at an August wedding, you'll appreciate why this is so necessary!

(c) 2009, Boland-Tyler Productions.  All rights reserved.  Article may be reprinted so long as text and by-line are reprinted intact and all links made live.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan ~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic(TM), Image make-over program. To learn more tips about choosing your mother of the bride (or groom) dress visit http://www.fabulousafter40.com/ebooks/mother-of-the-bride/, sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter and visit Worth The Splurge to see 100 Style Links Women Will Love.

Plus Size Dresses For the Lovely Bride

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The sound of the familiar wedding march has not changed through the years. Even with the incorporation of more modern ideas, a wedding and the wedding dress are still the same. The crowd turns their back to await the bride's arrival and with the music's cue, she will march following the rhythm of the instruments and face the crowd. Every woman has dreamt of this scene. Every girl has imagined herself walking down the aisle.

For this reason, every woman has only one wish for her wedding, and that is to look absolutely fabulous. And if you are planning a wedding, then you probably understand this. Looking your best is the main goal and if you are a plus-sized woman, this does not have to be difficult at all.

Most women who become engaged head to newsagents first. Wedding magazines and other publications will help you make the right decision, so more often than not the dresses on the glossy pages become their inspiration. Visualisation is the key; you need to be able to see how the gown will look like and to see if it matches the one you have seen in your dreams.

The next thing you need to do is to decide whether you want to buy a ready-made dress or to have one tailored just for you. Ready-to wear-dresses are always a lot cheaper, but you will often encounter problems with the fit. This can be easily remedied by simple alterations so in the end, you still save some money. The beauty of tailored dresses on the other hand is that they will suit your body best.

Buying plus size dresses can be really tricky, picking a plus-size wedding dress or gown will be even harder, no doubt! Always remember that the key is to know the type of body you have, because if you do then shopping for the right wedding dress will be easy.

1. An hourglass body will have smaller waists and wider hips and chest areas. V-necks and low neckline will be best for women of this particular body type, as well as an empire-cut dress.

2. A rectangular body shape on the other hand will have their weight evenly spread out, with straight figures. Wearing a corset will be a great idea as it will create the illusion of having curves.

3. A pear-shaped woman will appear smaller on the bust and waist area, but wider from the hips, down. Halter tops and high-neckline will not be good for this body type, but A-line dresses and empire-cuts will look great.

4. An apple body type will have wider bust, waist, and hip areas but very slender arms and legs. To be able to deflect the attention away from the midsection, an empire cut dress would be best.

Plus size dresses are now available for all occasions. If you wish to buy them ready-made it will not be a problem anymore. A great selection of gowns is available online, too, all you need is to know what you want and everything will be perfect.

Spirito di Artigiano offers a wide collection of stylish Italian plus size clothing for women. The collection includes plus size women's trousers and plus size dresses in sizes 14-28. Browse the entire Spirito collection of plus size clothes at the Artigiano website.