Where to buy a mother of the bride dress?

[Deleted User]

So my mom is looking for a mother of the bride dress.  I am an only child, so we are a little new to this process. She doesn't want to be too flashy, but also doesn't want to look like an old lady.  Should we look in bridal stores? Or are department stores (Macy's, Dillards) the way to go?  Also, how far in advance should she buy it?

Thanks Ladies!

Summer2011Bride

My mom ended up getting her dress at the store where I got mine, a little bridal shop. However she looked a lot of other places too.

I see you're in the Chicago suburbs? You might try Woodfield in Schaumburg. They have a ton of stores there and that's where MIL found hers. I think she got it at Lord and Taylor, but Macy's and Nordstroms also have big selections of nice evening wear. It doesn't have to be from a bridal store.

I would get it about 3 months prior to the wedding so she has time for alterations.

Maggie0829

My Mom bought her dress through a bridal shop but looked at bridesmaid dresses (she bought a Lazaro) rather then MOB dresses (she and I tend to find that MOB titled dresses look frumpy and old).

But your Mom can certainly buy her dress anywhere she wants.  Department stores, boutiques, bridal stores, etc.

If she is purchasing her dress from a bridal store then you would need to talk with them about ordering times, but if she is purchasing off the rack at a department store she should be fine buying something as close to even a month out which will still allow time for basic alterations.

GoodLuckBear14

For my wedding my mom got her dress through the bridal shop I went to.  For both brothers' weddings, she went to Macy's. 

willywally5

Macy's has quite a few that don't look like frumpy chiffon tents!

Jade by Jasmine Bridal and Jade Couture have some awesome styles as well. Bridal salons carry them. Lots come with jackets but look great without them, too. 

ElisabethJoanne

At my request, Mom is wearing a dress Dad bought her from Nordstrom's 20 years ago. I'd definitely recommend starting with department stores and discount stores like Ross and TJ Maxx.

Kate61487

My mom got hers at a little local boutique, but she went there specifically because they carried several lines she'd seen on HouseofBrides.com.  They have a pretty huge variety of MOB dresses online, but finding them in store was more difficult and mom didn't want to buy something without trying it on first, which is how we ended up at the little boutique.

LDubHawksFan

My mom lives in the Midwest too.  She found hers at Younkers for $90.  Dept stores tend to be much more reasonable than bridal stores, from what we saw.

saacjw

My mom got hers at a local store that specializes in pagent and prom dresses of all things. If you're in the Chicago Suburbs, it might be worth a trip to the State Steet Macy's/old Marshall Fields. I was just in there looking around my my FSIL and we found a ton of dresses for her mother to try when she is able to. 

[Deleted User]

Thanks so much!!