How to find the right dress for the mother of the Bride or Groom

What to wear to a Casual Reunion…

Reunions are always exciting and now that there’s Facebook and Twitter to keep us all connected, we’re finding that we’re

able to connect with long-lost friends in the most unlikely places.

This week, I (JoJami) re-connected with a girlfriend who I had not seen in over 8 years. Our girls had been best friends in grade school. Back then, Franca and I were both stay-at-home Moms, but always had a creative itch and, of course, loved fashion. But as it happened, after a few years of friendship, Franca and her family moved to San Francisco and we lost touch.

Fast forward…and she now runs and owns Fiori Miele a consulting firm for brides who are planning weddings in Europe.

When I noticed on Facebook that she was going to be in LA at a Bridal Show the same time as me we made a date!

So, what do you wear for a Sunday Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A.?

I opted for:

• straight legged jeans
• sweater top
• leather coat
• cage shoes

 

During our chat I asked her if the brides she works with ever get stressed about what the Mother of the Bride or Groom plans to wear.

 

“Of course it’s a concern – one of many….getting married you have to make so many decisions!” said my friend.

That was a leading question but we are just so darn excited about our e-Book, Tweak Your Chic™~ How to Dress the Mother of the Bride and Groom. With wedding season in full swing, we’ve had so many thank you letters from happy readers who’ve told us our book was a life saver.

 

What would you wear if you were going to meet up with a long lost girlfriend for lunch? Send us your photos!

 

Help! What color should I wear to my daughter’s wedding?

Dressing the Mother of the Bride-Tips for Deciding what Color to Wear

The most frequently asked question by a Mother of the Bride is “What color should I wear?” Choosing the right color is stressful and scary. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration such as the time of year, the formality of the event, how the color photographs, the color of the bridesmaids dresses and the color of the wedding flowers, not to mention what looks good on you.  How can you be certain that you are choosing the right color?

Here are 5 tips for deciding what color to wear when you are Mother of the Bride:

Monotone

One option is to wear a mother of the bride dress in the same general color family as the bridesmaids. This is a classy way to coordinate, but still be a little different.  For example, if the bridesmaids are in lavender, the Mother of the Bride is in eggplant.

Contrast

Another idea is to choose a Mother of the Bride dress in a color that is directly opposite on the color wheel to the bridesmaids’ dresses.  You’ll definitely stand out, but the bridesmaids will still look great next to you in pictures. For example, the bridesmaids might be in orange and the Mother of the Bride in blue.

Our Ebook will help you celberate the big day in Style!

Tonal

You could also wear a color in the same color palette as the bridesmaids’ dresses.  For a seasonally themed wedding, this can nicely pick up different aspects of the season, and look very classy.  Bridesmaids may be in pastel blue and mom can be in soft, butter yellow.

Pattern

Wear a patterned Mother of the Bride dress with a color in it that echoes the bridal colors.  This adds some personality to the bridal party and pictures.  For instance, if the bridesmaids wear pink, the mother of the bride can be in pink and green watercolor wash.

Neutral

When in doubt, neutrals go with everything! Just be careful to get a more saturated color so it doesn’t wash you out. For example, if the bridesmaids are in chartreuse with magenta sashes and fuchsia bouquets, the Mother of the Bride can still wear a dark, silvery gray.

Of course, you can always take the bride with you for a second opinion!  She will certainly have a vision in mind as to how she wants her day to look, and will probably be the best person to go to for advice.  With this in mind, picking out a color to go with the bridal party will be a cinch.  Now what about the style?  We have many more tips to make sure you look fabulous and appropriate at your daughter or son’s wedding.

If you have more questions and want to make sure you are making the right choice, Check out our new eBook, Tweak Your Chic: Mother of the Bride .

Over 40 Style Lessons learned at the Emmy Awards

Deborah and I are big fans of award shows and we can’t help but enjoy the parade of glamorous starlets down the red carpet… but after checking out the photos of this years Emmy’s we realized that we can learn a lot from them as well!  Moreover, we were pleased to see that this year’s show had lots of Age-mazing™ over 40 women to wow us!

Are you going to be going to a formal affair or on cruise in the next few months?

Here are some great examples of how to (or not to) dress for a formal affair and WHY we think so!

Chandra Wilson looking great! photo: www.WireImage.com/Steve Granitz	Trying to wear strapless after 40: Here ya go… here is a women with curves that is just rocking this dress!  Love the plunging “V” and bold design at the bottom of the dress.  If you are going to wear strapless, make sure the dress is cut so that it is not straight across. Many strapless dresses tends to push the breasts up and squish them. She has kept her accessories simple with just a necklace and earnings and no bracelet. Great job! Lesson: Curvy women can wear strapless!
Say No to the Bat Wings: Let’s not put a number to age, but here’s a reality check. We don’t care when your birthday is or what the tag on your dress says, the bottom line is make sure to look in the mirror before buying a dress. Here you can see that this dress is just not flattering with her skin bulging out under her arms. Lesson: Look at yourself in the mirror front and back to make sure nothing’s pouring out!	This dress is just too tight!
This dress,Kyra Sedgwick, is just too much! photo: Wireimage.com/Jeff Vespa	You will always look elegant if you go simple: Look what happens when you try to make the dress the star and not you. Black shoes, with that dress?  Even though the heel matches, the black pump is way too heavy for this flimsy dress – a sandal would have worked much better. (And the red nail polish is clashing too!) Lesson: Look for a dress that does not overpower you but plays up your best features.
Black can look harsh on aging skin: Black can help make you look thin, but it can also age you… We actually think the style of this off-the-shoulder dress is quiet flattering and lovely, it is just that the color (or rather the lack of it!) makes Glenn look harsh. Lesson: Black is too easy of an option. Take the time to try to find a dress that is a pretty color!	Glenn Close we love the dress, but not the color. photo: Getty Images/Jason Merritt
Sigourney Weaver , looking stunning in this simple, yet elegant gown! photo:www.wireimage.com/Jeff Vespa	Use color to stand out and have fun: Sigourney rarely strays from dresses that are more streamline yet feminine. Yes, her body is a temple, but her taste is great too! Lesson: Simple lines and simple accessories equal class and elegance!

Don’t forget the proper undergarments can make a huge difference, Shapewear from Sassybax or Spanx is our favorite secret weapons!

If you need more detailed info on how to choose the right gown for a wedding or formal affair, get our eBook, Tweak Your Chic: Mother of the Bride!